Business travel across Canada requires careful planning and key considerations.
This country spans six time zones and boasts some of North America’s most dynamic, business-forward cities. It presents unique challenges and opportunities, and demands respect.
Each city is home to its own unique blend of culture, charm, and modern innovation. Understanding these small, nuanced differences can be the difference between a smooth, productive work trip and a stressful nightmare.
Follow these five business trip tips for Canada’s top cities:
1. Local Business Etiquette
Canada’s business etiquettes vary from city to city, so adapting to the local nuances can help you network better and avoid cultural missteps.
Toronto, for example, sets the benchmark for formality and punctuality. Meetings start on time, and lateness is frowned upon, particularly in highly corporate spaces. Handshakes are intentionally firm, and attire leans toward the conservative side of business formal.
2. Traffic Tips
While in Canada on business, nothing will derail a productive day faster than getting stuck in traffic.
Canada’s biggest cities are notorious for unpredictable weather, delays, and congestion. Knowing how to navigate the cities efficiently can help you arrive at meetings, networking events, and conferences calm, collected, and on time.
Downtown rush hour can turn a 10-minute trip into an hour, so if your business takes you into the busiest parts of the city, skip the car and use public transit instead.
3. Accommodation
Choosing where to stay on your business trip can make or break it.
In Canada’s major cities, accommodation options are aplenty, but balancing convenience, amenities, and comfort is a little rarer.
Choose one of the most trusted brands, such as DelSuites furnished corporate housing for centrally-located options across the area. For many professionals, furnished corporate rentals are the go-to for longer stays or repeat visits to the major cities.
Instead of living out of a suitcase for your entire trip, unpack, settle in, and feel at home from day one.
4. Leverage Coffee Chats
In Canada, business deals aren’t exclusively struck in boardrooms. They often begin with a casual coffee.
Coffee chats are part of the foundation of Canadian professional networking. They are perfectly informal, approachable, and effective for exploring opportunities without the commitment of a one or two-hour meal.
They create space for genuine conversation, and that helps professionals share ideas and discuss potential collaborations without the pressure of a business meeting.
5. Weather Tips
Last, but far from least, Canada is infamous for its frigid winters, so if your trip is during the coldest months of the year, this tip is for you.
Canada cold is a different kind of cold. It isn’t to be trifled with.
Apart from your eyelashes freezing together, winters here can take a toll on your phone battery, too.
In this instance, layering is your best bet. Start with a base thermal layer; then add a middle layer, and finally a top layer of outerwear or a coat. The layering strategy allows you to shed layers the moment you step into a meeting room heated to balmy island-holiday levels.
To End
Business in Canada is largely built on relationships, trust, adaptability, and having a sense of humour about the weather.
Canadians appreciate professionalism, friendliness, and authenticity, so follow these five tips above and your business trip won’t just be productive – it’ll be memorable too.
