Business travel is evolving beyond the traditional routine of back-to-back meetings and quick returns. A growing number of professionals are mixing business with leisure – a trend known as bleisure travel – by extending work trips for personal time or enjoyment.
This shift is reshaping corporate travel policies and presenting new opportunities for employers, employees, and travel service providers alike. Below, we explore what bleisure travel means, the key drivers behind its rise, its business benefits, how the travel industry is adapting, and strategic recommendations for organizations.
A clear, professional approach to bleisure can enhance employee well-being and deliver tangible value to businesses.
What Is Business Leisure Travel?
Business leisure travel refers to the practice of combining business trips with leisure activities. Instead of returning home immediately after work commitments, travelers extend their stay to enjoy the destination, relax, or explore local attractions.
This trend is particularly appealing to professionals who want to maximize their time and make business trips more rewarding. Whether it’s visiting a museum, trying local cuisine, or simply unwinding at a spa, business leisure travel allows travelers to balance work and play seamlessly.
Why Is Business Leisure Travel on the Rise?
The rise of business leisure travel can be attributed to several factors, including changing work cultures, evolving traveler preferences, and advancements in technology. Here’s a closer look at why this trend is gaining momentum:
1. Remote Work and Flexible Schedules
The shift toward remote work and flexible schedules has made it easier for professionals to extend their business trips. With the ability to work from anywhere, travelers can turn a short business trip into a mini-vacation without sacrificing productivity.
2. Cost Savings
Business leisure travel often allows travelers to save on expenses, as their employer typically covers the cost of flights and accommodations for the business portion of the trip. By extending their stay, travelers can explore a destination at a fraction of the cost.
3. Work-Life Balance
In today’s fast-paced world, achieving work-life balance is more important than ever. Business leisure travel offers professionals the opportunity to recharge and enjoy personal time while still meeting work commitments.
4. Increased Travel Opportunities
As businesses expand globally, professionals are traveling more frequently for work. Business leisure travel allows them to make the most of these opportunities by exploring new destinations and cultures.
5. Millennial Influence
Millennials, who now make up a significant portion of the workforce, are driving the business leisure travel trend. Known for valuing experiences over material possessions, this generation sees business travel as an opportunity to explore and connect with the world.
6. Employer Support
Many companies are recognizing the benefits of business leisure travel and are encouraging their employees to take advantage of it. By supporting bleisure trips, employers can boost employee satisfaction, reduce burnout, and enhance productivity.
Business Benefits of Bleisure Travel
Bleisure travel isn’t just beneficial for the individual traveler enjoying a mini-vacation – it also offers significant advantages for businesses. By acknowledging and structuring this trend, employers can reap rewards in employee performance, retention, and even cost management. Below we outline the key business benefits, focusing on both employee well-being and organizational outcomes:
1. Enhanced Employee Well-Being and Work-Life Balance: Allowing a blend of work and leisure helps employees maintain a healthier work-life balance, particularly for frequent travelers. Instead of returning home immediately to a backlog of work, an employee who takes a breather during a trip can reduce stress. This downtime leads to happier, more refreshed employees.
By supporting work-life balance in this way, companies demonstrate they value employees as people, not just as workers. The result is often higher morale.
In fact, 55% of business travelers plan to take more bleisure trips specifically to improve their work-life balance – a clear indicator that employees recognize the personal wellness benefit. Healthier, less stressed employees are likely to be more engaged and productive when they get back to work.
2. Higher Job Satisfaction and Talent Retention: Companies that encourage bleisure travel send a message that they trust and care about their employees’ quality of life. This can significantly boost job satisfaction. People who feel supported in pursuing personal interests alongside work tend to have more positive feelings about their employer. That extra day of sightseeing or family time can make a work trip more rewarding, which in turn motivates staff. Happy employees also tend to stay longer with the company.
Offering the option of bleisure can thus be a powerful retention tool and recruitment selling point. It’s seen as an innovative perk – one that 80% of business travelers say makes them more likely to stay with a company. Moreover, there’s evidence it affects willingness to travel for work at all. One survey found 44% of employees had declined business trips because there was no option to add leisure at the destination. By contrast, 79% of travelers who have done bleisure trips say they would do it again whenever possible. In summary, embracing bleisure can make business travel more appealing to employees, leading to greater loyalty and a more positive attitude toward necessary work trips.
3. Increased Productivity and Engagement: A rested employee is a more productive employee. Bleisure travel can serve as a mini-vacation that recharges a person’s batteries, which may boost their productivity when work resumes. The creative break can also spark fresh ideas – traveling to new places exposes employees to new perspectives and experiences that can translate into creative thinking on the job.
Companies have noted a “potent lift in collective creativity” when employees return from enriched travel experiences. In addition, employees who feel the company cares about their well-being (by encouraging some fun during business trips) often exhibit deeper engagement and commitment. Rather than coming back from a trip exhausted, they come back inspired and appreciative, ready to contribute more.
Over time, this can contribute to lower burnout rates and reduce the costly problem of disengagement. In fact, by mitigating burnout, bleisure can indirectly address productivity loss – a critical consideration given that global workplace disengagement costs trillions in lost output.
4. Better ROI on Travel Spend: From a pure business perspective, integrating leisure into business travel can optimize the value of each trip. If an employee extends a stay over a weekend, they might secure cheaper airfare (for example, flying back Sunday instead of Friday) which could offset additional hotel costs. Some companies formalize this: for instance, they allow employees to keep travel cost savings for adding a Saturday night stay, or simply benefit from lower fares that come with flexibility.
Also, because the primary travel costs (flights, certain hotel nights) are already being paid for work purposes, the incremental cost of bleisure to the company is low when personal expenses are covered by the employee.
