More than 90% (93%) of “Road Warriors” said they have traveled more over the past year with 77% saying that’s due to high demand in their line of work, according to the inaugural Power Travel Trends Report from Engine, a business travel platform. The research was conducted among 2,000 workers and employers in construction, transportation, engineering, field service and disaster relief.
Other results included: 56% said they spend more than three months a year on the road; 10% said more than six months. Respondents overall had generally positive views of business travel. Thirty-five percent of Road Warriors say travel has helped them grow their career faster and 45% said it has expanded their worldview. Further, when asked about how their travel affects their mental and physical health, respondents were more likely to claim their travels had positively impacted as opposed to negatively impacted them.
The report also reveals a top pain point for frequent business travelers: not knowing exactly when they’ll be away from home. Thirty-nine percent reported quitting a job because the schedule changed too often at the last minute. That was significantly more than the percentage who said they had quit because their travel schedule was too rigorous (29%) or because travel took them away from family (26%). In addition to being able to plan ahead, having control over their travel was important: the ability to choose days away from home was the number one travel-related reason respondents said they’d switch jobs.
Florent Silve, executive vice president of supply and strategy, said it’s clear from the research that road warriors view travel as a net benefit. Their concerns, he said, are mainly about uncertainty. That’s why , he said, Engine is so focused on making it easy for businesses to find lodgings for each employee’s specific needs. The goal, said Silve, is “to give employees assurance and peace of mind so they can have the best possible experience while they’re away from home.”
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