Remote work isn’t just about changing your work location – it’s about creating a new kind of lifestyle, emboldened by freedom and flexibility.
Today, the ability to work from anywhere impacts every aspect of life, from where people put down roots to how they shop. It’s even prompting new travel trends.
How (and Why) Travel Is Changing
After a few years of travel restrictions due to the pandemic, all types of travel are on the rise.
For example, business travel rapidly accelerated in 2023. Early in the year, most respondents in a survey of 100 travel professionals conducted by travel technology company Expedia Group said they weren’t planning any business-related travel. Just a few months later, however, one in three planned to take a business trip.
Leisure trips are also regaining popularity. 2023 saw a 7.2% increase in travelers who went on at least one vacation lasting five days or longer.
But these aren’t the only travel trends shaping the future. In addition to the return of traditional travel, new types of travel are also taking hold. Flexcations and bleisure trips are blurring the line between traditional travel categories.
“Now, more than ever before, people really value their time,” says Adam Heffron, general manager for Conrad Washington, DC, a Hilton luxury property. “Pre-pandemic, when people were traveling for work, it was expected that they were visiting only for work. Today, however, most people are taking advantage of that trip to double down and prioritize their time. They can go on business trips that become leisurely vacations. And, when they go on vacation, they no longer have to feel like they’re completely disconnected from work. They can still get their work done because they can connect to the office from anywhere in the world.”
What Is Bleisure Travel?
When workers add days to a business trip – either before or after – to relax and enjoy the location, they’re creating a bleisure trip.
"Bleisure travel has experienced consistent, double-digit growth annually, according to our research,” explains Ivan Saprov, founder and CEO of travel tech company Voyagu.
According to recent data from American Express Lens' 2023 Decision Maker Survey, 88% of companies allow bleisure travel. The 2023 Traveler Value Index from Expedia Group reveals that 76% of business travelers (out of 100 business travelers surveyed) plan to extend work trips for leisure purposes in the next 12 months. This trend is on the rise, with 34% of travelers reporting that they worked during their longest trip of the holiday season in 2023, up from only 19% in 2022.
Why Workers Choose Bleisure Trips
Historically, business trips and vacations were distinct. When people went on vacation, they didn’t work – and when they went on business trips, not much time was set aside for downtime or exploring.
But business-turned-leisure travel offers a way for employees to relax before or after a potentially stressful work-related trip. It’s also easier to take a vacation by simply adding days to a trip that’s already planned and on the schedule.
For many workers, a bleisure trip is also more affordable than a traditional vacation, which is helpful in a high-inflation economy. Because they’re visiting that location for work purposes, the employer pays to transport them to and from the destination, reducing vacation costs for the worker.
Why Companies Support Bleisure Trips
Business-turned-leisure travel can be a bonus for employers, too. Travelers may end up flying on less popular or less expensive days, saving the company money.
For example, instead of departing on a Monday for a business trip and returning on Friday, allowing travelers to extend trips for leisure could mean workers fly back on less popular (and, thus, less expensive) days by taking advantage of mid-week flights.
If business travelers stay at the same place when their trip transitions from business to leisure – at which point the traveler becomes responsible for hotel costs – then they may be more economically responsible when choosing their hotel, which can benefit their employer.
What Are Flexcations?
Flexcations combine work and play as they support work from any location. Workers travel to a desired destination for leisure purposes – whether it’s 60 minutes down the road or halfway around the globe – and work remotely while they’re there.
Specialty insurance provider Allianz Partners reports that 42% of 18- to 34-year-olds are likely to travel to a vacation destination to work remotely according to one of their recent surveys of 2,010 Americans (age 18+). In the next 12 months, 28% of people plan to take a flexcation, according to Expedia Group.
Why Workers Choose Flexcations
Flexcations enable time for work during the day, with time set aside to explore a destination (during evenings and weekends, for example).
Because they involve remote work, flexcations allow employees to travel to places they want to explore without being constrained by vacation days. They no longer have to wait for holidays or summer breaks to make the trip; they can plan their travel outside of peak seasons at a time that works best for them.
Why Companies Support Flexcations
Flexcations bring obvious benefits to companies. Even though employees are offsite, they’re still working and available, just as they would be in a home office. They may also take fewer vacation days as a result, which means that more work is getting done.
Supporting flexible schedules that accommodate flexcations can also help employers retain talent and attract new hires – it’s a low-cost/no-cost perk that workers appreciate.
“With the convenience of modern digital technology and a desire for work-life balance, trends like these may even become an expected norm from employers soon,” says Francois Gouelo, cofounder of guest experience platform Enso Connect.
Bleisure Trips and Flexcations are the New Norm
Most travel experts agree that bleisure and flexcation trips are here to stay, due to the freedom and flexibility they bring. These new types of travel also present lucrative opportunities for the global travel industry, as off-peak occupancy rates increase, shoulder seasons disappear, and seasonality fluctuations fade away.
When providers tailor their offerings to meet the needs of bleisure and flexcation travelers, they can open up new worlds of opportunity. “It’s critical to layer in great experiences that are attractive to the leisure traveler,” emphasizes Heffron, “because the leisure travel experience is interesting for everyone – whether they’re traveling for business or not. Hotel properties need to meet the needs of the evolving business traveler, and that person tends to be someone who arrives for business but wants to have fun when they’re not working.”
