Ana M. López
Research expert covering travel, tourism and hospitality
Bleisure travel - statistics & facts
Also known as blended or hybrid travel, “bleisure” refers to one of the most talked about tourism trends in recent years: the blur between business and leisure trips. This term is sometimes used as a synonym for “workation”. But looking closer, the two do not mean the same. In the case of bleisure travel, work is the main purpose of the trip. Workations, on the other hand, can be defined as longer escapades to leisure locations with good internet connection and infrastructure to work. As a result, the choice of a bleisure destination is mostly determined by the traveler’s job responsibilities, while a workation place is in most cases chosen by the employee.
Is bleisure a new type of travel?
The inclusion of leisure time to business trips has existed in the past such as the mandatory resting periods for pilots and flight attendants at their destinations or when meeting participants also take the opportunity to visit some attractions in the host city. However, the technological advancement of our time and the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic have made this form of work more accessible to other employed or self-employed persons. According to a survey conducted in October 2023, nearly half of travel professionals reported seeing a recent increase in the interest of employees in taking bleisure trips, while only seven percent affirmed the opposite.What motivates bleisure travelers the most?
Usually, a business trip brings with it extra working time and workload increase for the employee. For example, a 2022 survey found that catching up with work was the most stressful aspect after such trips. For this reason, bleisure is considered by both travelers and employers as one of the most important work-life balance measure. Other benefits often cited are also the possibility of having more fun during the trip, bringing loved ones along, or conserve vacation time.
