The rise of the upgraded work trip

How Gen Z and Millennials are turning business travel into a lifestyle — and a social media moment

Younger generations are transforming business travel into a lifestyle experience. According to the new Hotels.com Business Trip Report, most Gen Z and Millennial travelers view work trips as opportunities to elevate their daily lives — splurging on better hotels, fine dining, and shareable moments for social media, often at their own expense.

Key takeaways

• Work trips as lifestyle upgrades: 85% of Gen Z and 88% of Millennials see business travel as a way to enrich their lives — from nicer hotels to exclusive restaurants.
• Self-funded indulgence: 73% of Gen Z and 77% of Millennials have paid out of pocket for hotel upgrades, while many also cover luxury meals and entertainment for social content.
• Social media motivation: Younger professionals post 3–5 times more during trips than older colleagues; nearly half of Millennials say they wouldn’t travel for work if they couldn’t share it online.
• Bleisure priorities: Over half of business travelers extend trips for leisure, with Gen Z and Millennials leading the trend — often adding 3–4 extra days to explore destinations like Tokyo, Paris, and New York.
• Loyalty-driven decisions: 58% of travelers choose hotels based on rewards programs; 49% have used earned points for personal vacations.
• Flexible rewards innovation: Hotels.com’s new “Save Your Way” feature lets members decide whether to apply discounts immediately or save them as rewards for future trips — catering to every traveler’s preference.

Get the full story at Hotels.com