Despite the fact that sometimes it can be tiring – especially the older you get – traveling is a mind-expanding thing to do. As Aldous Huxley said, “To travel is to discover that everyone is wrong about other countries.”
It gives you the chance to meet new people, get in touch with different cultures, wander around fabulous places, and sample rare delicacies. But, what happens when we travel for work? Do we feel all the joy that leisure travel brings?
We do. But don’t take my word for it. Our findings reveal that six in ten travelers feel more creative and productive when traveling for business.
This is especially true for the younger generations: millennial travelers are indeed the ones feeling more invigorated when traveling. Those in the Americas lead the way (77% feel more creative and productive), followed closely by business travelers in Asia Pacific (75% feel more creative and 73% more productive). European millennials rank third (58% and 57% respectively). These percentages drop significantly when it comes to Gen X travelers and dramatically when we talk about boomers.
Asia Pacific travelers from my generation – I should not be revealing my age, but I am a proud member of Gen X (I know, that’s ancient by Xennial standards) – are millennial-like: 72% feel more creative and 67% more productive. American percentages drop to 59% and 64%, and Europeans – hold tight in here if, like me, you belong to this group – to 60% and 56% respectively.
Boomers are the group least inspired by travel in boosting creativity and productivity. Asia Pacific travelers still rule in this age frame with 48% feeling more creative and 51% more productive. Americans follow with 42% and 43%, and Europeans rank third at 39% and 40%.
As you can see, Europeans seem to be the group whose creativity and productivity suffers the most. But make no mistake: It’s all about nationalities. Italians feel 70% more creative and 72% more productive when traveling. So, if you live in Europe and are a Gen X or a boomer, you just need to move to Italy to balance things out.
You could also move to my country. Sorry to brag, but in Spain, 68% of us feel more creative and 75% more productive. And on that note, I’m off to pack for my next flight.
