More than half of employees (55%) who travel for work expect their business travel to remain consistent with 2023 levels this year, while more than a quarter (27%) anticipate traveling more for work, according to the Global Rescue Summer 2024 Traveler Sentiment and Safety Survey. Nearly a fifth of respondents (18%) expect a decrease in travel, reflecting ongoing concerns over budget constraints and the effectiveness of virtual communication tools.

Global Rescue Companies is a provider of medical, security, evacuation and travel risk management services. Most respondents (66%) will travel for work domestically and internationally, while 29% will focus solely on domestic travel and a little more than 5% exclusively on international trips.

The expectations regarding business travel recovery are also varied. While 59% of professionals believe that travel will match or exceed pre-pandemic levels, 26% expect work-related travel to be half or less than half of the number of trips compared with the year before the pandemic.

The survey results highlighted the increasing popularity of “bleisure” travel, where professionals combine business trips with leisure activities. Nearly three out of four respondents (74%) said they add extra days to their business trips for personal or leisure travel.

Dan Richards , CEO, said vacations have evolved from a simple escape from work to “a dynamic fusion of leisure and productivity.” The shift toward remote and hybrid work models continues to influence travel behavior, according to the survey. Among respondents, nearly half (47%) identify as hybrid workers, balancing time between remote and in-office work.

“With the potential for increased work-related travel and a growing emphasis on bleisure experiences,” said Richards, “business leaders must stay attuned to employees’ evolving needs, especially when updating their duty of care provisions.”

Image: Shutterstock