BETHESDA, Md., Aug. 14, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --According to new research that captured data from more than 1,000 of the nation's most frequent business travelers, time on the road adds value to their lives beyond business and is a source of personal happiness. The first-of-its-kind study, conducted by Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott, explored the emotions of the nation's most experienced road warriors before, during and after a business trip.

"We feel the best way to help our guests succeed is to understand how they operate, so we can maximize their experience at our hotels," said Shruti Buckley, vice president and global brand manager, Fairfield Inn & Suites. "They demand an environment that allows them to be productive, yet one that is also inviting, upbeat and personal, so that's what we deliver."

Key Finding 1: Frequent Business Travel Enhances Your LifeAlong with its ability to boost one's professional development, the study found that frequent business travel has significant personal benefits.

"The overwhelming majority of travelers are satisfied or very satisfied with the amount they travel for business, which says a lot about the personal benefits to business travel," said Buckley. "Thirty percent would even like to travel more often."

Key Finding 2: Frequent Business Travel Leads to HappinessFrequent business travelers experience positive emotions, such as happiness and confidence, on the road.

Despite experiencing travel delays; missing their families, pets and home-cooked meals; losing their luggage; or even skipping a family event, the vast majority of frequent business travelers report positive emotions when preparing for (86%) and during (88%) a trip. The most common emotions reported include feeling confident, knowledgeable, interested, calm, excited, eager, well-connected and happy.

"While more than half of frequent business travelers say they work twice as much when on the road, they also experience a certain feeling of freedom," said Buckley. "Sixty percent report feeling free to do whatever they want, which is empowering, as is getting their job done."

Some frequent business travelers might be smiling because they often travel with a colleague. According to those who travel with others, there are both physical and psychological benefits to companion business travel, including:

Other frequent business travelers' happiness might stem from the aspects of travel they qualify as most enjoyable, such as experiencing new places, meeting new people, going out to eat, earning mileage or loyalty points, trying new foods, not going into the office, spending time alone and meeting up with friends. Twenty-one percent enjoy the fact that they can get more work done on the road. Fifty-nine percent say coming home from a trip is like a honeymoon with their spouse.

Key Finding 3: Frequent Business Travelers Can Teach Us a LotStudy participants provided insights into strategies for success on the road.

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First-Ever Fairfield Inn & Suites Research Reveals Business Travel Leads To Happiness And Personal Growth