Nearly 430 million business trips were taken in the U.S. in 2022, according to data from the Global Business Travel Index. That’s a lot of flights booked and expense reports filed—and, yes, a lot of circling back and blue-sky thinking. Off-site meetings are designed to get the ball rolling and bring teams together face-to-face. But even if the agenda is packed with strategy sessions and PowerPoints, there’s no rule that says you can’t build in a little fun along the way.
To help first-time business travelers ensure they have at least a bit of personal fun on their business trip, we asked executives for their best advice. Turns out, they all had the same idea: Get out and go for some kind of walk.
“I try to get into the local rhythm as quickly as possible when I travel. I fight through the jet lag and always take an hour-long walk on my first morning, no matter how cold or hot it is, to breathe the air and reset my internal clock,” Arash Azarbarzin, the CEO at Viceroy Hotels & Resorts, shared with Travel + Leisure. “It’s a kind of walking meditation that helps me get into the zone, whether I’m strolling the canals of Amsterdam or cutting through Hyde Park [in London]. It’s my way of grounding myself where I am and getting connected to the destination.”
Points Path founder and CEO Julian Kheel wholeheartedly agrees, adding, “I walk everywhere I can when I travel for work so I can see the city. It’s free, it clears your head, and you’ll get a lot more out of it than staring at your phone in the back seat of an Uber.”
Even better, this walk can include your plus-one, or even your plus-two, if you have a baby in tow.
“For me, I have the most fun when I go on business trips with family. My wife and I have a toddler, so traveling requires lots of packing and bringing a stroller,” said Hily Dating App co-founder and CMO, Dmytro Kononov, who travels frequently for conferences and to meet partners. “It can sound like a hassle, but the memories I get with my family are precious, like mornings on the beach with my son in San Francisco.”
It can also help to have a goal in mind for those walks. Celebrity chef and Food Network star Maneet Chauhan does this by always trying to fit in 10,000 steps a day, especially when she’s far from home.
“I walk everywhere I can, even when I’m tired,” said Chauhan. “It gives you a consistent routine, but also allows you to see so much more of a destination. Going on a walk is also an excuse for a spontaneous snack break. Popping into a cafe or trying some street food is a great way to experience a city’s culture and give yourself a little treat among meetings.”
But if you need a specific place to walk to, Edward Newell, founder of the NewTree Ranch in Healdsburg, California, has a great idea on where you should go.
“Whenever I travel, I try to visit a local farmers market on my first day—not necessarily to shop, but to understand the soul of a place,” said Newell. “It tells me everything: what’s in season, how people connect, how they nourish themselves. I’ve done this in small villages in Bali, remote towns in Brazil, and bustling cities like Paris.” This also doubles as a fantastic creative outlet for your business trip. Newell says, he brings home a lot of the lessons he learned at the local farmers markets. “It’s my way of staying grounded and connected, no matter where I am in the world,” he added.
The one thing you shouldn’t do is have a single ounce of guilt over having a brief moment of fun on that business-related trip.
“Above all, I try to remember travel is something we do for pleasure. Even on a business trip, I make time to explore the local cuisine and seek out the new hotspots,” said Azarbarzin. “Those small moments of discovery make work travel feel more like a getaway.”
