INSIGHTS
Wellness trends in business travel. Is your company keeping up?
For decades, business travel has been a grind of 5 a.m. alarms, non-stop meetings, jet lag, and endless airport coffee. Wellness? It didn’t even make the packing list. But times have changed. Business travel is getting a major wellness upgrade, and companies are rethinking how they support their employees on the road.
But not every company has caught on. Many still stick to old-school travel policies, focused on squeezing maximum productivity out of every business trip, resulting in stressed-out employees. It's time for a shift. Because keeping your workforce happy, healthy, and high-performing requires a more balanced approach.
Wellness retreats
Hotels and travel companies are tapping into the corporate wellness niche. One big trend is corporate retreats that combine business travel with wellness activities.
Why it matters: Integrating business travel wellbeing promotes employee's physical and mental health, reducing risks of stress and burnout-related issues.
Companies are embracing wellness retreats, blending business meetings with opportunities to recharge and take meetings offsite. Think luxurious destinations offering massages, yoga sessions, adventure activities, and healthy snacks and meals, woven into team workshops and strategy sessions.
Personalisation is the future
Today's business travellers want more than a hotel buffet breakfast. They want experiences that resonate. Bleisure travel is booming, tacking on holiday time before or after business trips to avoid returning to overflowing inboxes. And sometimes their family members are joining them on the trip, too.
Here’s where personalisation really shines. A Gen Z corporate traveller might crave a boutique lively hotel, while a seasoned executive might prioritise proximity to a golf course or wellness centre. Forcing everyone into the same corporate cookie-cutter mode no longer works. Today's workforce is incredibly diverse, and its forward-thinking corporate travel programs that enable flexibility and choice that will stay the course.
Why it matters for duty of care: Building in personal time and preferences allows recovery and avoids fatigue, supports mental health, and shows employees that their individual needs are valued.
The future looks bright
So, how far could this wellness-meets-business trend go? The sky’s the limit. Here’s a glimpse into the future we’re predicting:
Digital detoxes at silent retreats and tech-free escapes helping corporate travellers recharge their minds and boost creativity.
Realigning with nature through forest bathing, moonlight meditation, and connecting with the outdoors can ease stress and improve focus.
Sound healing with sound baths and meditation sessions to help corporate travellers shake off the effects of long-haul flights.
Providing access to quiet spaces and restorative practices reduces anxiety, relieves sensory overload, and supports better mental health, helping your team stay sharp and focused.
For some, these business travel trends might seem unconventional, but the stress that comes with corporate travel demands fresh, creative solutions. The World Health Organization reports that 12 billion working days are lost annually due to depression and anxiety, costing the global economy a staggering US$1 trillion each year in lost productivity. It’s clear that wellness in travel is not just a nice-to-have—it’s a necessity.
As the demand for restorative travel continues to rise, companies should start considering wellness options for their business travellers, bleisure, and incentive programs. It’s an investment that can pay off in employee satisfaction, retention, and productivity.
Travel program feeling a bit under the weather?
Let’s make corporate travel better for your people and your business.