Booking.com study reveals ‘lure’ of business travel for employers

Booking.com study reveals ‘lure’ of business travel for employers

Almost a third (30%) of people accepted their job fully or in part because of the business travel opportunities it offered Continue reading

Almost a third (30%) of people accepted their job fully or in part because of the business travel opportunities it offered, highlighting the lure of business travel for employees.

When looking into specific professions, this sentiment is echoed most by architects and designers (45%) and management consultants (38%).

More than a third (38%) of the 17,000 people questioned say they would actively pursue a new job if it meant they could travel even more for business.

The figure rises to 46% among 18-34 year olds, and similarly, architects and designers (48%) and management consultants (43%).

The statistics suggest that employers looking to attract and retain the best talent should consider travel as an intrinsic part of the job package they offer, according to the study by Booking.com for Business which covered professionals working in 24 countries acordd more than 20 industries.

A third (32%) feel their work and leisure time is intertwined, in particular those in agriculture and farming (43%), architecture and design (43%), and management consultancy (42%).

All try to make the most of a destination when travelling for business, regardless of industry.

Two thirds (69%) extend a business trip by a few hours or days, while three quarters (73%) make time for leisure activities within a trip.

Overall, 45% of professionals value the ability to blend business travel with leisure over traditional workplace benefits.

For those who extend business trips for leisure time, the majority do so by 24 hours (41%), followed by two to three days (29%) and a few hours (24%).

More conventional activities such as exploring well-known attractions (57%), trying local cuisine or dining at top restaurants (42%) and shopping (40%) emerged as the top three activities overall, there are interesting variations across professions:

• Experiencing local art and culture is among the top three activities for those in architecture and design (45%), management consultancy (43%) and education (42%)
• Construction and engineering (26%), communications and media (26%), charity and NGO (25%) and legal (25%) professionals are more likely than others to spend time with colleagues or clients outside of work
• Social and welfare (22%), armed forces (22%) and agriculture and farming (21%) professionals are more likely to sleep or rest during their leisure time
When looking across all professions, 70% of employees say making time for leisure travel gives them greater job satisfaction. For the majority (75%), leisure travel helps them to better manage work stress and pressure.

In terms of the most preferred accommodation for a holiday stay, a place with “local charm” is among the top three choices for all professionals (23%), in addition to mid-market options (31%) and places with all-inclusive deals (23%).

When considering what drives holiday accommodation choice, location is key across all professions, with 43% wanting to be close to local attractions, followed by comfort (34%) and fast and complimentary Wi-Fi (31%).

Having a strong start to the day is also essential, with the top prioritised accommodation amenities across professions being a comfortable bed (62%) and a hearty breakfast (42%).

Booking.com for Business product development senior director Ripsy Bandourian said: “Having opportunities to travel for business is increasingly prized by working professionals, led by the millennial generation.
“And more than ever, business travellers want to maximise their time spent in a business destination for both work and leisure.”