How to Get The Best Bleisure Benefits

Business travelers often take 22 days annually to travel for work and receive around 14 days of paid vacation. Employees often use this time to travel for week-long periods for their annual trip. But what if there is a better way to spend those PTO days?

 

The average business trip lasts about 3.8 days and often leads to higher job satisfaction due to a change of scenery. Most travelers (89%) report feeling equally or more focused while traveling (Sleepjunkie). Additionally, 80% of businesses believe in-person meetings are more productive, helping to strengthen connections among remote employees. (Skift)

 

These short trips offer more benefits outside of a new place to work; more regularly, employees are taking bleisure trips, where they tack on PTO days at the end of their trip to offer additional recovery and brain break. This also provides an extended use of PTO without dealing with the additional cost of traveling for pure leisure.

 

Employees only need to pay for the extra cost of their PTO stay, as the business covers corporate travel. Studies indicate that 80% of business travelers extend their stays for networking and work-life balance, leading 62% of CEOs to boost travel budgets in 2024, a trend expected to continue through 2025 (TravelPerks).

 

Major booking sites like Booking.com and Expedia offer corporate travel programs with savings up to 20% on hotels, airlines, and car rentals. Other platforms like TravelPerk, Navan, and Itilite may have fees but offer enhanced tracking and group booking features.

 

Travel management platforms may charge monthly fees or booking fees. You can integrate loyalty programs for additional benefits. To maximize discounts, connect with specific airlines or travel companies to negotiate rates based on your company's size and annual traveler count.

 

 

Strategies to Save the Most Money

We have laid out our tips on how to find the best corporate travel benefits to allow you to book travel at a better rate for your expense reports and leisure travel. To help encourage employees to have a better work-life balance while saving travel costs. These provide more flexibility to manage leisure vs corporate travel.

There aren't any costs associated with being a part of these programs; while these are tailored to small and mid-sized companies, you only need to meet their minimum traveler requirement to use the programs, which is normally around five people.

 

 

Corporate Air Travel

The benefits are easily switching between personal and business account information, earning more points on trips, access to lounges, and, depending on if you have a credit card with these airlines, you can earn even more.

Delta

Delta is ranked one of the best because you can get 6 months of Hertz Five Star Status which allows you to get better deals on car rentals, receive discounted Industrious workplaces across 65+ cities, receive CLEAR Plus for 3 months free, and more. For more information: https://www.amtrav.com/blog/all-about-delta-airlines-skymiles-for-business 

American Airlines

Travel managers can separate miles to award employees with airmiles and earn as a company pool. You can earn more points. Requirements: You must have at least five travelers, spend $5,000 over the year, and have an AAdvantage account (their individual program) in order to use the AAdvantage Business program.

 

Booking Hotels

For hotels, there are extensive hotel options; our recommendations are based on how big their portfolio of hotels is.

Marriott Bonvoy:

They have over 9,300 locations worldwide, and their benefits expand across 30 hotel brands. You can add your airline and car rental program points to their system for more benefits and room upgrades, and for free meals at hotel restaurants. Travel managers can track their travel spending and behavior so they can handle personalized travel policies.

Hilton Honors:

They have over 7,500 across the world. Their program is where you can earn and redeem points towards free nights, digital check-in and out, free wifi, additional points towards their travel partners, and spa discounts. Their tier system allows you to get more benefits the more you stay.

 

 

Reserving Parking

For convenience and efficiency, PreFlight Airport Parking provides up to 35% off on Corporate Express parking, allowing you to scan in and out of PreFlight locations without needing to make a reservation. Corporate Express enables you to earn points towards reservations to redeem for free parking days.

 

 

Rent a Car

If you have an airline program, there is a chance they have a partnership with a rental company. Delta is partnered with Hertz, while American Airlines has partnerships with Avis and Budget, allowing you to earn air miles while you're renting. Each provides discounts on base rates and vehicle upgrades and earns points towards free days faster. If you park for

Hertz

They have around 12,000 locations in 160 countries. You can earn three times your reward credits for your first 90 days in the program. You receive their premium emergency roadside service and an additional driver for free every time you rent. They also waive the young renter fee for drivers under 25.

Enterprise

They have over 9,500 locations in 100 countries. You can receive free pick-ups from your home or office, and if you travel internationally, they are partnered with AirFrance-KLM, Lufthansa, Turkish Airlines, and Virgin Atlantic, allowing you to earn miles when renting. 

Avis Budget Group

If you are looking for a quick turnaround for your business benefits, you can earn double rewards in the first 90 days and one free day when you start. There is also more access to 11,000 rental locations in 180 countries. You can earn up to 30% off base rates, and if you rent for 15 days, you can earn a free day.

 

 

Bleisure travel offers a unique opportunity to maximize both work efficiency and personal well-being. By strategically extending business trips with personal time, employees can enjoy cost-effective travel while maintaining a better work-life balance. With corporate travel budgets on the rise and companies increasingly supporting bleisure options, now is the perfect time for business travelers to take advantage of these benefits.

With the right planning and travel management tools, employees can make the most of their corporate trips while minimizing costs, maximizing benefits, and ensuring a fulfilling travel experience.