Los Angeles is one of the most important cities in the nation. Second only to New York City when it comes to population size, the “City of Angels” is among the most visited places in the United States. Not only is this destination a treasure trove of popular landmarks and tourist attractions, but L.A. also serves as a key commercial and financial hub for California. For this reason, hundreds of business leaders, executives, and entrepreneurs regularly fly into this vibrant city for work reasons, be it for a meeting, conference, or other business-related events.
If you have an impending business trip to Los Angeles, one of the most important things to consider would have to be what to bring with you. Packing for a holiday trip to LA is easy and exciting; you can simply fold your swimsuits, shorts, and tank tops into your luggage and you’re good to go.
When it comes to business trips, however, packing becomes a bit more stressful because you have to remember everything down to the littlest details – from choosing event-appropriate outfits to preparing electronic devices, important documents, and other work essentials.
If you’re stressing out and unsure where to start, don’t fret. To get you ready and organized for your upcoming trip, we’ve put together this essential guide on what to bring on a business trip to Los Angeles.
Checklist of Items for Your Business Trip
- Travel documents
It goes without saying that having all the necessary documents is a must when packing for your business trip. One of the best practices when traveling is to have a document organizer where you can keep important files. Some of the necessary travel documents to pack are:
- Passport
- Boarding pass
- Hotel reservations
- Travel insurance policy
- Medical insurance
- Copy of your itinerary
- Car rental receipt
- Clothes
Needless to say, you need to pack enough clothes depending on the length of your business trip. One of the major considerations when packing is your destination’s weather; in L.A., the weather is warm year-round.
The best part is that it is still relatively warm in the city even during winter, which means you can skip thick, bulky clothes, saving plenty of space in your luggage. Generally, you need to have the following clothing items:
- Business attire: Suits, button-up shirts and slacks for men; blouse, pants, or skirts for women. Ideally, bring clothes in neutral colors so that you can easily mix and match.
- Underwear and socks.
- Shoes: Pack one pair to go with your business outfit and another one for your daily use (such as casual shoes or sneakers).
- Tops: If you’re coming to L.A. in a warm season, pack cool shirts, preferably made out of cotton. If you’re coming during colder weather, make sure to have long-sleeved shirts or cardigans.
- Bottoms: Bring shorts and pants for your non-working hours.
- Accessories: This includes belts, neckties, jewelry, and watches.
- Pajamas: Pajamas are great for relaxing before sleep.
- Workout clothes: Squeeze in a workout during your trip.
- Swimsuit: Do some laps in the hotel pool or check out the numerous beaches around L.A. in your free time.
- Electronic devices
With the current age of technology, almost everything is available digitally. More and more business travelers keep their important files, documents, and other business-related data in their electronic devices and gadgets. A few of the devices and accessories to bring on your work trip include:
- Laptop
- Smartphone
- Tablets: iPads or Android tablets
- USB thumb drive or external hard drive (crucial for file storage)
- Device chargers
- Portable WiFi to conduct work anywhere and anytime
- Power strip
- Headphones: noise-canceling headphones are the best option for business situations.
- Business cards
https://unsplash.com/s/photos/business-cards
Because the main purpose of your trip is to do business, one of the key tools to have in your back pocket (literally and figuratively!) is your business card. From the moment you arrive at the airport and step off the plane, you have a chance to do some networking and should already be in work mode. Be prepared for whomever you may meet – you never know who you’re going to bump into and connect with.
If your travel itinerary is filled with multiple meetings, conferences, and other work-related events, take this as an opportunity to network and build connections. To make a lasting impression, have business cards on hand and be ready to give them out during your events. Another good practice is to have not just your personal contact information, but also that of the people you work with most for referrals.
- Briefcase or purse
This one may already be obvious but it’s worth mentioning that you need to have a briefcase during your business trip. Oftentimes, business travelers pack a single carry-on suitcase containing their personal belongings. However, when you need to leave for a meeting, attend a conference, or go on a work lunch or dinner, you need a smaller bag.
Have a briefcase ready to store the essentials, such as your hotel key card, gadgets, documents, notebook, pen, and a charger. Bring along other handy items such as breath mints and hand sanitizer.
Pro tip: Before attending a meeting or a conference, look for a bag storage locker in the city where you can temporarily leave extra items rather than tote them to the event.
Sources:
https://www.entrepreneurshipsecret.com/amp/how-to-prepare-for-first-business-trip/
https://www.hertz.com/blog/travel/business-travel/business-travelers-guide-los-angeles
https://blog.tortugabackpacks.com/business-trip-packing-list/
https://www.tripsavvy.com/checklist-to-pack-for-a-business-trip-3544959
*Collaborative post