talent management
The Benefits of Business Travel
Reach Beyond the Bottom Line
MANY EMPLOYEES NOW VIEW BUSINESS TRAVEL
AS AN ADDED BENEFIT TO THE JOB
Face-to-face meetings are the lifeblood of any business –
whether they serve the purpose of strengthening client
relationships, securing new business leads or collaborating
with colleagues overseas. In this way, the primary benefit of
business travel is clear – it strengthens the relationships that fuel
business longevity and growth. In fact, 46 per cent of profession-als
globally agree that successful meetings and business growth are
what they hope to achieve while travelling for business. However,
enhancing business performance isn’t the only reason that employ-ees
are seeking opportunities to travel for business – their reasons
don’t always relate to the boardroom.
So, what are professionals today looking to gain from business
travel, and what motivates them to seize opportunities to do so?
THE EVOLUTION OF ATTITUDES TOWARDS
BUSINESS TRAVEL
Over the years, there has been a shift in attitude towards busi-ness
travel and its value. Traditionally, business travel was seen as
largely functional and necessary for the facilitation of face-to-face
client meetings with clear business objectives in mind – whether
securing a new contract or formalizing a deal. However, over time
there has been an increased focus on the individual employee
benefits that can be gained through business travel – in the form
of professional development, furthering their skillset and enrich-ing
their professional lives. For example, while on a business trip,
36 per cent of global professionals aspire to learn a new skill, 37
per cent seek to gain inspiration to apply to their work and 30
By Ripsy Bandourian
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