6 best ‘bleisure’ hotels that cater to the workaholic vacationer
From New York to Kuala Lumpur to Amsterdam, hotels are responding to the bleisure travel craze by offering purpose-designed work-plus-play environments
“Bleisure” travel – a hybrid of business and leisure tripping – is one of the major travel trends shaping 2018, as executives ditch rules about not mixing work with pleasure, and take their work with them on holiday.
Recent studies show that even during paid leave, 74 per cent of Gen Y travellers want to work. Hotels are responding by creating curated workspaces, stand-out relaxation concepts, and hybrid office-lounges where cocktails and concentration go hand in hand.
1. A resident dog
Tucked away behind the lobby of New York’s newly-opened Crowne Plaza HY36 Midtown Manhattan, a 24-hour design-centric common space is perfect for bleisure travellers seeking a quiet spot in which to work. In addition to the communal work bench and plentiful electrical outlets, is the all-important resident French bulldog, Wellington, whose duty, says the hotel, is “to promote simultaneous relaxation and motivation – even on the most stressful of days”.
2. Laundry duties meet yoga
On each floor of Capri by Fraser, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, a “Spin & Play” launderette on each floor offers guests leisure options between spin cycles: gaming consoles, punching bags or a spell of yoga or kick-boxing. The high-tech studio and apartments seeks to satisfy millennials’ “always-on” lifestyle by pairing large work desks and ergonomically designed Herman Miller chairs in the rooms with high-tech meeting facilities – “The Pod” and “Pow-Wow” – and distractions such as a rooftop bar, infinity swimming pool and private jacuzzis.
3. A library