In many cases, the employer’s only “cost” for allowing bleisure is granting an employee a day or two of personal time, which may even be taken from their paid time off. Meanwhile, the return is a more satisfied and energized employee (which, as noted, translates into better performance). Some forward-thinking organizations view this as an investment with long-term dividends: a small short-term adjustment for potentially big gains in loyalty and productivity.
As a bonus, when employees are encouraged to take a break, they might be less likely to accrue large amounts of unused vacation days, which can be a liability for the company. Thus, bleisure-friendly policies can contribute to a healthier management of employee leave balances and reduce the rush of end-of-year vacation use.
In summary, the business benefits of bleisure travel center on happier, more loyal employees and a more effective workforce. By aligning corporate travel practices with employees’ personal interests, companies create a win-win: employees enrich their lives while on the road, and employers cultivate a motivated team that’s willing to go the extra mile (literally and figuratively). The key is to harness these benefits with proper guidelines and support, as discussed next.
How the Travel Industry Is Adapting to Business Leisure Travel
The rise of business leisure travel is reshaping the travel industry, prompting businesses to adapt their offerings to meet the needs of this growing market. Here’s how the industry is responding:
1. Flexible Accommodations
Hotels and accommodations are offering flexible check-in/check-out times and amenities tailored to business and leisure travelers, such as workspaces, fitness centers, and local experience packages.
2. Tailored Travel Packages
Travel agencies and platforms are creating business leisure travel packages that combine business and leisure elements, such as conference tickets paired with city tours or spa treatments.
3. Technology Integration
Apps and platforms are making it easier for business leisure travelers to plan their trips, with features like itinerary management, local recommendations, and real-time updates.
4. Corporate Travel Policies
Companies are updating their travel policies to accommodate business leisure travel, allowing employees to extend their trips and enjoy leisure activities without complications.
5. Destination Marketing
Tourism boards and destinations are promoting business leisure travel by highlighting attractions, events, and experiences that appeal to both business and leisure travelers.
Real-Life Examples of Business Leisure Travel in Action
To better understand the impact of business leisure travel, let’s look at some real-life examples of how professionals are embracing this trend:
1. The Conference Explorer
Sarah, a marketing executive, attended a three-day conference in Barcelona. Instead of flying back immediately, she extended her trip by two days to explore the city. She visited iconic landmarks like Sagrada Familia, enjoyed tapas at local restaurants, and even took a day trip to Montserrat. By combining business with leisure, Sarah returned home feeling inspired and rejuvenated.
2. The Remote Work Vacation
John, a software developer, had a week-long project in Bali. After completing his work, he stayed an extra five days to surf, practice yoga, and explore the island’s lush landscapes. Thanks to his flexible remote work setup, John was able to turn a work trip into a memorable adventure.
3. The Team-Building Retreat
A sales team traveled to Tokyo for a series of client meetings. After wrapping up their work, they spent the weekend bonding over sushi-making classes, visiting the Tsukiji Fish Market, and exploring the city’s vibrant nightlife. This business leisure travel experience strengthened their team dynamics and created lasting memories.
Tips for Making the Most of Business Leisure Travel
If you’re considering a business leisure travel trip, here are some tips to help you plan and maximize your experience:
1. Plan Ahead
Research your destination in advance to identify must-see attractions, local experiences, and leisure activities that align with your interests.
2. Communicate with Your Employer
Ensure that your employer is aware of your business leisure travel plans and that they align with company policies. Be transparent about your intentions and any additional costs you’ll be covering.
3. Pack Smart
Pack versatile clothing and essentials that work for both business meetings and leisure activities. Don’t forget adapters, chargers, and any work-related materials you might need.
4. Set Boundaries
While it’s tempting to dive straight into leisure mode, set clear boundaries between work and play. Dedicate specific times for work and leisure to ensure you stay productive while enjoying your trip.
5. Leverage Technology
Use travel apps and tools to manage your itinerary, book activities, and stay organized. Apps like Google Maps, TripIt, and local guides can enhance your business leisure travel experience.
6. Stay Flexible
While planning is important, leave room for spontaneity. Some of the best experiences come from unexpected discoveries and last-minute decisions.
Fun and Sun’s Vision for the Future of Business Leisure Travel
As the line between business and leisure continues to blur, Fun and Sun is committed to helping travelers and partners make the most of this evolving travel style. While we currently offer a broad range of flexible travel options, we are actively working on expanding our portfolio to better support the needs of business leisure travelers.
This includes developing customizable packages that integrate business-friendly accommodations with curated leisure experiences—ideal for travelers who want to extend their stay and explore more.
Looking ahead, we aim to introduce booking features that accommodate mid-week business stays paired with weekend leisure add-ons, along with AI-driven recommendations for local attractions, wellness activities, and dining. By collaborating with hotels, conference venues, and local tour providers, we are designing seamless experiences that cater to both work and relaxation.
At Fun and Sun, we recognize that today’s professionals want more from their journeys—and we are excited to support them in building travel itineraries that are not only productive but also deeply enriching.
Embrace the Business Leisure Travel Trend
Business leisure travel is more than just a trend—it’s a reflection of how modern professionals are redefining work and travel.
By combining business with leisure, travelers can create meaningful experiences, enhance their well-being, and make the most of their time on the road.
As the travel industry continues to adapt to this growing trend, the possibilities for business leisure travel are endless. Whether you’re attending a conference, meeting clients, or working remotely, consider extending your trip to explore, relax, and recharge.
At Fun and Sun, we’re here to help you embrace the business leisure travel trend and create unforgettable journeys that blend work and play seamlessly.