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‘Bleisure’ traveler profile from GBTA

In the past year, 37% of North American business travelers extended a work trip for leisure, according to a study by the GBTA Foundation. Millennials (48%) did so at a much higher rate than Gen Xers (33%) and baby boomers (23%).

The study by the research and education arm of the Global Business Travel Association, “Extending Business Travel into Leisure Time – Bleisure Study,” was conducted in partnership with Hilton.

 “This study highlights a variety of ways in which companies can improve the bleisure travel experience for their employees, while also aligning bleisure travel with their own goals,” said Monica Sanchez, GBTA Foundation’s director of research. “Some of these ways include establishing clear rules for reimbursing expenses incurred by non-employees, helping travelers understand the resources available to them on the leisure portion of their trip and developing a policy regarding preferred suppliers and booking channels.”

Business travelers who took at least one leisure trip in the past year, on average, took seven work trips in the past year, earn US$79,000 annually and work at companies with 950 employees. They hold middle management positions at a slightly higher rate than entry-level and senior leadership/C-level positions. Almost three in five have children at home, and 44% traveled with someone else for the leisure portion of their trip.

Business travelers who do take bleisure trips most typically extend them for a short period of time. While 90% do so for more than one day, only one-quarter (23%) do so for more than three days. On average, travelers typically extend their trips for three days.

Download a preview of the study

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