Discover how Australian hotels are evolving to meet the rising demand for bleisure travel. Explore trends, design shifts, and strategies driving business-leisure success.
Key takeaways
- Bleisure travel is booming – Business-leisure travellers now make up a growing share of hotel bookings, driven by flexible work and lifestyle shifts.
- Hotels must rethink design and services – Successful operators are blending work-friendly amenities with premium leisure experiences.
- Australian travellers expect flexibility – From check-in/out policies to co-working spaces, expectations have changed.
- Revenue strategies are evolving – Smart bundling, weekday leisure promotions and hybrid loyalty programs are boosting occupancy and revenue.
- Technology plays a crucial role – Contactless check-ins, seamless Wi-Fi and digital concierge tools are now essential.
- Sustainability and wellness matter – Corporate travellers are increasingly choosing properties aligned with ESG values and wellness offerings.
- Local examples show success – Australian brands like Ovolo, Crystalbrook and QT Hotels are leading the way in capturing the bleisure market.
- Bleisure readiness requires purpose-built amenities and flexible services that combine work functionality with leisure comfort to meet evolving traveller expectations.
- Equipment investment is essential for Australian hotels to meet bleisure travellers’ dual needs by providing reliable tech, ergonomic workspaces, wellness amenities, and contactless services.
Introduction: A new kind of traveller, a new kind of hotel
The traditional lines between business and leisure travel have officially blurred. Across Australia and globally, the rise of “bleisure” travel, where business trips are extended for leisure, has reshaped guest expectations. For hoteliers, this shift isn’t a passing trend. It’s a call to adapt rooms, services, tech, and marketing to a more flexible and discerning traveller.
According to Booking.com’s Travel Predictions 2025 report, 55% of Australian business travellers say they plan to add personal days to their work trips. In a post-pandemic world where hybrid work is the norm, your guests might be attending a conference in the morning and wine tasting in the afternoon.
Hotels that anticipate this dual-purpose mindset, and actively cater to it, stand to win long-term loyalty and higher per-stay spend.
Rethinking hotel design and room layouts for hybrid needs
Today’s guests want spaces that are both productive and relaxing. That means your standard business or leisure room setup may no longer cut it.
What bleisure travellers expect in-room:
- A comfortable desk or workstation with ergonomic seating
- Multiple power outlets, USB ports, and strong ambient lighting
- High-speed, secure Wi-Fi (often overlooked but critical)
- Soundproofing or quiet zones for calls and virtual meetings
- Streaming-enabled TVs and smart connectivity for downtime
Real-world example: QT Perth redesigned some of its suites to include designated workstations with views, combining productivity with indulgence. This small change led to a 17% increase in midweek bookings by solo business travellers, according to internal reports shared at AHICE 2024.
Creating shared spaces that work harder
Communal hotel spaces are evolving into hybrid environments. The hotel bar, for instance, may double as a co-working lounge by day. This not only enhances the guest experience, it monetises underutilised square footage.
Common changes seen in Australian hotels:
- Multi-purpose lobby lounges with café-style workstations
- Quiet “focus rooms” or hot-desk areas
- Meeting pods or private Zoom booths
- Open-plan communal tables with charging stations
Case study: Ovolo Hotels introduced flexible communal spaces called “Lo Lounge” across its Australian properties. Guests use them for informal meetings and remote work, resulting in longer average stays and higher satisfaction scores.
Shifting service models and staff training
Staff interaction remains a major driver of guest satisfaction, particularly for business travellers with tight schedules. But bleisure guests may also have more complex needs, balancing work logistics with personal exploration.
Training your team to better serve bleisure guests:
- Encourage proactive local recommendations (both work-friendly cafés and weekend escapes)
- Cross-train concierge and front-desk staff in both corporate and tourism needs
- Allow flexible room service hours and housekeeping preferences
- Offer tailored suggestions: e.g. “Would you like a wine tour booked for your Sunday stay?”
Compliance reminder: Ensure your team is trained in Fair Work Australia standards for flexible shifts and penalty rates, especially when extending service coverage beyond standard hours.
Embracing flexible booking and loyalty structures
Bleisure travellers want control. They often book with short lead times and expect flexible change policies. They’re also more likely to blend personal bookings into their corporate accounts.
Popular strategies to adapt to this trend:
- Allow split billing between personal and corporate cards
- Introduce flexible late checkout or early check-in without penalties
- Offer “bleisure bundles” (e.g. 3-night midweek stay with weekend spa credit)
- Design loyalty programs that reward both work and leisure stays
Australian insight: A 2025 survey by STR Asia Pacific found that 38% of corporate guests extended stays when offered discounted weekend rates upfront during booking.
Building destination value into the stay
Bleisure travellers often want to explore the local area without having to plan extensively. Hotels that bring the local experience in-house or simplify access to offsite activities are more likely to be remembered.
Tactics to increase stay value:
- Partner with local operators for curated leisure experiences
- Host evening events onsite (wine tastings, live music, short talks)
- Provide self-guided walking tour maps or digital itineraries
- Include wellness classes like yoga or Pilates during longer stays
Local example: Crystalbrook Byron, known for its sustainability focus, offers rotating local artist exhibitions and guided nature walks. It appeals directly to the ethically minded bleisure traveller.
