You've Been Ghosted

by Elska Vuong

Perhaps no industry was more aware of 2020’s buzzword ‘pivoting’ than hotels, which have become adept at repurposing their spaces throughout the pandemic. They offered their empty rooms as housing for the homeless and temporary offices for executives and remote workers; they’ve even turned their conference rooms into classrooms for children learning remotely. But while most of those concepts will likely go to the wayside as hotel occupancy rates rebound, one concept that may stick around has to do with how hotels utilize their kitchen space.

Before the pandemic, food and beverage programs at full-service hotels were known to rarely be revenue generators. Required to have an on-property restaurant to meet brand standards, full-service hotels needed to keep a full kitchen and wait staff on standby all hours of the day and night to offer room service for an uncertain demand, a costly endeavor.

Enter the ghost kitchen. Also called “digital kitchens,” ghost kitchens are cooking facilities that produce food for delivery or takeout only. As the lodging industry saw decreases in room revenue at the height of the pandemic, some entrepreneurial hotel managers were able to create new revenue streams in their underutilized restaurant and catering kitchens by turning them into ghost kitchens. Demand for takeout and delivery was skyrocketing, and there were food businesses looking to rent commercial kitchen space and had no need - or desire - to invest the large sums typically required to open a restaurant staffed and designed to serve in-person diners. Thus, the makings of a mutually beneficial partnership.

Analysts estimate that fewer than 5% of hotels in the United States are operating ghost kitchens from within their properties, but that number is expected to grow, and already includes properties from major brands like Marriott, Accor, and Hilton. In fact, there are now a number of companies that are focused exclusively on supporting the burgeoning ghost kitchen industry.

One, C3 (for Creating Culinary Communities), operates multiple food brands for delivery from a single ghost kitchen, and sees hotels as a key part of expanding their business. The kitchen operates as both the in-house dining for the hotel as well as a hub of operations for food delivery to the surrounding neighborhood. Particularly at hotels in prime locations whose on-property food offerings have not typically been popular with locals, attaching a name brand to the property could bring new cache and customers. Companies such as Butler Hospitality will take over a hotel kitchen and manage it as a central hub for room service to both the property it operates within as well as to surrounding hotels via delivery. Or there’s UseKitch, which connects food businesses with individual chefs with available commercial kitchen spaces.

But what does this mean for hotels as occupancy rises and they start to need their kitchen facilities back? Whether it’s partnering with a company to operate their in-room and/or on-property dining, or repurposing their catering kitchens permanently to support ghost kitchen operations for the long term to supplement their in-person dining offerings, it’s hard to imagine that hotels would turn their back on a new revenue stream in a once unprofitable area of their business. Especially while demand continues to rise: The business of food delivery is expected to be a $75.9b industry by 2022, while Euromonitor, a market research firm in London, predicts ghost kitchens will be a $1 trillion industry in the next 10 years. 

If anything, it’s more likely that we start to see newer trends in hotel development, with developers thinking through how to better facilitate delivery and takeout in the communities surrounding a hotel restaurant. The emergence of ghost kitchens may turn out to be one of those rare scenarios in which all parties walk away happy. “Everybody’s happy: Hotels are happy they can charge monthly fees on an unused kitchen,” said Richie Karaburun, a professor at New York University’s Jonathan M. Tisch Center of Hospitality. “Customers are happy they can get more choices. Entrepreneurs are happy they don’t have to invest so much money and time for a restaurant.” Making lemonade out of lemons, indeed.

Georgian Governor Tours the Courtyard / Residence Inn on Jekyll Island

by JJ Singh & Rani Bernstein

On Friday, March 26th, 2021, the Governor of Georgia, Brian Kemp, along with several members of his administration, toured our very own Courtyard / Residence Inn on Jekyll Island.

The visit was part of a broader focus on tourism in Georgia and the Golden Isles. As reported by The Brunswick News, the Governor remarked, “’I’m incredibly optimistic about where we are headed as a state…What seemed like a constant stream of bad news a year ago has been replaced with hope and optimism for the first time in a very long time.’”

The Courtyard / Residence Inn hotel is nearly complete and slated to open in June of this year. See below for pictures!

2027: A Space Odyssey

by Elska Vuong

Things here on Earth got you down? Looking to escape it all for a little bit - like really escape? You’re going to have to wait a couple years, but come 2027 you could stay in the world’s first ‘space hotel’, courtesy of construction company Orbital Assembly Corporation. The hotel, named Voyager Station, aims to be a cruise ship-style luxury hotel floating above the Earth’s atmosphere, with capacity to lodge up to 280 guests (and 112 crew members) at a time. 

