Emily Peck, CRME, Corporate Director of Revenue, Kampgrounds of America, Inc., Member of the HSMAI Rising Leaders Council
Bleisure travel reflects a trend in which professionals are extending their work trips to take advantage of extra time to explore and relax, combining business with leisure. Integrating work trips with leisure activities helps employees maintain a healthier work-life balance, reducing stress and burnout. Those who can explore new destinations and enjoy leisure time during work trips frequently report greater job satisfaction, improved mental health, and increased productivity.
The frequency of this type of travel has grown immensely since the pandemic, and research indicates this market is expected to grow by around 50% to 30% or more over the next decade. Given this expected growth, it is crucial that new industry leaders—many of whom are likely embracing this trend—understand its impact on travel patterns, guest expectations, and the opportunities to leverage this segment to drive revenue growth.
To meet the growing demand for bleisure, hotels and differentiated accommodations, such as campsites, should consider the following points:
- Flexible Booking Options: Offer flexible booking policies that allow guests to easily extend their business trips to include leisure time, without complicated processes.
- Amenities and Services: Providing and promoting amenities that meet both business and leisure needs is essential. This includes high-speed internet, comfortable workspaces, recreational facilities such as pools and gyms, and concierge services that assist with local recreational activities.
- Special Packages: Creating special packages that combine business and leisure elements can attract bleisure travelers and generate loyalty. These packages can include discounts for extended stays, complimentary breakfast, or vouchers for local attractions.
- Location and Accessibility: Hotels should highlight their proximity to both commercial districts and popular leisure destinations. Easy access to transportation and local attractions makes the hotel more attractive to bleisure travelers.
- Marketing and Communications: Effective marketing strategies that highlight a property's suitability for bleisure travel can attract more guests. This includes testimonials from previous bleisure travelers and promoting amenities and services that cater to this audience.
- Local Business Partnerships: Collaborating with local businesses and attractions to offer exclusive deals or experiences can enhance guests' bleisure experience.
With the rise of remote work and flexible schedules, bleisure continues to attract professionals, presenting itself as a unique segment to explore. Properties that adopt strategies focused on attracting bleisure travelers now will continue to reap the benefits of revenue growth as the segment expands in the coming years.
Questions for Your Team
- As emerging leaders in the core bleisure demographic, what factors most impact their decision to travel in bleisure? What amenities or services are most appealing to this traveler profile?
- Is there anything we need to adjust in revenue management for these offers?
- What is the role of technology in capitalizing on bleisure travel trends, and how can we integrate it to increase guest satisfaction, length of stay, and revenue?
- How should market segmentation evolve as travel purposes become more hybrid?
With the expected growth of 500% for this type of travel, what future trends do you foresee for bleisure? How can we adapt our revenue strategies to anticipate these changes?