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Many millennials have a new work-life balance around the idea of “bleisure” travel. In an era where so many companies are trying to attract millennial talent, it may be time to update your corporate travel program. And while finance managers and CFOs may cringe at the thought of adding bleisure into the travel policy, there are some excellent reasons to do so.
The rise of bleisure has been sparked by business travellers who want more from their trips than just a few hours at the office. Listed below are some of the advantages of adding bleisure into your travel policy:
But first, we'll look at what bleisure is.
What Is Bleisure?
Bleisure has become a popular travel trend in recent years, as more and more people look for ways to combine business and pleasure. Bleisure trips allow travellers to make the most of their time by combining work and play.
For example, if you have a work conference in New York City, you might extend your stay for the weekend to sightsee.
Bleisure travellers often find that they can save money by combining their business and leisure travel and getting more out of their trip.
In addition, bleisure trips can be a great way to meet new people and experience new cultures. Whether you're looking to save money or simply want to make the most of your time, bleisure travel is worth considering.
Five Reasons Why You Should Add Bleisure Into Your Travel Policy
So now that we know what bleisure is, let's consider why you should add it to your travel policy.
Health Insurance
As COVID-19 continues to spread around the world, bleisure travel has become even more popular.
With business travel restrictions, many people are now combining their work trips with leisure travel. This allows them to get away from it and enjoy much-needed rest.
In addition, bleisure travellers often have access to better health insurance. This is because most bleisure travellers are employed full-time and have access to their company's health insurance plan
By allowing employees to combine business and leisure travel, you can help them stay healthy and save money on health insurance.
Accommodation and Expenses
Sending employees on business trips can be expensive. Not only do you have to pay for their airfare and transportation, but you also have to cover their accommodation and expenses.
However, if you allow employees to extend their business trips for leisure, they can often find cheaper accommodation. Many hotels and resorts offer discounts for more extended stays, so bleisure travellers can save some money.
Employees who bleisure often have access to corporate rates for flights and car rentals. It helps them save money on business travel expenses.
While it may seem counterintuitive, adding bleisure into your travel policy can help your company save money.
Non-Employee Travellers
In the past, business travel was often limited to employees only. However, with the rise of bleisure, more and more non-employees are beginning to travel for business purposes.
Many freelancers and contractors now work remotely, combining business and leisure travel more efficiently. It's becoming increasingly common for people to take bleisure trips to visit clients or attend business meetings.
If you're looking to attract top talent, it's crucial to allow non-employees to bleisure. Doing so will show that you're open to new ideas and willing to invest in your company's future.
Booking Protocol
Booking protocols are often implemented to help companies save money on business travel expenses.
However, these protocols can often be restrictive and make it difficult for employees to bleisure. Some booking protocols require employees to book flights and accommodation through the company's preferred supplier.
While this may help finance managers get discounts, it can often make it more difficult and expensive for employees to extend their trips for leisure.
If you want to encourage bleisure travel, reviewing your booking protocols is essential. Make sure they're flexible and allow employees to book flights and accommodation that suit their needs.
Work Availability or Vacation?
The great thing about bleisure is that it doesn't have to be an either/or situation. You can easily combine business and leisure travel, even if you don't have much vacation time. Look at it this way: if you're going to be away from home for work, why not add a few extra days to enjoy the destination?
If you're worried about employees taking advantage of bleisure travel, you can do a few things to prevent this. For example, you could limit the number of bleisure days that employees can take.
Or, you could require employees to take their bleisure days during slow periods at work. This way, they can still enjoy vacations without the company ending up shorthanded during the busy season.
Should You Add Bleisure Into Your Travel Policy?
While bleisure travel can be a great way to save money and attract top talent, it's not right for every company.
Before you add bleisure into your travel policy, sit with your finance manager and CFO to discuss the potential costs and benefits. Some of the things that you might want to consider include:
- The cost of airfare and accommodation
- The cost of expenses
- The availability of work
- Vacation time
Once you've considered all these factors, you can decide whether or not bleisure travel suits your company. List the pros and cons of bleisure travel to help you decide.
Bottom Line
There are many things to consider when deciding whether or not to add bleisure into your travel policy. However, if you take the time to weigh the pros and cons, you should be able to make the right decision for your company.
Overall, having a bleisure policy can help you save money and attract top talent. If you're looking for ways to improve your travel policy, bleisure is worth checking out.
