New research reveals that eight in ten Gen Z (18–27) and Millennial (28–43) workers in the UK say travel is the best part of their job (81% Gen Z and 79% Millennial), making them more likely to stay with their organisation (80% Gen Z and 78% Millennial).
In contrast, only around half of Gen X (44-59) feel the same way (54% best part of job and 51% more likely to stay).
The Opinium survey of 500 UK business travellers, commissioned by World Travel Protection, a global travel risk management organisation, finds that younger generations overwhelmingly link business travel to career progression. Over three quarters of under-44s say it helps raise their profile in their organisation (77% Gen Z and 79% Millennials), compared to half (53%) of Gen X.
As well as career growth, business travel is important for wellbeing. Eight in ten Gen Z (80%) and Millennials (80%) say it positively impacts their mental health, significantly more than Gen X (56%).
With the increase of hybrid working, face-to-face interactions are even more important. More than two thirds (70%) of business travellers agree that business travel is more important to them now that they mainly work from home.
Nearly eight in ten business travellers say travel is essential to their work (78%), and 85% stress the importance of in-person meetings for building strong, lasting relationships.
Other benefits of business travel, cited in the survey, include the ability to network with new people (82%) and build deeper relationships with team members (80%).
Kate Fitzpatrick, Security Director, EMEA, at World Travel Protection, said: “Business travel is more than just a perk for younger professionals – it’s an essential tool for career progression, networking and personal wellbeing. However, with travel comes risk and it’s vital that organisations have robust travel risk management policies in place that consider the specific needs and vulnerabilities of each individual traveller.
“A first-time traveller in their twenties, for instance, may face very different challenges to those of a seasoned executive. From understanding cultural norms to managing personal safety, preparation is key. That’s why comprehensive pre-travel education, including destination-specific briefings, cultural awareness and risk assessments, is so important.”
Fitzpatrick continues: “And while away, on-the-ground support is equally crucial for travelling teams. World Travel Protection, for example, offers a travel assist app giving 24/7 live security updates and medical alerts tailored to a business traveller’s location.”
*Opinium online survey conducted with 500 UK people, who travel for business at least once a year from 3 – 10 February 2025. The sample size for Baby Boomers (60-78) was not large enough to be significant and therefore was unable to be used.
