For people who have to travel for business, bleisure travel has become an excellent opportunity. In fact, more and more business travelers are opting for bleisure travel, which is precisely why the hotel industry must take this into account to provide guests with the best possible amenities.
In this article, we’ll explain what bleisure is and what its main benefits are. With this knowledge, you’ll discover how your hotel can capitalize on this increasingly popular form of travel.
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What Is Bleisure Travel
The term “bleisure travel” is a combination of “business travel” and “leisure travel.” Consequently, “bleisure travel” is currently used to refer to trips that combine the characteristics of a business trip with those of a leisure trip.
In other words, people travel to certain destinations primarily for business reasons and extend their stay by a few more days to enjoy activities as ordinary tourists would. These activities may include tours of sites of historical and cultural significance, walks in parks, or trips to the beach.
This type of travel can offer benefits for both business travelers and their employers, as well as for those working in the tourism industry. For the business traveler, a few days of leisure can lead to reduced stress and increased motivation and productivity. In this way, the employer would also benefit.
And of course, for owners of tourist accommodations, the growth in bleisure travelers means higher hotel occupancy rates.
Bleisure Travel: A Growing Market Segment
Bleisure tourism has shown strong growth in recent years . It is estimated that since 2015, spending on business travel has increased by 6 to 7 percent each year. As a result, the tourism and hospitality industry has turned its attention to this type of traveler.
On the other hand, according to some studies conducted by travel agencies, such as Expedia, it is estimated that at least 40% of business travelers add a leisure component to their trips. Furthermore, it is estimated that most bleisure travelers take at least one trip every two or three months. This indicates that bleisure travel is growing significantly.
Furthermore, according to a study published by the Global Business Travel Association, among business travelers, millennials are the group most likely to extend their business trips to include leisure activities. This group is followed by Generation X and Baby Boomers.
Why Bleisure Travel Is Becoming So Popular
There are several reasons why bleisure travel is becoming trendy. Here are a few of them:
- When business travelers include some leisure time in their trips, those trips tend to be more enjoyable, which in turn fosters a very positive outlook on work. As a result, trips become less stressful, and productivity can increase significantly.
- Bleisure travel is an excellent opportunity to visit certain destinations at a lower cost. This is because, in many cases, the employer covers the main travel expenses. This includes airfare and hotel stays during the business trip. Therefore, the traveler will only have to pay for hotel stays beyond the business trip duration, as well as any leisure activities they choose to do.
- Hotels generate additional revenue from guests who engage in bleisure travel, as these guests extend their stays to enjoy the area’s tourist attractions. In turn, this leads to higher hotel occupancy rates.
Conclusion
Bleisure travel offers many benefits . Thus , there is no doubt that this type of travel is here to stay. And this affects travelers, the companies they work for, and hotels alike,
In fact, data from a survey conducted by the American Hotel & Lodging Association is revealing. Nearly 89% of business travelers want to take some leisure time. And this is on their next trip .
Without a doubt, this is a type of guest that every hotel should take into account in order to design plans, offers, and services tailored to their needs.
