You may or may not have heard the term bleisure, but it has become increasingly popular in recent years.

The word is an amalgamation of ‘business’ and ‘leisure’. 

That’s exactly what bleisure is, taking a business trip and adding some leisure time before or after it. 

It may seem strange, but, as the following bleisure travel statistics show, it’s becoming very popular.

There are several good reasons for this. 

Key Statistics

• 67% of bleisure trips start with a conference
• 39% of bleisure trips are two nights long
• New york city is the most popular bleisure destination
• 35% of bleisure trips involve more than one person
• Millennials are the most likely to indulge in bleisure
• 89% of employees see corporate travel as an essential business perk
• 80% of employees felt taking leisure time during corporate travel was a good idea
• 76% of people will suffer negatively if they go to long without taking time off
• 82% of employees stay in the same hotel for their trip
• 34% of bleisure travelers believe this is when they are most inspired
• Germany has more bleisure trips than any other country
• Bleisure travelers commonly work in technology
• 29% of bleisure travel is international
• 49% of business trips become bleisure if the destination is far from home
• 43% of travelers undertake bleisure trips because of the destination
• 56% of bleisure travelers say food & restaurants make the trip worthwhile

Top Bleisure Travel Statistics in 2024

1. 67% Of Bleisure Trips Start With A Conference

Adding leisure time to a business trip makes sense.

You get to see the destination properly instead of simply seeing the hotel and conference venue. 

According to a recent survey, the majority of bleisure trips start with a business conference.

This type of trip generally means traveling to one place, sitting through a conference that lasts all day, and then heading home again. 

Adding on some leisure time makes the whole experience more worthwhile.

It’s also likely to inspire the employee and boost productivity on their return. 

While 67% of trips start with a conference, the exact nature of the conference varies.

The latest research shows that 46% of conferences are simply external meetings.

A further 42% are sales opportunities. 

Impressively, 30% of bleisure trips are simply to have an internal business meeting.

All meetings present an opportunity to explore the associated city and local landmarks. 

(Stratos)

2. 39% Of Bleisure Trips Are Two Nights Long

Bleisure trips tend to be short, even when employees are adding on days or nights for themselves. 

In fact, the average bleisure trip is just two nights long.

A recent survey found that this was the case in 39% of trips.

Surprisingly, three-night trips are almost as popular.

The survey found 31% of trips included an extra night. 

Only 12% of trips are for one night, but even these can be bleisure, just as the 17% of trips which last over 4 nights. 

It’s worth noting that bleisure trips can only be taken when there is a genuine conference or other business event on.

That’s why, a recent Expedia survey found that 32% of bleisure trips are taken by workers who travel as much as twice a month. 

(Stratos)

3. New York City Is The Most Popular Bleisure Destination

The beauty of bleisure trips is that the employees choose to add on vacation days to a corporate trip.

That means the employee can choose whether the destination is interesting enough to merit taking vacation. 

Needless to say, some destinations are more popular than others.

The most recent survey found that New York City is the most popular bleisure destination, generating more bleisure trips than anywhere else in the world. 

Paris in France takes the second spot, while London in the UK takes the third spot. 

Other popular destinations outside the US include Rome in Italy, Nice in France, and Lisbon in Portugal. 

Of course, the destination is a personal preference.

For most people, if they haven’t been there before it’s worth adding some vacation time to a business trip. 

(Statista)

4. 35% Of Bleisure Trips Involve More Than One Person

In many cases, heading away on business is a solo jaunt.

You travel alone, attend the necessary meetings, and then head home. 

However, as bleisure becomes more popular, an increasing number of people are choosing to include loved ones on the trip. 

According to the latest research by Stratos, 35% of bleisure trips have multiple people.

The additional people don’t work for the same company, they are usually family or acquaintances. 

The survey showed that 65% of respondents felt having friends and family on a bleisure trip was acceptable, provided it didn’t detract from the ability to get the job done.

It’s interesting to note that 56% of male business travelers chose to take their partner on multiple business trips.

In contrast, just 48% of female business travelers chose to take their partner. 

Alongside this, 57% of those asked admitted they specifically looked for business trips to destinations they knew their partner or other loved one would enjoy. 

(Stratos)

5. Millennials Are The Most Likely To Indulge In Bleisure

Different generations will have their own approach to the bleisure phenomenon.

Much of this is connected to their approach to work and their experiences within the workplace. 

Currently, millennials are the most likely to include leisure time on a business trip.

A recent survey by National Car found that 86% of millennials would add leisure time on.

In contrast, only 73% of baby boomers would do the same, and a slightly higher 76% of Generation X. 

The survey also found that senior management were two times more likely to include leisure on a business trip compared to non-management employees. 

This may reflect their comfort level with taking private time on a business trip.

After all, non-management employees may feel less inclined to ask for extras, no matter how good the idea is. 

(National Car)

6. 89% Of Employees See Corporate Travel As An Essential Business Perk

Modern employees are just as interested in the perks as the salary.

