Kiwis ease post-holiday blues by booking next one

MEDIA RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Expedia survey reveals Kiwis ease post-holiday blues by booking their next holiday as soon as they’re back to work

• 83 percent of New Zealanders feel more motivated at work when they have a booked holiday to look forward to
• Kiwi workers set to cost businesses over $70 million in work hours when researching and booking their next holiday

Auckland, 14 January 2009 – As New Zealanders return to work after the summer break, 83 percent have revealed that they feel more motivated at work if they have a holiday to look forward to - according to a recent survey conducted by Expedia.co.nzTM, operated by Expedia, Inc., the world’s leading online travel company. So, while offices around New Zealand will be busy with work-related planning for the year ahead this month, many workers will be sure to be planning their 2009 getaways.

In fact, the survey revealed that over 46 percent of New Zealand workers admit to spending company time researching and booking their last holiday, with the average spending about three hours in total and almost six percent spending more than ten work hours. This means that New Zealand workers will spend an estimated total of just over three million hours* of company time planning their next holiday, costing New Zealand businesses over $70 million. The same study conducted concurrently in Australia, however, makes Kiwi workers look better by comparison as it revealed that 60 percent of Aussie workers have spent company time planning their holidays.

Also, 57 percent of workers surveyed at the beginning of January have already started planning their next getaway and 49 percent of people intend to take a holiday in the next six months. Interestingly, almost half of respondents also plan to take their next holiday within New Zealand rather than overseas. The next most popular holiday spot is Australia, with 22 percent of respondents nominating that destination, followed by nine percent nominating Asia.

The survey results, which monitored the responses of over 500 New Zealanders, reveal how many workers seek to lift their spirits by looking ahead to their next break as soon as they return to work after an enjoyable break.

Dr Ben Searle, Organisational Psychologist, said, “These survey results are not that surprising. A good summer holiday should help us recover from work-related stress, but evidence suggests that after returning to work many people quickly find themselves stressed again. Unfortunately, this reflects the modern reality that many people feel pressured or dissatisfied in their workplaces. Even for those who enjoy their jobs, the challenges of work can seem particularly demanding – or simply less motivating – after a long period of relaxation.

“This year, uncertainty in the economy is likely to increase the stress felt by businesses, employees and families. This means that we may need to pay closer attention to our health and wellbeing in 2009,” he said.

A previous poll, conducted late last year by Expedia.co.nz, revealed that holidays are longed for in the year ahead above a new romance, a pay rise or promotion.

Louise Hurbert-Burns at Expedia® New Zealand said, “New Zealanders work hard and spend a lot of time in the office, so any planned holiday is a great motivation to get through the daily grind.

“With the internet, it is now easier and quicker than ever to search for the best travel deals. On Expedia.co.nz you can plan a holiday or short break, including flights, accommodation, car hire and activities, within the convenience of one easy site so there’s no need to take up costly work time organising holidays,” she said.

For excellent travel deals and a great travel experience, visit www.expedia.co.nz.

* Estimated calculation of three million hours based on 2008 Statistics New Zealand figures for average weekly earnings and average hours worked and the Expedia survey responses which revealed an average of three hours of work time is spent by New Zealanders researching holidays (of those who said they used work time, 46.32 percent).

ENDS

© Scoop Media