• by Tanya Gazdik , October 14, 2014

The majority of business travelers relax by participating in and spending money on local activities, in part contributing to a projected 6.8% increase in business travel spending this year according to the Global Business Travel Association.

The 2014 Workstyles Study by Homewood Suites by Hilton, the third edition of the biannual survey, found that 55% of business travelers engage in such activities. Respondents are getting out to explore, as on average only 34% of total trip time was spent in a hotel room.

Once out-and-about, travelers are likely to spend on several forms of entertainment that specifically reflect their travel destination including dining out (45%), sporting events (18%) and museums/art galleries (17%).

The secret to having a productive and enjoyable business trip isn't about packing favorite items from home, but rather unplugging from work and exploring the surroundings.

While dining out was the most popular activity to experience local culture -- 77% of respondents said trying local food was important -- travelers are staying close to “home” in the morning as more than half seldom eat breakfast outside of their hotel.

“Homewood Suites is seeing that many of our business travel guests are taking extra steps in planning trips to make sure they have opportunity to experience and discover what makes their destinations unique,” said Christian Kuhn, vice president of marketing for Homewood Suites by Hilton, in a release.

When choosing a place to stay, travelers aren't relying on loyalty points or positive online reviews to sway them, but rather location. The survey found that 66% of travelers are booking based on locality and 56% base it on price.

Travelers are also factoring in proximity from hotel to areas of entertainment when making reservations. Fifty-five percent of respondents said they'd prefer walking to taking a cab or shuttle as a form of transportation. And when planning how to explore, 75% rely on social media for information on local activities, behind online research and recommendations from friends and family.

The Workstyles Study was conducted in June 2014 using a Research Now online consumer panel. A total of 559 business travelers responded to the survey, representing an even male/female split. All respondents have taken three or more trips, or one trip of four or more nights in the past 12 months.

The 2014 Workstyles Study by Homewood Suites by Hilton, the third edition of the biannual survey, found that 55% of business travelers engage in such activities. Respondents are getting out to explore, as on average only 34% of total trip time was spent in a hotel room.

Once out-and-about, travelers are likely to spend on several forms of entertainment that specifically reflect their travel destination including dining out (45%), sporting events (18%) and museums/art galleries (17%).

The secret to having a productive and enjoyable business trip isn't about packing favorite items from home, but rather unplugging from work and exploring the surroundings.

While dining out was the most popular activity to experience local culture -- 77% of respondents said trying local food was important -- travelers are staying close to “home” in the morning as more than half seldom eat breakfast outside of their hotel.

“Homewood Suites is seeing that many of our business travel guests are taking extra steps in planning trips to make sure they have opportunity to experience and discover what makes their destinations unique,” said Christian Kuhn, vice president of marketing for Homewood Suites by Hilton, in a relase.

When choosing a place to stay, travelers aren't relying on loyalty points or positive online reviews to sway them, but rather location. The survey found that 66% of travelers are booking based on locality and 56% base it on price.

Travelers are also factoring in proximity from hotel to areas of entertainment when making reservations. Fifty five percent of respondents said they'd prefer walking to taking a cab or shuttle as a form of transportation. And when planning how to explore, 75% rely on social media for information on local activities, behind online research and recommendations from friends and family.

The Workstyles Study was conducted in June 2014 using a Research Now online consumer panel. A total of 559 business travelers responded to the survey, representing an even male/female split. All respondents have taken three or more trips, or one trip of four or more nights in the past 12 months.