Despite the headaches of travel, American business travelers still want to have face-to-face meetings. So finds a new survey from Cambria Suites and the GBTA Foundation, the research and education arm of the Global Business Travel Association (GBTA).
Released last week, the survey found that nearly eight out of 10 business travelers (79 percent) say in-person meetings are necessary for doing business successfully. More than three-quarters (76 percent) say face-to-face meetings help their companies grow.
The survey of 407 business travelers, the theme of which was work/life balance, also found that work/life balance is an objective for nearly nine out of 10 (87 percent) business travelers, and that for 71 percent the key to achieving it is focusing on "work/life productivity" — both living and working productively — while traveling.
What helps them achieve work/life productivity most, business travelers said, is: technology, cited as critical by nearly two-thirds (66 percent) of business travelers, and hotel choice, cited as critical by more than half (56 percent) of business travelers.
Speaking of hotel choice, the amenities that are most important to business-traveler productivity are:
• Comfortable beds and bedding (65 percent);
• Free Wi-Fi (62 percent);
• Friendly, helpful staff (39 percent);
• Free parking (30 percent); and
• A spacious, well-appointed guest room (26 percent).
Other key findings:
• Twenty-three percent of business travelers are staying less frequently at upscale and/or luxury hotels.
• Twenty-one percent of business travelers are facing greater scrutiny over business-trip outcomes.
• Eating healthy and on a regular schedule (68 percent) is the greatest business-travel challenge, followed by getting proper sleep (62 percent), spending less time with loved ones (62 percent), exercising regularly (60 percent) and missing important personal events (42 percent).
"Business travelers are feeling more pressed today compared with a year ago. They are facing greater demands from all sides as they are seeking to balance their work and personal lives, according to the survey," said Cambria Suites Senior Vice President Michael Murphy. "In this environment, productivity away from the office is very important. Our findings also revealed that if business travelers focus not just on their work productivity while traveling, but also on their personal productivity, they can make inroads to achieve a better work/life balance."