Voyager Station will look similar to a large wheel, with a large rotating ring, comprised of 24 pods that connect to the central hub via elevators. The physics behind the design is similar to a simple science experience--if you tie a rope to a bucket of water, and spin the bucket in a large circle a fast enough, the water will not leak out. The bucket can be completely upside down and the water will not fall out. Similarly, the rotating wheel of the space hotel would work to create a simulated gravity that decreases as guests move closer to the central hub--all, hopefully, without any dizziness!

With the simulated gravity, guest rooms will feature many of the same comforts as those found in hotels on Earth. Guests can sleep in their beds and shower normally, with the added benefit of views that are quite literally ‘out of this world’. Voyager Station will also have chic bars and restaurants serving traditional ‘space food’, and plan to offer recreational activities like basketball that highlight the unique setting; the weightlessness and reduced gravity will allow participants to live out some of their Space Jam fantasies. 

In terms of getting to the hotel, John Blincow, the head of Orbital Assembly Corporation, also a former pilot, says he’s looking forward to partnering with the companies actively working to make commercial space travel a reality, such as Virgin Galactic and SpaceX.

Ready to make a reservation? Voyager Station is already taking bookings - all you need is a cool $5 million for a three-and-half-day stay (transportation not included, of course). Or just go ahead and purchase one of their ‘villas’ as a vacation home. Construction is slated to begin in 2026, so plenty of time to save up. And for the vast majority of us who can’t afford it, we can still ‘space out’ and day dream. 

Valentine's Day Getaways

By: Rani Bernstein

Whether it’s galantine’s day, a getaway with your significant other, or a meeting up with your friends, Redbook recently published an article highlighting some fantastic destinations for Valentine’s day this year. Here are some of the highlights:

1.       Relaxing, immersive experience: Dunton Hot Spring Cabins, Dunton, Colorado

Each authentically restored, hand-built cabin offers wonderful views of the mountains and surrounding meadows. Some even have their own hot spring inside of it. Each are located steps away from the bath house, which has a variety of hot springs that are intended to help improve circulation and promote healthy skin. The waters range from 85-106 degrees Fahrenheit. There are even winter programs such as snowshoeing or skiing! For more information, visit their website, linked here.

2.       Romantic resort: Paradise Stream, a CoveHaven Entertainment Resort, Mount Pocono, Pennsylvania

What’s one of the first things that comes to mind when you think of the Poconos? Heart-shape tubs! With three locations in Pennsylvania, these resorts are known for their heart-shaped hot tubs in each room, and suites with champagne glass hot-tubs. Some suites even have a private pool. This resort is located on private Lake Eden, in the Pocono Mountains. With two restaurants, two bars, and a nightclub, there are a variety of activities throughout the day to keep guests entertained. For more information, visit their website, linked here.

 3.       City getaway: Waldorf Astoria Las Vegas, Las Vegas, Nevada

With spa-like bathrooms and floor to ceiling windows, this hotel is a luxury experience designed for those looking for relaxation in a big city. To splurge even more, book a room with direct views of the strip! With private cabanas available to rent near the pool, and a large spa, this is the ultimate getaway, located just minutes from the Las Vegas strip.

For other hotel ideas, visit the Redbook article! Happy Valentine’s Day to all.

Beyonce Was Wrong… Women Aren’t Just Running the World, They’re Travelling It

by: Aline Matias

Hotel Zena, courtesy of Hotelguides

Beyoncé lied to us. Women aren’t just running the world — they’re traveling it, and hoteliers are taking note. With the upcoming opening of Hotel Zena in Washington, D.C. — one of the first hotels dedicated to celebrating female strength and accomplishments — the hospitality business is proving that this powerful demographic is worth the powerful investment. 

Owned by Bethesda’s Pebblebrook Hotel Trust, Hotel Zena will become a part of the Viceroy Urban Retreats Portfolio, a series of boutique hotels managed and operated by Viceroy Hotels and Resorts. Opening in Spring of 2020, the hotel offers opportunities for guests to enjoy diverse experiences in D.C. from coordinated hotel monthly music sessions to eating at unique restaurants and bars from nearby 14th Street. But aside from boasting 191 rooms, a cocktail-themed lobby lounge, a 14th-floor rooftop pool, and let’s admit it, a name echoing that of the best warrior princess, Hotel Zena’s interior design reminds us that the future of travel is female. 

