How Travel Experiences and Expectations Differ by Generation
SAP Concur's fifth annual Global Business Travel Survey, covering 3,850 business travelers in 25 markets, reveals generational differences from baby boomers to Gen Z in willingness to travel, satisfaction, economic impact, changing expectations, career advancement, safety and discrimination, and sustainability.
Impact and considerations
For travel managers, understanding generational differences helps develop more effective travel policies, attract and retain younger talent, and meet diverse employee expectations for safety and sustainability.
Key points
- 98% of global business travelers are willing to travel in the next 12 months, but satisfaction varies by generation: 59% of baby boomers are satisfied vs. only 39% of millennials.
- 41% of Gen Z see inflation as a top challenge to business travel, higher than millennials (35%), Gen X (31%), and baby boomers (23%).
- 97% of Gen Z expect their company to allow travel choices outside policy, citing safety (53%), work-life balance (51%), and ideological differences (37%).
- 94% of Gen Z and millennials consider business travel critical to career success, compared to 75% of baby boomers.
- 53% of global business travelers changed accommodations due to feeling unsafe; 74% have experienced some form of discrimination.
- Gen Z (93%) and millennials (92%) are more likely to take steps to reduce environmental impact, compared to Gen X (85%) and baby boomers (71%).
Sources and time
- Primary source
- SAP Concur
- Other sources
- 0
- First source publication
- 28 Aug 2023, 20:12
- Page published
- 14 Aug 2026, 08:20
- Last updated
- 28 Aug 2023, 20:12
- Original links
- SAP Concur Blog：How Travel Experiences and Expectations Differ by Generation (opens in a new tab)Primary source · en · Published 28 Aug 2023, 20:12