64% extend business trips for pleasure (without telling anyone)

La Quinta by Wyndham has unveiled the trends and challenges for business travellers with its latest ‘La Quinta Means Business’ national survey.

La Quinta’s survey tapped into the mindset of today’s business traveller during the busy summer and back-to-school months to determine how the season might impact their decision-making while on the road. It offers insight on the distinct experience of business travel in the summer, including surviving stuffy conference rooms, being spotted in a bathing suit by coworkers, squeezing in some time for sightseeing and rushing to make it home in time for back-to-school prep.

I need a vacation…

• Under the radar: Nearly two-thirds (64%) of business travellers who have extended a trip have done so secretly for personal vacation without telling someone, including their coworkers (32%), boss (26%) and even their own partner (22%).
• New territory: More than half (51%) of these business travellers have extended their business trips to explore the destination.
• ‘Tis the sea-sun: For 56% of business travellers, summer is the best time to extend a business trip for a personal vacation.
• Vacation daze: On average, business travellers extended a trip for three days, with 42% extending three to five days.
• Recharge your batteries: Nearly three in ten (29%) business travellers have skipped out on a meeting or work event to take a nap or do something restful while on a business trip.

“The perfect opportunity to create new travel experiences”

“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. “By understanding the unique needs of business travellers in the summer – La Quinta empowers road warriors to make the most of their summer business trips.”

• It’s getting hot in here: 65% of career commuters say that being stuck in a conference room with no air conditioning during a summer business trip would be worse than having to wear a swimsuit in front of colleagues (35%).
• Sweatsuit: 82% of male business travellers are more likely to pack extra clothing on a summer business trip than they would for another season.
• Look cool, feel cool: Given a choice between dressing well and dressing comfortably, business travellers would rather look cool (53%) than feel cool (47%) on a summer business trip.
• A cold one: Nearly three in four (74%) business travellers have skipped a work event while on a business trip, 31% of whom did something social with friends instead, such as go to a bar or restaurant.

The “La Quinta Means Business” survey was conducted by Wakefield Research between 28 June and 8 July 2019, using an email invitation and an online survey among 1,000 US business travellers ages 35–54, defined as those travelling for business 10-plus times per year.