JOHANNESBURG – Golf has been the darling of business networking for decades. With over 39,000 courses around the world doubling as open-air boardrooms, the game has long been seen as the gold standard for making connections outside the meeting room.
But four hours of sand traps and small talk? That’s a big-time commitment – and in 2025, business travel and the networking it requires looks different. Wellbeing plays a big role in this shift. According to a Global State of the Market 2024 survey, over a third of SMEs now put traveller wellbeing first.
“Networking is still one of the biggest reasons people get on planes for work,” says Herman Heunes, General Manager at Corporate Traveller. “But how we connect is changing fast. People want options that feel energising, not exhausting.”
So, what’s stepping up to take golf’s place if you want to network 2.0?
Why padel is where deals are getting served
Padel is made for business travel. Played in doubles on a small court, it gets people talking, moving, and breaking the ice in under an hour. For time-poor travellers, it strikes the right balance: low-pressure but high-impact. You bond quickly, without burning through your schedule.
And it’s booming. In the U.S., 13% of adults already play pickleball (padel’s close cousin), with Gen Z and Millennials leading the charge – drawn in by its easy-going vibe and instant playability. As top player Ben Johns puts it: “You can have fun on the first day.”
South Africa’s catching on fast, too, with more than 600 courts and 200+ clubs nationwide. Venues like KZN’s Station Padel are welcoming full corporate bookings, and for those embarking on international travel, hotels like The Ritz-Carlton Dubai now offer on-site courts.
Why walking is the new meeting
Net-walking is exactly what it sounds like: walking and talking – with purpose. It’s not new. Steve Jobs was a fan, famously holding walking meetings around Apple’s campus to spark creativity and encourage honest conversations. Turns out, he was onto something.
For business travellers, net-walking ticks all the right boxes. You get fresh air, build rapport, and experience more than just the inside of the conference room in the city you’re visiting. Hotels are getting behind the trend here, too. Westin’s gear-lending programme lets guests borrow fitness essentials like running shoes, and certain Westin hotels’ “run concierges” host guided morning jogs.
Apps like Strava can take it one step further. Use it to find local running or walking groups or check if anyone from the companies you’re meeting with is active in the area. It’s an easy ice-breaker – and potentially a new way to connect with someone before or after that big pitch.
And even if it’s not a business lead, joining locals for a casual run or group walk is a great way to get a sense of what’s happening on the ground. It’s the kind of experience that leads to better conversations – and better context – when you do sit down face-to-face.
Rethinking connection on the road
As business travel evolves, so too should our understanding of what meaningful networking looks like. “It’s not just about booking flights and hotels anymore,” says Heunes. “It’s about designing trips that support how people actually want to connect – whether that’s through movement, shared interests, or more human moments between meetings.”
Heunes advises companies to rethink their travel policies to give employees flexibility for informal connection – like choosing hotels with wellness amenities or building in time for an active meetup. Travel managers can also play a key role by recommending properties and itineraries that align with these goals.
As work becomes more fluid and global teams increasingly meet in motion rather than at desks, we need to rethink what “quality time” really means on the road. Whether it’s padel rallies or walking meetings through city streets, smart networking now starts with shared experience – not just shared agendas.
**ends**
About Corporate Traveller
Corporate Traveller is a division of the Flight Centre Travel Group, dedicated to saving businesses across Southern Africa time and money. Corporate Traveller has the benefit of being part of the world’s third-largest travel retailer, leveraging its global negotiating strength. It has access to over 50 of the world’s leading airlines and deals with more than 100 000 hotels around the world to guarantee savings for clients. Corporate Traveller provides clear, consolidated reporting of all its clients’ travel activities, helping them to control travel spend and identify opportunities to save costs.
Issued by:
Big Ambitions
Lori Cohen
