With the bleisure travel trend on the rise, hotels have an opportunity to showcase their properties in a new way.

Arguably, one of the biggest trends to come out of the pandemic has been the rise in bleisure travel. Simply defined, bleisure travel is when a traveler blends business and leisure travel by tacking on a personal trip directly before or after a work-related trip, and according to a June 2022 Forbes article, it has been gaining popularity post-pandemic. The article shared that in 2022, 89% of people planned to add personal vacation time to their business travel. And that number is believed to stay steady in 2023 as more and more people continue to work remotely.

Additionally, many leisure travelers are bringing along friends or family members, positioning hotels to reap many bleisure travel benefits — from longer stays to an increase in spending on the property. Here are five ways hotels can better accommodate and attract bleisure travelers in 2023.

Improve the #WFH (Work-From-Hotel) Experience

Guests who are staying at a property for work require plenty of in-room workspace, complimentary WiFi and a reliable, stable internet connection. A stable connection is key for bleisure travelers who need to upload or download large files or hop on a Zoom call. Hotels looking to attract bleisure travelers should consider installing reliable WiFi connections across their property, and, at the minimum, offer complimentary internet access in shared spaces.

Increase Workspaces

For the business traveler who might need additional work space outside of their in-room desk, or for those who require meeting spaces, hotels should consider converting empty or unused meeting rooms into rentable meeting spaces and/or free workspaces for bleisure travelers. Adding small conveniences in these areas, such as free coffee and complimentary WiFi, will keep guests — and their dollars — on the hotel property.

Highlight Relaxation

Thanks to bleisure travel, hotels traditionally associated with business travelers — such as those located near a business park or convention center — now have the opportunity to show off their leisure offerings to guests. From spa appointments or in-room massages to poolside drinks, hotels can showcase their best relaxation offerings so those combining both business and leisure travel can reside at one property for both portions of their trip. Plus, a property’s leisure offerings provide travel companions with something to do while the bleisure traveler is busy working.

Showcase Your Locale

Another bleisure travel benefit? Guests’ interest in experiencing the destination and their willingness to spend money on dining, entertainment and tours because their company paid for their flights. But, ease of booking is critical. By partnering with local tour and entertainment companies, hotels can offer bleisure guests and their travel companions opportunities to book local attractions all in one place. Hotel technology, such as smart-room tablets and branded hotel mobile apps, can highlight these offerings in a seamless way and allow travelers to book excursions from the comfort of their hotel rooms.

Incorporate Technology

The last thing a busy business traveler wants to do when they arrive to their hotel is stand in a long lobby line. Offering hotel technology, such as a branded mobile app with mobile check-in, check-out, and mobile key, allows the guest to bypass the front desk and head straight to their room. Also, by offering tech-minded bleisure travelers in-room technology — such as smart-room tablets — guests are able to seamlessly transition from their work laptops to their leisure smart-room tablets to order room service, adjust in-room lighting, or book spa appointments after a long day of emailing.

Wondering how incorporating hotel technology can offer bleisure travel benefits at your property? Request a demo today.