A recent report from Wyndham finds that many business travelers are embracing summer work trips partly because they can fold in a bit of leisure travel — often without telling their bosses or coworkers. The study reports that 64 percent of business travelers extend work trips for personal leisure without informing colleagues, supervisors or even partners.
More than half of business travelers prefer blending business with leisure during the summer and take advantage of the opportunity to explore new destinations. On average, those who add leisure to a business trip take about three personal days at the end of their itinerary. The report also notes that one-third of business travelers skipped a meeting or work event while on a trip simply to rest or nap, while nearly three-quarters missed a meeting or event for other reasons.
“Summer business trips can be the perfect opportunity to create new travel experiences by squeezing a little leisure time into the schedule,” said Lisa Checchio, chief marketing officer of Wyndham Hotels & Resorts.
Additional findings show that 65 percent of business travelers would rather wear a swimsuit in front of colleagues than sit through a conference session without air conditioning. The majority also prefer dressing stylishly over dressing solely for summer comfort while traveling for work.
Business travelers who are parents frequently use short extensions to get a break from family responsibilities: those with children often add one to two days to a business trip for some private downtime. Three-quarters of business travelers report frequently missing their children’s school activities, yet 69 percent still check in with school-age kids to make sure homework gets done. Interestingly, 30 percent of business travelers who have both children and pets say they would choose to travel with their pets rather than their kids.