Combining Biz Travel and Family Travel: A Healthy Option

[Kaleel Sakakeeny]

The road warrior, the business traveler, represents a huge 50% or more of a hotel’s revenue, but what we found very interesting is a trend to combine a family vacation with a business trip.

An impressive 67.7 percent of those randomly polled said they combine business travel with family travel, a major shift from just ten years ago when corporations frowned on the practice of mixing business with pleasure.

One study actually suggested that business travelers filed 80% more medical claims than did their office-bound colleagues, with “psychological disorders” being the most frequent complaint.

This is no surprise to Kyle McCarthy, CEO of the respected Family Travel Forum.

“It’s obvious,” says McCarthy, “missing a teen’s soccer game or your first grader’s ballet recital can be as stressful as any tropical disease.”

Taking one’s family on the road with you while on a business trip may be the answer, and corporations seem to be getting the message.

Extending a business trip to include some family time or sharing the business trip with one’s family may also make for a more productive employee.

As one CEO said, “There’s the additional airfare cost, sure,” he says, “but you’re not paying extra for the room or enjoyment of the amenities, so actually it’s a perfect way to stretch the business travel dollar.”

Then Hotel Marketing.com added that it's very important that  the hotel be located near the business meeting to enhance the benefits of combining business with family pleasure.

Other findings:
• Rewards program with “frequent stay” guest points
• Free Wi Fi
• Location near an airport
and free, full  breakfasts

Finally, extending the business trip to include a family vacation, or actually having one’s family as part of the business trip seems to make good sense, professionally and mentally.