43% of Thais would accept a lower paying job if it meant traveling more for work, reveals Booking.com for Business

Bangkok, Thailand – 26 January – New research reveals that a staggering 43% of Thai business travellers would accept a lower paying job if it meant they could travel more for work, 13% higher than the global average (30%).[i] Commissioned by Booking.com for Business, the global leader in connecting business travellers with the widest choice of places to stay, the research shows that company bosses are potentially under-valuing business travel as a staff remuneration ‘bargaining chip’ as well as a workforce motivation and retention tool.

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 three quarters of Thai business traveller (71%) have extended their business trip to a different city or country in the past 12 months, the highest of all countries researched, with 37% 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% of those surveyed believing they will travel more for business in 2017 than they did in 2016.ⁱ

Ripsy Bandourian, Director of Product Development, Booking.com for Business comments: “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. Today’s laptop and latte breed of employee is increasingly mobile and fluid with their travel plans, looking to strike a balance between business and leisure travel – bleisure.

As such, they expect employers to keep pace with their need for greater fluidity and flexibility and are even prepared to negotiate on salary to do so. It’s why Booking.com for Business is focused on providing a diverse range of accommodation choices for business travellers as well as ensuring they can find, manage and enjoy company stays in the simplest, smartest and most rewarding way.”

To help guide companies through the changing preferences of business travellers, Booking.com for Business has identified a series of trends and packaged together some helpful tips for a workforce increasingly on the move.

OFF THE BEATEN TRACK

Whilst 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 travellers. Amongst the fastest-growing cites for business travellers (based on booking growth over the past 12 months), are Prague, Budapest and Guangzhou. [ii] With 55% of people saying they enjoy travelling for business, these more hidden gem destinations are encouraging this new breed of business travellers to tag on extra days to their trips to explore and make the most of their time away from the office.ⁱ

FRUSTRATED BY DEAD TIME

Dead time is a huge inconvenience for the modern business traveller. Booking.com for Business research reveals that 68% of Thai people are keen to do as many activities as possible when visiting a new location, so minimising transit time and maximising the sights and sounds of new cities is very important.ⁱ To help business travellers achieve this, Booking.com for Business created a map to be used as an indispensable guide outlining the average time it takes to get from aircraft to city centre accommodation at the top-20 business destinations around the world. Amongst the top-five are:

GENERATION ON THE GO

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.[iv]

“It’s clear that a one size fits all approach to business travel is no longer sufficient with this new breed of employee. Whether it’s exploring new destinations, using technology or apps to make their employees’ experience more seamless or trying out different places to stay such as villas or homestays, companies should build this flexibility into corporate travel policies or give staff the freedom to plan, book and manage their own itineraries. It can reap massive rewards in terms of staff satisfaction levels and make companies far more attractive to outside talent,” added Bandourian.

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[i] According to the “2017 Travel Predictions” data collected by Booking.com with 12,781 respondents across 13 markets in September 2016. Respondents had to be 18 years of age or older, had to have travelled at least once in 2016 and had to be planning at least one trip for 2017. All respondents had to consider themselves part of their travel decision-making process.

[ii] According to data measured by bookings made by business users between November 2015 and November 2016 to destinations that had the highest year over year growth.

[iii] Transit times from aircraft to airport exit represent average times only and may in reality be more or less depending on a variety of circumstances including aircraft gate, international versus domestic arrivals and time of day. Data sourced by Booking.com for Business from airport websites or online airport consumer forums. Approximate travel time from airport to city centre for each destination taken from Google Maps.

[iv] According to the “This is Travel” survey of 44,878 respondents across 22 different markets. The results in this article focus on business travellers only, which consisted of 6,240 respondents. In order to participate in this survey, respondents had to be 18 years of age or older, had to have travelled at least once in 2016, be planning at least one trip for 2017 and either the primary decision maker or involved in the decision making of their travel.