Not only is Spain known for its culture and picturesque landscapes, but also for its economic opportunities. Indeed, cities including Madrid and Barcelona are important economic centers which attract many business travelers each year.
And one of the most efficient ways to get around Spain is by high-speed train, especially the low-cost alternatives. With some tips on travel, you should consider in advance, you can make your business trip way more comfortable.
Importance Of Business Trips To Spain
The business tourism sector represents an important measure of the dynamism and degree of international openness of a country’s economy.
It is represented by the main magnitudes of outbound tourism (international business trips of a country’s citizens, participation in congresses, etc.). At the same time, it also represents a degree of attractiveness for international businessmen and professionals (inbound tourism).
Being the fourth largest economy in the EU, Spain has a diverse range of business opportunities in so many sectors. They include tourism, technology, finance, and industry, and most importantly, you can get flights to Madrid from everywhere.
Spain is an international benchmark in business tourism, driven largely by the international attractiveness of Barcelona and Madrid as cities that are consistently ranked among the best-positioned among professionals from a large number of sectors.
They represent not only cultural but also economic hubs. While Madrid boasts of being the home of many MNCs and political institutions,
Barcelona, on the other hand, is getting recognition as a hub for a dynamic start-up scene and innovation.
The economic impact the cities in Spain generate, both direct and indirect, contributes greatly to business sustainability.
Moreover, the services sectors also strengthen the robust international image of Spain.
Ultimately it helps in positioning the country as an ideal destination for business. Besides, Spain is earning its reputation as a global exporter of value-added products and services.
Travelling Spain By High-Speed Trains
Spain probably has one of the best high-speed rail networks in the world, Alta Velocidad Española (AVE). While Japan’s trains offer faster speed, Spain has a wider network.
These fast trains connect bigger cities at speeds of up to 310 km/h. Hence faster trains enable you to travel much faster than you can by car or a normal train.
It will take 2.5 hours to travel from Madrid to Barcelona—about 620 kilometres by AVE. If we compare that with the 6-7 hours it would take by car, it’s definitely a win-win situation.
Some other key routes, such as between Madrid-Valencia and Madrid-Sevilla, are even faster: less than 2 hours and 2.5 hours, respectively.
These high-speed trains have emerged as the most reliant and chosen means of transportation in Spain. All of it is attributed to its speed, convenience, and comfort.
Also, it is one of the most environmentally friendly options for commuting. High-speed trains generate between 5 and 7 times less CO2 emissions than road transport. At the same time, it generates 7 and 10 times less than air travel, as reported by European Environment Agency.
The arrival of the AVE about 30 years ago, with Renfe’s Madrid-Seville line, was a complete revolution.
Gradually, the AVE began to reach other cities and gained popularity, so much so that today it is difficult to imagine travel in the interior of Spain without them.
Business Travel Tips:
If you are a business traveller in Spain, you can make it a little more pleasant with a few tips. We’ll show you what you should bear in mind when planning your trip to ensure relaxation and avoid delays afterwards:
Avoid the unnecessary
To keep travel costs manageable and avoid additional costs, business travellers should plan their trip in as much detail as possible. Depending on the duration, destination and purpose of the trip, consider the following:
- Avoid commuting time: Find a hotel close to the place of work, airport or train station.
- Question local knowledge: Don’t book remote hotels if the employee is not familiar with the area.
- Avoid transfers. They cause stress and quite often result in postponing appointments or changing travel plans.
- Know the airlines’ regulations: Find out hand luggage dimensions, check-in times, and similar in advance.
- Book a seat on the train: If you book a fixed seat, business travellers board directly into the right carriage and don’t have to jostle their way through narrow aisles.
Customizing Your Equipment
To make the business trip as pleasant as possible, the following aspects are useful:
- Spare batteries for cell phones and laptops are a must.
- Set up a W-LAN hotspot so that you don’t have to rely on the hotel’s W-LAN.
- Put a colourful luggage strap on the standard black trolley case so that it can be quickly recognized on the conveyor belt or on the train.
- Less luggage: Hand luggage is usually sufficient and saves you waiting at the airport and the possibility of losing your suitcase.
- Dress comfortably: As business travellers sit for long periods on planes, trains or in cars, loose clothing is advisable.
Handing Over Everyday Office Life
When someone is on a business trip, the daily work routine in the office goes on.
The traveller is often difficult to reach due to the time spent on public transport and appointments on-site. Business travellers should, therefore, bear the following points in mind:
- Organize a replacement
- Issue powers of attorney
- Set up an out-of-office assistant
- Leave contact details
Yes, it’s true: Not all factors on a business trip can be influenced. Trains may get cancelled or cabs get stuck in traffic jams on the way to the airport. However, there are train connections in Spain that are considered particularly reliable—like the ones mentioned above.
If business travellers take these aspects into account when choosing transport, hotels and clothing, they can travel with utmost relaxation. Last but not least, they benefit from packing in a well-structured way and using their travel time wisely.
The Bottom Line
Spain offers myriads of opportunities in business. And business enterprises must look at different ways to optimize them to reap the benefits. Hence, if you intend to make a visit to Spain for a meeting, you must be mindful of the various requirements.
First, you must avoid commuting too much. Moreover, you must have a good knowledge of the local commuting systems, food, and hotels. When it comes to boarding airlines, you must have a complete knowledge of the rules and regulations.
Besides, you must have the luggage well equipped. Meaning you must customize them according to the convenience.
One of the great ways to commute from one place to another in Spain is travelling by high-speed train. They are disciplined, and they are capable of travelling longer distances and that too without major delays.
Also, you must focus on organizing replacements, issuing power of attorney, and other aspects to make the meetings hassle-free. We hope you have a great business meeting and a convenient journey in Spain.
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