In fact, research has shown that a good collection of benefits is more likely to attract new employees and keep them with the company. 

One benefit which 89% of employees feel is useful, is corporate travel.

It allows employees the opportunity to see other locations.

In addition, corporate travel shows that an employee is trusted.

That’s why 89% of employees see corporate travel as an essential part of their career development. 

The survey also highlighted that 81% of employees feel corporate travel is an essential part of sealing any deal.

Sometimes it’s just not possible to seal the deal without meeting in person. 

As many as 39% of bleisure travelers will seek roles that allow them to take bleisure.

They are even prepared to give up other benefits to ensure they can travel frequently. 

(National Car)

7. 80% Of Employees Felt Taking Leisure Time During Corporate Travel Was A Good Idea

Corporate travel is seen by businesses as an essential part of running a successful company.

It’s necessary to travel to training venues, conferences, to meet clients, and even to inspect other business locations. 

There are many reasons why a business would be keen to send their employees on trips.

Fortunately, most employees agree that these trips are important. 

According to the latest survey, 65% of millennials believe that being asked to undertake corporate travel confirms their status in the company. 

Of course, that doesn’t stop employees from killing two birds with one stone.

It’s been revealed that four out of five, or 80%, of employees feel that leisure time during a work trip is acceptable. 

Interestingly, as many as 60% of business travelers like to combine business and leisure time to help reduce their carbon footprint and live a sustainable lifestyle. 

The bonus is they get to explore new destinations, potentially ones that they wouldn’t usually visit.

It’s also a great opportunity to have a change of scenery and network.

(National Car)

8. 76% Of People Will Suffer Negatively If They Go To Long Without Taking Time Off

It’s estimated that 90% of corporate travelers want to continue undertaking business trips for the rest of their careers.

Doing so has been linked to employee satisfaction. 

Naturally, satisfied employees are more productive and more likely to stay loyal.

That’s beneficial for the business. 

A recent Hilton survey also found that 76% of employees will act negatively if they go too long without any time off.

That means lower productivity, reduced morale, and even a lack of attention leading to inferior quality products. 

Burnout is the most likely outcome with 41% of employees experiencing this.

The survey found 36% would become bored and 30% irritable.

Perhaps more concerning is the 29% of employees that would become depressed. 

Combining a business trip with leisure time gives the employee the break they need while minimizing their actual time away from the office. 

It’s worth noting that 51% of US employees feel guilty when asking for vacation days.

That’s why many employees don’t take them all. In fact, 28% of employees don’t utilize all their vacation days every year.

Any business which promotes bleisure is effectively showing they care for their employees.

That’s great for productivity and staff retention. 

(Hilton Hotels)

9. 82% Of Employees Stay In The Same Hotel For Their Trip

While an employee enjoying leisure time on their break could stay anywhere, the majority choose to continue to stay in the hotel booked for the business proportion of their trip.

Doing so is simple for the employee, there is no need to waste time packing their stuff and unpacking somewhere else. 

The company also benefits. Longer stays in hotels tend to attract lower rates.

An employee staying on for leisure time will pay for their leisure nights themselves.

But, they’ll get the reduced rate which reduces the cost to the company. 

This can also open access to additional perks, such as free Wi-Fi, late check-out, and even a room upgrade.

That’s good for the company and the employee.

(GBTA)

10. 34% Of Bleisure Travelers Believe This Is When They Are Most Inspired

A survey by National Car found that bleisure employees return to the office feeling more refreshed than their colleagues who only undertook business on their trip. 

This isn’t that surprising, vacation days tend to reduce stress. 

However, what is interesting is that 34% of bleisure travelers found themselves more inspired while on such a trip and shared their concepts with the business.

The survey also looked at age ranges and found that 53% of people aged 16-24 felt they were most inspired on a bleisure trip. 

It is worth noting that, since the global pandemic, employees are generally more aware of their physical and mental health.

A survey by Crowne Plaza found that 21% of respondents appreciated travel more now than before the pandemic, simply because it offers mental health benefits. 

(TravelPerk)

11. Germany Has More Bleisure Trips Than Any Other Country

You may assume that the majority of bleisure trips start in the US.

However, you’d be wrong!

In fact, according to research by both Expedia and Stratos Jets, Germany takes the crown. 

The survey found that 65% of German business trips become a bleisure experience.

China takes the second place spot with 62% of trips becoming bleisure.

The US matches the global average of 60%, meaning that nearly two-thirds of all business trips become bleisure trips. 

What is interesting is that there was a 40% increase in the number of US bleisure trips between 2016 and 2018. The number has continued to rise since, emphasizing how important this trend has become to workers. 

India also scores well with bleisure, 58% of business trips become leisure as well.

The UK takes the fifth spot with a healthy 56% of business trips becoming bleisure breaks. 

