Do Not Disturb...
My Health
6 in 10 brits want more say over where they stay when travelling for work.
Travel is one of the biggest disruptors to routine. Here’s how to improve sleep and movement while on the road, and some of the best European hotel chains and cities to prioritise health.
Business travel can disrupt sleep and healthy routines. So, how can we make it easier to stay on track whilst on the road?
When you think of a business trip, long journeys, early starts, late nights and disrupted routines might come to mind.
For many travellers though, there’s another challenge: Having no control over their accommodation and how they spend their time.
Our latest research* revealed that 6 in 10 Brits want more say in where they stay, because when hotels are chosen for them, it can be harder to prioritise the habits that help people to sleep well, stay active and feel better while away.
54%
have no choice of accommodation
45%
say their sleep needs are overlooked
59%
say better accommodation would improve their wellbeing
How much does business travel disrupt our routines?
The top 10 European hotel chains to get a good night’s sleep
So, where can business travellers make healthier choices without having to work too hard at it?
We rated popular hotel chains across Europe, scoring them out of 60 against a range of factors linked to sleep, movement, food and overall wellbeing to determine which make it easier to recharge.
Sofitel came out on top, scoring 45.2 out of 60, followed by NH Hotels (44.0) and Holiday Inn Hotels (43.8).
Other hotel chains in the top 10 include Hampton by Hilton, Mercure, Hilton Hotels, Crowne Plaza and Marriott.
Natasha Inglis, Client Experience Director added:
Business travel doesn’t always give people much control over where they stay, but our research shows that this is something many travellers value.
“When you’re away for work, having the right environment around you can male it easier to look after yourself. Whether that’s a comfortable night’s sleep, access to fitness facilities or good food options, those details can really make a difference when you’re travelling regularly.
“For travel managers and bookers, wellbeing doesn’t have to mean adding another complicated layer to the booking process. It can be as simple as giving people accommodation options that make it easier to maintain the habits that matter to them.”
The European cities with the best hotels for health and wellbeing
Of course, it’s not just the hotel that matters. The city you’re travelling to can also influence how easy it is to maintain your routine.
Our analysis found significant differences between European destinations with Munich, Germany, taking the top spot with a score of 47.8 out of 60.
Berlin came second scoring 45.8, closely followed by Istanbul with 45.1.
The top 10 also included Paris, Brussels, Madrid, Prague, Dublin, Manchester and Hamburg.
For business travellers, these results highlight how the wider destination can play a role in the experience of staying well while away. Walkability, access to facilities and the availability of suitable accommodation can all make it easier to build healthy choices into a busy work trip.
How to look after your sleep and health when you don’t choose the hotel
Not everyone has a say over where they stay. So what can you do when your accommodation is already booked?
Health expert Thorrun Govind shares three simple ways to make business travel easier on yourself, and your health:
1. Make your room work for you.
“You might not be able to choose the hotel, but you can control your environment. An eye mask and earplugs can help. Keep the room cool and as dark as possible. Try to stick to your normal bedtime routine.”
2. Think about your food & drink.
“It can be tempting to rely on coffee when you are tired. Try not to have caffeine too close to bedtime. Alcohol can also disrupt sleep, even if it initially makes you feel sleepy. Keep hydrated and try to eat regular meals.”
3. Get outside and keep moving.
“Natural daylight can help your body clock, especially when you are travelling across time zones. A walk between meetings is a simple way to get some movement and fresh air.”
The bottom line
Business travel doesn’t have to mean putting your health on hold.
You might not be able to control your schedule, choose every meal or pick your hotel – but there are still ways to make healthier choices easier.
And for those responsible for booking business travel, giving employees more choice around accommodation could be a simple way to support better sleep, healthier routines and a more positive experience on the road.
Because sometimes, the best business trip is the one that doesn’t leave you needing a holiday afterwards.
Sources and methodology
About Thorrun Govind TV Health Expert Thorrun Govind is a practising pharmacist and healthcare lawyer. She is a regular health commentator across national and international TV, radio and media, including BBC, ITV, Sky News, LBC and Times Radio. Thorrun is a former Chair of the Royal College of Pharmacy.
Methodology – survey
*The research was conducted by Censuswide in September 2026 and surveyed 1,000 national representative consumers.
(Percentages relating to traveller behaviour are based only on respondents who have travelled.)
Methodology – hotel chains and EU cities
We gathered data for the 15 most popular hotel chains across the UK & EU’s top 20 business travel destinations. In total, we collected data for 447 total individual hotels across these brands and cities from Booking.com and used multiple different metrics to rank the hotels best set up to support better sleep and healthy habits.
METRIC
We ranked these hotels individually on the basis of:
- Booking.com rating of its comfort
- Booking.com rating of its facilities
- Booking.com rating of its cleanliness
We believe these 3 to be crucial for resting and recovering while staying active on a business trip. The facilities provide a choice to stay active through activity and environment while comfort and cleanliness contribute to mental relaxation. Alongside this, we used:
4. Booking.com top positive and negative reviews to see what people were saying about comfort and sleep for the hotels. We analysed the reviews for mentions of mattresses & pillows, comfort, curtains & blinds, air conditioning, noise, & more to see which hotels had positive and negative reviews for these essentials.
5. Proximity to the nearest airport was penalised due to the burden of sound of takeoffs and landings which may bother an individual’s sleep.
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