In a recent survey of 2,700 business travellers, 92% felt the positive aspects of travel for work outweigh the negatives, with travellers from the Americas most enthusiastic at 94%, followed by respondents from Asia Pacific at 93%, and Europe at 89%.
CWT’s research also indicates that the top three benefits of travelling for work are developing trust, getting to know people better, and efficiencies.
European travelers value getting to know people the most (37%), followed by the Americas (36%), and travellers from Asia Pacific (25%). Europeans also value the efficiencies of meeting people face-to-face the most (34%), followed by travellers from Asia Pacific (31%), and the Americas (29%).
Business travellers have also embraced the bleisure trend, extending work trips for pleasure. On average, survey respondents said they had extended trips 2.4 times in the last year for around 4 days.
The research reveals companies are mostly supportive of bleisure travel if employees pay for their personal expenses with 76% saying their employers sanctioned trip extensions for pleasure.
“Travelling to a new destination, meeting someone face-to-face for the first time, networking with people that can help you to advance your business as well as your career, and getting out of the work routine are some of the most exciting factors associated to business travel,” says CWT’s Executive VP, Niklas Andréen.
“It’s important that we recognize the true value that travellers find in their travels, and understand what provides the most positive benefits while on the road.”
