Workplaces, hotels see bleisure as a growing norm for business travel

Workplaces, bettenburgs see bleisure as a growing norm for business travelWorkplaces, hotels see bleisure as a growing norm for business travelCombining a leisure excursion withbusiness travel, also known as bleisure, is growing in popularity among corporate travelers, and whilethe trend welches pioneered by millennialsas a way to save money on their short vacations, the majority of corporate travelers amongbaby boomers and Generation Xare catching on. In fact, nearly 80% of executives add leisure travel onto their business trips, according to a survey of over 3,000 director-level and above business professionals conducted bySmartBriefin 2017.As more employees are seeing the opportunity for bleisure travel as a perk, companies andhotels are acknowledging the unofficial benefit as a trend that helps provide employees with greater job satisfaction and overall happiness as it allows for a balance of work and play.Follow Ladders on FlipboardFollow Ladders magazines on Flipboard covering Happiness, Productivity, Job Satisfaction, Neuroscience, and moreWorkplaces on boardCompanies appear supportive of the new trend, allowing staff members to add leisure time to business trips, especially if the employee offers to pay for the extra lodging and expenses. Though in many cases, a company may pick up the tab forweekend travel, if it will make the work week more productive and successful.Danielle Schlowow, senior growth strategist atMultiplica, a digital agency, travels internationally for work and says that while herbei business pays for her entire work trip, she will up-sell it as an opportunity to connect with the people she met at a work event.I let them know Im having coffee with this guy, lunch with this guy and dinner with so and so, she explains, adding that this is a great way to expand her network and connect with people she otherwise would not have had time to converse with.While somemillennialsprefer to keep their bleisure travel days a secret out of fear of l ooking unprofessional, those vacation days are frequently encouraged by employers.We have seen bleisure travel grow mainly because more corporations are not only allowing it, but are also embracing it, says Dave Hershberger, president ofPrestige Travel Leadersin Cincinnati, Ohio.Popular destinationsIn the US, business travelers are tacking on leisure in major cities such as San Diego, Seattle, Boston and Minneapolis. Overseas, Tokyo, Singapore, and Sydney are thetop hot spotsfor bleisure travel. Hong Kong and Melbourne are rated as the top quality destinations by corporate travelers, mostly due to the transportation systems, sense of safety and dining options.Hotels are appealing to bleisure travelers by offeringco-workingspaces that go beyond the traditional business centers.In the US, theAce Hotelin New York City features a lobby with communal tables and plenty of electrical outlets, and theVirgin Hotelin Chicago has itsVirgin Commons Club, a co-working space with a monthly member ship. TheHutton Hotelin Nashville offers writers studios and close proximity to the vibrantMusic Cityattractions.Abroad,Hobo Hotelin Stockholm advertises itself as a meeting point, a workplace, an office or just a nice place to visit and hang out.Tobacco Caye Paradisein Belize offers anoverwater bungalow co-working space.The Belizean tourism industry is fully committed to accommodating the needs of our guests, whether theyre seeking a rainforest adventure, world-class scuba diving along the Belize Barrier Reef or a relaxing overwater bungalow to finish laying out the brde slides of a presentationif you must, says Karen Bevans, director of tourism at the Belize Tourism Board.Experts saybringing the family alongwhen traveling for business relieves stress because travelers can avoid the distraction of missing loved ones and focus better during meetings. Modern travel solutions, such asFreebird, likewise seek to reduce stress on travelers by taking care of ticket bookings after a missed flight or cancelation. These easy solutions and convenient apps are massively popular with frequent travelers, as business travelerstypically have3.1travel apps.Mart Tucci ofNaya Travelersays participating in bleisure travel allows people to disconnect from the stresses of business travel, really switch off and explore a new destination.A guide to bleisure travelTo take full advantage of these relaxing travel days, meetings scheduled for the beginning or end of the work week are recommended, as they provide the perfect opportunity to enjoy a city over a weekend without losing any vacation days. If an employee is looking to save money during this time, perhaps ask the employer if its possible to use their lodging rate at a hotel, which is typically cheaper than a hotels standard nightly rate. Employees should be prepared, however, to possibly pay for their own meals and hotel room once the work portion of a trip has ended.Typically following the end of summers, there is a large surg e in bleisure travel. September sees a 15% rise in bleisure trips, while October sees an 18% boost, according toForbes.If you want to immerse into a unique culture and lifestyle, its worth investing in a travel planner that can tailor your itinerary around your preferences and time constraints, Tucci suggests.This article originally appeared on SmartBrief.You might also enjoyNew neuroscience reveals 4 rituals that will make you happyStrangers know your social class in the first seven words you say, study finds10 lessons from Benjamin Franklins daily schedule that will double your productivityThe worst mistakes you can make in an interview, according to 12 CEOs10 habits of mentally strong people