"Bleisure" Trips: What Are the Insurance Implications?
No, it's not a typo. A "bleisure" trip is a real thing. Aside from being a slightly nauseating portmanteau, it's the label given to a business trip that is extended for leisure.
Do I need separate business and leisure insurance cover?
No, you don't need to have a separate cover for a bleisure trip. Instead, opt for a single policy that will cover each aspect of your business and leisure trip, with all details considered to avoid juggling multiple policies.
This could be as simple as getting Annual multi-trip travel insurance for yourself, family, or a couple etc.
Why are bleisure trips becoming more popular?
The rise of the bleisure trip has been recorded in new research by the Global Business Travel Association. The survey collected data from North American business travellers and discovered that 37% had prolonged a business trip in order to enjoy a destination's non-business attractions.
This could see an employee extending a trip into a weekend – perhaps arranging for lovers, spouses or other family members to join them. Hotel bookings for the business trip are frequently extended for such jollies, with the additional cost covered by the employee.
Who are bleisure trips for?
According to the GBTA's data, older travellers are less likely to do this than younger ones. Of the 18-34 years olds surveyed, 48% had swung themselves a bleisure trip, while in the 25-54 year old category, just 33% had extended a business trip into a crafty getaway. For the 55+ age group, this figure dropped to only 23%.
The research did not delve into why older travellers were less likely to indulge in a bleisure trip, but there a number of possibilities.
Aside from a distaste for the term 'bleisure', older travellers might not be so enamoured with overseas jaunts as younger counterparts. Furthermore, larger salaried older workers may have the means to choose destinations for themselves, rather than resorting to the opportunism of a bleisure trip.
Should businesses encourage bleisure trips?
Arguably, they should. The prospect of a short holiday could infuse vigour and enthusiasm into an otherwise (potentially) dull business trip. It might also take the edge off the stresses and strains that can accompany a business meeting.
An employee with this kind of freedom could be a happier, more productive one, to quote Radiohead. They might also be able to take advantage of cheaper return flights and bag deals on hotel accommodation.
Some employers might see squeezing a short holiday out of a business trip as taking the emphasis off the primary reason for the journey; and perhaps as something of a liberty. Well, such bosses should know that, occasionally, there is an even cheekier piece of jiggery-pokery at work: squeezing a business trip into a holiday that was planned long before.
This might be described as a 'dark art' - although not nearly as dark as the inevitably awful portmanteau that someone will dream up for it (‘leisureb', anyone?).
But what about the insurance implications? If you're a 'bleisure' proponent, the news is good – at least if you buy your business travel insurance from starttravel.co.uk.
“Combine work with pleasure”
"Whether you have prepared for an important meeting abroad or want to combine work with pleasure, ensuring that you have the appropriate travel insurance cover in place will give you something less to worry about." - starttravel.co.uk
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