Bleisure Travel: Unpacking the new trend and its benefits

This innovative trend empowers solo travellers to make the most of their business trips by seamlessly blending work with leisure, transforming mundane corporate travel into a fulfilling and memorable experience. So what makes bleisure travel a game changer? Beyond the allure of exploring new destinations, it offers a plethora of benefits. 

From enhancing productivity by managing your workload more efficiently thanks to a well-needed leisure break to immersing yourself in local culture, cuisine and attractions during downtime. It also increases networking opportunities with after-meeting nights out and can improve your wellbeing by giving you the opportunity to unwind.

In this era of "bleisure," business trips are no longer a tedious duty but a dual-purpose adventure, offering both professional growth and personal enrichment. Seize the world as your workplace and leisure playground.

According to figures published by Grand View Research in 2022, 17% of business travellers extend their trip to one week to encompass some leisure time, and in the UK 'bleisure' trips account for 56% of all business travel, so it makes perfect sense to bring somebody with you. Enrich your trip even more by taking along your family, partner, or close friends to transform it into a memorable experience. Business meeting in Paris? Pack your significant other for an afternoon on the Seine and evening dinner up the Eiffel Tower. Got little ones? Invite the whole gang on your work trip to Dubai where kids can enjoy the hotel facilities before spending quality evenings and days off together. And don’t forget your friends. We’re certain they will keep themselves busy in New York until it’s time for you to clock off. 

Sharing your business travel experiences with loved ones fosters a stronger bond and creates lasting memories. Whether it's savouring local cuisine together, discovering new cultural nuances, or embarking on sightseeing adventures during your downtime, the shared moments become cherished stories for years to come.

Wellness has become a paramount consideration for bleisure travellers, as the blending of business and leisure offers a unique opportunity to nurture one's physical and mental health. Before departing, find ways to travel more comfortably, as this can significantly contribute to your overall wellbeing. Flying via private jet, for instance, reduces the stress associated with commercial air travel eliminating long security lines, crowded cabins, and flight delays. This luxury transport option not only saves time but also enables you to relax and rejuvenate during the journey itself. 

Once in destination, you have a plethora of wellness options to consider. Amid the hustle and bustle of work, taking moments to decompress is crucial. Strategies for stress relief include practising yoga, indulging in spa treatments, eating balanced meals or even considering a wellness retreat at the end of your trip. Embracing wellness while travelling for work enhances the overall quality of your stay, leaving you recharged and ready to tackle both professional and personal adventures.

You may be wondering about the whisperings of “lisness” and how the not too dissimilar trends differ. Bleisure travel suggests that you enhance your business trip with activities and extra time in destination, while lisness is a leisure-based trip that lends time to fit in work. After a turbulent few years, we've all wanted to improve our work life balance; in a post covid world, more people than ever have opted to work from home or a hybrid model. Because of this, lots of us have used our initiative to make our home office transportable, so a long weekend away no longer requires you to eat into your holiday allowance. People are also choosing to travel for longer and work flexible hours which sees them getting the job done in their own time. It’s personal travel with the ability to work simultaneously. 

It’s easy enough to pinpoint the destinations that dominate in the business world, but when it comes to extending for leisure where does Winged Boots recommend? 

Abu Dhabi

A city renowned for its opulent skyline and cultural treasures, Abu Dhabi caters to discerning businesspersons seeking a perfect work-play balance. Stay at The Ritz-Carlton Abu Dhabi Grand Canal, a hotel that not only offers breathtaking views of the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque from its meeting space, but the exceptional family-friendly facilities and luxurious rooms make it the perfect place for the whole gang. 

Paris 

A city of romance, transformative cuisine and art, if you have a business meeting booked in Paris, there’s no way you’re getting out of taking your significant other. We recommend Shangri-La Paris as your humble abode – although there’s nothing humble about this hotel. As well as its central location in the 16th arrondissement, it’s spectacular suites with Eiffel Tower views are guaranteed to blow your loved one away. 

New York

The Big Apple dominates as one of those most business-centric cities in the world with suited and booted professionals pounding the pavements to get from one meeting to another. Stay at the Hyatt Centric Wall Street, as well as its prime location within New York’s financial district, this luxurious hotel boasts a trendy rooftop bar, perfect for after work drinks with colleagues or your travel companions.