Contraction of the English words business (business) and leisure (leisure), Bleisure continues to attract workers. Taking advantage of a business trip to visit the destination or extend a professional stay after an appointment are more popular than ever. The line between work and holidays has never been so thin, and the concept could prove to be beneficial for employees as well as companies.
Departure on Thursday for appointments in London, return Friday noon. Although the program may seem classic, the idea of extending a business trip by a few hours or days is increasingly appealing. This trend, called Bleisure, allows to merge the personal business and leisure travel. Decoding.
9 out of 10 employees want to take advantage of business travel to explore the region
Until a few years ago, only executives could afford to combine business trips with tourism. Recently, employees who are sent away for a few days also want to take advantage of destinations. This trend named Bleisure thus bears its name: a mix of English words business (business) and leisure (leisure).
The goal is to take a few days off or an extended weekend after a mission abroad, or work from home to stay a little longer. 89% of workers worldwide want to make the most of their free time during their business trip by extending their stay, according to a study by the American Hotel & Lodging Association.
Bleisure for mental wellness
The need for work-life balance is now a hiring factor for young workers. Companies are therefore adapting, in particular to capture the GenZ very attracted by this process: 57% of companies have a policy allowing young employees to extend their business trips with holidays, according to a report from AMEX Global Business Travel. But employees of all generations are also affected, for whom the mantra “living to work” is no longer on the agenda.
After the 6:00 pm meeting, it is no longer uncommon for workers to take off their shirts, put on shorts and walk around the town where they were sent. This travel movement is not only reserved for the employees themselves as it concerns the family. With a day off or telework on Friday or Monday, it is possible to be joined by relatives to enjoy a getaway together.
We see a day like Thursday becoming the equivalent of yesterday’s Friday, with an increase in bookings that day, because many of our customers complete their business stay with a weekend of leisure. Leaving to work from home on Friday while waiting to be joined by their spouse» says Solenne Ojea-Devys, general manager of Okko, in an interview for Les Echos. What makes the professional experience can not be more pleasant while reducing some costs, between tickets and part of the accommodation.
Safety and environment
Correlated to the Workation trend (the fact of working remotely on vacation or in an exotic setting), the Bleisure is nevertheless to be framed. Security, visas, business expenses separate from private expenses, insurance… Both firms and employees must play the game to avoid excesses and problems.
Cultural enrichment, better mental health, motivation at work, reduced cost… To these benefits is added the notion of eco-responsibility. In view of the significant carbon footprint, going to New York for a few days for a seminar without taking advantage of the city on his personal time is considered in 2024 as nonsense.
A $731 billion market by 2032
The trend should not slow down in the coming years, quite the contrary. According to a study by Allied Market Research, the turnover of the bleisure market was estimated at 315 billion dollars in 2022. The average annual growth rate is expected to be around 8.9% between 2023 and 2032, reaching $731 billion at the end of this period.
“To maintain the mental health of employees around the world, there is a growing demand for work-life balance. In addition, by creating a work environment that prioritizes work-life balance, employers can save money and keep employees happier and more productive. One of the new trends in balancing work and well-being is travelling for work. The travel market is therefore expected to grow,” analyze the authors of this study entitled “Bleisure Travel Market, Opportunities and Forecast”.
Read also: What are the travel trends in 2025?
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