Bleisure Travel - Statistics [2023]
Bleisure travel is becoming increasingly popular with both business companies and individuals due to its multiple benefits.
From offering more flexible travel plans and financial savings, bleisure trips provide an exciting mix of business and leisure.
They allow exploring a new destination without sacrificing several days of vacation and maximizing time spent away from home.
In this article, we've compiled the most essential statistics on bleisure travel. Keep on reading and familiarize yourself with this new concept of traveling!
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The concept of Bleisure Travel
The 'Bleisure' word is a mix of 'business' and 'leisure'. The term was coined in 2009, however, it gained popularity in 2016.
Bleisure travelers can participate in tourist activities besides work duties during their stay. It is worth noting that millennials are the keenest to go on bleisure trips among all generations.
The biggest advantage of bleisure travel is that it allows employees to combine business and leisure. This saves time and money for both employers and employees as they don't need to book two separate trips, which can often be expensive.
Additionally, allowing employees to take a few days off during business trips can help them feel more relaxed and productive when they're back on the job.
Top Statistics and Trends in Bleisure Travel
Below, we present the list of the trends and statistics that are present in bleisure trips:
- 2017 GBTA (Global Business Travel Association) study shows that around 40% of business trips are bleisure ones.
- Also, the GBTA research stated that around 48% of Millennials combined business with leisure in the last years. Besides, 33% of Gen Xers and 23% of Baby Boomers have done that as well.
- According to SAP Concur, the most popular destinations for bleisure are New York City, Chicago, and Los Angeles. Moreover, September and October are the most popular months for these kinds of trips.
- There are 42% of middle management employees, 31% of executives, and 27% of entry-level employees who travel for business.
- 82% of bleisure travelers don't change their hotel during their stay.
- Expedia's study shows that American bleisure visitors took around 6.4 business trips per year. 88% of them were in the USA, and 12% were international. Also, when it comes to the reasons, the most common were entertainment/activities available in place, destination as a bucket list locations, or ease.
- The American Hotel & Lodging Association stated that 89% of respondents would like to add leisure to business trips.
- According to the CWT survey, men take more bleisure trips (70% while women only 30%).
- When it comes to the age category, younger workers are more likely to go on bleisure trips. GBTA reports that 48% of Millennials (25 to 35 years old) stayed longer in the place for reasons not related to their work. Next are Generation Xers (33%) and Baby Boomers (23%).
- Bridgestreet Global Hospitality stated that 54.4% of surveyed travelers would like to take their partners with them.
- Expedia and Luth research found that 32% of business visitors travel once or twice a month while 38% once every 2-3 months. GBTA researchers said that their respondents have around seven trips per year.
- Most of the travelers who participate in bleisure trips work in the technology-related sector (26%).
Business and leisure travel statistics
Let's see the tendencies in business and leisure trips on the statistics. According to Statista, the number of business and leisure travelers in the United States has increased since 2020.
In 2019 there were 0.46 million business trips and 1.85 leisure ones. Then, we can see the critical decrease as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
In 2020 there were only 0.18 million business travels and 1.4 trips for leisure.
2021 was a slightly better year for the tourism section. There were 0.25 million trips for business-related purposes and 1.77 for leisure. Then, in 2022 - 0.37 million business trips and 1.88 leisure ones.
Also, there are predictions for the next years. In 2023 there will be more business trips (0.44 million), as well as leisure travels (1.94 million). It is estimated that in 2024 there will be 0.47 million business travels and 2 million leisure trips. After that, we can assume that in 2025 and 2026 there will be 0.48 business trips. When it comes to leisure ones; 2.03 million in 2025 and 2.06 in 2026.
Bleisure vs. Workation
In 2016, the GBTA found that 67% of North Americans who traveled for business thought that bleisure is a great idea, while 37% did that. The trend is exciting as it can bring many opportunities.
However, in 2020 most business and leisure trips were canceled due to the pandemic. Then, emerged the new trend for remote work which changed the way of traveling. What is interesting, according to Buffer's survey, 97.6% of people want to work all their life remotely.
This is a very convenient option as it enables one to decide where to stay. The trend associated with that is called 'workation'. The term comes from combining the words 'work' and 'vacation' and is similar to the digital nomad concept. So, mainly you travel to your chosen destination and combine work with leisure.
However, there are key differences between workation and bleisure. The first one allows more flexible opportunities for dates and locations, is longer (up to one month), is picked by an interested person, not a company, its main point lays on equipped workplace and is fully paid by an employee, in contrast with bleisure where a few days trip is prepared by the company and focuses on attractions, tours, etc.
What is more, Expedia Media Solutions and Luth Research specialists estimated that three or more days trips can change into leisure one in 30%. Usually, visitors who travel on Monday-Tuesday or Thursday- Friday extend their stay more likely.
Also, 66% of travelers agree that the destination is important. When a business meeting is located in a must-see place for visitors, they would like to stay there longer.
Top 10 Bleisure destinations
In 2019, CEOWORLD magazine asked more than 120,000 readers where they plan to go on their business travels. So, the first place belonged to New York with a 69.27 score and AAA rating. Next are Paris (66.19), London (65.47), and Tokyo (65.06), all with AAA ratings as well. Then, we have Singapore (64.54), Rome (64.29), Hawaii (63.87), Hong Kong (63.78), Phuket (62.94), and Washington DC (62.26).
The study shows that trips are crucial to business travelers as more than 60% of them decide to extend their work stay for leisure purposes. Per year, they take around six business trips.
Conclusion
Bleisure travel can be an excellent way to combine business and leisure in one trip. It can provide opportunities for enhanced networking, exploration of new places, and relaxation. For companies, it encourages employee engagement while also reducing the cost of travel expenses.
Nowadays, this trend is relatively popular and very convenient. After the COVID-19 pandemic tourism section suffered much, but now it is better and better. Ultimately, with thoughtful planning and mindful considerations, bleisure trips can be a rewarding experience for companies and employees.
Sources
Statista
Hotel Tech Report
Global Business Travel Association
SAP Concur
Expedia
the American Hotel & Lodging Association
AltexSoft
CEOWORLD magazine
