Top bosses are turning their backs on a ‘work at all cost’ attitude for business trips by prioritising balance and personal wellbeing when away.
New research amongst 600 C-suite professionals from the UK, the US, Germany and Spain has revealed that hitting the road is no longer seen as a lonely solo activity – with a staggering 73% saying they have travelled with either a partner (53%), a child (22%), a pal (21%) or even a pet (7%).
Meanwhile, one in five senior leaders (21%) admitted that they are embracing the ‘bleisure’ trend and extending work trips to take some holiday.
The figures, from global business travel and expense management platform TravelPerk, demonstrate how attitudes are changing in the boardroom when it comes to corporate travel.
For non-exec staff travelling with someone is slightly less common – by comparison, only 55% of all other employees have taken a partner (36%), child (14%), friend (14%) or pet (11%) when they travel for work.
Encouragingly, only one-quarter of the bosses quizzed (25%) said they still struggle with work-life balance while travelling for work.
Jean-Christophe Taunay-Bucalo, President & COO, TravelPerk said: “Being a business leader means you have to be very careful with your time and energy. Travel for work can be intense, and you need to stay sharp.
“I’ve learned over the years that small habits can make the biggest difference – from carving out quiet time for deep work on flights to keeping up simple routines like exercise. Personally, I always pack workout gear and a white noise machine, which help me adjust quickly to new time zones and environments so I can stay focused and perform at my best.”
The key to remaining productive is seen as finding a happy blend of connectivity and downtime, with 49% of CEOs saying they set strict time limits on their working day. Making sure time is used constructively is also highly prized, with 44% of C-suite leaders choosing work-friendly transport options, such as quiet train cars, while 37% pay for in-flight Wi-Fi.
Travel managers should note that hotel choice is given priority, with a restful environment (43%), quality breakfast (40%) and healthy food (34%) leading the ‘must-have’ list.
Once arriving at their destination, the first thing 21% of C-suite travellers do is freshen up or shower and check in with family or loved ones (17%). Only 3% head to the office and check in late compared to entry-level employees (7%).
