A business traveler should be prepared for any eventuality, and that’s just as true for the IRO as for anyone else. Thankfully, we’ve been researching ways to make business travel less of a bind.
IR woe: You have an absurd travel schedule and your first meeting with a critical investor has been arranged within 30 minutes of your scheduled flight arrival time in the city
IR pro: A wearable luggage jacket
Do away with the bother and delay of waiting for your checked-in luggage at the baggage reclaim by carrying on everything. Literally. What you can’t fit in your carry-on luggage, you can just wear. The Stuffa Jacket, which masquerades as a gilet, looks completely ridiculous over a suit, but think of the time you’ll save by skipping baggage reclaim. And what the wearable luggage jacket lacks in style, it more than makes up for in pockets: it has no fewer than 12, which are perfect for stashing all the corporate reports that would take up valuable carry-on luggage space.
IR woe: Lukewarm white wine at investor conferences
IR pro: Investor conference wine chiller
Okay, so it’s actually called a FREEZE Cooling Wine Glass Set but it effectively does the same thing. There comes a time at an investor conference when wine must be served. Sadly for most of us, sampling conference wine is always a depressing affair. After a hard day of meetings and taking notes, a glass of wine at the end of the day should be a highlight. Regrettably, the reality is often a low-grade Chardonnay that has spent a long time separated from the fridge. Think we’re being over the top? Next time the warm white wine reaches your lips, you’ll remember reading this feature and wish you’d heeded our advice.
IR woe: Having an urgent need to sleep (either in a meeting or in an airport) but not being able to
IR pro: The OstrichPillow
Billed as the ultimate travel pillow, this travel accessory allows you to create a soft helmet around your head so you can nap anywhere. Admittedly, you will look like a cross between a Teletubby and a bulb of garlic, but if sleep is your priority you probably won’t care too much.
IR woe: Traveling with irritating colleagues you don’t want to talk to (while being stuck in Economy class)
IR pro: The b-tourist strip
Perfect for those times you don’t want to speak to your fellow travellers. And used in conjunction with the Ostrich Pillow and conference wine glass set, this contraption can almost fool the brain into thinking you’ve been upgraded from Economy to Business Class.
This article appeared in the summer 2017 issue of IR Magazine
