Many business owners spend 90% of their time on their business. This is quite the common scenario in the business landscape for many decades – hence the term ‘corporate rat race’. However, an emerging trend this past couple of years is starting to break the barrier within work and play – enticing many business leaders with a promise of combining pleasure with business. This concept that is making rounds in the industry today is called “Bleisure”.
What is Bleisure?
According to The Telegraph, bleisure is where travellers mix their business trips with leisure time – is allowing workers to save money and transform what can be an inconvenient trip away into a pleasurable stay.
Recent statistics indicate that more people than ever are blending business and leisure travel. According to Travel Weekly’s 2016 Consumer Trends report, the percentage of leisure trips that have a business component jumped to 17%, up from 11% in 2012 and 14% in 2015.
A recent study by Expedia Media Solutions also found that 43% of all business trips, both international and domestic, are extended to include some kind of leisure activity. This is especially common with people who are travelling to another country for work, which makes sense given the expense and time commitment that international flights require.
How to Combine Pleasure and Work?
Due to the rising travel cost and their hectic schedules, it is still challenging for many business owners and executives to travel for fun and find time for traditional, planned breaks. Allocating time for vacations can be a challenge, which is why it makes sense to strategically plan some downtime during work trips.
Here five ways to business travellers can combine leisure time and work in an effective way.
- Identify Your Leisure Activities and Plan Well
The goal of bleisure is to provide business travellers with peace and relaxation amidst their meetings and appointments abroad. So, if you’re planning to bring your family on a business-packed schedule, then you need to think twice about your strategy. Sorting your time and energy is the key to true bleisure travel. Leave your phone and laptop in your room or simply shut them off during the hours you’re supposed to be “off duty.”
- Consult Your Corporate Travel Policy
Some companies indicate in their corporate travel policy the guidelines regarding the booking of personal travels during business trips at negotiated corporate rates. Depending on your company, these rates might be better than even discount hotel websites. Bear in mind though, it’s typically still up to the employee to pay for these nights, but this can result in big savings, especially at some of the larger hotel chains.
- Sign up for Free Perks
Most hotel chains have a loyalty program that includes amenities such as free access to fitness centers, in-room Wi-Fi, discounts on spa treatments, or even free nights. Be sure to sign up and register your business travel with the hotel’s loyalty program. It might also get you a free room upgrade when you extend your stay.
- Explore Nearby Places
Depending on your destination, you might be able to explore a new city within the range of your meeting, appointment, or conference place. For instance, if you have meetings in San Francisco, you could ask your chauffeur service to drive south along the California coast for a few days in Monterey, then transfer you back to the airport in time for your flight. This is a great way to see more of the country and explore locations that might otherwise be out of reach.
- Use a Premium Chauffeur Service
To fully maximise your business trip, why don’t you book a service from a premium chauffeur? Here at Hyryde, we provide an executive transportation service for business people from all around the country, and indeed the world! Our experienced chauffeurs can always advise on the best places to eat, drink and play. Our drivers always know what’s going on in the city, and this proves useful for those business executives away on bleisure.
There are ways to make your business trips more productive, but it’s completely different subject if you want to make it more memorable and enjoyable. Bleisure can help you prevent burnout from too much travel with no downtime – allowing you to fully maximise the benefits of your business trip.
To learn more about our Premium Chauffeured Services, contact Hyryde today at +44 (0) 207 117 6023 for UK business travellers and +1 855 901 0303 for US-based corporate travellers. You can also send your questions and enquiries to info@hyryde.com