Hotel Zena, courtesy of Bloomberg

Guests will be able to engage in thoughtful conversation in the cocktail lounge near the mural of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Or for an even more casual setting, drinks on the rooftop overlooking the skyline of the nation’s capitol is always an option. With art decorations inspired by feminine icons travelers are immersed in herstory, and men, don’t worry, you too can be a part of this experience as Hotel Zena is available for lodging to all travelers.   

Hotel Zena is not the first to provide a holistic and targeted guest experience — hotels such as the Eaton provide artful amenities for its artist, activist, and entrepreneur guests — but it is the first to celebrate female accomplishments. And we’re not surprised. After all, as reported by the Travel Industry Association, approximately 32 million American women travel alone every year and 75% of women plan to travel on their own in the next couple of years. 

As women seek wellness experiences internationally and domestically — from weaving tapestries to taking boxing classes with a world champion — travelers are relying on each other for guidance while creating an industry of women led travel businesses and experiences. Groups like Wild Women Expeditions, El Camino Travel, and Girls Love Travel provide platforms created by women for women to share travel advice, book potential tours and travel routes, or post photos of treks up pebbled Portuguese castles. 

With such a large group of travelers, and one that is projected to keep growing, it’s no surprise that markets influenced for female travelers are abundant, reaffirming Beyonce… that girls truly do run this world.   

Why Doesn't Front Desk Tell me my Room Number? All about Security at Hotels

by: Marissa Consalo

Have you ever noticed that when you get your key at reception, they never tell you your room number—only the floor on which you’ll be staying?  That’s for security reasons—they want to keep your room number private.  Small measures like this are factored into the design, construction, and operations of a hotel; they are are meant to provide additional safety to guests, employees, and the property.

As we launch into the 2020s, hotels are taking further steps toward the integration of more modern technology within their security systems.  With hotels increasingly moving away from all forms of paper, more is being done to combat cyber crime.   

According to Top Hotel News, “To combat cybercrime, hotels are taking steps to incorporate more advanced firewalls, limiting who has access to data and securing mobile devices of employees.” Additionally, hotels have been installing virtual local area networks (“VLAN”), which provide enhanced connectivity, with an additional layer of protection.   

Mobile Key App

When it comes to the physical safety of the guests, the mobile room key has added a new layer of security for travelers. With this new technology, the guest can only get in their room through the use of their mobile device, which greatly reduces the chance of a room key falling into the wrong hands. Some hotels even provide an alert system through the mobile key app, that will let guests know if their room has been entered without them physically being there.

The hospitality industry has also stepped up the security for not only their systems, and their guests, but also their employees. Last year, the American Hotel and Lodging Association (“AHLA”) launched their “5-star Promise” to prioritize the safety of employees more than ever before. In a video, the AHLA showcased a new device that allows room attendants to send a silent signal to the hotel’s security system along with the direct location of the employee who pressed it.

By 2020, the AHLA projects that over 20,000 properties will have devices of this nature for not only their housekeeping departments but all of their employees, and they are on track to becoming the standard across all brands.

While these technological advancements in security may come at a hefty cost for hotels, the safety and well being of the guests, employees, and the property are priceless, and for that reason, companies will continue to push towards building the most efficient systems possible for their properties.

A Force for Social Change - LNWA Chairman Kevin Kelly Discusses Founder Leon Weiner

by: Stephen Schindel

This year, LNWHospitality’s parent company, Leon N. Weiner & Associates, Inc. (“LNWA”) is celebrating its 70th year in business.  I sat down with LNWA Chairman, Kevin Kelly, to discuss the company’s founder Mr. Leon N. Weiner (1920 – 2002).  Here is Part I of the discussion.  Part II will come in a follow-up blog post. 

What was Leon Weiner’s upbringing?

Leon N. Weiner (1920-2002)

He was born in 1920 and grew up in Philadelphia amidst the Great Depression.  He was a smart kid – at the age of 11, he starred on the NBC radio show “WizKids.”  Callers tried to outsmart the WizKids, most of whom were high schoolers, except for Leon.  He went to the University of Pennsylvania, and dropped out just before graduating, saying that it wasn’t worth his time or effort to finish his credits.  Later, he was drafted into military service and honorably discharged after World War II. 

How did Leon Weiner get into the Real Estate Business?

