Bleisure travel - combining business trips with leisure activities - is reshaping how professionals travel for work. According to the Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) Business Travel Industry Outlook Poll, 46% of travel buyers say employees are more likely to extend work trips to incorporate personal time than a year ago, showing that this trend is here to stay.
Though work opportunities still drive most decisions in the business world, many professionals are increasingly looking to make the most of their trips by incorporating cultural experiences, dining, and relaxation. The best bleisure cities offer seamless transport and many opportunities to explore, eat, and unwind. We’ve explored the best US cities for bleisure travel, highlighting the benefits of blending business with leisure and sharing practical tips on making bleisure travel enjoyable and cost-effective.
Best US cities for bleisure
Booking.com for Business has analyzed the 20 most popular business travel destinations in the US in 2024, ranking them based on key leisure factors such as cultural attractions and dining options. These cities excel at business and provide leisure options for business travellers, making them ideal for professionals looking to maximize their time outside of work.
Among the top 20 business hubs, New Orleans, Las Vegas, and Orlando stand out as boasting rich entertainment, outdoor activities, and renowned food scenes.
1. New Orleans, Louisiana
Overall Score: 8.84/10
New Orleans is the ultimate bleisure destination with its vibrant culture and historic charm. Known for its lively streets and jazz-filled atmosphere, the city offers an impressive array of museums, galleries, and cultural landmarks, including the New Orleans Museum of Art and the Historic Voodoo Museum. Nature enthusiasts can also explore scenic outdoor spots like City Park and the Bayou Sauvage National Wildlife Refuge.
Dining in New Orleans is an unforgettable experience, with over half of the restaurants rated four stars or higher, reflecting the city’s culinary excellence in Creole and Cajun cuisine. While a three-course meal for two averages $115, the combination of high-quality food and the city’s unique flavors - like rich gumbo, spicy jambalaya, and fluffy beignets - makes it well worth the cost. For sightseeing, a bus tour costs $46, offering a convenient and affordable way to take in the city’s beauty. New Orleans’ vibrant nightlife and culture ensure a rewarding experience whether you’re visiting for business or leisure.
2. Las Vegas, Nevada
Overall Score: 7.59/10
Las Vegas is synonymous with entertainment. It is also popular for business travellers due to its extensive conference and convention center infrastructure, world-class hotels, and convenient dining and networking opportunities. Beyond the glitz of the Strip, travellers can enjoy outdoor escapes such as Red Rock Canyon.
Its dining scene is equally impressive, with just under half of restaurants achieving four-star ratings, such as Joel Robuchon, a Michelin-starred fine dining experience, é by José Andrés, an intimate Spanish spot, and Lotus of Siam, a Thai eatery. For those balancing business travel expenses, an average meal for two costs just $75, making fine dining more accessible. Las Vegas is a destination combining productive business environments with opportunities for indulgence and adventure, giving the best of both worlds.
3. Orlando, Florida
Overall Score: 6.84/10
Orlando is a hotspot for attractions, making it an excellent choice for professionals who want to extend their work trips into a leisure getaway. The city offers a range of cultural experiences, from the Orlando Museum of Art to the Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art, which houses the world’s most comprehensive collection of works by Louis Comfort Tiffany. Outdoor enthusiasts can explore Lake Eola Park or the Harry P. Leu Gardens. Despite the city’s bustling tourism scene, exploring its highlights is remarkably budget-friendly; the I-RIDE trolley costs just $6 for a day pass.
Orlando’s dining scene offers variety, with 52% of restaurants rated four stars or higher. A three-course meal for two averages $85, making it a cost-effective choice for professionals and families. Beyond its famous theme parks, the city boasts a vibrant downtown area and a rich arts culture. Orlando’s affordability and variety of attractions make it a top destination for combining work commitments with family-friendly fun.
The Benefits of Bleisure Travel
Bleisure travel offers numerous advantages, from cost savings to improved well-being. This trend has grown significantly as professionals combine work trips with personal downtime.
