News & Updates
Green Bleisure Travel: When Business and Leisure Merge
Green Pearls Tue, Jan 13, 2026
“Bleisure” describes the successful combination of work and leisure, a concept that has become firmly established in the modern business travel landscape and is increasingly becoming an integral part of professional travel. Whether it is extending a trip by a few days, exploring the local culture and scenery, or seeking creative inspiration together: More and more professionals are deliberately using business trips to also enjoy some relaxation.
Individual Business Trip Planning
According to the German Travel Association (DRV), around two-thirds of business travellers now tailor their business trips to their individual needs, for example, by extending their stays or incorporating leisure activities. Those who can take advantage of bleisure travel generally do so; last year, 83 % of respondents took up such offers. Furthermore, 58 % would like to combine work and leisure on business trips in the future.
The motivation for bleisure travel varies depending on the traveller's age and circumstances. For 44 % of people who have previously combined business and leisure, the deciding factor is an attractive destination. Beaches, sights, and cultural offerings are the main drivers. Other reasons include having time to spare (40 %), i.e., not having any urgent work tasks to complete after the business trip, and the need for relaxation (34 %).
Why Bleisure Travel is Growing in Popularity
The introduction of flexible working, home offices, and remote working has demonstrated that productivity is not dependent on a fixed workplace. In fact, such models can increase productivity. The boundaries between work and leisure are becoming more permeable, and demand for balanced travel options is growing. Bleisure allows employees to enjoy short breaks without incurring extra travel costs. Companies are increasingly promoting such offers to be considered attractive employers.
The terms bleisure and workation are often used interchangeably, but they refer to different concepts: A workation involves a longer stay during which one works, whereas bleisure combines classic business trips with leisure activities.
Increased Demand in Hotels and Accommodation
In response to this development, many hotels and accommodation providers are offering special bleisure and workation concepts. According to Bleisure Traveller magazine, two-thirds of the accommodation providers surveyed who already have experience with workations expect demand to increase. 37 % of these already report a slight to significant increase in corresponding bookings, and 66 % expect workations to become even more popular in the coming years (sources: Meetingspotlight, Bleisure Traveller 2024).
Key requirements for accommodating and appealing to business travellers include stable internet connections, quiet workspaces, modern conference technology, and flexible stay extensions. Additional leisure activities, such as nature or wellness offerings, complete the experience. There is also a growing demand for environmentally friendly mobility options (such as e-charging stations and rail connections), regional cuisine, and other sustainable offerings — especially in light of the EU's Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive, which requires companies above a certain size to report on their sustainability performance.
How Green Pearls® Hotels are Approaching the Concept of Green Bleisure Travel
The growing demand for bleisure offerings is also evident within the Green Pearls® network. Whether it is peace and quiet, modern workspaces, or tailor-made workation packages, each hotel offers its own interpretation of combining business travel and leisure. The following hotels exemplify how productivity, relaxation, and experiences can be seamlessly integrated.
The Klosterhof – Alpine Hideaway & Spa in Bayerisch Gmain, near Bad Reichenhall, has seen a significant increase in demand for its bleisure packages. Seminar and conference packages that combine work with health and wellness services are proving particularly popular. Business travellers are seizing the opportunity to combine professional appointments with individually bookable health checks, therapeutic treatments, or spa programmes.
Located between Hanover and Bremen, the Hotel Okermann's in Warpe focuses on tranquillity, nature, and mindfulness as the basis for successful meetings. Business guests can combine conferences with yoga, sound relaxation, and regional organic cuisine. As part of special workation packages, guests staying for an extended period can combine focused work with mindful deceleration.
The STURM in the Rhön region is responding to the growing demand from business travelers who want to combine work with leisure time with a specially developed bleisure package. Quiet work areas, fast Wi-Fi, and organic catering provide the ideal setting for productive meetings. Afterwards, the surrounding nature invites guests to take a deep breath, whether through forest bathing, relaxing in the spacious hotel garden, or taking a break in the Rhön Spa.
Business travelers will find ideal conditions for combining work and leisure at SANDglow in Husum. The adults-only hotel is located just a few steps from the harbour and offers quiet rooms with balconies, perfect for getting work done and taking a break to relax. After meetings or digital appointments, the small spa area with saunas and a steam bath is the perfect place to unwind. Walks along the North Sea coast or bike rides on the hotel's own bikes provide balance. A regional breakfast offering vegan and gluten-free options rounds off the experience – perfect for those looking to combine business and leisure sustainably.
