New research from Booking.com for Business reveals how people's professions shape their outlooks towards business and leisure travel and the increasing intersection of the two.

The study surveyed more than 17,000 working professionals from 24 countries across more than 20 industries to identify common trends and variations by profession.

Almost a third (30%) of all working professionals accepted their job fully or in part because of the business travel opportunities it offered, highlighting the lure of business travel for employees. When looking into specific professions, this sentiment is echoed most by Architects and Designers (45%) and Management Consultants (38%).

In addition, over a third (38%) say they would actively pursue a new job if it meant they could travel even more for business. This figure rises to 46% among 18-34 year olds, and similarly, Architects and Designers (48%) and Management Consultants (43%). The statistics suggest that employers looking to attract and retain the best talent should consider travel as an intrinsic part of the job package they offer.

A third of professionals (32%) feel their work and leisure time is very intertwined, in particular those in Agriculture and Farming (43%), Architecture and Design (43%), and Management Consultancy (42%). The study said it's no surprise then that, regardless of industry, professionals try to make the most of a destination when traveling for business. Two thirds (69%) extend a business trip by a few hours or days to enjoy the city, while three quarters (73%) make time for leisure activities within a trip. Overall, 45% of professionals value this ability to blend business travel with leisure over traditional workplace benefits.

So what drives professionals to combine a business trip with leisure? The top two factors are based on the destination itself - 62% want to explore a city they haven't visited before, and 39% want to spend more time in a favorite location. But the results also unveil more subtle differences in how professions approach leisure time during a business trip:

In terms of the most preferred accommodation for a holiday stay, a place with "local charm" is among the top three choices for all professionals (23%), in addition to mid-market options (31%) and places with all-inclusive deals (23%). Variations within select professions were revealed here as well:

When considering what drives holiday accommodation choice, location is key across all professions, with 43% wanting to be close to local attractions, followed by comfort (34%) and fast and complimentary Wi-Fi (31%). Having a strong start to the day is also essential, with the top prioritized accommodation amenities across professions being a comfortable bed (62%) and a hearty breakfast (42%).