‘Bleisure’ boom: Australian business travel almost doubles global average

An exclusive analysis of our flight booking data from October 2023 to March 2024, revealed a five per cent rise in the average bleisure stay length.

Fuelled by flexible working trends and a continued appetite for travel following the pandemic, the figures show Australian’s are combining business and travel far more compared with the same period in the previous year.

Additional figures from the Global Business Travel Association reveal that more than six out of 10 (62%) of travellers blend business and travel more than they did in 2019, with 79 per cent choosing to stay at the same accommodation for both work and play. 

Australia's Total Business Travel Spending (BTS) forecast for 2023 was put at $23,519 million USD, up from $18,538 million USD in 2022, which highlights Australia as an important market in the global business travel industry, while further reflecting recovery and growth in business travel spending. 

Australia-based Global Managing Director for FCTG’s Corporate Traveller, Tom Walley, says the figures reveal more than just a homegrown love of travel, but the growing flexible working trend that accommodates bleisure feasibility.

“Prior to the pandemic, mixing business with pleasure while away for work was a real luxury and not necessarily the done thing, but that has all changed in the last couple of years. Corporates have now realised that extending trips for themselves or having their family come along to join them after a trip has ended is a great way to build upon health and wellness in the workplace,” Mr Walley said.

About Flight Centre Travel Group

The Flight Centre Travel Group is one of the world’s largest travel retailers and corporate travel managers. The company, which is headquartered in Brisbane, Australia, has company-owned leisure and corporate travel business in dozens of countries, spanning Australia, New Zealand, the Americas, Europe, the United Kingdom, South Africa, the United Arab Emirates, and Asia. ASX listed Flight Centre Travel Group (FLT) also operates the global FCM corporate travel management network, which extends to more than 100 countries through company-owned businesses and independent licensees, along with Corporate Traveller, the flagship business specific to the small-to-medium-sized enterprise sector. For more information, visit fctgl.com.