Three frequent-flying business leaders have shared their tried-and-tested hacks for a smooth business trip experience. 

Harvard Business Review data shows that CEOs spend more than half (53%) of their time travelling for work, often navigating fatigue and high stress alongside work demands.

To help CEOs optimise their travel schedules and limit the negative side effects of frequent travel, the corporate travel experts at Booking.com for Business have gathered practical tips from experienced C-suites and business travel experts.

Natália Honold, Co-founder of Lola Advisory Inc., who travels regularly for work between Brazil, the U.S., and other markets, comments:

• Build your itinerary geographically, not just chronologically: “I don’t just create an agenda; I build a logistics map. Before every trip, I map every hotel, meeting, restaurant, and venue to understand travel times, traffic patterns, and whether I need a driver or can walk. A schedule can look perfect on paper, but completely fall apart if the logistics between locations aren’t planned.

• Save the key people instead of just places: “I don’t just save restaurant names – I save the name and phone number of the manager or event coordinator. Personal contacts are far more valuable than online reviews, especially when you need a last-minute solution.

• Schedule by energy: “I try to place my highest-stakes meetings during the part of the day when I know I’ll be at my best, and leave travel or administrative tasks for lower-energy periods. For business travel, protecting your energy is part of protecting your performance.”

Deepak Shukla, UK-based Founder and CEO at Pearl Lemon, comments:

“The primary error that business travellers make is that of maximising minutes rather than energy. Whenever I need to attend an important business meeting, I will arrive the evening before, even though that requires paying for an additional night in the hotel. A well-rested arrival is generally more valuable than packing an extra working day in.

“Whenever I travel for work, I distinguish between deep and collaborative work. Writing, thinking strategically, and planning take place during my flights and in airport lounges because these places are completely distraction-free. All client meetings, calls, and decision-making are done once I arrive.

“Finally, allow some extra time. Problems happen, meetings drag, and things may change. The most productive business travellers are not those whose schedule does not leave any room for manoeuvre, but rather those whose schedule has enough flexibility to not turn into a disaster even with problems.”

Joshua Wood, Director at Booking.com for Business, said: “Successful business travel isn’t about trying to control every variable; it’s about making your plans flexible enough to adapt when things change – which they will. Here are some of the tips I’ve picked up along the years that help with this:

• Choose accommodation that doubles as a workspace: “I like to look beyond the obvious and pay close attention to amenities that are going to make working a breeze. For example, reliable wifi, quiet workspaces – including a conference room when needed, and transport links. My accommodation must support my working day.

• Keep your itinerary in one place: “I try to avoid juggling my trip information across more than one app. By using a centralised corporate travel management platform, I consolidate my bookings, confirmations, and trip details in one place, reducing admin time and preventing organisational overwhelm.

• Leave your return journey flexible: “Business trips can be surprisingly unpredictable. Whether a meeting overruns or something else comes up, booking free cancellation travel for your return journey removes a lot of unnecessary pressure and means you can adapt your plans more easily.”