{"id":9520,"date":"2019-05-17T11:08:17","date_gmt":"2019-05-16T23:08:17","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/newtw.tourwriter.com\/?p=9520"},"modified":"2023-10-10T01:45:06","modified_gmt":"2023-10-10T01:45:06","slug":"working-traveller","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.tourwriter.com\/working-traveller\/","title":{"rendered":"How to cater to the working traveller"},"content":{"rendered":"
Nowadays work-life balance is top of mind for employees and employers alike, and the <\/span>working traveller <\/span><\/i>trend is a testament to that theme. The frequency of people choosing and being able to travel <\/span>while<\/span><\/i> working is on an upward trajectory, with no sign of stopping any time soon. <\/span><\/p>\n In this blog, we explore this phenomenon, understand what is influencing it and share how you can best prepare your tour operator business for this unique market segment. <\/span><\/p>\n The millennial generation is expected to make up <\/span>75% of the workforce by 2025<\/span><\/a>, they are the <\/span>most formally educated generation<\/span><\/a> in history; as a result, job competition is rife. Employers are finding new and unique ways to appeal to the new age worker; those businesses that promote a more liberal approach to work-life balance <\/span>are coming out better off<\/span><\/a>. <\/span><\/p>\n For many people, travel is an important part of the \u2018life\u2019 component in the work-life equation. As work-life balance continues to be a topic of importance, and travel continues to flourish, more and more people are finding new and unique ways to get the best of both worlds. <\/span><\/p>\n Google Trends Graph – Showing Interest in the phrase \u2018travel blogger\u2019 over time.<\/p><\/div>\n Remote work is <\/span>more common than ever<\/span><\/a>, with some businesses claiming its introduction has helped <\/span>decrease employee turnover, increase staff satisfaction and increase overall productivity.<\/span><\/a> The primary downside is that over <\/span>20% of remote workers say loneliness is the hardest part<\/span><\/a> about their role; to combat this, many companies are encouraging their remote staff to travel and connect with each other both in office and at events.<\/span><\/p>\n The prevalence of influencer marketing has boomed worldwide, thanks in part to how easy it is and the <\/span>exceptional ROI<\/span><\/a> you will get from it. With a captive audience of millions, the \u2018travel blogger\u2019 offers a perfect way to show off all that your tour operator business has to offer. These influencers are often paid to promote products, experiences and business on their social media platforms, an easy way to deliver highly targeted marketing to those who are already interested and engaged with travelling. If this is something you think your tour operator business could get involved in, explore this list of <\/span>top Instagram travel influencers<\/span><\/a> to get inspired. <\/span><\/p>\n The \u2018tack-on holidayer\u2019 is also a great marketing opportunity. Prepare your travel business for these kinds of travellers by looking into popular conference venues in your area of specialisation. Think about how your business can craft exceptional travel experiences that are flexible and based around a conference or business trip. <\/span><\/p>\n It\u2019s important to also remember that the growing interest in work-life balance also means that there will be many travellers interested in your services that are also seeking an escape from work. Adapting your itineraries with escapism in mind is a great way to appeal to those that are feeling in need of a serious recharge. Suppliers such as \u2018<\/span>digital detox hotels<\/span><\/a>\u2019 exist to service travellers that want to disconnect completely during their holiday. <\/span><\/p>\n Learn about other unique trends taking the travel industry by storm in <\/span>this 2019 travel trends eBook<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<\/span><\/p>\n
Twenty years ago, work-life balance may have consisted of having Sunday off work to spend with family; today it\u2019s a whole lot more complex. According to <\/span>Harvard Business Review<\/span><\/a>, up to $190 billion is spent in the United States every year on health care for stressed, burnt-out and overworked employees. Staggering facts like this, paired with a general shift towards better health awareness has resulted in more people seeking an equilibrium between their professional life and their personal one. <\/span><\/p>\n
The most notorious <\/span>travel-and-get-paid-while-you-do-it<\/span><\/i> job: <\/span>Travel blogging<\/span><\/a>. While it may not seem like it from the outset, these lucky people have managed to make travelling their <\/span>full-time job<\/b>. Funded by sponsored posts and giveaways, the \u2018Travel Blogger\u2019 (Sometimes also referred to as the Instagram Traveller<\/a>) basically acts as a walking marketing campaign for the travel industry. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n
On a slightly different path is those that travel to work – often referred to as the \u2018<\/span>super commuters<\/span><\/a>\u2019. These travelling professionals choose to live in one place and travel to another city or country for work. Studies are being carried out to determine the personal, emotional and social impacts that this trend is having on people. While it\u2019s too early to know for sure, there are preliminary findings which suggest continual international commuting is <\/span>not great for stress levels<\/span><\/a>. <\/span><\/p>\n
A more moderate take on the super commuter is those that work remotely, who occasionally travel to either connect with colleagues in one place or even experience a vacation whilst also working. <\/span><\/p>\n
A further adaptation of the working traveller concept is a modern twist on traditional holidaying. <\/span>Globalisation<\/span><\/a> means it\u2019s not uncommon for working professionals to travel for a special occasion such as an event, workshop or important meeting. For many, these opportunities are being used to combine work requirements with the family holiday, a concept coined \u2018<\/span>the tack on holiday<\/span><\/a>\u2019. <\/span><\/p>\n
There are so many adaptations of the <\/span>working traveller <\/span><\/i>trend that it would be impossible to offer a cookie-cutter approach to preparing your business. The super commuter and \u2018remote worker\u2019 aren\u2019t likely to be a large target market for a tour operator business. The Travel Blogger and the \u2018tack-on-holidayer\u2019 however, are growing markets exploding with opportunity. <\/span><\/p>\n
<\/h2>\n