Bleisure travel market size

The global bleisure tourism market was valued at $594 billion in 2023, with projections suggesting it could grow to $3.5 trillion by 2033. This growth is driven by American business travelers, who take at least 405 million long-haul business trips annually, adding leisure time to about 60% of these trips. In fact, 83% of business travelers have taken a bleisure trip in the past year.

While 29% of global bleisure travel is international, the majority, 71%, is domestic. In the United States, 88% of bleisure trips are domestic. A significant 89% of business travelers express a desire to extend their next business trip to include leisure time. Despite the popularity, only 30% of people are familiar with the term “bleisure.”

Bleisure trips are preferred over “workcations” by 60% of American business travelers. Almost half of American Airlines' $13 billion revenue in 2022 came from bleisure trips. The interest in bleisure travel is also rising, with 45% of American travel managers reporting increased interest from employees. Additionally, 28% of event attendees are likely to book extra nights for leisure.

The term “bleisure” was first introduced in 2009 by the Future Laboratory, reflecting a trend that continues to gain momentum. A 2022 Expedia survey indicated that 76% of business travelers plan to take a bleisure trip within the next year. 

1. According to Statista, the value of the global bleisure tourism market was estimated to be $594 billion in 2023.

2. By 2033 the global bleisure travel sector is predicted to grow to $3.5 trillion.

3. American business travelers take at least 405 million long-haul business trips each year, and it’s estimated that they add leisure time to about 60% of these trips.

4. 83% of business travelers report that they’ve taken a bleisure trip in the past year.

5. 29% of global bleisure travel is international, while the majority, 71%, is domestic travel.

6. Bleisure travelers from the United States are more likely to take domestic trips, with 88% of trips happening within the US.

7. According to the American Hotel & Lodging Association, 89% of business travelers want to extend their next business trip to include some leisure time.

8. A 2024 survey found that only 30% of people are familiar with the term “bleisure,” even though most business travelers are interested in combining business and leisure travel.

9. 60% of American business travelers say they prefer bleisure trips over “workcations,” which involves working during a vacation.

10. Almost half of American Airlines’ $13 billion in revenue in 2022 came from bleisure trips.

11. 45% of American travel managers reported that their employees were “a lot more” interested in bleisure travel than they were previously, while 38% reported the same level of interest.

12. 28% of event attendees say they are likely to book additional nights when traveling for an event.

13. A 2022 Expedia survey found that 76% of business travelers plan to take a bleisure trip in the next year.

14. The term “bleisure” was first published in 2009 in a trend report created by the Future Laboratory.

Specifics of bleisure trips

Marriott reported a 20% increase in the average business stay length in 2023 compared to 2019, reflecting the growing trend of bleisure travel. Most bleisure trips (70%) last two to three nights, with 12% of travelers staying just one night and 17% staying four nights or longer. On average, bleisure travelers spend $1,566 per trip, more than leisure travelers.

Top destinations for bleisure travel in 2023, according to Navan, are New York City, San Francisco, and London. Conferences drive 67% of bleisure trips, while 30% include internal company meetings. Notably, 82% of bleisure travelers extend their stay at the same hotel used for business.

However, 31% of employers do not extend corporate travel risk policies to cover the leisure portion of bleisure trips, leaving travelers responsible for their own safety. Despite this, 85% of bleisure travelers report their company covers hotel costs, and 76% have their roundtrip airfare paid for by their employer.

1. In 2023 Marriott reported that their average business stay was 20% longer than in the average business stay in 2019.

2. Most bleisure trips (70%) consist of two or three nights. 

3. 12% of bleisure travelers stay just one night, and 17% of bleisure travelers stay four nights or longer.

4. Bleisure travelers spend more per trip than leisure travelers, with the average bleisure trip costing $1,566.

5. The top 3 destinations for bleisure travel are New York City, San Francisco, and London, per 2023 booking volume on business travel platform Navan.

6. The original purpose of 67% of bleisure trips is to attend a conference.

7. 30% of bleisure trips include attendance at an internal company meeting.

8. 82% of bleisure travelers extend their trips at the same hotel where they stayed for the business portion of the trip.

9. Bleisure travelers are often responsible for their own safety during the leisure parts of their bleisure trips; 31% of employers don’t extend their corporate travel risk policy beyond the business travel part. 

10. 85% of bleisure travelers report that their company pays for their hotel stays.

11. 76% of bleisure travelers report that their company pays for roundtrip airfare. 

Bleisure traveler profiles

A significant 78% of millennials extend their business trips to include vacation time, according to Chase. The technology and software sector accounts for 24% of bleisure travelers, with 13% from manufacturing and 12% from finance. Solo travel is common, with 65% of bleisure travelers going alone, while 35% bring a companion.

