In-person industry events are back in full swing. May-July saw a doubling of in-person and hybrid business events compared to previous months. And as any successful business knows, these events are essential for keeping a finger on the pulse. Conferences, for example, enable businesses to connect with new and existing clients and partners, build brand awareness, and learn new industry trends.

But, as lucrative as conferences can be, they are often overwhelming for attendees. An employee is likely to spend all day on their feet, interacting and commuting - all the while knowing they’re missing out on completing their day-to-day workload. It can be stressful and, of course, tiring.

As an employer, you want your employees to get the most out of an industry event (especially considering the benefits, not to mention the cost of entry which averages around $655 per ticket). So, how can you set business travelers up to have the best conference experience? Here are our top 7 tips to help your employees thrive at conference travel…

7 top tips for smooth conference travel

1. Ensure employees feel safe

Traveling alone can be isolating. And if it’s to a strange city or a completely different country, your employees are likely to feel a little vulnerable. Empower them to be their best selves by ensuring they feel safe while traveling and during their stay. Use compliant, fully vetted accommodation, so everyone has peace of mind. Business travel marketplaces make this process easy - by supplying pre-vetted accommodations for you and your employee to choose from.

2. Location is key

Don’t underestimate the importance of where the accommodation is in relation to the city and conference. Choose a quality nearby location so your employees can worry less about finding their way around a new city while recovering from jetlag and travel exhaustion. As we mentioned, conference days can be long - so make the commute as short as possible. An added bonus of choosing accommodation near the conference venue is it gives business travelers the option to pop back for a break during the day and gives them a quiet space to make a business call should they need it.

3. Homely accommodation

Provide travelers with a space that feels comfortable and relaxing - a home away from home. They’ll certainly need this after traveling and spending long days at the conference. To help meet company policies and the requirements of your employee, use an integrated travel platform such as Smart Home Match™, which recommends accommodations based on desired traits.

4. Provide support

Give employees a safety net to fall back on should they need it. As much as you can, try to be this support. It's not always possible, especially if your employee has traveled to a different timezone. Having on-the-ground support can help your employee feel less isolated. Choose a provider which also offers 24-7 customer service. This communication channel enables the traveler to get in touch about simple accommodation queries which can be resolved quickly.

5. Option to extend

Usually conferences involve a commute day, a couple of days of jam-packed learning, conversing, and networking, followed by another commute day. By the time your employee gets home, they’ll be absolutely exhausted. And the likelihood is that they had little chance to see much of the city/area you sent them to. This is an opportunity missed for them and for employers too.

With the rise of bleisure (and blended travel) trips, why not consider offering business travelers the option to extend their stay by a day or two post-conference? This not only gives them time to recover but can also boost employee morale, as they’ll feel appreciated. Research shows valuing employees can improve retention (by up to a third) and productivity (by 12 times) - something not to be dismissed in the current labor shortage.

6. Help them prepare

Set your employees up to succeed by equipping them with an extensive essential business event list. Some key items for business events include comfy shoes (or a spare pair to change into), an extra outfit (in case it’s too hot/cold), a phone charger, a laptop, a notebook, and business cards.

7. Check in on employees

If you book accommodation through a business travel marketplace, such as 3Sixty, you’ll be able to see when your employee checks in and out, as well as see lease arrangements, and the accommodation's safety status. As a business, this helps you uphold your duty of care requirements. Knowing this will also reassure the business traveler that they are still under your care, despite being far away.

Conference travel isn’t easy, but with these 7 tips and tricks up your sleeve, you’ll be able to best prepare your employee to get the most out of the event. These simple steps can boost enjoyment and better yet ensure your business remains compliant while sending employees away on business trips.

3Sixty: helping businesses help business travelers

At 3Sixty, we understand that managing traveling employees can be challenging. That’s why we created a simple, all-in-one employee accommodation booking platform, so that you can manage their trip with ease.

Got a conference on the horizon? Start searching for the perfect home away from home for your employee today, here on our marketplace which has over one million pre-vetted accommodation options.