In the Allgäu region, the Hotel Das Rübezahl offers a fresh perspective on conferences. With its 'Summit Meeting' programme, meetings are relocated to the Edelsberghütte, which stimulates creativity and strengthens team spirit. The package is rounded off with shared activities such as hikes, cooking classes, and evenings in the mountain huts. Yoga and meditation sessions promote balance between work and conscious relaxation. For those who wish to extend their stay, Das Rübezahl also offers workation packages.
Located just a short drive from Munich, the Hotel Gut Sonnenhausen is breaking new ground by combining business and family life. With its Family Workation program, the hotel is responding to the growing demand to include partners and children. While one parent can focus on work or attend meetings in a quiet room, the hotel offers plenty of space and activities for families, including spacious grounds and outdoor experiences. The concept is still in its infancy: further offers combining work, relaxation, and family time are already in the planning stage.
At SCHWARZWALD PANORAMA, guests can effortlessly combine work and leisure. The hotel offers plenty of space for longer stays, quiet rooms and suites with workspaces, as well as fast internet. Outdoor activities and workshops in the countryside encourage creativity and team spirit between work sessions. Individual wellness offerings, such as yoga, meditation, spa treatments, and forest walks, provide balance and relaxation.
OLM Nature Escape has also seen an increase in 'bleisure' stays. Here, guests combine business trips with downtime and nature experiences. The Eco ApartSuites offer partially separable studios with optimised work areas, comfortable seating, and an abundance of natural light. All suites feature fully equipped kitchens, and some have private saunas for relaxation after work. This is further ensured by the option to dim or switch off the WiFi in the room. The Eco Spa, with its panoramic sauna, steam bath, and indoor and outdoor pools, completes the offering.
Bleisure travel certainly includes international destinations. At the Canvas & Orchids Retreat in Cambodia, floating tents provide quiet workspaces with reliable Wi-Fi, and additional lounge areas offer space for focused work. Many guests extend their business trips by a few days to relax by the river, balancing online meetings with boat trips and walks in the rainforest. Flexible schedules and retreat areas support productivity and relaxation in equal measure.
It does not have to be a Special Offer
Many Green Pearls® establishments meet the requirements for combining work and leisure, even without special bleisure travel packages. At the Naturhotel Outside, travelers can find places to retreat. Quiet corners in the lobby and garden invite guests to take breaks from work. Good internet ensures that work can be done without any problems. My Arbor in South Tyrol impresses with its tranquil location on the edge of the forest, bright and spacious rooms, and well-designed work areas. After work, guests can recharge their batteries and gain creative inspiration through wellness, nature experiences, and regional cuisine.
The Naturresort Gerbehof, nestled among forests, meadows, and orchards in the hinterland of Lake Constance, is also ideal for bleisure stays. This organic hotel has a spacious spa area with a log cabin sauna, a brine grotto made of Himalayan salt stones, and a relaxing stream with natural stones, offering a wide range of opportunities for regeneration after business. If you prefer modern, urban flair, the Green City Hotel Vauban in Freiburg is the place for you. This sustainable, inclusive city hotel is only a few minutes by tram from the Freiburg Exhibition Center and the old town, allowing guests to seamlessly combine business with a city break.
Work, Life & Green: The New Dimension of Business Travel
Sustainability is also becoming increasingly important in business travel: 27 % of German business travelers would decline a trip due to a lack of sustainable options (SAP Concur study). Bleisure travel presents a solution: employees extend existing business trips with personal stays, avoiding additional travel to and from their destination, thereby improving their work-life balance and environmental footprint.
Green Pearls® accommodations support this approach by offering e-charging stations, bicycle rentals, convenient public transportation, regional organic cuisine, energy-efficient architecture, fair working conditions, and programs that promote ecological responsibility. At the same time, they offer intelligently equipped meeting rooms, flexible workspaces, and individual offers that promote productivity, creativity, and relaxation in equal measure.
Bleisure travel reflects a changing perception of work, mobility, and recreation. Above all, it demonstrates that the future of business travel is hybrid, experience-oriented, and sustainable.
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