Executives are being urged to treat business trips professionally – and not view them as free holidays or an excuse for a party.

Researchers from workplace experts LondonOffices.com have investigated the most common mistakes made by employees travelling on business and how best to avoid them.

They found that many executives viewed business trips as a chance to let their hair down away from home and for many this led to a fall in professional standards.

Issues identified ranged from failing to prepare properly for meetings and being unclear on the purposes of the trip to getting horribly drunk and turning up for meetings late and reeking of alcohol.

A spokesman for LondonOffices.com spokesman said: “Many employees think business trips are simply free holidays but there is always a purpose and it’s never to party.

Here are eight of the most common business trip mistakes that LondonOffices.com uncovered:

1. Being underprepared

Preparation is pivotal to a successful business trip, so make sure to research, plan and write the itinerary in advance.

Another suitable precaution is to print out any relevant documents beforehand, as Wi-Fi can be unreliable, and reconfirm plans before departure, to avoid wasted time and costly cancellations.

2. Booking a poor hotel

Read plenty of online reviews to pick out the best hotel for your needs, but consider contacting them directly for a better price, and check the location; don’t stay off the beaten track and then spend the mornings stuck in local commuter traffic.

3. Making a poor first impression

Avoid getting off on the wrong foot, dress appropriately; know the context to avoid ‘smart-casual’ when ‘formal’ is necessary or vice versa. Greet with a firm but friendly handshake and smile, to show crucial confidence and consideration.

Crucially don’t overdo it in the hotel bar the night before a big meeting as turning up late, hungover and stinking of lager is definitely not going to impress.

4. Getting the meals wrong

Use online reviews to take the host to a restaurant with an appropriate atmosphere and cuisine to start fruitful relationship, but avoid dining in an expensive Michelin starred restaurant or draining the hotel mini-bar and only order room service as a last resort.

It is also advisable to have breakfast in the hotel for time efficiency; don’t skip this meal and be under-fuelled for the busy day ahead.

5. Forgetting about receipts

Business trips shouldn’t hit employees in the pocket, so retain all relevant receipts to forward to accounts; if it is not company policy to fully reimburse expenses, they can still be used for personal tax deductions.

6. Being unproductive.

Never forget that the trip is for business not leisure – stick to the itinerary or the daily agenda will be unachievable. Don’t waste time on minor tasks that could be completed via e-mail or phone, when other face to face priorities are more pressing. That being said, if you do find useful tools, like this map radius tool, that you think may help with any presentations you may be doing, you should obviously take the time to work on adding those into your work.

It might be a great idea to take the client out for a meal or a drink but that doesn’t mean it’s ok to get hammered. Remember to act professionally at all times.

7. Staying in a comfort zone

Doing business in a fresh location is a perfect opportunity to network with potential new clients or colleagues and to seek out personal development opportunities.

A top tip is to ensure you have a healthy amount of Custom Business Cards in your jacket or bag.

8. Overworking

Spending a night or several travelling for business should not mean that regular hours are extended; neglecting sleep, food or water does not create a healthy business brain.

Of course the company agenda remains the priority, but perhaps consider looking into the local entertainment options in the evening.

One final thing worth mentioning is the mode of transport to get to your destination. If you fly with a commercial airline, sometimes you can have less than satisfactory experiences. If your business is of the mind that the highest degree of service is a cost worth paying then a private jet charter is something that will bring the best air travel experience to your business trip. You could travel with Business Air – click here to visit website