TORONTO: Mixing business with pleasure might not always be advised, but for Canadian professionals it could be the key to achieving success.
According to research commissioned by Booking.com for Business, the global leader in connecting business travellers with the widest choice of places to stay, almost three quarters (71%) of Canadian working professionals say travelling to meet clients or colleagues face-to-face is essential to business success.When asked what Canadians hoped to accomplish most on their business trip, over half (52%) said growing their company's business was top of mind. They also saw it as an opportunity to expand their horizons and reach their fullest potential. One in four Canadians (41%) claimed spending time with colleagues and clients to strengthen professional relationship was a priority and over one third (36%) said business travel would help provide inspiration for their work.
Bleisure travel a top priority for Canadian professionals
It's no surprise that mixing leisure with business travel remains top of mind among Canadians, with nearly half (47%) considering it a work perk. In fact, the vast majority of Canadian working professionals (95%) said they would extend their business by three days or less and 48% plan to incorporate leisure time into their work trip.
When the opportunity to combine business and leisure travel on the same trip is presented, over half of Canadian working professionals (55%) say experiencing new cultures and destinations adds value to their job. Not surprisingly, over half (51%) agree that adding leisure to a work trip makes them more successful in business meetings.
Business-ready accommodation is key to boosting business trip potential
Choosing the right accommodation plays a critical role in maximising the potential of a business trip. Globally, six in ten professionals (60%) agree that travel and accommodation options that cater specifically to the business traveller are no longer optional, but essential.
For Canadians, a comfortable bed (59%) and strong Wi-Fi (61%) was at the top of the list for business accommodation must-haves, closely followed by a hearty breakfast (34%). Location also strongly drives the choice of accommodation, with convenient access to meetings (50%) and placement in the city centre (23%) identified as top priorities for overnight stays. With Booking.com for Business, properties that have been favourably reviewed by prior business travellers and tick the boxes for these important business travel essentials are surfaced with priority in the search results.
By making it easy to search, find and select accommodation from the wide variety of business-ready stays available today, Booking.com for Business helps connect business travellers with their ideal place to stay - whether that reflects their professional preferences, business trip objectives or overall lifestyle.
"Experiencing different cultures and destinations and gaining new perspectives through travel is becoming increasingly important to professional success, particularly in today's hyper-connected and globalised business world. Regardless of profession, today's business travellers are savvier about the value up for grabs, both for their companies and for themselves. Where they choose to stay is crucial in realizing that value, with today's business travellers seeking places that align with their specific, priority needs when it comes to location, flexibility and certain amenities," says Ripsy Bandourian, Senior Director of Product Development at Booking.com for Business.
