A Business Traveler's Guide to What and How to Pack

There's no guarantee the airline industry can get you to your destination on time, but by following these expert packing tips, you can rest assured that you've packed everything you need and that your clothes will arrive wrinkle-free -- especially if you're traveling for business.

According the National Business Travelers Association, companies spend $153.2 billion a year on corporate travel, and the average cost of a domestic three-day business trip is around $1,000.

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So if your employer is shelling out the money to send you to an event, you want to make sure your clothes are working as hard as you.

How much you pack is not proportional to the length of your itinerary, said Susan Foster, author of Smart Packing for Today’s Traveler.

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"If you are going on a three-day trip you don't need three completely different outfits," said Foster. "You take two pairs of pants--one you wear on the plane the other you pack--three tops and one matched suit that can be interchanged with different tops."

Knowing the corporate culture of your destination and what is on the itinerary will help make sure you're properly dressed. "If you are going from New York to Kansas City, it's like going from the Big Apple to the mini apple -- the business cultures are going to be different and you want your clothes to blend in with your environment," Foster said.

Packing more versatile pieces will also limit how much you end up cramming into your suitcase. "You want to get a lot of mileage out of your clothes," she said.

Try to stick to a color palette when you are deciding what pieces make the cut, added Doug Dyment, packing expert who runs onebag.com. "I always advocate packing things that all work together and can be worn with anything you pack. I like to stick to blue and gray, that way I know everything I pack matches."

When choosing your travel clothes be mindful of the fabric. "Fabrics that don't wrinkle easily tend not to be 100% natural--they're usually a polyester blend. The idea of wearing polyester might scare some people from the reputation it had back in the day, but that notion hasn't been true in well over a decade," said Dyment.

Foster said you should wear a business-appropriate outfit on the plane just in case the unthinkable happens. "You always want to travel in something you can work in. You don't want to get off the plane in your pink sweats because you don't know who is picking you up at the airport or if your luggage is lost and you have to show up to meetings in pink sweats," she said.

And don't forget the power of accessories. "The challenge is not looking the same everyday," said Dyment. To change up your look pack scarves, colorful ties, belts and jewelry .
Shoes tend to be the bulkiest item on the packing list and Foster suggest women limit themselves to three pairs: one on their feet, and two in the luggage. "I usually wear a slip on pair for when I go through security and then bring a pair of dressy and casual shoes," she said. For men with bigger feet, Foster suggests bringing one pair and building the wardrobe around the shoes.

Both experts agreed packing lists are the No.1 way to ensure nothing gets left behind. "Don't make it up as you go along, or make it the night before you are leaving that is the worst time to be doing it," said Dyment. "You need to be efficient and methodological, create a list that will work for you every time you travel."