After years of hybrid work and cancelled flights, business travel has returned, but not as we knew it. According to Holafly’s Travel eSIM Report – Summer 2025, 19.6% of all trips this summer were made for professional reasons. Yet the data also shows a profound cultural shift: the rise of bleisure, where work and leisure blend into one seamless experience.
This new generation of professionals — flexible, mobile, and purpose-driven — is reshaping the corporate travel map. Two-thirds (65%) of those who travelled for work were between 25 and 44 years old, proving that Millennials and Gen Z are driving the movement. For them, travel isn’t an interruption to life, it’s part of it.
“Corporate travellers are telling us very clearly: speed gets you in the game, but security and transparency are what win their trust,” says Alex Bryszkowski, VP of B2B & Partnerships at Holafly. “The more companies embrace eSIM, the more they align with employee expectations for both performance and protection.”
A new definition of productivity
Holafly’s findings reveal that 57% of business travellers reported a productivity boost thanks to reliable connectivity, a reminder that staying online is no longer a background utility, but the backbone of performance. Another 30% said their experience was “neutral”, while 13% described it as negative due to unstable data or coverage issues that caused stress and delays.
Connectivity, once a technical concern, now defines wellbeing, efficiency, and even employee satisfaction. In this context, providing stable, secure digital access isn’t a perk, it’s a statement of care.
From “managed travel” to “empowered travel”
The report also uncovers a changing balance of power. Half of all business travellers still manage their own connectivity by buying local SIMs, paying for roaming, or activating eSIMs independently. But the other half are already supported by their employers, marking a new phase where digital-first tools are being adopted at scale.
- 32.7% use company-provided SIMs or roaming packages.
- 15.6% travel with corporate eSIMs, a number rising fast thanks to cost savings, security and flexibility.
This evolution turns connectivity into a strategic enabler. Company-provided eSIMs are helping businesses reduce costs while boosting employee trust, aligning IT standards with mobility.
Blurring the line between work and life
Perhaps the most striking insight is how travel has become more personal. Professionals are extending business trips to explore local culture, relax, or visit friends and family. The report calls this “a structural transformation in corporate mobility,” not a passing lifestyle fad.
Hybrid schedules and remote work have blurred boundaries, but they’ve also opened new possibilities. Work trips are no longer just transactions; they’re opportunities for inspiration, connection, and wellbeing.
In an era where professional life is increasingly defined by freedom and flexibility, how we stay connected says as much about company culture as what we do on the road.
