Elevated view of trains at Leeds station

News.

Camera shy? Nearly 75% of Brits don’t post about their business travel on social media

Breaking the routine, travelling to new places and staying in expensive hotels are among the best perks of business travel, according to research.

A poll of 2,000 business travellers found as well as the benefits for business – making face-to-face connections and increasing revenue – 27 per cent simply love the bonus of staying in a hotel they otherwise couldn’t afford.

A further third like to see places they may have never gone to under their own steam, and the same amount love experiencing other cultures.

Thirty-seven per cent think travelling has helped to improve their skillset and 29 per cent have made better business connections from their time ‘in the field’.

The average worker travels for work six times a year, totalling 20 days away from the office on business – and 46 per cent have even travelled abroad on the company dime.

Nearly six in 10 respondents say their job has allowed them to see parts of the world they wouldn’t have considered travelling to themselves.

Half of business travellers find it an unexpected luxury when they are asked to travel further afield in the name of their profession.

Despite these perks, Brits aren’t gloating about their business trips on social media, with 71 per cent of savvy travellers refusing to post about a business trip or travel opportunity, Leeds’ official conference bureau, ConferenceLeeds, has revealed.

According to recent UK social media statistics, UK social media usage hit an all-time high at the beginning of 2018, with 83 per cent of the adult population using one or more social media channel .

Research found that 72 per cent of males wouldn’t post about their business travel, with the figure slightly lower for women at 70 per cent.

Differences in ages were also identified; with 50 per cent of 18 to 24 year olds likely to post about a business trip, significantly reduced in the 55+ category, with just 15 per cent likely to post on social media.

Regionally, business travellers in the East Midlands travel more for work than anyone else, with an average of seven trips per year, with people in Northern Ireland travelling less than anyone else, with an average of five.

People in the South West are least likely to enjoy travelling for work, with 22 per cent reporting that they dislike the experience, whilst only seven per cent of Londoners would pass up the opportunity.

Claire Heap, Head of ConferenceLeeds, commented: “Our research comes as a shock, especially as we live in such a tech savvy world! It is clear that business people love getting out of the office, as our study found that half of business travellers wish they could travel even more than they currently do.

“There are so many Instagrammable places across the country to take advantage of, with landmarks and unique destinations in cities across the UK. Leeds is full of great spots to snap, from Leeds Corn Exchange, a Grade I Victorian building, through to Belgrave Music Hall and Canteens’ impressive roof terrace – no need to be camera shy!”