(Expedia & Stratos)

12. Bleisure Travelers Commonly Work In Technology

The technology industry is often perceived to be at the forefront of innovation.

It’s responsible for many of the new products in the world.

That’s things which have revolutionized life as we know it. 

That means it’s not surprising that the technology industry has the most bleisure travelers.

It’s a productive but very stressful environment.

Bleisure trips are the perfect way for workers to unwind and boost innovation and productivity. 

At the same time, they are less likely to burn out. 

A recent survey found that 24% of bleisure travelers were based in the technology industry. 

In contrast, just 13% of those in manufacturing were bleisure travelers.

The finance industry has even less, with just 8% of bleisure trips.

Healthcare represented 8% of bleisure travelers and just 6% were for the education industry. 

Of course, the survey doesn’t reflect how many trips were taken by each industry.

This would allow you to see the percentage of employees in each industry taking bleisure trips.

It’s likely, due to the nature of the technology industry, they simply take more business trips.

(Expedia & Stratos)

13. 29% Of Bleisure Travel Is International

According to the latest research, 29% of all bleisure trips are international, meaning that 71% of trips are domestic. 

That’s an average, the figures do vary according to the country you’re in. 

For example, in the US just 12% of bleisure trips are international and 88% domestic.

This is likely because a high quantity of conferences and other events are hosted in the US. There’s little reason to visit international destinations. 

The UK has less industry and, therefore, a higher percentage of international bleisure travel.

An impressive 36% of bleisure trips from the UK are international.

Germany also sees 36% of its bleisure trips being international, and India has a 38% rate of international bleisure trips. 

While China is lower than its European counterparts, it’s still significantly higher than the US.

According to the latest statistics, 23% of bleisure travel in China is international. 

(Stratos)

14. 49% Of Business Trips Become Bleisure If The Destination Is Far from Home

The likelihood of a business trip becoming a bleisure trip depends on the destination.

A recent survey by Stratos found that 49% of bleisure trips happen because the destination is far from home. 

This is partly because extensive traveling can be tiring.

It’s also due to the fact people are unlikely to visit distant destinations themselves unless they are a popular and well-known location. 

In other words, turning a business trip into a bleisure trip allows people to see places they may otherwise never experience. 

In contrast, just 12% of business trips become bleisure if they are close to home. 

It’s also worth noting that 50% of business trips will become bleisure if the business trip is 2-3 nights.

Only 16% of business trips of 4 days or more become bleisure trips, and just 12% of business trips with just one night away. 

In short, 2-3 nights appears to be the perfect business trip to be complimented by a few days of leisure time. 

(Stratos)

15. 43% Of Travelers Undertake Bleisure Trips Because Of The Destination

This isn’t surprising.

After all, if you’re visiting New York, Paris, Rome, or some other well-known and desirable location, you’re going to want to extend your business trip and enjoy some leisure time.

A recent survey found that 43% of bleisure trips are done because of the destination. 

That’s not the only reason to turn a business trip into a mix of business and leisure. 

An impressive 48% of respondents felt that a great entertainment/activit city was a good reason to create a bleisure trip. 

Thirty-eight percent of those asked felt that a city which is easy to navigate is a good enough reason for bleisure. 

37% of people are more concerned with how many nights they can stay and how close the business trip is to the weekend.

If the two can be combined it’s more likely to become a bleisure trip. 

Interestingly, 37% of respondents made their decision based on the amount of costs they would need to pay themselves. 

The survey also found that 32% of bleisure travelers will turn a business trip into a bleisure trip if friends are allowed to join them. 

(Stratos)

16. 56% Of Bleisure Travelers Say Food & Restaurants Make The Trip Worthwhile

You may think that the destination and tourist attractions are the reason most people convert a  business trip into a bleisure experience. 

However, while 49% of business travelers find this to be the case, 56% of them base their bleisure decision on the quality of the food and restaurants.

This is likely because they want downtime, eating helps people relax. 

Interestingly, 51% of travelers will be swayed by the number, quality, and type of natural sightseeing locations in the area. 

It’s worth noting that 52% of people would be influenced if there are beaches nearby, and 50% take the weather into account before converting to bleisure. 

41% of business travelers are interested in what culture and art is in the city, and 39% are concerned about the level of outdoor recreation. 

Naturally, for a city to offer the best possible options to bleisure travelers they need an easy to use and reliable public transport system. 

(Stratos)

Summing Up

The above bleisure travel statistics show clearly that this trend is growing in popularity and doesn’t appear to be going anywhere soon. 

Of course, it makes sense for everyone involved.

The business gets employees to go on business trips and attend essential conferences, while saving money on hotel costs and other associated expenses. 

The employee gets the benefit of the conference or other event, and enjoys some downtime.

This allows them to reduce their stress levels and return to work refreshed, productive, and enthusiastic. 

Whether you’re a business or an employee, your company needs to be looking at bleisure trips and making them available to all employees.

You may be surprised at how much difference it makes in the workplace. 

Sources

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