New Flight Centre Travel Group Study Finds Bleisure is Booming

Bleisure is booming – at least according to new data from Corporate Traveller Canada, which found more Canadians are mixing business with pleasure.

The national survey conducted by YouGov reveals that 24% of Canadian business travellers ages 45 to 60 (Gen X) are mixing work with pleasure “all or most of the time” which is just slightly less than the reported 25% of their Gen Z (ages 13-28) counterparts.

“Bleisure travel—the blend of business and leisure—has gone mainstream, and it’s resonating with Canadian travellers across the age spectrum as a tool for work-life balance,” says Amra Durakovic, spokesperson for Flight Centre Travel Group, including global brands Corporate Traveller and Flight Centre.

“Nearly all Canadians, 96%, say travel plays a vital role in their mental health.”

Other key Canadian insights were 68% of SME (small to medium enterprises) employees plan to add leisure to business, A companion survey by Flight Centre, also conducted by YouGov, shows that 63 per cent of Canadian workers who intend to travel in 2025 would consider combining business and leisure on a future trip—with 32 per cent already having done so.

The study also found demand for business travel is back, with 29% of (SMEs) small to medium enterprises saying travel demand at their company is already higher than pre-pandemic levels.

91% of SME employees say their work-life balance on business trips is the same or better than in 2019. 

“Business leaders need to understand that bleisure is a strategic retention tool, not a perk,” says Durakovic. “Happy, balanced employees are more engaged and more loyal. It’s not about escaping work—it’s about expanding life.”