Business travellers are increasing the length of domestic trips as new data reveals growth in bleisure travel, driven by hybrid and flexible working arrangements and the need for work-life balance.

While short trips saw negative growth this year, data from Flight Centre’s Corporate Traveller shows longer trips increased by an average of 4.6 per cent.

Flight bookings from May 1 to October 31, 2023 showed negative growth in one, two and three-day trips while four, five and six-day travel increased year-on-year.

Corporate Traveller MD, Tom Walley, said changing attitudes and working arrangements drove the growth in longer stays.

“The shift to longer business trips is influenced, in part, by changing work patterns,” he said.

“Many executives in hybrid and flexible working arrangements can base themselves anywhere on their remote working days and remain productive.

“This flexibility is encouraging business travellers to take extended stays, which then gives them freedom outside of working hours to add on leisure activities in a new destination.”

Corporate Traveller has also observed an increase in ‘bleisure’ travel, where customers weave short breaks into work trips.

“Our data shows increases in trips of four days or more, which suggests many travellers are opting for a ‘long weekend’ or ‘week away’ approach to their trips,” Walley said.

“Aside from extra accommodation, extending a corporate trip has no impact on the cost of flights as they are already booked.

“Understanding the shifting preferences of business travellers is essential for the travel industry to adapt and cater to the evolving needs of travellers across different trip lengths.”

Length of stay percentage increase year-on-year from May 1 to October 31, 2023:

1 day: -2.3
2 days: -1
3 days: -8.4
4 days: 3.8
5 days: 4.2
6 days: 5.8