Global Study: Travelers Feeling The Workday Stress

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Forget fame and fortune, well-being is topping to do lists for global travelers in our “always-on” culture, according to a global well-being survey conducted by Westin Hotels & Resorts. The survey sample consisted of more than 6,000 frequent global travelers from the U.S., China, Mexico, India and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Virtually no one escaped work stress over the past year with only 4 percent saying their stress levels decreased. In fact, 30 percent say their work stress levels have significantly increased over the past year. According to the survey, travelers continue to look to contribute to their well-being through a variety of activities to help them unwind after a stressful workday:

• Sleep trumps sex when it comes to unwinding after a stressful workday and 40 percent say they would prefer sleep over sex (34 percent). 
• Just as many people de-stress with exercise (38 percent) as comfort food (38 percent).
• More than a third (34 percent) chooses meditation/yoga as a way to unwind after a stressful workday.

Some 62 percent of survey respondents consider maintaining a balanced sense of well-being as a status symbol, outranking professional accomplishment (47 percent) and a healthy relationship (48 percent).  How important is well-being in today’s stress-ridden society?  With 64 percent of global respondents stating that their stress levels have increased over the last few years, 39 percent would give up alcohol and almost a quarter of global respondents and nearly half of U.S. respondents would give up sex to improve their overall well-being.

“The results of this survey made one thing crystal clear: citizens of the globe are ultra-aware of their state of well-being and are interested in what they can do to  maintain it and improve their health and balance — even when faced with accelerated stress,” said Brian Povinelli, Global Brand Leader, Westin Hotels & Resorts. “Westin is proud to be the global leader in hospitality well-being, and we are excited to utilize these results to better meet the needs of our guests through our brand-new Westin Well-being Movement.”

Westin Hotels recently announced the global launch of the Westin Well-being Movement, an ambitious $15 million brand-wide campaign that will introduce a string of innovative partnerships and programs across Westin’s six brand pillars: Feel Well, Work Well, Move Well, Eat Well, Sleep Well and Play Well.

For more information on the Westin Well-being Movement and Westin Hotels, please visit www.Westin.com, the brand’s Facebook page or follow @Westin on Twitter.