More and more business professionals are sloughing off the long-held belief that business travel is all work, no play. In fact, in a BridgeStreet Global Hospitality survey of 640 international travelers, 60 percent reported they had traveled bleisurely, and roughly 30 percent of them reported tacking extra days onto business trips for sightseeing.
What brings you here? It's a pretty standard question. Typically, travelers are only offered two options for a response: business or leisure. But the best answer is increasingly “bleisure.”
As a business traveler, you often don’t get to choose your destination. You meet your clients where they are. But even if your meetings are in Des Moines, Iowa, there’s an opportunity to do more than burn the midnight oil in your free time. You can experience the city – from hole-in-the-wall restaurants to the local art scene – and you shouldn’t feel guilty about doing it.
Breaking free from your hotel room gives you greater insight into your clients and the business environments they operate in. Plus, the break from routine can make you feel like you’ve been on vacation – even if it was only for an hour or so.
The Benefits of Bleisure
More and more business professionals are sloughing off the long-held belief that business travel is all work, no play.
In fact, in a BridgeStreet Global Hospitality survey of 640 international travelers, 60 percent reported they had traveled bleisurely, and roughly 30 percent of them reported tacking extra days onto business trips for sightseeing.
Respondents reported that adding in the personal time reduced some of their travel-related stress, helped them work more effectively, and left them feeling more relaxed overall. And when their family members joined them for their trips, there was the added benefit of quality time they wouldn’t have experienced otherwise.
Bleisure doesn’t diminish the work you get done. But it can result in a more relaxed and reenergized you upon your return to the office. In fact, research from Virgin Atlantic found that a quarter of business travelers believe they get their best ideas while they’re on the road.
Mixing the Perfect Cocktail of Business and Leisure
Recognizing this rising trend, some resorts make it easier to add time to stays. Club Med, known for its all-inclusive resorts, now hosts more than 1,500 meetings and events at its properties every year. The resorts offer a mix of group activities to make it easier for businesspeople to bring their families. Similarly, Atlantis Paradise Island in the Bahamas works to accommodate what it sees as a growing trend toward business travelers bringing their families on trips.
While any destination can offer some respite from the daily grind, not all cities are equally bleisurable. Look for a location that balances resources for your business goal and entertainment for when you're off the clock.
One of the best bleisure destinations is Las Vegas. With plenty of space for conferences and opportunities to network, the city lends itself to taking care of business — and it goes without saying you won't have to search for leisure.
A few years ago, my company scheduled a business trip there for just this reason. We stayed productive throughout the day, then headed out at night for team-building activities or just to relax.
With everything along the Vegas strip, we could easily access our temporary workspace and our entertainment, and everyone loved the city's collaborative social atmosphere. Provided your staff doesn’t have too many late nights, it’s an ideal spot to combine work and fun.
No matter where you end up, you need to be smart about your time. Here are my best tips for seeing the sights between business meetings:
1. Stay near the sights you want to see. It may seem cheaper to book a hotel away from the tourist district, but those Uber fares will add up more quickly than you expect. I recommend paying for a more centrally located hotel within walking distance of the places you want to see most. Plus, walking will allow you to truly soak up the culture.
2. Exit through the gift shop. If you’ve seen one gift shop, you’ve seen them all. I’ve found that the same 10 souvenirs are sold in every city. Visiting more than one or two is likely a waste of the little time you have for exploring.
3. Skip the lines that will chew up time. Standing in a three-hour line is never ideal, especially when you’re already short on time. Skip the typical tourist traps for a better overall experience. For instance, in New York City, consider going to 30 Rock instead of the Empire State Building. For an equally lovely view, you will save money on tickets and save time by standing in a much shorter line.
4. Let your meals guide you. Think outside the hotel bar, and find a restaurant that offers the most local flavor. It’s your best bet for experiencing the area’s particular culture and cuisine. If you aren’t sure where to start, ask your hotel concierge for a few local recommendations.
5. Book meetings on Mondays and Fridays (and never before 10 a.m.). This way, you have a reason to be in town for the weekend. Better yet, you don’t have to burn vacation days to do so. And when you avoid scheduling meetings before 10 a.m., you free up your mornings for a quick hike, some me time at the spa, or a cup of joe at an iconic coffeehouse.
Being a road warrior is hard enough. But it needn’t be a spartan experience. As you schedule your meetings and plan for your presentations, remember to schedule some tourist time for yourself. You won’t regret it.
Adam Francis is the Director of brand marketing at Expedia Canada, a travel-booking platform for more than 10,000 partners, including airlines and hotels, consumer brands, and high-traffic websites.
