Business travel ‘critical’ to workplace culture, says study

Business travel is an essential component to driving employee engagement and professional development in the era of remote work, according to a recent study by American Express Global Business Travel (Amex GBT) and Harvard Business Review Analytic Services.

The study, which surveyed more than 400 professionals, largely in managerial positions, found that travel for internal meetings and training can create a more cohesive work culture, foster collaboration and build team bonds.

Close to 90 per cent of respondents said in-person interactions such as off-site workshops are ‘critical’ for ensuring positive long-term relationships between employees and co-workers. Similarly, 71 per cent believe that a primarily remote work model can make employees feel disconnected from the organisation. 

Six in 10 respondents also agreed that most employees in their organisation believe business travel is a key component of their professional development, and 51 per cent agreed leaders in their organisation believe the same about employees’ professional development. Additionally, 40 per cent believe that fewer in-person internal meetings during the pandemic had a negative impact on their organisation’s professional development and training.

More than half (53 per cent) of respondents said their company had collaboration issues because of fewer in-person internal meetings, while 52 per cent experienced decreased employee engagement, and 49 per cent faced communication challenges.

Nevertheless, many respondents indicated travel for internal meetings has not returned to pre-pandemic levels, suggesting a potential employee interaction gap. Sixty-three per cent said travel to meet colleagues offsite has decreased compared to pre-pandemic times, while 56 per cent said travel to onsite company meetings is lower. However, this is set to turn around in 2024, with internal meetings expected to drive M&E growth over the next 12 months.

Commenting on the findings, Amex GBT chief people officer Patricia Huska said: “In today’s world of distributed workforces, business leaders increasingly value travel as an effective way to strengthen bonds between co-workers, spur collaboration, and support company culture. 

“Travel is a sign of commitment; by being there, you’re showing that you care enough about the relationship to be there in person.”

The study also found that in-person interactions are more effective than virtual meetings for team building (79 per cent compared to 19 per cent), brainstorming (70 per cent compared to 26 per cent), interviewing a job candidate (64 per cent compared to 32 per cent) and onboarding/training (58 per cent compared to 31 per cent).