HOSTELWORLD : SURVEY REVEALS THE DIGITAL NOMAD TRIBE IS GROWING

Hostelworld Survey Reveals the Digital Nomad Tribe is Growing

Recent Survey Results from Hostelworld Show an Increasing Appetite Among US Citizens to Travel the Globe While Working Remotely

Dublin, Ireland - July 19, 2017 - Hostelworld, the largest online hostel-booking platform sparking social experiences across the globe, today revealed the results from its quarterly consumer survey about US travel trends in 2017. The company set out to uncover how the US workforce is evolving and what impact that has on the way citizens are traveling. Results show that many US adults are saying goodbye to the 9 to 5 grind in favor of a more flexible work environment that allows employees to work whenever and wherever they'd like without impacting productivity. This newfound flexibility in the workforce offers a unique opportunity to meet the world - exploring new places, engaging with new cultures - without sacrificing career growth.

The study reveals that 71 percent of US citizens are equally as productive or more productive when working remotely and/or from home. What's more, nearly 70 percent who have worked remotely while traveling said they were just as productive if not more productive during that time period - 30 percent report an increase in productivity, while 40 percent report no change. These digital nomads, employed adults traveling while working, are taking remote work to the next level and this group is growing quickly. The vast majority (62 percent) of US citizens would consider working remotely while traveling abroad if their company would support it.

Additional findings include:

• There are Boundless Benefits for Those Who Travel While Working Remotely - US citizens who have worked remotely while traveling abroad report a number of benefits including the ability to work and explore a new place, the ability to work and develop personally/professionally, the ability to work and learn a new culture and the ability to work and meet new people. Additionally, travel experiences can give you a leg up on the competition when searching for a new job. 73 percent of those that bring up travel experiences during the interview process report that it had a positive impact on the recruiter's decision.

• Remote Work Programs Aren't Just for Digital Nomads - Although the digital nomad movement is just beginning, many companies - such as Nomad List, Remote Year and Hacker Paradise - are popping up to provide support and resources to those interested in meeting the world while they work. While 81 percent of US citizens have not yet participated in such a program, nearly 50 percent said they would consider doing so in the future. The most popular of these programs is Remote Year, with just over 6 percent of US citizens reporting that they have participated in the program in the past. Although 18 to 29-year olds are driving the remote work movement, it's actually older generations that are most interested in applying to a formal program. Those between the age of 45 and 59 are 2 time more likely to express interest in a remote work program.

• The Next Generation of Employers will Prioritize Travel Experiences - Although employees and employers alike agree that travel helps to develop key traits important to success in the workforce, there is little emphasis placed on travel experiences during the hiring process in the US. 78 percent of US citizens do not list travel experiences on their resume. However, 73 percent of those that did bring up travel experiences during the interview process report that it had a positive impact on the recruiter's decision. Of those that play a role in hiring at their company, just

20 percent said they consider travel experiences when assessing a candidate. An additional 40 percent said they will consider travel experiences depending on the situation. But all of that is about to change as younger generations who take travel experiences more seriously rise up in the ranks. US citizens between the age of 18 and 29 are most likely to report that travel experiences make people more employable - 83 percent said travel helps with people skills, communication, confidence and beyond. This group is also 3 times more likely to list travel experiences on their resume or mention those experiences in an interview.

"Traveling offers a unique opportunity to learn from the world around us and develop both personally and professionally. Experiences with new cultures, new communities and new adventures spurs creativity and can make us more employable down the road," said Otto Rosenberger, CMO of Hostelworld. "Luckily, the way we work is changing - it's easier than ever to balance world travel with a career. Although it may seem unconventional to take a conference call from a coffee shop down the street or from another continent entirely, the truth is that doing so doesn't harm productivity. In fact, we've found that some are more productive in these unique work environments than they are in a traditional office setting. That's great news for digital nomads who no longer need to sacrifice exploration and the many benefits of travel to maintain a successful career."

Hostelworld conducted an online survey via SurveyMonkey of over 1,300 US citizens in June 2017. Respondents were between the ages of 18 and 100 and lived in the United States. To download a breakdown of the full results, click here. For more information about Hostelworld, click here.

About Hostelworld

Hostelworld, the largest online hostel-booking platform sparking social experiences across the globe, inspires passionate travellers to see the world, meet new people and come back with extraordinary stories to tell. Hostelworld customers are not your average tourists; they crave unique experiences that Hostelworld facilitates with the best choice of hostels around the world. It's the social nature of hostels that turbo-charges their global adventures and empowers them to Meet the World.

Hostelworld has over nine million reviews across 35,000 properties in more than 180 countries, making the brand the leading online hub for social travel. The website and mobile app operates in 19 different languages.

The Hostelworld Group went public in November 2015, listing on the main London and Dublin stock exchanges. Headquartered in Dublin, Hostelworld has offices around the world in London, Shanghai, Sydney and Seoul and was recently recognized as a Best Workplace for 2016 by the Great Places to Work Institute.

Contact Information

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