Leon worked for his uncle in Philadelphia who was a builder in Wilmington.  In 1949, after two years, he realized that he could do it himself and founded our company.  It became one of the largest home builders in New Castle County, Delaware. 

 What made Leon Weiner a social advocate?

He grew up in the Depression and saw economic and racial disparity firsthand.  He led an equality march in New Orleans where he helped register people to vote.  He was an advocate of equal voting rights and constantly challenged the status quo. 

Here in Delaware, there was a gentleman, Littleton Mitchell, who was the Delaware NAACP chairman for over three decades, and a former Tuskegee Airman.  He and Leon would become lifelong friends.  Littleton once overheard Leon having a discussion with US Senator Caleb Boggs about the importance of voting equality.  According to Littleton, Leon was “empathetic, articulate, but pointed and forceful in a reprimanding way” that Boggs did not fully support voting equality. When Leon passed away in 2002, Littleton quoted Leon’s keynote address at the NAACP 1973 National Convention. His address further pushed the issue of zoning and its impact on racial segregation.

Leon Weiner with President Johnson

One of the most influential projects Leon worked on was his development of Dunleith in the 1950s. This was the first integrated community in Delaware, a radical development at the time. Leon did not care what people thought, he only cared about what was right.

What was Leon Weiner’s personality like?

Leon was tenacious, unflappable, pugnacious, and unrelenting—a bull in a china shop.  When he wanted to go somewhere, he went there.  And if he thought he was right, he was right regardless of who or what you were… nothing stopped him.

In Part II of the interview, I’ll cover more of Leon’s professional work including homebuilding, affordable housing, and hotels.

Hygge - A New Hospitality Trend or a Cheer for Dear Old UVA?

by: Elska Vuong

There’s a new word that capturing the attention of the hospitality industry. "Hygge” (pronounced HOO-guh) is not a new cheer for the ‘HOOS of the University of Virginia, the 2019 men’s basketball national champion. Rather, according to Country Living Magazine, “Hygge is a Danish concept which cannot be translated into a single word but encompasses a feeling of cozy contentment and well-being through enjoying the simple things in life.”

There has always been a market for hotel gyms and spas, offering guests a way to stay healthy on the road. However, with terms such as “hygge,” “mindfulness,” and “self-care” becoming buzzwords and movements of late, health and wellness seems to be having a moment.

The concept of health and wellness has evolved; it is no longer just about discrete wellness treatments or health-related activities and more about a holistic lifestyle focused on overall well-being. Guests are increasingly looking to maintain this lifestyle and/or find ways to incorporate “mindfulness opportunities” into their travel experiences, expecting more than just a hotel spa or gym with a treadmill and free weights.

Many properties and chains have taken notice, making concerted efforts to associate their brand or products with wellness. Starting in 2011, Marriott’s Westin Hotel and Resort brand began introducing amenities such as health-focused options on food and beverage menus, exercise clothing and shoe rentals, concierges to help with running routes, bike-share programs, saline swimming pools, and in-room high-tech Peloton fitness bikes in some cases. In 2017, Westin also launched its first global campaign in over five years – called “Let’s Rise” – with the aim of positioning itself as a leader in wellness tourism.

Other chains have also leaned in to the wellness wagon. Hilton launched its “Five Feet to Fitness” guestroom concept in 2017, installing more than 11 different fitness-focused items in hotel rooms. Priced at 20 percent above normal room rates, guests have the ability to access a range of fitness options and maintain their routines without leaving their rooms. Beyond high-end fitness equipment, the rooms also offer a meditation chair, blackout curtains, Biofreeze to ease muscle tension, and a range of protein and hydration drink options.

At its last global conference, Wyndham Hotel Group unveiled their new guestroom design looks, focused on color schemes and themes that focused on reducing guest stress level and inspiring guests to have “the feeling of being almost home.” In recent years, Wyndham has also launched a “Stay Well” guestroom program, using design features, amenities, and programming focused on keeping travelers healthy. Part of these features are circadian lighting technology to help reduce jetlag, wall-mounted air-purification filters to reduce allergens and microbes, and aromatherapy options.

Introducing new wellness offerings is not just a way for a hotel to differentiate itself. It’s also an opportunity to increase revenue and tap into the $639.4-billion wellness tourism industry. Health-conscious travelers reportedly spend as much as 130 percent more on hotel amenities than other guests. Within the coveted traveling millennial demographic, 60 percent of them say that health is the most important thing in their lives.

