Out of office, with the team

Colleagues are turning into travel buddies. No, we’re not talking about the office trip. See why work vacays might be the next big thing in travel

- Mansi Shah

Dhruvi Khanvholia (third from left) took a trip with former and current colleagues to Delhi, Rishikesh, Haridwar and Triyugnarayan last year.

Most of us can’t make it through the workday without waiting for that one co-worker to stub their toe against the desk. Some of us, however, are readily having after-work drinks with our colleagues.

As we pour ever more of our lives into our jobs, groups of office buddies are increasingly vacationing together (outside of the mandatory offsite). And the travel industry is watching skeptically, but keenly.

“Shared frustrations about work often turn into shared laughter over drinks. This makes domestic nightlife and entertainment destinations a big draw,” says Rikant Pittie, co-founder of the travel portal EaseMyTrip.

CEOs and upper management aren’t likely to take off on a break together. It’s junior and mid-level professionals, in groups of four to six, who are likely to earmark a long weekend for a getaway.

"Mixed-gender groups are common, reflecting workplace dynamics," says Devendra Parulekar, founder of hospitality and property management company, SaffronStays.

Colleagues vacation differently, say industry folks.