Family considerations influence 57% of business travelers in choosing destinations. Executives and senior leaders are twice as likely to add vacation days to business trips compared to individual contributors. Regarding expenses, 53% of respondents have their travel costs covered by employers, while 28% pay for part of their bleisure trips.

Bleisure travel frequency varies: 36% take overnight business trips every two to three months, 23% every one to two months, and 5% are frequent travelers with weekly trips. On average, bleisure travelers globally take 6.4 trips annually, with Indian travelers leading at 7.4 trips per year, followed by German and Chinese travelers at six trips each.

Interestingly, 20% of business travelers admit to skipping part of the business portion of their trips for relaxation, a trend more common among Gen Z employees. A majority of business travelers, four out of five, believe they should enjoy leisure time during business trips.

When it comes to amenities, free WiFi tops the list for American bleisure travelers, with 47% expressing interest in accommodations with on-site coworking spaces. Remote work capabilities vary, with about 50% of Americans able to work remotely, compared to over 80% of employees in India and China.

1. 78% of millennials extend their business trips to include vacation time, per Chase.

2. 24% of bleisure travelers work in technology and software fields, while 13% work in manufacturing, and 12% work in finance.

3. 65% of bleisure travelers travel solo while 35% bring someone else with them. 

4. 57% of business travelers say they have looked to take business trips to destinations they thought their families would enjoy.

5. Executives and senior leaders are 2x as likely to extend business trips to include vacation days, compared to individual contributors.

6. Who pays for bleisure travel? 53% of survey respondents said their employers paid their travel costs.

7. 28% of employees paid for at least part of their bleisure trip.

8. 36% of bleisure travelers take overnight business trips every two to three months, and 23% take overnight trips every one to two months.

9. Just 5% of bleisure travelers are serious road warriors, taking at least one overnight business trip every week.

10. Globally, bleisure travelers take 6.4 bleisure trips each year.

11. German and Chinese bleisure travelers take 6 trips per year, while Indian bleisure travelers take 7.4 trips per year.

12. 20% of business travelers say they have skipped part of the business portion of the trip to enjoy some relaxation time, with Gen Z employees more likely to do so than their older colleagues.

13. 4 out of 5 business travelers believe they should be able to enjoy some leisure time on a business trip.

14. In a 2022 survey, American bleisure travelers said access to free WiFi was the most important amenity when traveling for business and leisure.

15. 47% of bleisure travelers say they are interested in booking an accommodation with an on-site coworking space.

16. About 50% of Americans are able to work remotely, while over 80% of employees in India and China can take their work on the road.

Benefits of bleisure travel

A study by National Car Rental revealed that business travelers who add leisure time to their trips report better work-life balance (91%) compared to those who don't (79%). Despite this benefit, 51% of American workers feel guilty asking for time off, and 28% don't use all their allotted vacation days. For 19% of American employees, bleisure trips are the only way they can afford to take a vacation.

Three out of four workers would work with international teams if it meant more opportunities for bleisure trips. A 2022 Forbes survey found that 55% of business travelers seek to extend their trips to improve work-life balance. The impact of business travel on job satisfaction is significant, with 79% of American business travelers stating that their experiences influence their overall job satisfaction, according to GBTA.

Business travel also has a broader economic impact: for every $1 spent, the economy generates $12.50 in revenue, benefiting local economies. Additionally, 59% of employees say that traveling and seeing new places makes them more productive at work. 

1. Per a study conducted by National Car Rental, business travelers who add leisure time to their business trips reported a better work-life balance (91%) compared to respondents who didn’t combine their vacations with work travel (79%).
2. 51% of American workers feel guilty asking for time off work.
3. 28% of American employees don’t use all of their allotted vacation days.
4. Bleisure trips are the only way that 19% of American employees can afford to take a vacation.
5. 3 out of 4 workers say they would work with international teams if they got more changes to take bleisure trips.
6. A 2022 Forbes survey found that 55% of business travelers sought to extend their business trips to improve work-life balance.
7. 79% of American business travelers say their business travel experiences impact their overall job satisfaction, per the GBTA.
8. For every $1 spent on business travel, the economy generates $12.50 in revenue, often positively affecting local economies.
9. 59% of employees say that traveling and seeing new places inspires them to be more productive at work.

How will bleisure travel impact your hospitality organization? We’ll continue watching this trend to see how it evolves, but there’s no arguing with the fact that bleisure travel is here to stay. As remote work becomes more popular, employees with increased flexibility can take advantage of a business trip or a conference to enjoy some leisure time in the destination, which can be a boon to not only hotels, but also restaurants, tour operators, and other hospitality businesses.