Today, health-conscious travelers are not just guests who are traveling specifically for a wellness experience, like a spa or yoga retreat. Rather, the majority are travelers who are looking to stay healthy or access health and/or wellness-focused amenities while on the road. As a result, there’s an incentive for hotels at every level and price point to find new ways provide their guests with health and wellness opportunities.

Au Revoir Marriott Rewards, Bienvenue Bonvoy

by Elska Vuong

If you watched the Academy Awards last month, you might have noticed something… aside from Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga, that is. Marriott has finally unified all of its rewards programs into a new loyalty program called Bonvoy. During the show, Marriott featured a splashy 60-second commercial directed by Oscar-nominated director Jean-Pierre Jeunet as a part of its effort to introduce Bonvoy. The campaign will include activities across 22 countries throughout the year and leverage major cultural events to further highlight the new travel program, according to Marriott.

The new program, which merges together Marriott Rewards, Ritz-Carlton Rewards, and Starwood Preferred Guest, comes after years of keeping the Marriott and Starwood loyalty programs separate, following Marriott’s acquisition of the smaller company in 2016. The acquisition made Marriott the largest hotel company in the world. Bonvoy has an estimated 120 million members, in turn making it the largest loyalty program for a single hotel company globally.  

With the ad campaign and its associated tagline, “Rewards Reimagined,” Marriott hopes to raise Bonvoy’s brand recognition, along with the profile of its 30 hotel brands. “It’s about the emotional part of what good travel means,” said Karin Timpone, global marketing officer for Marriott International. “That’s what the campaign is all about — people experiencing the joy of good travel and they have one word to describe it, and that one word is ‘Bonvoy.’ The more people hear that, the more they connect that idea of good travel to our portfolio and that program.” The company reportedly spent extensive time researching, before deciding on Bonvoy, shorthand for ‘bon voyage,’ including investigating how the name would be pronounced by foreign language speakers.

Part of the new tagline also reflects a shift in focus from a loyalty program that is exclusively points and in-hotel-perks-driven. The new program and campaign emphasizes customized, special experiences you can have as a Marriott Bonvoy member, including musical performances, sporting events and culinary collaborations. “We think [Bonvoy is] good because it relates to travel, and relates to Marriott, and also points to something new — that the loyalty program is now the richest set of benefits, and much more than what it was in pieces,” said Timpone.

Home is Where Alexa is...

by: Elska Vuong

“Alexa, turn off the lights.”

“Hey Google, what’s the weather?”

If those sentences trigger a sense of déjà vu, you’re likely one of the many people (approximately 43 million, if we’re counting) who own a smart speaker – an Amazon Echo or Google Home, for example.

While the use of smart speakers in homes is well known, the devices’ commercial applications are still being tapped. In particular, hotels and airlines are exploring how the devices can be adapted to enhance the guest experience.

“...guests can use the devices to change the temperature in the room, request fresh towels from housekeeping, or ask what time the hotel’s restaurant closes...”

This past year, Marriott International teamed up with Amazon to test out Echo devices with a new “Alexa for Hospitality” mode in select rooms. Tailored to each property, guests can use the devices to change the temperature in the room, request fresh towels from housekeeping, or ask what time the hotel’s restaurant closes, among other applications.

In the future, guests will also be able to link their own Amazon account to the in-room Echo during their stay so they can listen to their own music, much like how guests at some hotels can connect to Netflix or Hulu on a smart TV.

The hospitality mode also has specific security settings which delete interactions daily, recognizing the concerns that may arise regarding guest privacy.

Meanwhile, other hotels have begun testing out smart speakers beyond the guest room. Caesars Palace, for example, started using a newly-launched “interpreter mode” on Google Home as real-time translators at their check-in counters and concierge desks. When a person uses a trigger phrase like, “Hey Google, be my Slovak (or Mandarin or German) interpreter,” the Google Assistant begins to start translating the conversation. Other hotels and even retail outlets around the world could adopt similar approaches.

The big smart speaker players are also starting to incorporate features that enable these digital assistants to become digital travel agents. Amazon has teamed up with Expedia and Kayak so that customers can use Alexa to book hotels and rental cars. Google Assistant can not only book hotels and rental cars, but also track and book flights. And through a partnership with United Airlines, consumers will soon be able to ask Google Assistant to check into their flights and fetch their digital boarding pass.

Worldwide, smart speaker ownership is on track to reach 225 million units by 2020. As the technology continues to proliferate, it’s likely that we’ve only just begun to scratch the surface on all the possible uses of smart speakers across the travel and hospitality industry.

