Many workers have discovered a satisfying balance that falls between constant travel and remaining stationary indefinitely. In recent years, several buzzwords have emerged to describe this hybrid approach, such as “bleisure” travel, “hush trips,” and “workcations.”
Regardless of its label, the trend of travelers seamlessly merging work with their leisure vacations, regardless of their location, is on the rise. This phenomenon is gaining momentum, especially as remote or hybrid work setups become increasingly established as a permanent norm.
The fusion of work and leisure empowers workers to embark on extended journeys without the pressure of swiftly returning to their desks. This newfound flexibility also opens up the possibility of exploring more distant destinations. Furthermore, remote employees are discovering that they can travel more frequently, distributing their paid vacation days more evenly, provided they can effectively manage their work responsibilities while abroad.
IWG, the global leader in flexible and hybrid working solutions, has recently shared significant findings from its research on the “workcation” trend, unveiling key data points such as:
- An overwhelming majority, at 88 percent, stated that they embraced the concept of “working from anywhere” in 2022.
- Nearly 57 percent of those surveyed managed to extend their vacations last year by working remotely from different locations.
- A substantial 67 percent expressed confidence in their ability to effectively carry out their job duties while abroad.
- A significant 71 percent emphasized that they would only consider job opportunities offering remote work flexibility, even if only partially.
- An impressive 76 percent of the participants identified “work-life balance” as the most significant benefit of working from various locations.
- Additional advantages highlighted by respondents included the opportunity to spend more quality time with friends and family abroad (52 percent), financial savings by traveling during off-peak periods (47 percent), and the ability to enjoy more extended holidays (30 percent).
“For an increasing number of workers, hybrid working offers the opportunity to work wherever we will be the most productive. And thanks to cloud technology, that can be anywhere in the world, provided there’s a high-quality internet connection available, said IWG Founder and CEO Mark Dixon.“So, it’s no wonder that more and more individuals are embracing the idea of combining work with travel, whether it’s for a few days tacked on to the end of a vacation, or a few months as a digital nomad.”
“This trend is set to accelerate further, and we will continue to see more and more companies embracing WFA policies to improve employees’ work-life balance and increase their attractiveness as an employer,” he added.
What are the best cities for a workcation in 2023?
Cities were evaluated using a ten-point scale across nine distinct categories, leading to a maximum possible score of 90 points. Among the top ten cities, some found themselves in a tie regarding their rankings. Interestingly, only one of these cities is situated within the United States, and the rest of the outcomes might prove unexpected.
The top 10 are listed below, along with overall rankings:
- Barcelona: 58.5
- Toronto: 58.5
- Beijing: 57.5
- Milan: 57
- New York: 56.5
- Rio de Janeiro: 55
- Amsterdam: 55
- Paris: 55
- Jakarta: 55
- Lisbon: 54.5