A white paper by global accommodation agency Situ has identified stark differences in expectations, behaviours and preferences across Gen Z, Millennials, Gen X and Baby Boomers.
The new report sheds light on how much flexibility different generations require when booking accommodation, and whether business trips are seen as a chore, perk, or a viable pathway to career progression.
Called Mind the Gap: Generational analysis of the accommodation requirements and buying behaviours of today’s business travellers,’ the study found:
- 30% of Millennials replying they wanted full flexibility when choosing where to stay
- 41% of Gen X and 34% of Baby Boomers think sustainability is important when selecting accommodation.
- Gen Z are tracking towards non-hotel accommodation, including serviced apartments and short-term rentals, while just 21% of the cohort state they use company-approved booking tools
- Younger employees express wanting to be able to live with their colleagues, demonstrating the challenges many businesses today face when managing a corporate travel programme.
Phil Stapleton, Situ Founder and CEO, said: “Exploring these generational differences – or ‘gaps’– is a vital and ongoing conversation for the corporate travel industry, which faces growing pressure to better understand and respond to the evolving needs of a multigenerational travelling workforce.
“The nuances around generational needs and preferences are yet another dimension for the buyers and suppliers of business travel services to consider, alongside priorities such as flexibility, tech, and duty of care.
“An understanding of these different needs is yet another piece in the mosaic of how we understand the individual traveller and will help us to continue our mission to optimise traveller experience and prepare the industry for the years ahead.”
The white paper is based on an online survey carried out in collaboration with the market research company YouGov1, which investigated the behaviours and preferences of more than 550 business travellers.
In addition, a number of experienced professionals from the business travel sector were interviewed to augment the survey data and gain insight into the day-to-day realities of those working in business travel.
