Business travel refers to any type of geographical transportation that someone undergoes at the behest of his or her employer to perform the duties of a job. One simple way in which an employee may undergo such travel is for training, in which an employer may require that employees go to a central location to receive instruction. Business travel can also include ongoing and regular visitation to various locations in order to provide service or otherwise work with remote teams. This type of travel is always temporary, as the employee eventually returns home, as opposed to “relocation” that is typically permanent.
The purpose of business travel can vary quite a bit, depending on the particular needs of an employer and the types of skills possessed by a traveler. Training, for example, is a common cause for this type of travel as employees may need to go to a central office or similar location to be trained. Developments in computers and training software have alleviated the need for such travel in many fields, though some companies may still require training in person.
There are also many situations in which an employee working in sales may need to travel for his or her employer. This can be a fairly short trip, such as someone driving across town to meet with a client and pitch a sale in person rather than over the phone. More extensive business travel may be required in some situations, however, such as flights to other cities or countries. Some companies may need certain employees to travel extensively to work with individuals in other offices, often providing training or services to assist those locations.
Businesses typically reimburse employees for business travel, or provide them with funds in advance to cover travel costs. An employee who has to drive to a sales pitch, for example, may be reimbursed by an employer for the cost of the gas used in doing so. Airline tickets are often purchased for employees by a company, and the costs for hotel rooms and food while traveling are typically provided. Additional travel expenses for may also be covered, especially for charges that are made as part of an employee’s work.
Although business travel involves the transportation of an employee from one place to another, it should not be confused with relocation. When an employee travels somewhere for a company, it is typically expected that he or she will return home after a fairly short period of time. Extensive travel may be necessary in some situations, but it is still temporary. Relocation, however, occurs when an employee completely moves to a new area at the behest of a company, often due to a promotion or recent hiring.