Survey: How Do Business Travel Perspectives Differ by Generation?

Employee experience is an essential component of business travel, influencing talent retention, career paths, and more. But one size almost never fits all.

We analyzed the data from our seventh annual SAP Concur Global Business Travel Survey and found some interesting distinctions among the four generations most represented in today’s global workforce—Gen Z, millennials, Gen X, and baby boomers.

According to our survey of 3,750 business travelers across 24 markets:

All surveyed generations in the workforce are at least somewhat willing to travel for work this year. However, Gen Z and millennial employees are more likely to be dissatisfied with their current frequency of business travel compared to older colleagues.

• Nearly all employees surveyed (97%) say that they are somewhat or very willing to travel for business this year (Gen Z: 98%, millennials: 97%, Gen X: 95%, baby boomers: 98%).
• But Gen Z and millennials are more likely than Gen X and baby boomers to describe the frequency of their current business travel as different than desired (Gen Z: 58%, millennials: 53%, Gen X: 41%, baby boomers: 27%).
  • Thirty-four percent of both Gen Z and millennial business travelers say that they are traveling more than they’d like, compared to 21% of Gen X and just 11% of baby boomers.
  • Twenty-four percent of Gen Z business travelers say that they are traveling less than they’d like, compared to 18% of millennials, 20% of Gen X, and 16% of baby boomers.
  • Nearly three-quarters (73%) of baby boomers say that their current business travel schedule is about right.

Younger generations are more likely to say that their company is making travel-related cuts, both big and small.

• Younger generations are more likely to say that important business trips at their company are cut or significantly reduced due to costs at least some of the time (Gen Z: 73%, millennials: 69%, Gen X: 56%, baby boomers: 46%).
  • Thirteen percent of Gen X and 22% of baby boomers say that this never happens, compared to 4% of Gen Z and 7% of millennials.
• Younger generations are more likely to say that their company has cut back on things over the past 12 months that they previously allowed (Gen Z: 93%, millennials: 90%, Gen X: 78%, baby boomers: 72%), such as using business or premium class, staying overnight to avoid a long day of travel, or paying more to use more sustainable travel options.
• Older generations are more likely to hold the belief that cuts to travel budget largely show up as small changes to all trips (Gen Z: 56%, millennials: 57%, Gen X: 65%, baby boomers: 75%).

Most business travelers say that their travel habits differ depending on whether they’re on a business or leisure trip—with the exception of nearly half of baby boomers.

• Gen Z and millennial business travelers are more likely to say that their habits differ when traveling for business or leisure (Gen Z: 94%, millennials: 89%, Gen X: 72%, baby boomers: 56%). Top differences by generation include:
  • Gen Z: Taking private transportation (36%), staying at higher-quality hotels or booking a premium room (35%), or dining out at higher-quality restaurants or spending more on food and drinks (34%).
  • Millennials: Staying at higher-quality hotels or booking a premium room (37%); booking direct flights, even if more expensive (36%); or taking private transportation (36%).
  • Gen X: Booking direct flights, even if more expensive (29%), or staying at higher-quality hotels or booking a premium room (28%).
  • Baby boomers: Staying at higher-quality hotels or booking a premium room (21%), or booking direct flights, even if more expensive (19%).
    • More than a quarter of Gen X (28%) and nearly half of baby boomers (44%) say that their travel habits during business travel are the same as during personal travel.

Younger business travelers have started doing things to stretch their budgets while on business trips, but they’re still willing to spend their own money on perks they enjoy.

• Younger generations are more likely than older colleagues to say that they have started doing things during business travel to save money or stretch the budget (Gen Z: 92%, millennials: 87%, Gen X: 73%, baby boomers: 64%), including eating cheaper meals—or preparing meals—to save on the per diem or travel allowance, or using their personal card or rewards programs to earn points or miles.
• At the same time, younger business travelers are more likely to say that they would spend their own money on perks to enhance business travel (Gen Z: 93%, millennials: 88%, Gen X: 74%, baby boomers: 62%), from higher-quality accommodations to premium seating.

Most business travelers are generally concerned about hacking risk while traveling abroad, although Gen X and baby boomers may be more so.

• Gen X and baby boomers are more likely to say that they are just as or more concerned than a year ago about personal or professional info on their devices being accessed or hacked when traveling abroad (Gen Z: 80%, millennials: 85%, Gen X: 90%, baby boomers: 94%). 
  • Of note, things look a bit different when “just as concerned” responses are taken out of the mix:
    • Younger generations are more likely than older generations to say that they are more concerned about this than a year ago (Gen Z: 50%, millennials: 51%, Gen X: 42%, baby boomers: 42%).
    • Although percentages are much smaller, younger generations are also more likely than older colleagues to say that they are less concerned about this than a year ago (Gen Z: 20%, millennials: 15%, Gen X: 10%, baby boomers: 6%).

Older generations appear doubtful that AI is being used to falsify expenses.

• Older generations are skeptical that AI is being used to falsify travel expenses or receipts, with 35% of Gen X and 47% of baby boomers saying that it is not at all likely. 
  • Most business travelers from younger generations say that it’s at least somewhat likely (Gen Z: 65%, millennials: 59%), but many of these responses are conjecture based on the small percentages who say that they are certain it is happening (Gen Z: 11%, millennials: 12%).

Older business travelers prefer a hands-on approach to booking; younger business travelers are interested in recommendations.

• Older generations’ preferred experience for booking travel is arguably the most manual—sorting through all available options to choose the ones they want for their trip (Gen X: 40%, baby boomers: 42%).
  • Younger generations are split between sorting through all available options (Gen Z: 27%, millennials: 32%) and working with a travel agent who can recommend the best options for their trip (Gen Z: 31%, millennials: 29%).
  • Baby boomers and Gen Z are just slightly more likely to prefer booking with a travel agent (35% and 31%, respectively) compared to Gen X (27%) and millennials (29%).
  • Overall, younger generations are more likely to be interested in recommendations—from AI, a travel agent, or colleagues (Gen Z: 73%, millennials: 68%, Gen X: 60%, baby boomers: 58%).
• While most business travelers would be open to using AI-enabled options for booking business trips, younger generations are more likely to be amenable (Gen Z: 92%, millennials: 90%, Gen X: 80%, baby boomers: 71%).
  • Younger generations also are more likely to say that they would be comfortable using AI-powered automation to support elements of their business travel than older generations (Gen Z: 95%, millennials: 91%, Gen X: 78%, baby boomers 65%).

Surveyed generations are similarly likely to express concern about air travel safety, but there is a notable difference in sentiment between the youngest and oldest groups.

• Sixty-four percent of Gen Z, 57% of millennials, 55% of Gen X, and 52% of baby boomers express concern about air travel safety in our survey.
  • While these percentages are relatively similar, the 12 percentage point difference between Gen Z and baby boomers is worth noting.

For more findings from this year’s Global Business Travel Survey, download the white paper here.

The SAP Concur Global Business Traveler Survey was conducted by Wakefield Research between April 30 and May 12, 2025, among 3,750 business travelers in 24 markets: U.S., Canada, UK, Germany, France, Benelux (Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg), Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Finland, Italy, Spain, ANZ (Australia, New Zealand), Middle East (UAE, Saudi Arabia), Japan, Korea, India, Mexico, Brazil, SEA (Singapore, Malaysia), South Africa, Portugal, Switzerland, and Austria.