Travel Survey
When business men and women are traveling on business trips, their favourite pastime is hanging out in hotel food and beverage outlets with colleagues, a survey by Four Points by Sheraton reveals.
Flying Solo
Fully 42.88% said they liked spending time in hotel bars or restaurants with
colleagues followed by 38.97%, who spent time at the hotel’s gym,
37.54%, who spent time at the hotel’s spa, and 34.16%, who spent time
shopping.
But if business travelers like hanging out with their buddies in hotel bars and restaurants, they don’t like flying with them. More than 60% of the travelers surveyed said they would prefer to fly alone than with a business associate.
Other than not liking to travel with business colleagues, business travelers seem to be a social lot. Nearly two-thirds said they had kept in touch with someone they met on the plane or at the hotel while traveling on the road.
Cultural Differences
Chinese business travelers are the most receptive to sharing a flight with a co-worker (49.5%), and a full 70% of Chinese business travelers have stayed in touch with someone they met on the road. Indian business travelers are the most likely to hang out with colleagues at a bar or restaurant (61.05%). Indian business travelers are also the most likely to catch up with friends who live in town (52.63%).
Despite their gregarious reputation, Brazilian business travelers are the least open to traveling with a colleague, with 53.62% reporting that they don’t want to have to worry about anyone else when they are traveling. Brazilian business travelers are also the least likely to hang out with colleagues at a bar or restaurant (30.93%).
Need to Connect
“Business travelers have a real need to connect on the road – both virtually and in person,” says Brian McGuinness, Starwood’s Senior Vice President, Specialty Select Brands.
“Our survey results reveal that road warriors are social, preferring to network or to relax in the company of colleagues rather than just enjoying solitary pursuits. Four Points provides everything our guests need to be productive and comfortable on the road and that includes creating opportunities to connect socially through brand-wide programs like Best Brews, which invites guests to gather over a great local craft beer when the work day ends.”
A total of 6,000 business travelers in six countries were surveyed by Four Points, 1,000 each from Brazil, Britain, China, Germany India, and the United States.
Comment
I must be in the minority because I tend to prefer traveling with others. When I’m traveling alone, I find things much more stressful. Waiting in line and going through customs seems so much less boring when you’ve got someone to chat with. And should a problem arise – two heads are always better than one.