Travel can mean a lot of things. It can be a way to get some work done, which is essentially what a business travel is all about, and it can also be for just for plain and simple pleasure. Yet somehow, those two have seldom been mixed before, at least not in the manner and frequency that it is being done these days in what is dubbed as “Bleisure Travel.”
It sounds odd not to enjoy a certain destination when you are there already. Yet, when a person travels for business, there is that tendency to work for longer hours in a hurry to get the job done before hopping on a return flight. If you have been getting all those opportunities to travel to do work, why not extend your stay for a couple of days more to be able to enjoy the brief break that the business travel offers?
For people who are always traveling, but never get to enjoy the place they visited, there is a word to learn: Bleisure Travel. An alternative term that some prefer to use is “Bizcation.” Either way, the words refer to enjoying the business travel by mixing work and pleasure. It is a rising trend in the travel industry.
What is Bleisure Travel?
Christa Danisewicz writes the blog “Travel Trend Report: The Rise of the “Bleisure” Traveler” for On Call International. The author opens the blog with an explanation of what a bizcation or bleisure travel is all about:
“What do you get when you mix business and leisure travel? The growing trend of bleisure travel (aka, bizcations) isn’t just taking time out from a business trip to relax; but rather, it’s the act of rolling business trips and vacations into one. For example, a savvy bleisure traveler with an upcoming trip to Paris may invite their spouse along and extend their stay in the city—incurring only the expenses associated with their traveling companion and extra nights in Paris.”
The Benefits of Bleisure Travel
Danisewicz highlights the practical element of bleisure travel as the reason that beckons and justifies the rising trend of this travel concept. There is actually no reason to rush back home after finishing work on a Friday afternoon when it can be extended over the weekend to see more of the destination and its attractions. It makes sense for a business traveler to bring a friend, the significant other or the family on these trips; it will be less expensive on their part and a companion can translate a boring work assignment into an enjoyable trip for two or a family.
From the employers’ point of view, allowing their trusted employees to enjoy an extended stay in the destination may be regarded as an effective strategy to add value to the job that entails travel. It can motivate them so that they can be more engaged and happier in their jobs, at no extra cost from the business. Most proactive employers who are exploring ways to boost the engagement and morale of their workforce are happy with the effects of bleisure travel to their employees.
Bleisure Travel: The Rising Trend
With more and more business organization getting convinced that bleisure travel can be an effective carrot for their employees, the travel industry can reasonably expect further increases in the future. If this trend has to be sustained, it may require that it is integrated in the company’s travel policy to set the guidelines and to tackle the grey areas, such as defining personal and work hours and expenses.
There is no denying that bleisure trips are a convenient way for people on business travel to relish enriching experiences and to relax from the stress that comes with the job. By integrating bleisure trips into the company policy, a healthy work-life balance is fostered. It is definitely a win-win solution that both parties can fully appreciate, and more importantly, at ano extra expense on the side of the company.
