By the time your clients’ meeting participants sit themselves down on a plane, they have already been screened, asked questions and gotten suspicious looks by airport personnel (as all travelers do). They may have been rushed through a process designed to make them feel more secure, and maybe even had their belongings sifted through and shoved back into their bags willy nilly. At the gate they may have experienced more hold-ups, the flight might have been late, or may have experienced other delays and stresses. This is not your doing and not your problem, but you may be able to mitigate the effects.
Although participants will likely not associate those experiences with you, the meeting planner, they will remember you if you have provided a little comfort for them. To make the travel experience better for your clients’ members, consider making up travel packs to be delivered before the flight. Depending on the length of flight, include items that target a traveler’s basic needs–relaxation, rest, staying occupied, and a little energy. Here is a list of things to pick and choose from:
• Aromatherapy balms–find relaxation scents in small tins.
• Herbal teas–a couple bags of chamomile and other herbal teas can make a big difference in a long flight
• Skin cream or lotion–airplane environments are dry, so provide a little relief with sample-sized, unscented products
• Munchies–a granola bar can sometimes be the difference between a pleasant flight and suffering from low blood sugar
• Puzzles–almost everyone loves puzzles, so try to find a small one that appeals to many people, or a book of various genres
Although it will not always be possible to do this, whenever you can is often enough. In fact, this kind of service could become your trademark as a planner. This personal touch requires thinking far in advance of the flight, but if you put some planning into it you can achieve positive impact. But let’s face it, you’re a planner. It should be easy.
