New report discovers growing acceptance, demand for work-from-anywhere policies
Budapest has been ranked as the top city for "workcations" across the world in the second annual survey from the International Workplace Group (IWG).
Hungary's capital received a total score of 75 in the barometer, which considers climate, culture, accommodation, transport, food & drink, happiness, broadband speed, sustainability, and the availability of flexible workspaces.
"Securing high marks for transport and accommodation prices, broadband speeds, and availability of flexible workspaces, Budapest stands out as the top destination for hybrid workers in 2024," the IWG said in a media release.
The city replaces Barcelona, which was the top workcation destination in 2023 before getting bumped to second place. Despite this, Barcelona remains a favoured spot for hybrid workers with a 73.5 score, with high marks for transport costs, accommodation, climate, and internet speed.
"Spain's wide-ranging digital nomad visa, along with Barcelona's excellent transportation infrastructure and relatively affordable cost of living, ensures it remains a prime workcation destination," IWG added.
Rio de Janeiro tied with Barcelona in the second slot also with a 73.5 score, rising from sixth place from last year's rankings. The city received "impressive scores" on accommodation, food, transport costs, as well as affordable yet strong broadband speeds, according to the IWG.
"Hybrid workers will benefit from a thriving digital nomad community, bolstered by local government investments to make the city more attractive for remote workers, including city-wide 5G coverage and a new digital nomad visa," IWG said.
The top 10 "workcation" cities are:
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- Budapest (75)
- Barcelona (73.5)
- Rio de Janeiro (73.5)
- Beijing (73)
- Lisbon (71.5)
- New York (71.5)
- Singapore (70.5)
- Jakarta (70.5)
- Los Angeles (70.5)
- Milan (70)
Work-from-anywhere policies
The findings come amid the rising popularity of workcations among office workers, according to IWG. Its survey among 1,021 hybrid workers found that 74% view a "work-from-anywhere" (WFA) policy as a significant factor in considering a new job.
This strong preference for WFA stems from the freedom employees associate with this policy, which 75% of respondents said boosts their job satisfaction.
Mark Dixon, IWG founder and CEO, said it's "no wonder" more individuals are embracing the idea of being a digital nomad or working with travel due to hybrid work and cloud technology.
"This trend is set to accelerate further, and we will continue to see more and more companies embracing WFA policies to improve employees' work-life balance and increase their attractiveness as an employer," Dixon said in a statement.