Skift Take
Traveling abroad for business isn't quite the escape many Americans portray it as.
International business travel can be an ordeal when delays, language confusion and other snafus make performing on the road almost impossible.
Booking.com conducted a survey of 4,555 global business travelers who traveled internationally four times or more in the last year, finding that 93 percent are stressed out by international business travel.
More than a third overall, 39 percent, said they generally feel positive about traveling for business.
“While business travel has so many positives, including the opportunity to experience new cultures, broaden horizons and the chance to meet colleagues face-to-face, the logistics of business travel can get in the way,” said Ripsy Bandourian, director of product development at Booking.com for Business in a statement. “Airport queues and delays, the accommodation at your destination lacking home comforts and lack of personal time can add a layer of unnecessary stress.”
About half of U.S. business travelers polled complained the most about cancellations and delays affecting their lives. Men were slightly more likely than women to say their least favorite part of international business travel is being away from friends and family.
Here’s a breakdown of the top sources of anxiety for U.S. business travelers:
| Missing a flight / train | 32% |
| Language barriers | 26% |
| Possibility that luggage will be lost | 22% |
| Unfamiliar surroundings | 21% |
| Getting around the city | 18% |
| Losing important documents (e.g. passport) | 18% |
| IT setup / whether devices will work | 17% |
| Meetings being cancelled | 16% |
| Presenting to / meeting with people for the first time | 16% |
| Cultural norms / differences | 13% |
| Losing a company-owned device | 12% |
The Daily Newsletter
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Tags: business travel, ctir
Photo credit: A traveler passed out at an airport. Hernán Piñera / Flickr