Triple-Headed Monster... Multi-Branded Properties Taking Over

by: Stephen Schindel & Seth Collett

Did you hear that Hilton has opened its first TRI-branded hotel in Chicago?  It has a Hilton Garden Inn, Hampton Inn, and Home2 Suites, all in the same property.  Seems crazy—what’s next a six-story building with a different brand on each floor?

Multi-branded properties are becoming more common, but the question is why?  It turns out that there are a lot of benefits for both the guest and the developer.

Guests

Multi-branded properties share facilities and amenities.  When you stay on property, you might benefit from an offering provided by another brand.  Take for example, our coming-soon Courtyard/Residence Inn on Jekyll Island.  We’ve got two pools—a family pool and an adult lap pool—both of which are available to guests regardless of which flag they choose. 

Additionally, when you’ve got a large group for a wedding or a convention, your party can choose whether they want one type of experience (suites, for example), versus another. 

And while we don’t endorse this method, we haven’t tried it, and we don’t know if it works, we have heard of “hotel hopping” where a guest can spend one night in one brand and another night in the other brand, thus counting as two separate stays for status purposes.

Developers

Courtyard by Marriott / Residence Inn by Marriott, LA Live, Los Angeles, CA

From the perspective of a developer, the advantages are clear.  First, you gain a wider audience for your property, by having flags that each bring in a different customer.  Second, like in a merger of two companies, there are opportunities to streamline personnel (one general manager, for example).  Finally, one building with two brands is generally more efficient to build than two separate buildings.  You don’t need two lobbies, two porte cocheres, or two sets of offices for management.   

Where do we go from here?

For developers, the key is to figure out how to retain some of the brand identity from each flag, while still retaining an integrated experience for the guest. For the guest, it’s all about optimizing experiences and having several options that cater to your needs. Needless to say, the days of the 800-key behemoth, single-branded hotel, are in the past… like a buffet, the future is chock full of options in a smaller space.

Intern Stephen Schindel Published in Hotel News Now!

by JJ Singh

We’re pleased to report that intern Stephen Schindel has been published in Hotel News Now. In his piece, The Hotel Metrics that Point to New York’s Rebound, Stephen takes a look at what’s driving the growth in RevPAR (Revenue per Available Room) in and around New York City. In summary, more people are visiting and the economy is good—all strong signs for the future of the market.

Stephen is a senior at the University of Delaware’s Lerner College of Business and Economics and will be with us for the fall semester. Look for his commentary on all things hospitality over the next few months!

Stephen Schindel, LNWHospitality Intern

Bleisure... What it is and Why it Matters

by: Elska Vuong

Bleisure.  It doesn't roll off the tongue.  It sounds unappetizing, gross even.  But it's a major hospitality trend and it's not going away anytime soon.

Not to be confused with a ‘workcation’ – where employees work on the road rather than taking time off – bleisure (a portmanteau of ‘business’ and ‘leisure’) refers to the practice of tacking on extra time before or after a business trip for leisure. 

“bleisure (a portmanteau of ‘business’ and ‘leisure’) refers to the practice of tacking on extra time before or after a business trip for leisure”

A study commissioned by the Expedia Group found that in 2016, 43% of US business trips were bleisure trips. In 2017, that number had increased to 60%, almost a 40% increase in one year! Business travelers – particularly millennials – are increasingly opting to mix business with pleasure, extending their trip typically by a day or two so they can experience their destination beyond the meeting room or convention center.

So what does this mean for the hospitality industry?

• Whether a business trip turns into a bleisure trip is primarily driven by the availability of enticing leisure activities. Unsurprisingly, food, beaches, and entertainment options (i.e., sightseeing and culture options) are major factors in determining whether travelers turn a business trip into a bleisure trip.
• Overwhelmingly, business travelers visiting a city for a conference are the most likely to turn the excursion into a bleisure trip. Host conferences, hold audiences.
• Bleisure travelers typically spend less time researching their destination than they would on a leisure trip, so marketers have an opportunity to reach and convert travelers mid-trip, particularly for add-on products like dining, entertainment, tours and activities.
• Bleisure travelers typically remain at the same hotel for the duration of their trip – so a 1-2-night stay can easily convert into 3-4 nights
• A third of bleisure trips are in a different city as the business trip, which means travelers are willing to travel from their business destination for leisure.  

Ultimately, bleisure can be big business for destinations both big and small, you just need to know how to target them.