Can business travel improve your personal and professional growth? Here’s what 4000 people had to say about business travel and wellness.
Key takeaways from TravelPerk’s Business Travel Wellness survey
- 40% of travelers say corporate travel is great for their personal and professional growth
- 25% of Millennials say that traveling for work has helped them get a promotion
- 1 in 5 travelers feel more productive at work when they get back from their trip
- This number is even higher within the Gen Z demographic, with 23% of 18-24 year olds feeling more productive at work after a trip
- 43% of travelers say business travel has helped them develop new skills, 31% feel more passionate about their jobs, and 23% say it has helped them find more purpose
- 21% of 25-34 years old say business travel has helped their mental health
Slow travel is in, and day-return trips are declining
Business travel can have a positive impact on mental health
Business trips are great for professional development
In Spain, over half of travelers (52%) thought business travel was great for their personal and professional growth, while 42% of UK travelers said one of the top perks of business travel was meeting and connecting with new people.40% of travelers said business travel helped them forge stronger professional connections. This percentage was even higher in Germany (44%), the US (42%), and Spain (41%).Business travel helps people grow their careers by:
- Attending relevant industry events like conferences, seminars, and training sessions
- Networking in person with people in their industry to build stronger relationships
- Pursuing new opportunities and meeting business goals
Traveling for work gives employees greater purpose and increases passion for their jobs
Increased employee engagement and happiness at work is beneficial for both employees and companies—highly engaged business units are 23% more profitable on average, according to Gallup.
The findings from TravelPerk’s recent research show that for a sizable proportion of employees, business travel can increase feelings of passion towards their work… we know that if employees are more passionate about their roles, they’re more likely to be engaged and productive, and better manage the stresses of their role.
TravelPerk’s findings are in line with two previous academic studies which found that employees can find business travel enriching (Gustafson, 2014; Ye & Xu, 2020). In one of these studies, employees shared that having leisure time included in business travel allowed them to experience and learn more about the culture and destination (Ye & Xu, 2020). The other study found that employees felt business travel could have a positive impact on their identity (Gustafson, 2014).Taken together, these findings suggest that business travel should be arranged with employees’ well-being in mind.
TravelPerk’s findings are in line with two previous academic studies which found that employees can find business travel enriching (Gustafson, 2014; Ye & Xu, 2020). In one of these studies, employees shared that having leisure time included in business travel allowed them to experience and learn more about the culture and destination (Ye & Xu, 2020). The other study found that employees felt business travel could have a positive impact on their identity (Gustafson, 2014).Taken together, these findings suggest that business travel should be arranged with employees’ well-being in mind.
Dr. Charlotte Russellclinical psychologist and founder , The Travel Psychologist