As the boundaries between work and leisure become blurred, a new trend in business tourism is taking hold: bleisure. A contraction of the words business and leisure, this post-COVID concept seeks to harmoniously combine professional obligations and tourism.
A natural evolution in business travel
Starting from the simple observation that a business traveller can optimise his trip by taking advantage of the destination for his own pleasure, the integration of cultural activities into his timetable or the opportunity to travel with a loved one to share the experience has found favour with business travellers.
Flexible working hours and the introduction of teleworking, made possible by the development of digital tools, have greatly facilitated this evolution. According to a number of studies, employees who include leisure time in their business trips say they are more productive and motivated. What’s more, the loyalty and satisfaction of employees who benefit from this approach are increasingly encouraging companies to practise bleisure.
A shared benefit
This new way of organising business travel has advantages for both companies and employees. For employers, it is an asset that not only strengthens employee commitment but also attracts new talent. What’s more, by optimising the costs involved in negotiating fares, you can extend your stay without increasing your budget. Lastly, cultural knowledge of the area can facilitate and improve the quality of work, while enabling more meaningful relationships to be forged in business destinations.
For employees, bleisure allows them to manage their work-life balance more effectively but also gives them the opportunity to discover new places without having to take time off work and without having to bear the cost of transport.
As far as tourism is concerned, this trend favours longer stays, thus stimulating the local economy. Destinations hosting congresses, trade fairs and forums also encourage these travellers to extend their stays and spend more locally. Airlines and hotels, for their part, are now adapting their offers with tailor-made services, allowing greater flexibility in bookings and changes, and access to functional coworking spaces.
More than just a fad, bleisure is a win-win evolution of business travel. Professionals in the sector have understood this and are adapting, as are companies, because professional efficiency and discovering the world are no longer mutually exclusive. Latin America is proving to be an ideal destination for this new type of travel, with each country offering a diversity of landscapes and experiences that can transform a simple business trip into a memorable getaway.
Photos: D.R. | Marissa Grootes
