“Bleisure” Trend: Combining Business Trips with Leisure
The idea of combining business and leisure travel has become a trend that can be observed today. People who prefer to enjoy their time in another city where they work, take advantage of their free time to explore every corner of the city and its most iconic sites.
This is called “Bleisure” because it combines two concepts: “business” and “leisure,” and this is a word that has gained traction in recent years.
There are many forms of tourism, and high and low seasons have always been clearly differentiated, but with this new concept, travel seasons have been diversified. This idea contributes to destinations attracting visitors year-round and significantly growing their economies.
It’s nothing new for people to travel to other cities or countries for work, but bleisure is a modality that allows people to combine business trips with the possibility of extending their stay to engage in leisure activities at the chosen location.
A survey found that approximately 80% of young people decide to extend their business trips to add vacation hours or days thanks to the possibility of monthly rental.
Trip planning
The growth of this type of tourism has had a direct impact on travel planning and employee expectations regarding the services provided by traditional hotels or other types of accommodations where monthly rental is available.
All accommodations have been adapted to these trips to provide flexibility and comfort for travelers so they can fulfill their obligations and also enjoy their leisure time. For this reason, many accommodations include activities and are conveniently located near major tourist attractions.
Travel platforms have also recognized the importance of this type of travel and are adapting their offerings to meet travelers’ needs and preferences.
Business and pleasure
Years ago, this idea was unimaginable. Everyone considered it odd or impossible to extend a work stay to visit museums, learn about history, or enjoy the vibrant nightlife and cuisine of certain places.
This type of tourism is beneficial for employees because they find a balance between work and leisure, and this is also good for companies because they know it increases the motivation and well-being of their employees.
It’s been proven that when a person has the opportunity to break away from their routine and work in a different environment, this can have a positive impact on their creative potential and engagement when they return to their usual workplace.
Fashion or current events?
Bleisure is not a passing fad. It’s something that’s happening now and will continue to happen because it’s considered one of the fundamental elements of normal work. What matters is flexibility, comfort, and quality of life. All of these factors are considered essential for workers to achieve their own well-being.
Integration of bleisure into company policies
Companies benefit from opting for bleisure. They attract and retain talent, their teams demonstrate greater productivity, and the companies gain a better reputation.
Bleisure must offer advantages for both companies and employees. It’s important to strike a balance between flexibility for employees and control of the company’s risks and costs. To achieve this successfully, there are some recommendations. The first point is the most important and relates to free time. The company must determine the number of days off the employee can add and when they are granted. It is also important to specify whether there are limits on the number of kilometers or destinations traveled.
The second point is developing a cost policy. No one wants to suffer misunderstandings or setbacks, and for this reason, it’s important to differentiate between what the company pays for and what it owes to the employee. The first example might include airline tickets and accommodation, while the second might include non-work-related transportation and extra activities.
A separate payment system for work and personal expenses is always recommended.
The last point relates to your travel policy and determining whether it provides coverage for incidents that may arise during leisure time.
Redefining the Balance
Bleisure marked a transformation and evolution in the way we work and travel. A few years ago, when people traveled for work, they were constantly rushing from meeting to meeting, often missing out on time and unable to explore or explore iconic sites. Today, it has been proven that it is absolutely possible to merge work and enjoyment, and this is no longer a luxury for a select few; rather, it is a great new experience in the business world.