Recent research by Booking.com for Business has highlighted how adding leisure days to business travel fosters a healthy work-life balance, enhances productivity, and provides opportunities to explore new destinations.
The experts at Booking.com for Business give three benefits to bleisure travel: savings, relaxation and well-being, and cultural and networking opportunities.
1. Cost Savings
Incorporating leisure activities into a business trip can be cost-effective. Expenses such as flights, accommodations, and sometimes even meals may already be partially covered by the company for the business portion of the trip. Extending the stay for leisure activities often results in savings compared to booking a standalone vacation.
2. Relaxation and Well-being
Bleisure travel allows professionals to unwind and reduce stress. Recreational activities between meetings enhance creativity and reduce burnout.
3. Cultural and Networking Opportunities
Exploring local attractions and engaging with the destination’s culture can give unique insights and enrich your experience. Additionally, potentially engaging in local events or professional gatherings can help build valuable connections. Informal settings may also foster networking opportunities that would not happen during structured work events.
Tips for Saving on a Bleisure Trip
Booking.com for Business experts share tips on saving money on bleisure trips, such as extending stays, traveling off-peak, using loyalty programmes, and blending work with leisure.
To make the most of your bleisure experience without spending too much, consider the following:
1. Extend Existing Bookings
Arrange with your employer to extend your stay in the same accommodation after the business trip. Booking additional nights in advance or under the company’s corporate rate may result in significant discounts.
2. Travel Off-Peak
If your schedule allows, adding leisure days during off-peak times can help you save on hotels, flights, and activities.
3. Use Loyalty Programmes
Take advantage of air miles, hotel points, or Booking.com for Business, which offers rewards for frequent travellers.
4. Blend Business and Leisure Activities
Research destinations where leisure attractions work with your business schedule. For example, choosing accommodations close to work venues and leisure hotspots can save on transportation costs.
5. Plan Ahead
Book your leisure activities early to lock in discounts and avoid last-minute price increases.
By embracing bleisure travel, professionals can turn work trips into enjoyable personal experiences while staying mindful of their budget.
Bleisure travel is more than just a travel trend; it’s a shift in how professionals approach their time away. With destinations catering to business and leisure, travellers can maximise their trips - whether exploring a city’s cultural scene after a conference or unwinding in top-rated restaurants between meetings.
As bleisure continues to grow in popularity, cities that cater to this shift will become increasingly attractive to business travellers looking for the best of both worlds. So, the next time you’re traveling for work, why not take the opportunity to turn it into a bleisure experience?
Methodology
We analyzed the most popular 2024 business destinations based on Booking.com for Business data.
To determine the best cities, we gave them a normalised score out of ten for the following factors before taking a weighted average.
Some factors were weighted higher or lower to prioritise factors contributing most to the bleisure experience. Cultural and outdoor attractions received double weight because they’re a big part of a city's appeal for leisure and provide unique experiences beyond business engagements. The percentage of highly rated attractions is also more important, as it reflects the quality of what a city offers.
On the other hand, cost-related factors, such as the price of a bus tour and a three-course meal, were weighted half as they are practical considerations rather than key drivers of a city’s leisure appeal. While affordability is important, we focused on the overall experience rather than purely financial considerations.
To ensure a fair comparison between cities of different sizes, some factors have been calculated per 100,000 people. Bigger cities naturally have more businesses, attractions, and services due to their size, so this allows us to make sure that they’re directly comparable.
- Museums, arts, and culture attractions per 100,000 people (weighted double): Booking.com
- Nature and outdoor attractions per 100,000 people (weighted double): Booking.com
- Percentage of attractions rated four out of five or higher (weighted double): Booking.com
- Restaurants per 100,000 people: Tripadvisor
- Restaurants rated four out of five or higher: Tripadvisor
- Starting cost of a city bus tour: sourced from sightseeing tour websites
- Average cost of a three-course meal (two people) (weighted half): Numbeo
