Wednesday, August 14, 2024 Blended travel is on the rise as more travelers combine business and leisure, maximizing work trips for both productivity and relaxation. In the past year , more than one-third of UK employees (34%) have opted for trips that combine both business and leisure, a significant rise from the previous 17%. This trend highlights the growing appeal of blended travel, where work and relaxation merge seamlessly.
Recent research reveals that nearly two-thirds of UK workers (62%) find it important to extend their business trips to include leisure activities. Additionally, close to half (48%) of these employees have come to depend on business trips as a means to enjoy leisure travel, particularly in light of the ongoing cost-of-living crisis. The survey, conducted by Censuswide for the spend management platform Pleo, gathered insights from over 1,000 UK employees in July.
The findings shed light on the changing travel preferences of the workforce. A significant portion of respondents cited financial savings as a major advantage of blended travel, with nearly half acknowledging this benefit. Additionally, 40% of those surveyed appreciate the opportunity to explore new destinations, while 35% see the reduced need to use annual leave as a distinct advantage.
More than a quarter of employees (23%) reported saving over £1,000 by incorporating leisure time into their business trips, with the average savings per trip amounting to £788. This financial incentive unders.