Business travelers increasingly experience work trips through two competing realities, according to findings from the eighth annual SAP Concur Global Business Travel Survey. While 93% of business travelers say work trips improve their mental or physical well-being, 67% report feeling hesitant to travel for business this year due to factors such as safety concerns, disruptions, and growing unpredictability.
The findings arrive as companies pour more resources into travel programs. Eighty-two percent of CFOs plan budget increases this year, while geopolitical tensions and cybersecurity risks reshape the travel landscape. Organizations are challenged to meet rising employee expectations while managing unprecedented complexity.
Business travel still delivers value, but expectations are evolving
Despite ongoing disruption relative to global travel, 93% of business travelers say that work trips positively impact their mental or physical well-being. The reasons are varied: 45% appreciate the break from their usual work environment and 44% experience a change of scenery as mental recharge. For 36%, business travel offers opportunities for face-to-face interactions with colleagues and customers that aren’t possible day-to-day.
