Professionals today use the same cloud-based technology that has allowed them to work remotely during a pandemic. While combining business and pleasure – or “pleasure” as it is known – is not a new travel trend, it does have frequency and variety.
Exciting journeys stem from a shift in perspective from cost-effective and pervasive technologies that allow us to connect to remote offices from anywhere. Today's employees can easily incorporate vacation time into their business trips with hybrid and remote business options. About 47% of business travelers have extended their business trips for vacations in the past year, according to a May survey conducted by Morning Consult on behalf of the American Hotel & Lodging Association. But they want to try more: 82% are interested in future hybrid rides.
To learn more about holiday travel trends, TravelPerk compiled statistics from the February and May 2022 Morning Advisory Survey (later commissioned by AHLA) and the February 2022 Business Trip Recovery Survey from leading business travel associations. All data points are from surveys showing some degree of convergence.
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8 out of 10 business travelers include recreational activities during their trip
After employees learned to work from home during the pandemic, many realized they could work from anywhere.
As the digital nomadic lifestyle has become more common, workers have found ways to combine work and play. 50% of these workers say they look for things to do on their own for pleasure on business trips: 4 out of 10 travel with family or friends on business trips. And 1 in 5 comes with family members on a business trip.
During the outbreak, some workers are more likely to extend their business trips for holidays
Member companies of the International Business Travel Association say three in 10 employees are more interested in expanding their business travel than they were before the pandemic.
More than half said the pandemic had not changed their willingness to extend employee days off. Less than 20% of employees said they would tend to travel longer.
When it comes to paying for the vacation component of a vacation trip, 78% of companies say they pay employees for the transportation component of the trip, such as transportation to and from a destination. And 4% said they paid for other entertainment expenses while traveling, such as hotel rooms, car rental and meals.
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Most holidays last between two and six days
Technology has expanded the way people combine business and leisure travel. Hybrid trips usually include a day or two of pleasure before or after a business event. Now workers can carry the technology they need to work long hours on the road.
While most mixed trips still last less than a week, workers could be on the road longer, Morning Advisor found today. This means that workers can take time off and stay at the destination for several days. Some people who have to travel to several cities prefer to stay longer in one place or travel to a convenient location for business trips rather than returning home between trips.
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Recreational travelers cite several reasons for choosing to combine business and leisure travel, including cost and interpersonal relationships.
In a Morning Advisor survey, respondents said the main reason for adding personal activities to business travel is to make traveling more enjoyable. Additional incentives can provide quality time to visit family and friends or bring tourists to visit colleagues and loved ones.
Cost savings are considered an advantage. Travelers can better manage their personal expenses if their employer covers the transportation share of the trip. Adding a few days of personal travel increases the convenience of traveling during non-business hours or on weekdays, saving employers money.
Morning Consult also notes that business travel can take people to places that were not previously on their radar, which is another incentive to add vacations to business travel.
The post How Business Travelers Expand Their Vacation Trips first appeared on TravelPark.