Bleisure is the future of business travel

What do you get when you combine business and leisure travel? Bleisure! In case you haven’t heard, bleisure is an emerging concept that has exploded in recent years as the demand for meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions travel continues to grow.

In sum, bleisure focuses on the traveler who wants to make time for leisure while on a business trip. In this week’s blog feature, our team shares why the demand for bleisure travel continues to grow and how your company can make blesiure even more memorable and meaningful. 

The demand for bleisure travel continues to grow.

As previously mentioned, bleisure is a trend that has been increasing in recent years. This concept enables professionals to combine the purpose of their corporate trip with personal interests. Instead of rushing through another business trip, bleisure invites people to slow down — providing a more complete and enjoyable experience. By breaking down the barriers of business-only travel, professionals can take care of business while taking advantage of well-deserved downtime. 

According to extensive research by Zippia, a leading data analytics firm: 

• Roughly 1.3 million business trips are taken in the U.S. every day.
• The average length of a domestic business trip in the U.S. is three days.
• The average length of an international business trip is six days.
• Roughly 26% of business trips are only one day long.
• 38% of U.S. business travel is for meetings and events.
• Meetings, events, and incentive travel amount to $139.3 billion, nearly 42% of total business travel spending.

Business travel and the expenses associated with it continue to grow year after year. Now, nearly half of all business travel adds a leisure component. The goal is to make business travel more attractive with periods of leisure and relaxation to reduce stress levels and give the feeling that this type of travel is really worthwhile. 

Make bleisure travel even more memorable. 

Is it possible to combine business and pleasure? According to the aforementioned data, the answer is a resounding “yes.” And corporate travelers will be able to benefit intensely: to explore new places, acquire new experiences, and travel in an economical way. Additionally, when considering the professional approach, our team of experts knows when people are happy, they perform better. When they are motivated, they feel more committed to what they do, which increases productivity and improves results.

Another way to take advantage of bleisure’s potential and generate a positive return on your company’s investment? Gifting! Whether travel is a part of your organizational protocol or people were hired specifically with the understanding of frequent corporate travel, it still demands significant time away from family and friends. Show people how much you appreciate their commitment and contribution by inviting them to select a gift of their choice. Sure, spa treatments and room service are nice but once the experience is over and the food is consumed, it’s human nature to forget. However, a premium product that will be frequently used is more likely to be remembered and cherished for years to come.

Better yet, our Collections feature premium products from brands they know and love and offer something for everyone. Treat your frequent fliers to a gift of their choice from a variety of gifting options — like, a new pair of noise-canceling headphones, a carry-on bag or suitcase, buttery-soft athleisure apparel, and more. The choice is theirs. 

Whether you’re flying out of town for that important business meeting, attending an annual workshop, or an all-hands conference, business travel is an important part of company protocol. When it comes to business travel, bleisure is here to stay. Embracing this trend and meeting the evolving needs of business travelers will give them reasons to stay longer, help support local economies, and facilitate how much you appreciate them.

Ready to add another layer of appreciation to bleisure travel? Connect with the Gifting Experts to learn more about gifting with choice.