.png)
Every entrepreneur knows the score when they hit the road for a work trip: It’s all about pitching business and closing deals—and if that comes with cramped flights, heavy airport food, a near-constant hunt for Wi-Fi and a quiet place to take a call, isn’t that just the cost of doing business?
But what if your work travel could be different? What if instead of just getting from point A to point B, you could arrive refreshed, productive, and ready to deliver wins and strengthen the connections that matter most?
A better business trip is possible. With the right moves and the right tools, you can go beyond simply surviving from point A to point B, and make your work travel efficient and comfortable—and a catalyst for your business’s growth.
Plan for Comfort and Efficiency
Travel can be a cost center for small businesses in ways that don't show up on an expense report. When you’re stuck in middle seats fighting for armrests, you can’t use flight time productively. When you’re dealing with suboptimal flights and overbooked hotels, you’re spending mental energy on logistics instead of your pitch.
That’s why it makes sense to think holistically about your time away from the office. If you schedule a buffer day for team-building and wellness rather than starting meetings 90 minutes after touchdown, your presentation is almost guaranteed to be sharper the next day. Choosing a boutique hotel over the bland conference location might mean a quick rideshare in the morning—but an interesting neighborhood is a surefire source of inspiration. (And your best clients might appreciate the chance to connect over a decent cocktail, right?)
Investments in gear can help, too: A dedicated bag of travel-only cables and chargers makes packing quicker. An ultralight yoga mat could unlock a better and more consistent wind-down routine wherever you find yourself at the end of the day.
You can think of a credit card designed for serious business travelers like gear. The new Chase Sapphire Reserve for Business, for instance, gives you access to Chase Travel, a comprehensive booking platform that cuts down on time-consuming research, letting you focus on preparing your pitch and managing your team instead of hunting for the perfect hotel or an efficient flight itinerary. And given that you’ll accelerate your rewards by earning eight points per dollar on Chase Travel purchases, necessary business expenses are suddenly future travel efficiencies—especially when the value of those points can be doubled through the new Points Boost feature.
When you need to elevate a crucial business trip, you can also benefit from access to The Edit by Chase Travel, a global portfolio of executive-class accommodations suitable for productive workdays and high-stakes client meetings. The $500 annual credit for The Edit included with Chase Sapphire Reserve for Business means you’re getting restorative experiences without the luxury price tag, directly supporting your business goals by ensuring you’re relaxed, well rested, and ready to make the right impression when it counts most.
It’s all part of an approach to business travel that recognizes that how you travel, directly impacts how effectively you can work.
Exclusive Access Means Higher Performance
Business travel often forces you into environments that work against your productivity. When you’re hunting for Wi-Fi or a quiet place to take a call in a crowded airport, you’re losing precious preparation time. If you’re cutting corners on accommodations and meals, you’re potentially missing crucial relationship-building opportunities.
A better approach to travel starts with a mindset shift: Every aspect of the journey—from departure to return—should actively support your professional objectives. This means choosing decent flights that arrive with enough time for meaningful preparation, selecting accommodations that facilitate real rest and hard work, and viewing meals and other “slack” time as your most valuable relationship-building opportunities.
This shift can take up valuable resources, but premium cards like Chase Sapphire Reserve for Business unlock these advantages through strategic partnerships and exclusive access, not just higher spending. The card enables you to maximize every moment on the road: At the airport, Chase Sapphire lounges (and Priority Pass Select locations worldwide) become your mobile office, complete with reliable Wi-Fi, quiet spaces for important calls, and quality food that won’t leave you sluggish. You can bring two guests to these lounges, giving your team a professional space to sync up and strategize. With a credit that covers TSA PreCheck and Global Entry—on top of a $300 annual credit for any travel expenses—you’ll be spending less time in lines and more time closing deals. And when you arrive at your destination, the Reserve Dining program included with your card takes the guesswork out of business entertaining by providing access to exclusive restaurant reservations and curated experiences in major cities.
In general, the difference between an adequate business trip and a great one often comes down to access—to the right spaces, the right people, and the right experiences. When you can secure a quiet corner table for a sensitive conversation, book a private car that doubles as a mobile office, or arrange a dinner that gives you genuine common ground with an important client, you’re operating from a position of strength. This holistic, elevated approach is about more than just convenience or a good meal—it’s about creating memorable experiences that strengthen business relationships. (And setting you apart from the competitors who are still waiting for a table.)
Business Travel, Upgraded
Every business trip is an investment—in relationships, opportunities, and your company’s future. When you can arrive refreshed instead of exhausted, when you have access to the right spaces and experiences to impress clients, and when every dollar spent on travel accelerates your rewards for future trips, you’re not just traveling for business—you’re strategically positioning your company for success. When business travel works for you instead of against you, there’s no limit to where your goals can take you.
