Source: ‘FOMO’ trips: Hybrid, remote work encouraging more business travel, Dexter Tilo, Human Resources Director Canada, May 2, 2024
Hybrid and remote work arrangements are motivating more travel in a new phenomenon dubbed as « FOMO » or « YOLO » travel — following years of muted trips due to the pandemic, according to a new report.
Findings from the 2024 Spring Global Rescue Travellers Sentiment and Safety Survey revealed that 59% of employees are more encouraged to travel because of their remote or hybrid work arrangement.
Dan Richards, CEO of The Global Rescue Companies, called the ongoing trend « FOMO Travel or YOLO Travel,” in reference to the phrases “fear of missing out” and “you only live once.”
« Individuals productively working remotely, part- or full-time, are renewing meaningful business and personal connections here and abroad. It’s fostering soul-enriching journeys, » Richards said in a statement.
Previous research has highlighted the trend as the rise of combined leisure and business travel, or bleisure travel, following the popularity of flexible work arrangements.
« Vacations used to be all about a complete escape from work, but now you can check emails from a hammock in the Maldives, take a break from a video conference to surf the incoming tide in Rincon, or finish the workday in Sweden and have plenty of time to view the Northern Lights, » Richards said.
Business travel to exceed pre-pandemic levels
As a result of this trend, remote and hybrid work have become a « boon » for the travel industry, according to Richards.
The report found that 21% of employees who travel for work are already predicting business travel to exceed pre-pandemic levels, double than the 11% recorded in January.
It comes despite recent reports from last year predicting that business travel will « never return to normal. »
There are also employees who are concerned about the environmental impact of business trips, with many opting for combined trips and alternatives for air travel when travelling.
