The Rise of Bleisure and Workations: Navigating the Future of Travel in 2025

The travel industry in 2025 is changing in noticeable ways. With new ways of working, advances in technology, and shifting traveler expectations, things look different from just a few years ago. According to American Express, 74% of people around the world plan to take one to three domestic trips this year, and 59% plan a similar number of international ones. This shows that interest in travel remains strong, even as people watch their budgets more closely. Companies like Hilton have said that customers are being more cautious, which has led them to lower their growth expectations. People still want to travel, but they’re thinking more carefully about how they do it.

In this context, two trends have become more common: bleisure and workations. These ways of traveling mix work with personal time or allow people to work from different places. They reflect a growing interest in having more flexibility and making travel experiences more meaningful. These aren’t just trends on the side anymore—they’re affecting how destinations promote themselves and how travel services are planned.

 

Bleisure Travel: Mixing Work and Personal Time

Bleisure travel, which adds personal time to work trips, is becoming more popular. Some reports estimate the market was worth about $430.86 billion in 2024, and could grow to $472.31 billion in 2025 (The Business Research Company). Others expect it could pass $600 billion, depending on how you define the market (Mordor Intelligence). While the numbers vary, they all point to steady growth.

This growth is tied to flexible work policies and a stronger focus on balancing work with life. Bleisure makes practical sense for many people—they can save money by combining trips, and employers often see better engagement from staff who can take time to recharge. With hybrid work more common, many workers now stay an extra two or three days at their travel destination. In some places, like Cairns in Australia, that extension can be even longer.

We’re also seeing changes in what people do on these trips. More than half of business travelers now explore the area they’re visiting, and around 40% take time for hobbies (Navan). This shows that work trips are no longer just about meetings—people want to enjoy the location too. That’s good news for local businesses, as these travelers spend more time and money in places they might have just passed through before.

 

Workations: Working from a Different Location

Workations are when people do their regular job from a different location that also offers a break from routine. A survey by Owl Labs found that nearly 58% of workers are interested in taking a workation in the next year. Many see it as a way to get a fresh perspective, lower stress, and still keep up with their tasks.

A growing number of places are adjusting to support this trend. Countries like Barbados and the Cayman Islands now offer special visas for remote workers. Portugal has also joined in, with a digital nomad visa and good infrastructure in cities like Lisbon and the island of Madeira. Croatia has followed suit with a visa for freelancers and remote employees, plus relatively low costs and shared workspaces in cities like Zagreb and Split. Mexico has become a favorite for many remote workers from the U.S. and Canada due to its location and flexible rules. Places like Mexico City and Playa del Carmen are common choices, though the experience can differ depending on where you stay.

These countries are making efforts to welcome remote workers, but things like internet speed, safety, and visa rules still vary. For example, Portugal is known for good internet and a large international community, while parts of Mexico may have challenges with connectivity and local services. This shows how important it is for destinations to be ready if they want to support remote work well.

 

Looking Ahead: What Might Change

The future for bleisure and workation travel looks promising. These travel types are part of a bigger shift where people see work and travel as connected rather than separate. Predictions show the bleisure market could reach $611.72 billion by the end of 2025. For travel companies and destinations, this is a big opportunity. Hotels are already responding by highlighting their Wi-Fi, desks, and flexible check-in times to attract remote workers.

Still, there are challenges ahead. More companies are now asking workers to return to the office more often. Uber wants employees in the office at least three days a week. Amazon is also raising its expectations for office attendance. A report from WTW shows that about two-thirds of companies around the world now want staff to be in the office at least once a week, and three days is the most common.

This shift could make it harder for people to travel while working. For some, that might mean fewer chances to go away. For others, it could change how long or how far they travel. The key question is whether bleisure and workations will remain popular, or whether they’ll need to change again to fit the new work environment.

Conclusion: Watching the Trends

Bleisure and workations aren’t new ideas, but in 2025, they show how remote work has continued to change since the pandemic. These travel styles reflect a real interest in more freedom, better balance, and richer travel experiences. But how long they last will depend on how employers approach productivity and the rules around where work gets done.

The bigger job market matters too. With more companies slowing down hiring and some industries getting more competitive, employers may have more say over where people work. Things are still changing quickly, and the way travel fits into working life may look different in just a few months. It’s a good idea to keep an eye on these shifts—in company policies, in the economy, and in how people want to work and live.