FWD Business tries to look at how you can get your work done efficiently while also stopping to smell the roses while on business trips
Words by: Vandana Devi Photographs from: Various Sources
“Bleisure” refers to the mix of business and leisure that happens on business trips and this trend of combining business and leisure is becoming very common in India as well. There is a lot of perks for of course the employees, but also for employers and the tourism industry. According to booking.com, 49% of business travellers have extended their business trips to further enjoy the destination in 2016 and it is forecasted to rise up to 75% or more in 2017.
We have to tried to look at what “bleisure” means to various stakeholders;
For the employees
For the forever cost conscious Indian traveller, this is cost effective means of exploring a city. Flight tickets are paid by the company, and if you are willing to bear the food and accommodation expenses, you can explore the city you are visiting a little bit more. You can bring your partner or family along with you as well and turn it into a sort of weekend getaway. All you need to do is fly in before the weekend for work, leaving you the weekend for leisure without compromising on your working days as well. Plan your time but also leave the things you could do flexible, because while you are on your assignment you will meet local colleagues and clients who can tell you exactly where to go and what to explore. This means you can go beyond the mainstream, touristy locations and wander through the off-beaten path. Use your time effectively to ensure work gets done but also stop to smell the roses.
For the employers
You are always looking for methods to keep your workforce motivated and an effective method has come along. A recent survey has shown that almost 30% of such travellers are ready to accept lower paid jobs if it meant that they could travel more for work. Such “bleisure” trips prove as incentives for your employees and these productive breaks keeps them happy, dedicated and also gives them a sense of loyalty towards their employees. And this is a beneficial deal because you don’t have to spend more on these trips as well. You can also look at new and exciting destinations for team-building exercises, MICE activities and so on.
For the Tourism and Hospitality industry
Simply placing yourselves near Airports and business hubs is not enough anymore. It’s essential for you to adapt to this segment. You need to provide other facilities and services in your hotels like spas, bars etc which will make it more appealing to the “bleisure” traveler. Also, destinations need to pitch themselves as providing the best of both worlds to Indian corporates to make and keep them interested now. Dubai is a good example for this; they showcase themselves as the business hub of the world as well as a leading family and culinary destination. Also, hotels are capitalising on the business traveller who tends to spend more on dinners, cocktails and the like, than the average vacationer. So the need of the hour, is for you to develop facilities for a comfortable as well as enjoyable stay of the business traveller and also to make itineraries and packages that have a good and balanced mix of business and leisure.