It's well-being over fame, fortune and even sex for global travellers

Well-being is the new status symbol, topping to-do lists for global travellers in this “always-on” culture, even trumping booze and sex, according to a global well-being survey conducted by Westin Hotels & Resorts.   

About 62% of the survey respondents consider maintaining a balanced sense of well-being as a status symbol, outranking professional accomplishment (47%) and a healthy relationship (48%).

With 64% of global respondents stating that their stress levels have increased over the last few years, 39% said they would give up alcohol, while a quarter of global and half of U.S. respondents would give up sex to improve their overall well-being.

The study was unveiled on the heels of the launch of the Westin Well-Being Movement, a US$15 million initiative designed to enhance the well-being of guests and associates around the world. This brand-wide campaign, which will introduce a string of innovative partnerships and programms across Westin’s six brand pillars: Feel Well, Work Well, Move Well, Eat Well, Sleep Well and Play Well.

Other key findings:

More than one-third (35%) of respondents cited the inability to find time a hindrance in their quest for well-being.
29% find it difficult to maintain their well-being while travelling.
Nearly one in five respondents (18%) would turn down a pay raise if it meant improving overall well-being.
24% of global travellers are willing to give up sex for a year if it helped their state of well-being, with half of those surveyed in the U.S. saying they would give up sex for a year to improve their well-being.
More than a third of global travellers (39%) would give up alcohol to improve their overall well-being.
38% said a digital detox (spending less time looking at a screen) would help improve their well-being.
Stress continues to be an enemy of achieving a balanced sense of well-being with only 4% saying their stress levels decreased, while 30% stated their work stress levels have significantly increased over the past year.
Sleep trumps sex when it comes to unwinding after a stressful workday; 40% of respondents said they would prefer sleep to sex (34%).
38% destress with exercise, wth the same percentage relying on comfort food,
More than a third of the respondents (34%) chooses meditation/yoga as a way to unwind after a stressful workday.

Brian Povinelli, global brand leader for Westin Hotels & Resorts, said, “The results of this survey made one thing crystal clear: citizens of the globe are ultra-aware of their state of well-being and are interested in what they can do to maintain it and improve their health and balance – even when faced with accelerated stress.” said

• The study is based on a survey conducted by STUDYLOGIC LLC via telephone of 6,402 respondents who travel away for business at least once a year from the U.S., the United Arab Emirates, India, Mexico, and China. Interviews were conducted between February 6th and February 19th, 2014.

• Photo credit (hand-writing on black chalkboard): wavebreakmedia/Shutterstock