Investing in the right technology stack
From booking to checkout, seamless tech is no longer a luxury, it’s expected. Business travellers don’t have time for clunky processes, and leisure travellers expect personalisation.
Key tech investments to consider:
- Mobile check-in/out and digital room keys
- Reliable, high-speed internet in every corner of the property
- Smart TVs and voice assistants in-room
- Real-time guest messaging platforms
- Integrated CRM to personalise offers based on guest history
Future-facing tech: Some Australian hotels are piloting AI-based itinerary builders that adapt to guest preferences during their stay, helping to increase on-property engagement and upsells.
Sustainability and wellness as bleisure priorities
The bleisure guest is often more discerning about the impact of their travel. According to Tourism Australia’s 2024 Sustainable Travel Report, 62% of business travellers want to stay in eco-certified accommodation, and 45% will pay more for it.
Actions hotels are taking:
- Obtaining EarthCheck or Ecotourism Australia certification
- Offering carbon offset options at booking
- Stocking rooms with local, organic, or reusable amenities
- Creating wellness zones with fitness, meditation, and spa services
Example: The Lancemore Group in Victoria recently updated its sustainability strategy to include solar energy, water-saving devices, and wellness programs, resulting in increased group booking inquiries for corporate retreats.
Optimising revenue with creative packaging
Bleisure travel opens new avenues for yield management. With the potential for longer average stays, hotels can design packages that boost occupancy across shoulder periods or non-peak days.
Ideas for monetising bleisure behaviour:
- Offer discounted “bleisure bridges” (e.g. Friday–Sunday stays tacked onto a work trip)
- Sell co-working day passes to local freelancers or digital nomads
- Develop monthly membership or subscription models for frequent guests
- Create room upgrade incentives for multi-night or midweek stays
Example: Sofitel Sydney Wentworth saw a 22% uptick in weekday leisure stays after launching a “Work + Stay” package bundled with spa treatments and early check-in.
Navigating compliance and operational risks
As hotels shift towards more flexible and tech-heavy models, it’s critical to stay aligned with Australian workplace, data, and safety regulations.
Key areas of compliance:
- Privacy: Ensure digital guest data is handled in line with the Privacy Act 1988 and the Australian Privacy Principles (APPs)
- Workplace health: Provide ergonomic furniture in co-working areas to meet health and safety obligations
- Fair Work: Adjust rosters fairly with new flexible check-in/out times and extended service hours
- Liquor licensing: Be cautious when transforming spaces (e.g. bar to co-working) to ensure licensing terms aren’t breached
Is your hotel bleisure-ready? A practical checklist for Australian accommodation providers
Many hotels are still retrofitting old business models to fit the bleisure trend. But true readiness means proactively aligning operations, design, and service offerings with the needs of dual-purpose travellers. Use this checklist to identify where your hotel stands:
- Reliable Wi-Fi and ample power outlets in both rooms and common areas
- Co-working spaces or flexible-use lounges with good lighting and acoustics
- Room packages with both business and leisure inclusions (e.g. breakfast + late checkout + spa or tour vouchers)
- Dining options that accommodate solo professionals, flexible schedules, and healthy choices
- Mid-week activation events, such as after-work networking or guided local activities
- On-site wellness offerings, from gyms and yoga to in-room fitness kits
- Integrated guest experience apps that streamline bookings, upgrades, and concierge support
- Flexible booking policies, such as last-minute extensions or weekend upgrades
- Staff training on bleisure guest preferences to tailor service and upsell tactfully
Even small upgrades to service design can shift a standard stay into a memorable experience that keeps bleisure travellers returning.
Necessary equipment for catering to bleisure travellers
To serve bleisure guests, who combine work and leisure, hotels must invest in equipment that supports both productivity and relaxation. The right tools improve satisfaction and competitive edge in Australia’s market.
Key equipment includes:
- High-speed, reliable Wi-Fi throughout rooms, lounges, and outdoor areas, enabling smooth video calls and remote work.
- Ergonomic workstations and furniture in rooms and co-working spaces, meeting Australian workplace health standards.
- Multiple power outlets and USB ports, including USB-C, conveniently placed for charging multiple devices.
- Smart TVs with streaming and screen-mirroring to meet leisure needs after work hours.
- Contactless technology like mobile check-in/out and digital room keys for convenience and health safety.
- Meeting pods and private booths with soundproofing and connectivity for calls and focused work.
- Wellness equipment, such as fitness corners, yoga mats, or in-room fitness kits, to support guest wellbeing.
- Digital concierge platforms to streamline booking of services, upgrades, and local experiences.
Investing in these essentials helps Australian hotels meet bleisure travellers’ expectations and boost revenue in this growing segment.
Conclusion: Bleisure is here to stay, are you ready?
Bleisure travel is no longer a fringe segment, it’s becoming the norm in Australia's hotel landscape. From tech upgrades and service training to room design and revenue strategy, adapting to this change is both a challenge and a major opportunity.
If you can create an experience that seamlessly supports both the business and leisure sides of a guest’s stay, you’ll not only increase bookings, you’ll create loyal, repeat customers who see your hotel as their preferred base, no matter the reason for travel.
Whether you're running a boutique property in Byron Bay or a major chain in Sydney’s CBD, now is the time to evaluate how your property can better serve the new hybrid traveller.