Young Workers Driving the “Bleisure” Trend

A new report on the website Human Resources Director shows that young workers — particularly Generation Z — are leading the charge in changing how and where they work by combining business trips with leisure. This growing trend, known as “bleisure travel,” is being described as promoting wellness and increasing employee retention.

Statistics from Flight Centre Travel Group show that bleisure trips are becoming increasingly popular, with over 60% of New Zealand workers surveyed (1,000 people) saying they would like to extend work trips for a personal holiday.

Gen Z is at the forefront of this movement, with 74% expressing interest in combining business with leisure — compared to just 46% of Baby Boomers.

Work-Life Balance Takes Priority

“Work-life balance is more important than ever, with workers increasingly focused on where they can work,” said Angie Forsyth, General Manager for New Zealand at Corporate Traveller.

“Whether it’s extending a work trip to catch a concert in Sydney, experiencing the Formula 1 in Singapore, watching a show in London’s West End, or attending a Lakers match in LA, New Zealanders are finding ways to make the most of their travel experiences,” she said.

Forsyth added that in 2024, one-day trips grew at the slowest rate, while stays of 6–7 days saw a 10% year-on-year increase.
“This indicates that workers are opting for longer stays, incorporating time for personal activities into their business travels.”

The popularity of bleisure trips is only expected to grow, with forecasts predicting the market could reach $4.1 billion in the US by 2035.

The New Look of Flexibility

According to Associate Professor Paula O’Kane, an expert in Human Resource Management at the University of Otago, this shift shouldn’t come as a surprise — and businesses should embrace it.

“It fits under any flexible work policy, similar to working from home or flexible hours. It’s a new take on what businesses have been doing for years,” O’Kane told HRD.
“From an organisational point of view, you need to make sure people are held accountable for their work — and working away from the office is no different. As long as workers are hitting their KPIs and maintaining quality, this is a perfect way for people to broaden their horizons. This is what people want now.”

Safety and Wellbeing in Bleisure Travel

O’Kane also emphasised the importance of ensuring employee safety when conducting bleisure trips, describing it as a “grey area” with several factors to consider.

“I think this isn’t always properly considered, especially for international travel. Mostly, people go to fairly safe places, but there still needs to be consideration around whether they can do their job effectively.”

She also noted the importance of taking proper time off.
“You still need time not working. It’s great that you can work wherever you want, but if you’re not taking annual leave — can you really switch off?”

O’Kane recommended scheduling individualised check-ins to ensure employees remain happy and engaged, as well as to discuss whether a business case can be made for bleisure travel.
“At the end of the day, you still have to work. If you can ensure the work gets done — and to a good standard — there’s no reason to restrict where or when that happens, much like working from home.”

Gen Z Pushing for Flexibility

Generation Z is driving major change in workplace expectations — prioritising flexibility, social values, and even environmental considerations when choosing jobs.

“The key thing I see is that students and young people want flexibility. They’re not here to work nine to five — they want to work to live, not live to work. It’s a good thing because it creates more equity in the workplace,” O’Kane said.

“Flexibility used to hinder careers, especially for women, but now it’s seen as the norm. It allows you to create both quality and equality across the workforce. If the surf’s good on a Friday and you want to finish early, the opportunity is there. No wonder young people are leading this.”

She added that this change has been enabled not only by technology but also by education systems that encourage individuality — so “not embracing change would be mad.”

Good Leadership Enables Bleisure Travel

Allowing bleisure travel can also be a sign of strong leadership and people management, O’Kane said.

“With good objective-setting, management, and trust, allowing people to travel while working can do them the world of good.”

“If you find a company that truly values its employees and gives them opportunities for flexibility, it can make a massive difference to retention.

“It might just be a mental thing, but by giving people the agency to live how they want while still getting results, you’re enabling them to be the best version of themselves — both in and out of work. That can’t be a bad thing, can it?”