Business Travel Not The Hardship Many Assume

By Author: Steve Robinson
Total Articles: 468
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Cheap travel options, including cheap airplane tickets, discount hotel rooms, cheap auto rentals, and discount travel packages often play key roles in how many people businesses choose to allow to travel. Contrary to popular belief that business travel typically poses undue hardships, a recent survey revealed that the vast majority of business travelers are satisfied with how much they travel.

Marriott’s Fairfield Inn & Suites ordered a survey of over 1,000 business travelers and found that 92 percent are pleased with their level of travel.

Respondents observed that business travel positively impacts their professional reputations and career opportunities. Only 13 percent contended that business travel negatively affects their emotional health, with 20 percent saying travel affects their physical health.

The survey was conducted over the first 11 days of May and found that 80 percent of the respondents thought that business travel improved their performances at work. They believe that business travel makes them “feel more prepared for life.”

The survey only included people who travel ...
... on business over three times annually. Respondents averaged 22 nights in hotels in the 12 months prior to the survey.

Additional key survey observations were:

• The most enjoyable part of business travel is experiencing new places followed by meeting new people and dining.

• Almost half the business travelers said the most enjoyable part of business travel is earning miles or points from airlines, hotels and car rental reward programs. 36 percent of the respondents felt not going into the office was the most positive aspect of business travel.

• 88 percent of business travelers experienced positive emotions when preparing for a trip. 50 percent felt confident and 48 percent felt more knowledgeable by preparing for travel.

• Only 20 percent of business travelers said that they felt stressed before traveling, with 4 percent annoyed, 2 percent sad, and 2 percent guilty.

• Half said that the hardest part of traveling is missing family or a significant other. Other downsides of travel noted were sleeping irregularly, not following fitness routines, and missing home cooked meals.

• Over half observed that they work twice as much when traveling on business.

• Still 60 percent said that travel gives them an empowering sense of freedom and the ability to do whatever they wish while away.

• A majority felt that business travel results in happiness, added self confidence and a greater appreciation of family, friends, and personal time once home again.

• Men are much more likely than women to feel confident and calm when getting ready for a business trip, whereas women tend to be more stressed and nervous.

• Women tend to be more proactive than men in taking care of home issues as soon as they become aware of a pending business trip.

• Packing tends to be the first thing women do when preparing for a trip while men first book hotels. Women more often send a family member their itinerary to make certain people know where they are when away.

• 63 percent of male business travelers claim to often travel alone vs. only 48 percent of women.
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