This year we’ll see an increasingly blurred line between business and leisure travel, according to travel intelligence website Skift.com. The rise of the, albeit unfortunately termed, “bleisure” traveller is being embraced by those realising they can now kill two birds with one stone – take the opportunity for a bit of sightseeing whilst overseas for work.
The trend is only possible due to the proliferation of smartphones and tablets. According to a survey by Pullman hotels, 43% of travellers always take their professional devices with them on holiday or on weekend trips. But it works both ways -- 89% of experienced international travellers say mobile professional devices are a way of staying in touch with loved ones at home.
According to the Pullman survey – conducted by IPSOS – the Chinese and Brazilians are “blurring champions”, and the ones most likely to remain connected on trips (79% and 71% respectively have at least one mobile professional device). The French, however, emerged least satisfied with the idea of mixing business with pleasure and 59% of them said they believed such devices were a source of stress.
This blurring of professional lines may sound like bad news, signalling more work and less play, but Skift’s reports indicate their could be some benefits. Overworked business travellers, for instance, feel more comfortable being upfront with bosses about having a portion of their trips dedicated to down-time, and happily admit to taking loved ones along for the ride. Also, new tools and services are emerging which cater to business travellers not content with the usual fusty corporate offerings. In particular, hotels are now creating inspired new offerings for this unique type of traveller.
CASE STUDY: Pullman Hotels
Accor has rebranded its Pullman Hotel to cater to the business/leisure traveller (it’s also them you can thank for coining the trend bleisure).
Some of the changes visitors can expect in their hotels include:
- Readily accessible art exhibited in properties in conjunction with local and international artists
- Staff wearing uniforms created by fashion designer Martine Sitbon
- Connectivity By Pullman offers free, high speed WiFi throughout hotels and unified entertainment systems (TV, smartphone and tablet in one app)
- New logo inspired by the yin and yang principle of bleisure travel
- Refreshed, modern cuisine concept offering 24-hour food and tailored services such as the Open Kitchen, a “theatre-kitchen” experience
BEST HOTELS FOR BIZCATIONS
The aesthetes at DesignHotels.com know a good hotel when they see one. Here’s their pick of places catering to the new trend.
The Mira, Hong Kong
. This stylish hotel in business magnet Hong Kong offers guests a choice of colours and design options in their rooms, plus in-room remote offices. It also boasts Michelin-rated restaurants and a luxurious spa offering treatments including Jet Set Relief, which uses cold stones to revive you after a long flight and ensure you are energised to make the most of your time in the city.
www.themirahotel.com
Brown TLV, Tel Aviv
This swanky 1970s styled pad is located right next to the hip Rothschild Boulevard and only a 10 minute walk from the beach. It claims to be the “ideal choice for the seasoned business traveller as well as the lifestyle-driven individual eager to access the vibrant city”. Conveniently, the hotel has a 24-hour business center for when there is business to be taken care of.
www.brownhotel.co.il
klapsons, The Boutique Hotel, Singapore
This playful option manages to seamlessly make even the work part of these trips fun – from the meeting rooms, guests are treated to astounding views of the city’s port and business district. The emphasis here is definitely on pleasure, and even The Executive room incorporates a sense of fun - the highlight being its cylindrical open shower, flanked by mirrors and apparently ready for lift off.
www.klapsons.com
Bentley Hotel, Istanbul
Designed by Piero Lissoni and Nicoletta Canesi, Bentley Hotel is an ideal meeting place for creative minds. Light and clean lines provide space for thought and offer peace after a hard day’s work (or play). Located in the trendy Nisantasi area, famous for its shops, restaurants and nightclubs, Bentley Hotel is also just meters away from the Lutfi Kirdar convention center.
www.bentley-hotel.com
The Hotel, Lucerne, Switzerland
Worlds away from the typically stiff business hotels of traditional Switzerland, each room here is designed individually. The hotel’s meeting and events facilities match “high-tech with a human touch”, and its restaurants serve an exciting range of Thai, Italian and Asian dishes – suitable for entertaining either your other half or a client.
www.the-hotel.ch
Written by Hannah Stuart-Leach
Culture & Lifestyle Journalist - Currency Today
