Adding a leisure component to the beginning or end of a business trip has become increasingly popular in recent years. "Bleisure" has become a buzzword attracting the attention of the corporate travel world. Senior editor Jamie Biesiada sat down with Gabriel Rizzi, president of Travel Leaders Corporate, to talk about the trend.
Travel Weekly: When did bleisure travel first start gaining popularity?
Gabriel Rizzi: Over the last several years Travel Leaders Corporate has seen bleisure rise in popularity with the rise of the millennial traveler demographic. Their acute focus on experiences is what's driving this surge in extended trips and enhanced travel experiences. Of course, it's not a new concept, wanting to extend a business trip for some fun, but what's happening now is that it has hit a tipping point and is well-known enough to have a portmanteau assigned to it.
TW: Why is bleisure travel such a popular option for millennials?
Gabriel Rizzi, Travel Leaders Corporate
GR: This could be because they often have less vacation time and less strings attached at home but in general are more concerned about the experience of travel and experiencing new places like a local. What is going to be interesting to watch in the future is if the millennials will continue to use bleisure travel as they age. They could very well be the first of many generations to make bleisure part of their work world. Or it could also happen that the younger generations will continue to be the biggest users of bleisure. It remains to be seen.
TW: How are TMCs and their clients handling bleisure travel?
GR: It's something that every company will do differently. I would like to emphasize, though, that it is important for any company to have a strong bleisure policy in place, even if they think it won't be used much. The choice to extend on the front or back end will be a constant decision point for corporate travelers of all demographics, and at present not all travel policies address this or encourage it. It's also a burgeoning area for TMCs. A destination on an employee's travel bucket list can be enjoyed. Exploring the destination can also give the traveler more to talk about with clients if they return to the destination. In a family-friendly place like Orlando or Hawaii, bringing the family along can help save on one airline ticket and hotel room. Overall, bleisure can contribute to greater employee satisfaction and a greater willingness to travel for work and [possibly] reduce employee attrition.
TW: What kind of challenges does it pose?
GR: For those companies whose employees are asking to tack some time on their work trip for fun, there are some careful policy considerations that must be thought about. To give just one example, a business traveler who flies to Los Angeles Monday morning, ends their meetings on Friday evening and decides to fly back to town the following Monday night might not want to take Monday as a vacation day. After all, they spent the last week in L.A. going to early-morning breakfast meetings and taking clients out for late dinners. Does taking a day of comp time fit in with your organization's policy? Or would it be better for them to count Monday as a vacation day since, after all, they will not be working? There are many things to consider.
TW: How are companies handling employees who need assistance on the leisure portion of a bleisure trip?
GR: Most companies are not. This rests on the shoulders of the traveler, which is one of the reasons bleisure may not be as pervasive as it could be yet. Again, this is where a strong policy is so important.
TW: What about the potential for costs to increase because of the leisure portion, for example, flying on a weekend as opposed to a weekday because of the extension?
GR: This is where the policy comes in. Costs can increase. They can also decrease. It's necessary for an employer to identify at what dollar amount the employee will need to reimburse the company and how that reimbursement should take place.
TW: Are companies extending corporate rates for the leisure portion of the trip?
GR: Some yes, some no. Again, it is highly dependent on the company, their budget and how often their employees are on the road.
TW: How is Travel Leaders Group capitalizing on bleisure travel?
GR: Travel Leaders Corporate is closely watching the bleisure trend, and we are assisting those clients whose employees request it. Since Travel Leaders Group has the richest inventory of tours and packages, we are uniquely positioned to help fuel this demand.
TW: It seems like bleisure could be a gold mine for corporate agencies that could offer services for extending business trips.
GR: Yes, with a caveat: Corporate and leisure travel are very different, and any travel professional wanting to service both should make an effort to understand both segments. Also, you have to play to your strengths. Most agencies are either corporate or leisure.