Travel Combination Method Reducing Employee Stress, Study Reveals: Four Strategies Highlighted
Revised Article:
Let's dive into the thriving trend of blended travel - the harmonious blend of work and leisure during trips. In today's world, the pressure to be constantly connected can make it tough to truly unwind. But fear not, as we've got strategies and solutions for you to find that much-needed break.
Blended Travel: The New Normal Among Forward-Thinking Companies
In an always-on world, truly disconnecting can be a challenge.Enter "secret getaways" and "stealth vacations" – tactics that employees have employed in the past to find their well-deserved respite, unbeknownst to their employers. With both strategies, workers take paid time off (PTO) under the radar.
However, more and more companies are now embracing blended travel – also known as bleisure - the ability to seamlessly integrate work and leisure during travel. Unlike secret getaways or stealth vacations, blended travel is fully endorsed by employers, as businesses see it as a powerful retention perk, stress reducer, and productivity booster.
Squaremouth surveyed 2,500 customers and discovered that an astonishing 43% have already taken a blended trip, and 24% plan on one within the next twelve months. With American workers leaving vacation days on the table, Squaremouth believes blended vacations could be a creative solution to achieving work-life balance.
I chatted via email with Ginger Taggart, VP Brand Management at IHG Hotels & Resorts. She shared her thoughts on blended travel, explaining how it evolved from merely extending a trip into a seamless integration of work and life. Here, she also clarifies the differences between under-the-radar silent vacations and blended travel.
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"Unlike secret getaways, which often involve maintaining the perception of being at work while taking time off, blended travel openly embraces the potential of hybrid work," she explains, adding, "I like to refer to blended travel as the third category of travel because it's no longer just a trend – it's a way of life."
Crowne Plaza commissioned a global YouGov survey of 12,000 respondents across nine countries, revealing the numerous benefits of blended travel:
- 34% of U.S. workers claim that blended travel reduces stress and encourages healthier routines.
- 34% of U.S. workers prioritize the ability to blend work and leisure travel over four-day workweeks and trendy office perks.
- 66% of travelers in the U.S. and U.K. now blend business and leisure, up from 53% in 2022.
- Among them, 56% state that the ability to travel while working is a significant advantage of remote work.
- U.S. workers value flexibility in working hours as much as a high salary when choosing an employer.
4 Ways Blended Travel Helps You Reduce Stress
Taggart emphasizes the importance of integrating mind and body wellness into every aspect of life, including work. Using the YouGov survey, she highlights 4 ways that blended travel aids workers in reducing stress:
- Building Relationships: Blended travel provides ample opportunities for employees to make meaningful connections, network, and build relationships, enhancing their overall sense of well-being. "Crowne Plaza properties create inviting spaces where guests can connect, unwind, and form lasting bonds," she says.
She mentions that the social events at Crowne Plaza properties range from local beer tastings in Florida to fireside s'mores in Hawksbury Valley, Australia. "Many travelers today are placing increased emphasis on face-to-face interactions," she states, "with many citing spending quality time with family and friends around work as a reason to mix work and leisure travel."
- Embracing Healthier Routines: As travelers become more conscious of their wellness, they seek out wellness experiences when traveling. "At Crowne Plaza, we've developed a series of daily rituals designed to promote mental and physical health, helping guests feel revitalized and reenergized during their stays," Taggart points out, mentioning offerings like energizing smoothies and guided runs.
- Supporting Work-Life Balance: Taggard acknowledges that maintaining a healthy work-life balance is essential for stress reduction and mental health. "Traditional vacation time is known to have a positive impact on well-being, with nearly half of U.S. and U.K. travelers reportedly staying active during business trips to support their health," she states, adding that their properties provide complimentary access to online workouts to promote well-being through movement and recovery.
Taggart also highlights an upcoming initiative to offer traveling workers access to expert-led master classes on topics such as happiness, personal growth, and more, perfect for those looking to blend work and personal development.
- Connecting with Nature: "Travel has the power to rejuvenate the mind and body, particularly when it connects us with nature," Taggart asserts. "The negative effects of prolonged indoor living on both mental and physical health are becoming more apparent, which is why many travelers are increasingly seeking wellness experiences, especially those focused on outdoor, nature-centric retreats to escape the daily grind."
To support blended travel, Taggart emphasizes the importance of lodging that embraces biophilic design – a design approach that connects travelers to nature through various design features to create a sense of tranquility. For example, some of their properties are situated on 38 acres, creating a peaceful, distraction-free environment, while others offer an oasis amidst busy airport settings, including tropical outdoor pools.
Wrapping Up on Blended Travel
"Blended travel fuels creativity by providing fresh perspectives, sparking inspiration, and fostering connections," Taggart concludes. "At Crowne Plaza, we're committed to supporting this more dynamic, fulfilling way of travel by reimagining our hotel designs and introducing innovative guest experiences to empower our guests to thrive in all aspects of life."
Relevant Enrichment Data:
- Benefits of Blended Travel:
- Flexibility and Cost Efficiency: Blended travel offers flexibility and cost efficiency as individuals can extend trips at lower personal cost, making it a budget-friendly option for many travelers.
- Strategies for Blended Travel:
- Carefully Designed Spaces: Hotels like Crowne Plaza are focusing on designing spaces that cater to blended travelers, offering curated social areas and meeting spaces to enhance the overall experience.
- Customized Experiences: Services like Crowne Plaza’s Meetings & Events Concierge help travelers balance work and leisure by crafting personalized itineraries.
- Emphasis on Wellness: Hotels are emphasizing wellness as a central aspect of blended travel, incorporating wellness rituals, outdoor activities, and eco-friendly accommodations to support the mental and physical health of travelers.
- Embracing the trend of blended travel, Squaremouth's survey revealed that a significant number of employees (43%) have already taken a blended trip and another 24% plan to do so within the next twelve months.
- Ginger Taggart, VP Brand Management at IHG Hotels & Resorts, shares that blended travel is different from secret getaways in that it openly integrates work and leisure during travel, transforming it into a way of life.
- Crowne Plaza's global survey revealed that blended travel is beneficial for mental health and well-being, with 56% of travelers stating that the ability to travel while working is a significant advantage of remote work.
