You’ve probably noticed it at your last industry conference: colleagues extending their stays, exploring the host city, and coming back to work refreshed rather than exhausted. Bleisure travel is reshaping how we think about business trips, and for good reason.
If you’re struggling to keep your team motivated for those frequent work trips or wondering why your employees seem burned out from constant business travel, bleisure might be the solution you’ve been looking for. Let’s break down everything you need to know about this growing trend that’s transforming corporate travel.
What Exactly Is Bleisure Travel?
Bleisure combines “business” and “leisure”: it’s when professionals extend their work trips to include personal vacation time. Instead of flying home immediately after that conference in San Diego, your team member might stay an extra weekend to hit the beaches, explore Balboa Park, or visit friends in the area.
The concept is brilliantly simple: since the company is already covering the major travel expenses like flights and several nights of accommodation, employees add a few extra days at their own expense to turn a routine business trip into a mini-vacation.
Recent data shows that 46% of global employees planned to engage in bleisure travel in 2024, with even higher adoption rates among younger professionals. More than a third of Gen Z and Millennial business travelers actively extend their trips for leisure purposes: and this trend shows no signs of slowing down.
Why Bleisure Travel Is Exploding Right Now
The shift toward bleisure isn’t just a fad; it reflects fundamental changes in how we work and what employees value. Here’s what’s driving this movement:
Work-Life Integration Over Balance
Today’s workforce doesn’t want to compartmentalize their lives into rigid work and personal boxes. They’re seeking ways to blend professional obligations with personal fulfillment, and bleisure offers the perfect opportunity.
The Remote Work Effect
As remote and hybrid work arrangements become standard, employees have gained flexibility in how and where they work. This mindset extends to business travel: why not make the most of being somewhere new?
Economic Efficiency
With inflation affecting everything from groceries to gas, bleisure offers a cost-effective way to travel. When the major expenses are already covered, extending a trip becomes remarkably affordable.
Burnout Prevention
Business travel can be exhausting. Airport delays, back-to-back meetings, and unfamiliar accommodations take their toll. Adding leisure time helps travelers decompress and return to work genuinely refreshed rather than needing a vacation from their business trip.
The Business Case for Supporting Bleisure
If you’re in event planning or hospitality management, understanding bleisure benefits isn’t just about keeping up with trends: it’s about supporting your team and improving your bottom line.
Employee Retention and Satisfaction
A Hilton survey found that bleisure travelers feel significantly more rejuvenated than those taking strictly business trips. Happy employees stay longer, perform better, and speak positively about your company culture.
Cost-Effective Employee Perk
Unlike traditional benefits that require significant budget allocation, supporting bleisure travel costs your company virtually nothing while providing substantial value to employees. You’re already paying for flights and several nights of accommodation: the employee covers their extended stay.
Attracting Top Talent
In competitive hiring markets, unique perks matter. Companies known for supporting work-life integration through policies like bleisure travel stand out to quality candidates, especially younger professionals who prioritize experiences over traditional benefits.
Improved Meeting Attendance
When employees know they can extend their stay for personal enjoyment, they’re more likely to view business trips positively rather than as disruptions to their personal lives. This can lead to better attendance at industry events and conferences.
How to Implement Bleisure-Friendly Policies
Ready to embrace bleisure travel? Here’s how to set your team up for success:
Create Clear Guidelines
Establish policies that outline what the company covers versus employee responsibility. Typically, companies pay for flights and accommodation during business days, while employees handle extended stay costs, meals during leisure time, and personal activities.
Choose Bleisure-Friendly Destinations
When planning events or selecting meeting locations, consider destinations that offer rich cultural experiences, excellent dining, and leisure activities. Cities like Austin, Nashville, Portland, and Charleston are popular because they combine strong business facilities with vibrant local scenes.
Partner with Hotels That Get It
Work with accommodations that understand bleisure travelers’ needs. Look for hotels offering extended stay discounts, local experience packages, or flexible check-in/check-out times. Many luxury independent hotels excel in this area, providing personalized service that enhances both business and leisure portions of the trip.
Flexible Booking Arrangements
Use travel management companies or booking platforms that allow easy trip extensions. Your travelers should be able to modify their stays without jumping through administrative hoops.
Popular Bleisure Destinations and What Makes Them Work
The most successful bleisure destinations share common characteristics: strong business infrastructure combined with compelling leisure activities. Here’s what travelers are seeking:
Cultural Richness
Cities with museums, historical sites, and unique local culture top the list. Tokyo, Paris, and New York remain favorites because they offer world-class business facilities alongside unparalleled cultural experiences.
Culinary Scenes
Fifty-six percent of bleisure travelers prioritize destinations with excellent restaurants. Food and wine experiences create lasting memories and justify the extended stay.
Natural Beauty
Half of bleisure travelers are motivated by beaches, nature, and outdoor activities. Destinations like San Diego, Miami, and Pacific Northwest cities combine business capabilities with natural attractions.
Accessibility
Travelers show willingness to travel up to two hours by car or plane for leisure activities, so proximity to additional attractions matters. A city might serve as the business hub while offering easy access to mountains, beaches, or cultural centers.
Making Bleisure Work for Event Planners
As an event planner, you can enhance your events’ appeal by considering bleisure opportunities:
Timing Is Everything
Schedule business events earlier in the week when possible, allowing attendees to extend their stays over weekends. This simple adjustment can significantly increase bleisure participation.
Local Partnership Recommendations
Provide attendees with curated lists of local restaurants, attractions, and experiences. Partner with local businesses to offer discounts or exclusive experiences for your event attendees.
Family-Friendly Options
Many bleisure travelers bring family members. Recommend family-friendly activities and accommodations that can comfortably handle business traveler needs alongside leisure requirements.
The Future of Business Travel
Bleisure represents more than a travel trend: it signals a fundamental shift in how we approach work and life integration. Forward-thinking companies and event planners who embrace this movement position themselves as innovative, employee-focused organizations.
The statistics speak for themselves: with nearly half of professionals engaging in bleisure travel and younger generations leading the charge, this isn’t a passing fad. It’s the new normal for business travel.
The hospitality industry is responding accordingly. Hotels are developing bleisure-specific packages, airlines are offering more flexible booking options, and corporate travel policies are evolving to accommodate this hybrid approach to business trips.
Ready to Embrace Bleisure?
Whether you’re planning your next industry conference or developing travel policies for your team, consider how bleisure travel could enhance your approach. The key is creating systems and choosing partners that support both business objectives and personal fulfillment.
Remember, successful bleisure isn’t about complicating business travel: it’s about maximizing the value of necessary trips while supporting your team’s well-being and satisfaction.
Ready to take your event planning to the next level? Consider how incorporating bleisure-friendly elements into your next corporate event could set you apart from the competition while delivering genuine value to attendees. The future of business travel is here, and it’s more enjoyable than ever.
