APAC Travelers Embrace Work‑from‑Anywhere as They Rediscover New Work‑Life Rhythms

Even as remote working blurs boundaries between work and life, APAC travelers are finding new ways to balance both by working from anywhere – including extended stays at hotels

Survey respondents across six of APAC’s leading tourism markets show increasing preference for flexibility, spotlighting why it matters where you stay when travelling for leisure, business, or a blend of both.

The pandemic has redefined travel, and as leading hospitality company, Hilton (NYSE: HLT), unpacks its newest survey findings1, travel trends spotlight how the past two years have not only changed how people travel, but why. Results revealed the lines between work and personal trips have become increasingly blurred - with vacation time increasingly being added to work trips. This signals a need to establish new rhythms of rest and reconnecting, emphasizing why now, more than ever, it matters where you stay.

“Our study shows that work trips are not only extended for extra down-time, but leisure travel also needs to be flexible and connected enough to allow for an element of remote working or working from anywhere,” said Ben George, senior vice president and commercial director, Hilton, Asia Pacific. “More than ever, this puts the spotlight on the stay itself and what the hotel experience can offer in totality. When you need to produce an inspiring presentation while on the move, it matters where you stay — the environment, food, amenities make all the difference.”

Blurring Lines Between Work and Life

The rise of remote working during the pandemic has accelerated an always-on culture, resulting in a greater want and need among employees to disconnect from constant video conferencing and the incessant ping of messaging apps.

43% of Indonesian and Malaysian travelers say they want to disconnect from work, but among them 95% and 81% still spend some time working while travelling with family.

Employed respondents from Singapore (66%) and Australia (64%) cannot seem to switch off their work mode, despite saying they would like to.

There is also the added stress of guilt associated with responding to work emails while on vacation, according to half of the respondents in Indonesia (59%), Australia (58%), Malaysia (57%), and Singapore (54%).

Remote Working From Stunning Locations

At the same time, there is an emerging preference among travelers to make the most of the remote working flexibility that more companies are now offering. Across the region, gainfully employed respondents would choose to do some form of work while travelling, with India (98%) ranked at the top, followed by Thailand and Indonesia (95%), Malaysia (81%), Singapore (65%), and Australia (64%).

This corresponds with extended stays at hotels, which offer an ideal environment for working from anywhere when it is preferred. Hilton’s booking data recorded an increase of up to two days in the average length of stay from 2019 to 2022 in Asia Pacific—with Singapore and Bangkok taking the lead at five and four days, respectively.

Remote Working From Stunning Locations

Footnotes

Survey conducted with nearly 6,000 respondents across Singapore, Australia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and India

Among 12 activities, sitting by pool or beach ranks #1 (19%), spa treatment ranks #3 (15%), taking a nap ranks #4 (14%). Romantic dinner with spouse/significant other ranks second at 17%.