In recent years, a new trend has emerged in the hospitality sector - "bleisure" travel. This concept combines business and leisure, catering to the growing number of individuals who are working remotely. As remote work becomes more prevalent, hotels and resorts have an opportunity to capitalize on this trend by offering amenities and experiences that cater to the modern "workationer."
Understanding Bleisure Travelers
To effectively cater to bleisure travelers, it's important to understand their needs and preferences. These travelers are looking for accommodations that provide a balance between work and relaxation. They value comfortable spaces where they can be productive, but also desire a relaxing environment when it's time to unwind. By profiling this new wave of travelers and understanding their expectations, hospitality brands can tailor their offerings accordingly.
Designing Work-Friendly Spaces
Creating inspiring co-working spaces within hotel properties is essential for attracting business travelers seeking a productive yet relaxing environment. These spaces should be well-equipped with comfortable seating, ample lighting, and necessary amenities such as high-speed internet and charging stations. By designing work-friendly spaces that encourage productivity, hotels can appeal to bleisure travelers who need to stay connected while enjoying their leisure time.
Tech Essentials for Bleisure Guests
In today's digital age, high-speed internet access is crucial for bleisure guests who rely on connectivity for work purposes. Additionally, providing charging stations throughout the property ensures that guests can easily charge their devices without any hassle. Smart rooms equipped with advanced technology further enhance the guest experience by allowing them to control various aspects of their room through automation. By prioritizing these tech essentials, hospitality brands can meet the needs of bleisure travelers who require seamless connectivity.
Networking Opportunities
Facilitating connections among bleisure travelers is another way for hospitality brands to enhance the guest experience. By organizing events, meetups, or social spaces that encourage interaction, hotels can create networking opportunities for guests. This not only fosters a sense of community but also allows bleisure travelers to expand their professional networks while enjoying their stay.
Extended Stay Perks
For guests who mix business stays with extended leisure experiences, hospitality brands can provide additional perks and benefits. This could include offering discounts for longer stays, loyalty programs tailored to bleisure travelers, or personalized services that cater to their unique needs. By going the extra mile to make extended stays more enjoyable, hotels can build loyalty and attract repeat business from this growing segment of travelers.
Local Experiences and Team Building
To cater to both corporate teams and solo travelers looking to unwind after work hours, hospitality brands can curate local tours or activities. These experiences allow guests to explore the destination's culture, attractions, and cuisine. Additionally, team-building activities can be organized for corporate groups staying at the property. By offering these local experiences and team-building opportunities, hotels can provide bleisure travelers with memorable moments outside of work.
Marketing to the Bleisure Audience
Reaching the bleisure audience requires effective marketing tactics that resonate with their needs and preferences. Collaborating with co-working brands or digital nomad communities is one way to tap into this market segment. By forming partnerships or offering special promotions targeted at these communities, hotels can increase their visibility among bleisure travelers. Utilizing social media platforms and content marketing strategies that highlight the workation trend is also crucial in capturing the attention of this audience.
For those who are inspired by the "bleisure" trend and looking to break into the hospitality industry, COTHM Dubai presents a perfect opportunity. Offering various qualifications from the UK, UAE, and USA, COTHM Dubai equips students with the skills needed to excel in this dynamic field. The blend of international qualifications makes education at COTHM Dubai seamless for students aiming to cater to a global audience in the hospitality sector. By studying at COTHM Dubai, aspiring professionals can gain insights into how to design services and experiences that meet the intricate needs of bleisure travelers—preparing them to take advantage of this flourishing segment.
In conclusion, incorporating bleisure-friendly offerings into their services positions hospitality brands as frontrunners in a rapidly evolving travel industry. By understanding the needs of bleisure travelers, designing work-friendly spaces, providing essential tech amenities, facilitating networking opportunities, offering extended stay perks, curating local experiences and team-building activities, and implementing effective marketing strategies; hotels and resorts can successfully cater to the growing demand for workation experiences. Embracing the rise of "bleisure" travel is not only a smart business move but also a way to enhance the overall guest experience in an increasingly remote working world.
