Gen Z among ‘most committed’ business travellers, says study

Gen Z employees are among the “most committed business travellers” in the UK and consider travel as crucial to career growth, according to research by American Express.

A June survey of 500 UK-based business travellers and 500 business travel decision makers found that 59 per cent of Gen Z workers (those aged 18-24 years) expect to travel more for work in the next 12 months.

This is the most of any generation surveyed, according to Amex, with respondents believing business travel opportunities increase their attractiveness to prospective employers (81 per cent) and increase the likelihood of promotion at their current firm (83 per cent).

The research also revealed that 85 per cent of UK corporates are looking to increase or maintain business travel spend over the next 12 months. This marks an increase from previous research by Amex in 2022, which showed 42 per cent of UK businesses were planning more travel for employees.

Three-quarters of corporates surveyed in 2024 said business travel is “crucial” to their organisation’s growth ambition, while about one third (32 per cent) prioritised business travel as a way of giving employees an opportunity to develop professionally.

The study also revealed that Gen Z employees are the most likely to strongly agree that they combine business and leisure into a single trip to maximise their productivity and, as a result, take fewer flights (44 per cent).

They are also the most likely generation to strongly agree that they can effectively prioritise their workload during business trips (54 per cent), while 74 per cent said they typically work longer hours when on business trips – more than any other generation surveyed – estimating 4.6 extra hours compared to a normal day in the office, according to the study.

Additionally, younger generations are more likely to consider sustainability in their business travel trips compared to other age groups. 

Almost half (48 per cent) of Gen Z respondents said they are actively working with their employer on this. Steps taken include greater use of public transport (67 per cent), choosing to stay at accommodation with environmental credentials (43 per cent) or staying at destinations for longer to accommodate more meetings (52 per cent).

Lee Sullivan, vice president at American Express, said: “Our research reveals businesses continue to see the value in travel as way of driving growth and boosting employee engagement, and plan to invest more in this area.

“It’s also interesting that younger employees see travel as critical for their career development. Gen Z are leading the way in reshaping how businesses approach travel, with a renewed focus on maximising the entire experience.”