The French don’t just pack their bags when they set off on a business trip: they also put on another version of themselves.
That’s the finding of a new report published on 1 September 2026 by Hotels.com, which documents what the brand describes as the “double life” of French professionals, split between the office and their private sphere.
According to the study, conducted online by OnePoll between 17 and 24 August 2026 among 1,000 adults living in France who had travelled for work purposes over the past three years, 44% of respondents say they have a different personality at work than in daily life. That figure rises to 55% among Generation Z, an age group that travels more, commands higher budgets and expects far more from a business trip than a simple hotel room.
“Meeting Mode” versus “Off Mode”
The study identifies two clearly distinct behavioural registers. In a professional context, French travellers switch on what Hotels.com calls the “suit effect”: 53% say they are always punctual and wake up earlier than they would on holiday, 47% describe themselves as highly organised and 39% pay particular attention to their appearance. Nearly a third (28%) take on a planner role, while 23% prefer working alone and 22% admit toning down certain personality traits in a professional setting.
Once the assignment is over, a “backstage effect” takes hold: 48% feel more relaxed once they leave work and 38% say they leave their stress at the door rather than bring it home. Among Generation Z, this gap between the two registers is most pronounced, with 55% of respondents affected. Some nonetheless carry their professional reflexes into their private lives: 33% reuse their planning skills to organise holidays, and a similar share apply their efficiency skills to find better hotels.
Budgets and Frequency: A Sector-by-Sector Snapshot
The report also draws a budgetary profile of French business travellers by sector. Finance employees show the highest travel frequency, with close to 14 nights a year and a budget of €237 per night plus €107 in daily expenses. In the sales, marketing and media sectors, nearly half of professionals (48%) book a more upscale hotel for business trips than for personal holidays, prioritising a quality hotel bar (43%) or a room with a view (41%).
Business travel is no longer the preserve of large corporations: nearly a third of freelancers and SME employees say they now travel more than before the health crisis. SMEs report an accommodation budget of €219.5 per night, above the national average of €195.6, while freelancers spend less (€130.2 per night) but travel more frequently, logging 11.8 nights away from home over the past twelve months against a national average of 10.9 nights. Generation Z stands out with markedly higher allowances: €244 in accommodation budget per night, 25% above average, and €111 in daily expenses, 22% above average.
This growing budgetary weight of business travel confirms a dynamic already observed globally, where corporate travel spending has become a strategic development priority across the entire hospitality value chain.
A New Booking Experience Dedicated to Business Travel
To meet these expectations, Hotels.com is launching an experience specifically designed for business travellers, available from 1 September 2026 on its website and app. Xavier Rousselou, spokesperson for the brand, notes that business travel is no longer simply a string of meetings: travellers now expect a hotel and a destination to adapt to both facets of their personality, from reliable connectivity ahead of an important presentation to moments of relaxation once the working day is over.
In practice, the platform allows travellers to save their preferences once (Wi-Fi, breakfast, gym access, free cancellation, maximum nightly budget), filter hotels using reviews dedicated to business trips, and stay flexible in the event of changing plans thanks to fully refundable stays. The Quick Booking feature simplifies repeat bookings, while business nights now generate rewards that can be redeemed for personal trips, all centralised within a single account.
This positioning reflects a broader trend already documented by several industry players, such as the rise of bleisure travel observed at Hyatt, which pairs cultural experiences with business offerings to meet the needs of professional travellers seeking meaning as much as efficiency.
September and March: Peak Months for Business Travel
The study identifies September and March as the two months when business travel is most intense in France. Hotels.com pairs this calendar with a selection of ten destinations favoured by French business travellers, each paired with a recommended property combining workspaces, comfort and proximity to strategic addresses: Paris (Maison Colbert), London (The Standard London), New York (The London), Barcelona (Ohla Eixample), Dubai (Meliá Desert Palm Member of Meliá Collection), Tokyo (The Capitol Hotel Tokyu), Madrid (Only YOU Boutique Hotel), Rome (Hotel Chapter Roma), Los Angeles (The Sun Rose West Hollywood) and Brussels (Warwick Brussels Grand-Place).
This destination-led approach illustrates the growing personalisation shaping the experiential travel segment, where the line between professional requirements and personal expectations continues to blur, even for the most time-constrained travellers.
At a glance by The Hospitality Tribune
Hotels.com report reveals a split identity among French business travelers
44% of French professionals say they behave differently at work than in daily life, rising to 55% among Gen Z
Business travelers now average 10.9 nights per year on the road, up 27% versus pre-pandemic levels
Finance sector leads frequency with nearly 14 nights per year and a €237/night hotel budget
Gen Z travelers command the highest allowances: €244/night for accommodation and €111/day in expenses
Hotels.com launches a dedicated business travel booking experience on September 1, 2026
September and March identified as peak months for business travel in France
