The Value of Business Travel

Asians say they are most likely to benefit from getting out of the office proving the value of business travel.

New Research by CWT, a B2B travel management platform, shows that six in ten travelers feel more creative and productive when traveling for business.Their conclusion is unequivocal, despite the aggravation, frustration and exhaustion, business travel boosts creativity.

Younger business people appreciate travel the most.

Millennial travelers are more likely to say that they are more creative and productive when traveling for business. Those in the Americas lead the way (77% feeling more creative and productive), followed closely by those in Asia Pacific (75% feeling more creative and 73% more productive). European millennials rank third (58% and 57% respectively).

“We are proud to be in a business that helps bring out the best in people,” said Niklas Andreen, Executive VP and Chief Traveler Experience Officer at CWT. “These findings are not a surprise – travel energizes people, fosters fresh thinking, creates connections – and nothing beats a face-to-face meeting.”

Overall, travelers from Asia Pacific are more likely to have increased creativity (65%) and productivity (64%) compared to travelers from the Americas (58% and 60% respectively) and Europe (53% and 51% respectively).

Asians like face to face meetings
CWT’s research also shows that six in ten travelers are most productive when working face-to-face and collaborating with colleagues as opposed to working alone (30%) or remotely (14%). Asia Pacific travelers’ productivity benefits the most from working face-to-face: 61% versus 53% for travelers from the Americas and Europe.

About the survey

The survey was created by CWT and conducted by Artemis Strategy Group between 29 January and 9 February, 2019. Responses were collected from more than 2,700 business travelers who traveled for business four or more times in the previous 12 months. Respondents were from the Americas (Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Mexico, and the United States), Europe (Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, The Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, and the UK), and Asia Pacific (Australia, China, India, Japan, and Singapore).

This research is important becasue despite the hassles, despite the costs and despite the time away, it proves the value of business travel.