5 Reasons to Combine Business and Personal Travel
Libby Zay
•9 Feb 2022•
These days, it’s common for business travelers to extend their trips to add some personal time. In fact, many companies encourage and see value in the practice. According to the U.S. Corporate Travel Report 2020-24 by Phocuswright, 46% of companies allow leisure extensions to business trips, and another 20% say they’ll allow this soon. A Skift + TripActions report found that 25% of corporate travel decision-makers plan to offer a stipend for personal vacations.
The reasons are simple: If the trip itself meets all of your company’s goals, taking advantage of a little leisure time can only make you a healthier, happier, and more productive employee. And when you book through Navan, tacking on a few extra personal days is not only simple—you’ll also get access to the same travel deals and support you’ve come to expect when booking business trips.
Below are five reasons why you should consider adding a few vacation days onto your next business trip. Who says you can’t combine business and pleasure?
1. To recharge.
Business travel conjures images of long security lines, hurried to-go food, and packed agendas. To put it simply, it’s difficult for weary travelers to perform at their best. An extra day (or a few) to prepare can make all the difference when it comes to representing your organization. You’ll be able to adjust to a new time zone and new surroundings, relax, and hopefully get a good night’s sleep so you can be on top of your game.
2. To explore.
Famous landmarks. Regional foods. Historic architecture. World-class museums. Natural beauty. Everywhere you go offers different or new experiences. Traveling allows you the remarkable opportunity to learn more about the world around you—so long as you’re not spending all your travel time in meetings, hotels, and airport terminals. Let’s face it: The chance to explore is why most of us chose to travel in the first place!
3. To connect.
Getting to know the local culture and history can be a huge business benefit because it can help you truly understand where your colleagues, clients, or investors are coming from. Carving out some time to explore a museum, walk around a cultural site, or try traditional cuisine isn’t just fun—it’s research! It will help expand your mind, and it will also give you something to talk about with your hosts.
4. To relax.
It’s no secret that business travel can be stressful. Overworked, overscheduled, and overtired lifestyles can quickly lead to long-term health effects. One of the simple ways to cut down on stress is to take time to unwind and focus on yourself, whether that’s before or after your work is done. In today’s increasingly digital world, we can communicate across time zones and create availability at a moment’s notice—but it doesn’t mean we should have to stay plugged in 24/7/365. Taking some time to unwind can help you find better work/life balance and avoid burnout.
5. To save money.
Bookending your business trip with leisure time can also have a financial benefit. By extending your business trip into a vacation, you’ll save money on flights and hotels, and you could rack up additional points in your favorite loyalty program. As a Navan user, your loyalty program information is already stored directly in your profile so it’s easy to automatically earn rewards. These savings can make it more affordable to take a companion or even the entire family on your next trip!
Travelers around the world book business, personal, and bleisure travel with Navan for a trusted, quality experience. Schedule a demo or get up and running with Navan in just 5 minutes.