Expert Tips for Efficient Packing on Business Trips

Frequent business travel can often feel chaotic, particularly when packing for last-minute trips. To ease the burden, industry experts share their packing strategies, highlighting essential items and techniques that ensure efficiency and preparedness on the road.

Maximizing Space and Minimizing Stress

Sean Doyle, Chief Executive of British Airways, travels internationally approximately 15 times each year. He has refined his packing technique to ensure it never takes more than 30 minutes. Doyle suggests packing an extra shirt or two and utilizing the clips inside carry cases to secure suits, thus avoiding the need for ironing. He also emphasizes the importance of bringing a gym kit, recalling a recent trip to India where he had to buy new trainers after forgetting his at home. A practical tip he learned from cabin crew is to always place one shoe in the room safe alongside other valuables to prevent leaving without a complete pair.

Organizational expert Marie Kondo approaches packing with a sense of joy. She dedicates about an hour to the task, employing her signature KonMari folding method to make clothes visible and accessible. Kondo emphasizes the use of cube-shaped pouches for toiletries and makeup, ensuring that each category is stored together. She recounts a time when she left behind a pouch of cosmetics, illustrating the importance of a checklist to avoid forgetting essential items.

Different Approaches to Packing

For Jen Prosek, founder of Prosek Partners, the mantra is simplicity: one carry-on bag and one duffel. Prosek opts for versatile clothing, including a blazer, a standout dress, and minimal accessories. She advises against checking luggage, suggesting that packing in advance can prevent rushed decisions that lead to regrets.

Contrastingly, Anthony Scaramucci, founder of SkyBridge Capital, embraces a different philosophy—more is more. He avoids carry-on luggage altogether, aiming to replicate his home environment wherever he travels. Scaramucci prioritizes comfort, packing ample skincare products and supplements, and even a hand-pumped espresso maker for personal luxury. His large suitcase accommodates all necessities, and he encourages others to pack early to avoid stress.

Lina Calabria, co-founder and CEO of Bellroy, has developed a master packing list over her extensive travel experience. This list is categorized for different types of trips, allowing her to prepare quickly. Calabria shares valuable lessons, such as bringing spare car keys and utilizing laptops to charge phones while on the go.

Practical Packing Strategies

With frequent travel for varying purposes, Tom Fletcher, UN humanitarian chief, maintains a pre-packed suitcase for efficiency. This suitcase contains essentials for both formal and field environments, including non-iron shirts and a mosquito net. His strategy focuses on minimizing decision fatigue by choosing a consistent color palette, primarily navy blue.

Nick Studer, CEO of Oliver Wyman, incorporates a Mary Poppins-style backpack filled with necessary items for any situation, from spilled food to minor ailments. This approach not only ensures preparedness but also allows him to carry sentimental items that keep him grounded during high-pressure meetings.

Lastly, Clare Hornby, CEO of ME+EM, emphasizes the importance of mix-and-match outfits for versatility. She selects fabrics that resist creasing, allowing for a polished appearance upon arrival. Hornby’s systematic approach to packing, combined with thoughtful accessory choices, ensures she is ready for both business and leisure engagements.

Nick Longman, CEO of Audley Travel, rounds out the advice by highlighting the benefits of vacuum packing to maximize cabin baggage space. He stresses the importance of checking the weather and planning clothing accordingly, aiming to fit everything needed for a business trip into a single cabin case.

By applying these expert insights, frequent travelers can enhance their packing efficiency, ensuring a smoother journey no matter the destination.