Bleisure boom turning Gen Z work travel into ‘life upgrade’

New research from Hotels.com shows Gen Z and Millennial business travellers are transforming work trips into personal experiences — from self-funded hotel upgrades and fine dining to social-media documentation and extended “bleisure” stays

Business travel is fast becoming a lifestyle choice for younger professionals, according to new research from Hotels.com.

Its Business Trip Report 2025, based on a survey of 2,000 U.S adults who travel for work, found that 85 per cent of Gen Z and 88 per cent of Millennials view work trips as opportunities to improve their everyday lives rather than obligations of the job.

The findings suggest that many in these generations use business travel to access higher-end accommodation, secure restaurant reservations, and accumulate rewards points — all while sharing their experiences online.

Hotels.com said the research highlights a generational shift in attitudes towards professional travel, blending work and leisure — or what the industry now calls “bleisure” — into what it terms the “upgraded life”.

Melanie Fish, Vice-President of Global Public Relations at Hotels.com, said: “Our research found that the number one reason Gen Z professionals like work trips is that it benefits their careers, but that doesn’t mean they shouldn’t enjoy them, too.”

Among those surveyed, 73 per cent of Gen Z and 77 per cent of Millennial travellers said they had personally paid to upgrade to a better hotel, compared with 48 per cent of older colleagues.

Younger participants also post three to five times more frequently on social media while travelling for work, with 75 per cent saying they would fund luxury dining or entertainment for better content.

Millennials are most likely to extend their stays, with 40 per cent taking overnight flights to gain personal time and 54 per cent expressing interest in solo exploration after business ends.

Hotels.com reported that 58 per cent of all business travellers make travel decisions to maximise rewards, and almost half have used those points for leisure trips.

The report also found that Gen Z travellers are more than twice as likely as older colleagues to pay for flight upgrades (62 per cent versus 25 per cent) and to spend on premium dining or entertainment (73 per cent versus 38 per cent).

A quarter said they would expense spa treatments if company policy allowed, and one in five would include exercise classes. Millennials tend to expense travel or room upgrades, while older workers prioritise transport.

Gen Z respondents were also the most inclined to bring a companion on work trips (50 per cent) or extend their stay with colleagues (45 per cent). Nearly half of Millennials said they would not travel for business if unable to document the experience online, compared with a third of Gen Z.

Across all age groups, 57 per cent of business travellers said the chance to visit destinations they might not otherwise see was among the main attractions of work trips, with most wishing to spend an additional three to four days in the location.

Younger travellers favoured Tokyo, Paris and New York, while older participants preferred London.

READ MORE: ‘The end of corporate devotion? What businesses can learn from Gen Z’. What does it mean when a generation resists “loving” the companies they work for? Dr Stephen Whitehead, our Leadership & Organisational Culture correspondent, explores why Gen Z’s scepticism is a survival strategy, and how organisations that recognise this can foster trust, resilience and sustainable engagement.

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