Bleisure Travel Explained: Meaning, Benefits & Business Impact

Over the past few years, the popularity of bleisure travel has skyrocketed. The global leisure industry was valued at $315.3 billion in 2022 and is expected to double to reach a market value of $731.4 billion by 2032.

Are you a travel manager or a Head of HR wondering what this shift means for you? The rising popularity of bleisure travel means that your employees are now more inclined to extend their business trips for personal enjoyment — whether that’s adding on a few more days pre- or post-assignment to indulge in leisure activities. This translates to a need for well-equipped corporate accommodations that can support both work and relaxation.

In this article, we will help you understand bleisure's meaning, why it’s so popular with corporate employees today and how AltoVita can make it easier for your organisation to cater to the ever-changing needs of your workforce. 

Bleisure Meaning and Definition

Bleisure travel is becoming increasingly common, especially amongst younger employees who value work-life balance. Integrating bleisure travel policies can also be highly beneficial for companies trying to improve morale and employee satisfaction. Let’s start by understanding the meaning of bleisure travel. 

What Does Bleisure Mean?

So, exactly what is bleisure travel? Bleisure (a combination of business and leisure) refers to employee travel that combines work commitments with personal activities. This can involve arriving early or staying late for additional downtime, effectively turning a business trip into a 'workcation.' 

For example, instead of returning immediately after attending a business conference or meeting in another city or country, an employee might extend their stay to explore popular tourist spots. This blended travel trend has risen in popularity after the pandemic, mostly due to the widespread adoption of hybrid and remote operational models.

Who Qualifies as a Bleisure Tourist? 

Now that the bleisure definition  has been covered , it’s important to understand the meaning of a bleisure tourist. Not limited to just C-suite executives, any employee who strategically extends a work trip to incorporate personal time falls within the bleisure category.

The defining characteristic of bleisure tourists is the conscious decision to maximise travel opportunities. It's about blending professional obligations with personal exploration, whether through cultural immersion, fun activities, or relaxation.

As the modern workforce becomes increasingly mobile, younger professionals are spearheading the bleisure trend. This reflects a growing desire for work-life balance, empowering employees to enrich their travel experiences and achieve greater personal fulfillment.

How Corporate Organisations Define and Manage Bleisure Travel Policies

Since bleisure travel is becoming increasingly popular, it is crucial for HR and travel managers to clearly formulate bleisure policies. 

This includes determining employee eligibility, compliance requirements, reimbursement guidelines and authorised travel extensions. This enables organisations to prioritise employee satisfaction without needing to compromise cost efficiency as well as limiting risk and internal liability. 

A bleisure travel policy should ideally include the purpose and scope of the policy, eligibility criteria, approval processes, health and safety guidelines, and prohibited activities during the bleisure period. 

Why Bleisure Travel is Gaining Popularity Among Corporate Travellers

Bleisure travel is quickly gaining popularity among corporate employees who travel for work. These types of policies allow employees to gain better work-life balance and explore new travel destinations while still managing their professional obligations. 

Here is a list of the biggest reasons why employees now value bleisure travel more than ever before and why companies need to adapt their policies to support it:

• Changing Business Travel Habits Post-Pandemic

Since the pandemic, many employees now choose to work from home or in a hybrid work format. This change in structure has made it much easier for employees to combine their business and leisure trips as they are no longer required to be physically present in a specific location to fulfil their work obligations. 

• How Companies are Adapting Travel Policies to Allow Leisure 

Are you wondering how companies are adapting to this significant change without impacting their bottom line?

The first steps you need to take to draft your company’s bleisure policy are setting clear guidelines (which employees can participate and for how long), communicating and addressing potential risks (travel delays or health concerns) and maintaining clear documentation and compliance. 

• Benefits of Bleisure Travel For Both Employees and Employers

Bleisure travel has a variety of benefits for employees and employers. 

For employees, some of the biggest advantages include reduced stress, boosted morale and better work-life balance. For employers, bleisure travel policies can lead to an increase in the number of employees willing to travel for work obligations and an overall increase in productivity.

Key Benefits of Bleisure Travel for Businesses

Having explored the bleisure meaning, it’s essential to recognise the financial and strategic benefits that bleisure travel can have for your employees and organisation. Here is a list of the key ways that bleisure travel can positively impact your operations:

• Increased Employee Satisfaction and Improved Work-Life Balance

Are you looking for a proven and effective way to retain your organisation’s top talent? Bleisure policies provide a distinct competitive advantage, driving retention rates by demonstrating a commitment to employee well-being.

By empowering employees to balance professional and personal pursuits during travel, organisations can create a more engaged and fulfilled workforce. This holistic approach fosters a culture of trust and empowerment, ultimately driving organisational success.

• Cost-Effective Travel Planning: Extending Stays Without Additional Flights

Bleisure travel isn’t just a great way to help keep your employees motivated. Allowing employees to extend their business trips for leisure also helps businesses design more cost-effective travel plans. 

