Global spending on bleisure travel is expected to surge from US$150 billion in 2021 to US$360 billion by 2027, reflecting a shift in how people approach work travel. The trend is also accelerating in real time, with Reed & Mackay parent company, Navan, reporting a 275% increase this year in bleisure bookings compared to 2023.
Over the past year, 45% of companies have reported an increase in employees extending work trips to include leisure, with younger travellers leading the way. Notably, 26% of those aged 35-44 and 25% aged 25-34 are incorporating leisure into business travel, showcasing a preference for flexibility and balance.
And it’s a trend embraced across the globe. Asia-Pacific leads with 57% of business travellers adopting bleisure, followed by Latin America at 52%, North America at 46% and Europe at 36%.
Corporate leaders are also embracing the shift. Skift’s ‘State of Travel 2024’ survey highlights more than two-thirds of business travellers plan to add leisure time to work trips in 2025. Additionally, 58% of managers actively encourage this practice, recognising the benefits in employee satisfaction, talent retention and cost efficiency.
It is a trend Reed & Mackay Group CEO Fred Stratford believes will increasingly make sense to business travellers and their organisations, and is forecast in our Business Travel Trends 2025 Predictions report.
“People are becoming more conscious of their environmental footprint and are rethinking when and how they travel,” Stratford says. “In particular, the post-COVID workforce has reshaped travel, with younger generations driving the shift towards more flexible and efficient trips that combine business and leisure.”
9 POINTS TO CONSIDER FOR BLEISURE TRAVEL POLICIES
Define clear boundaries between work and leisure
Clarifying when business ends and leisure begins helps employees understand expectations before travel. Employers should also outline policies regarding remote work during leisure time, especially as remote work and digital nomadism have grown in popularity.
Involve key stakeholders from the outset
HR, finance and legal teams should play an active role in designing a bleisure policy. Including HR in this process enables Human Resources Information Systems to track requests. This can help measure the programme’s success regarding employee satisfaction and cost savings. This holistic approach ensures the policy is aligned with the company’s overall travel and people strategy.
Set clear expense guidelines
Employees should know which expenses are covered by the company and which are their responsibility. Clear communication around expense claims ensures employees know boundaries while avoiding unnecessary disputes.
Establish policies for cancellations
What are the cancellation policies for the leisure side if a business trip gets cancelled? Incorporate a disclaimer; employees are responsible for any personal travel commitments. Ask your company’s legal team to assist with the detail.
Ensure comprehensive travel insurance
Travel insurance should cover both business and leisure segments of the trip. Companies should encourage employees to review and, if necessary, arrange additional insurance for their leisure portion.
Define duty of care responsibilities
Does a company’s duty of care obligations to their business traveller or conference delegate extend to their leisure time? Employers must conduct a risk assessment for each destination, highlighting any safety concerns. Include details on geopolitical unrest, extreme weather possibilities and accessibility to healthcare. This is important as respondents to the International SOS Risk Outlook 2024 rated geopolitical tensions as the second-highest security concern for 2025.
Establish whether the company will maintain its duty of care obligations during the traveller’s leisure time, such as traveller tracking, monitoring and response to incidents. Encourage travellers to follow travel advice and health guidelines. If the traveller is not in the accommodation booked for use during the business trip, are they staying in a safe place?
Clarify eligibility
Make it clear who is eligible for bleisure travel. There needs to be a legitimate business reason for that trip and not simply because it is in, or near a destination earmarked for leisure. Establish which individuals need to be part of the approval process for bleisure requests, such as team managers or HR.
Upholding professional standards
Employees engaging in bleisure travel should understand the expectations for conduct during their leisure time. This is particularly important when travelling with a preferred supplier, as any incidents can impact the company’s reputation. Additionally, employees should be advised on social media guidelines to maintain a professional image.
Tailor your organisation’s policy
Each organisation has a different view on bleisure and what constitutes working hours and personal time during any trip. No one-size-fits-all approach can be adopted. Tailor policies to the individual requirements of the company and employees. Clear communication is important throughout when creating a bleisure travel policy to prevent misunderstandings.
Get in touch
Mail ryanquinn@reedmackay.com to discuss all of your corporate travel and event management needs.
