New research from Booking.com for Business shows that 30 percent of business travelers would accept a lower paying job if it meant they could travel more for work.
According to Booking.com for Business, the research shows that companies are potentially under-valuing business travel as a staff remuneration “bargaining chip” as well as a workforce motivation and retention tool.
"No longer seen as lost time or a career inconvenience, business travel is increasingly seen as an opportunity to expand horizons, find inspiration and progress in a career,” said Ripsy Bandourian, director of product development, Booking.com for Business. “As such, business travelers expect their employers to keep pace with their need for greater fluidity and flexibility and are even prepared to negotiate on salary to do so.”
These findings reflect a broader trend identified by Booking.com for Business which reveals that employees are increasingly smudging the line between business and leisure. Data shows that nearly half of business travelers (49%) have extended their business trip to a different city or country in the past 12 months, with nearly one third of this group (27%) claiming they intend to do the same in 2017. It’s a trend Booking.com for Business predicts will continue in the coming year with 46 percent of those surveyed believing they will travel more for business in 2017 than they did in 2016.
While cities like London, Paris and Frankfurt remain business travel hotspots, Booking.com for Business has also identified the top-10 fastest-growing cities for business travelers. Among the fastest-growing cites for business travelers (based on booking growth over the past 12 months), are Prague, Budapest and Guangzhou. With 55 percent of people saying they enjoy traveling for business, these more hidden gem destinations are encouraging this new breed of business travelers to tag on extra days to their trips to explore and make the most of their time away from the office.
Top 10 Fastest-Growing Business Travel Destinations
- Shanghai
- Tokyo
- Bangkok
- Guangzhou
- New York
- Budapest
- Singapore
- Hong Kong
- Prague
- Amsterdam
Dead time is a huge inconvenience for the modern business traveller. Booking.com for Business research reveals that 62 percent of people are keen to do as many activities as possible when visiting a new location, so minimizing transit time and maximizing the sights and sounds of new cities is very important.
Top 5 Business Travel Destinations With Fastest Transit Times to City Center Accommodations
| 1. | Singapore Changi Airport | 46 minutes |
| 2. | Munich Franz Josef Strauss Airport | 47 minutes |
| 3. | Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport | 54 minutes |
| 4. | Madrid Barajas Airport | 57 minutes |
| 5. | Berlin Tegel Airport | 58 minutes |
This new breed of business traveller is far more likely to book a trip or change their travel plans at the last minute. Research from Booking.com for Business reveals that of those who stated they travel for business, nearly a quarter (23%) book their travel within a week before their trip for domestic locations, with one quarter of respondents (24%) booking their international business trip four weeks or less before departure.