If an employee chooses to extend their trip, they could fly back from their destination on a less expensive travel day. This also proves to be more economical for employees as well, since most bleisure tourists stay at the same hotel or accommodation facility for the work and leisure aspects of their trips. 

• Enhancing Corporate Travel Programmes To Attract and Retain Talent

A strong bleisure policy plays a key role in recruitment and retention policies. Potential talent usually has a more positive perception of organisations that value employee’s personal time. Therefore, these types of policies can ultimately strengthen your company image, reduce potential employee burnout and build competitive advantage in crowded job markets. 

• Strengthening Business Travel Strategies With Flexible Travel Solutions

Bleisure travel helps strengthen global mobility by allowing organisations to better support employees planning to relocate for temporary or permanent assignments. To ensure a smoother transition, flexible travel solutions are key. 

Adopting bleisure’s flexible approach to work travel, organisations can consider offering pre-relocation visits, extended leave, and family support — tailored to the individual needs of each traveller. This strategy minimises disruption and ensures employees are not only engaged but also thriving in their new environments.

How Business Travel Managers Can Implement a Bleisure Travel Policy

To effectively implement a bleisure travel policy, business travel managers can collaborate with HR professionals to clearly define the following:

Defining Eligibility For Bleisure Trips Within Corporate Travel Policies

Set clear guidelines that specify who is eligible for bleisure travel and the amount of leave employees are entitled to. This prevents misuse of policy and ensures fair implementation across your teams. 

Expense Management: What Costs are Covered By The Company vs. The Employee

Organisations usually reimburse employees for business-related expenses while personal leisure costs are the employee’s responsibility. Clearly state any parameters for spending that do or do not apply for expense reimbursement and reporting. 

Selecting Accommodation Providers That Cater To Both Business And Leisure Needs

To provide your employees with additional convenience, you should ideally choose accommodation providers that cater to both business requirements (high-speed Wi-Fi, workspaces) and leisure needs (on-site restaurants, fitness centres, spa treatments). 

Types of accommodation that cater to bleisure needs include mid-range to upscale hotels, boutique hotels and apartment rentals (for longer stays). 

Partnering With Trusted Accommodation Platforms For Seamless Booking

Ensure that your organisation partners with trusted accommodation providers to ensure compliance with internal policies (such as business travel insurance) and employee convenience. 

The Role of Quality Accommodation in Bleisure Travel

Why Serviced Apartments Are An Ideal Choice For Bleisure Travellers

Serviced apartments are an ideal choice for bleisure tourists because they offer the perfect combination of hotel-like amenities and services while also providing travellers with the privacy of a traditional apartment. 

Most serviced apartments have a designated workspace, allowing travellers to focus during work hours while also being strategically located near local tourist attractions. These units often come with a well-equipped kitchen which allows employees to prepare their own meals, providing a budget-friendly alternative to dining out.

Key Amenities That Support Both Work And Leisure During Extended Stays

Amenities that support both work and leisure during extended bleisure trips include ergonomic workspaces, fitness centres, outdoor spaces, on-site restaurants, wellness programmes, access to technology and more. 

These features allow employees to both work productively and relax during downtime. 

Choosing Accommodation Providers That Align With Corporate Policies

Your organisation must choose accommodation that aligns with and adheres to your corporate travel policies while providing your employees with comfort and flexibility. 

This includes factors such as proximity to business hubs, accessibility to public transportation, compliance with the company budget and safety standards. 

Support Bleisure Travel with AltoVita’s Corporate Accommodation Solutions

With a clear understanding of the bleisure meaning, the next step is to find the ideal partner to help you book accommodations that meet your employees' needs. With over 7 million available properties across the globe, AltoVita is the perfect choice. 

How AltoVita Provides Vetted, High-Quality Serviced Accommodation Worldwide

Our curated accommodation platform is focused on delivering the highest standards of quality and safety for all of our accommodation options. 

Our dynamic and robust filtration system evaluates property reviews, available amenities, descriptions and more to ensure that your employees are safe and comfortable throughout their stay. 

Benefits For Business Travel Managers, HR Teams, , AltoVita can make travel planning easier than ever before for business travel managers, HR teams 

We use negotiated discounted rates through each step of our booking process to ensure that our accommodation matches your organisation’s travel planning budget. 

We also provide your employees with the option to self-book accommodation of their choice to ensure a seamless and convenient booking experience for you and your workforce. 

Simplified Corporate Accommodation Booking With Cost-Effective, Flexible Stays

AltoVita's centralised platform gives you full control over corporate accommodation bookings, ensuring cost-effective and tailored stays for everything from short work assignments to extended bleisure trips.

With data-driven insights, a vetted global inventory, and a hassle-free booking process, we enable you to strategically scale your travel management programme while meeting diverse business traveller needs. 

Are you ready to take your organisation’s travel planning to the next level? Book a Demo to learn more about AltoVita’s Product Suite!