Bleisure Travel Continues to Gain Momentum Among German Business Travellers

Germany

New study shows two-thirds already combine business trips with leisure stays

Combining business travel with private leisure time has become firmly established among German business travellers. A new study by the Bavarian Center for Tourism (BZT), conducted in cooperation with the German Convention Bureau (GCB) and the German Business Travel Association (VDR), reveals that 67 per cent of business travellers have already extended a work trip for personal leisure. Based on a two-stage survey of 3,000 respondents carried out by consumer intelligence company NIQ, the research provides one of the most comprehensive insights to date into Germany's growing Bleisure travel market.

The findings reflect the increasing convergence of work and leisure made possible by more flexible working models. While more than half of respondents travelled for business once or twice during 2025, around one-third undertook three to five business trips and a further 11 per cent travelled even more frequently.

Frequent travellers are more likely to extend their stay

Among respondents with Bleisure experience, 53 per cent combined one business trip with a private stay during 2025, while 25 per cent did so twice. On average, each participant completed 1.8 Bleisure trips during the year.

In nearly four out of five cases (78 per cent), the leisure portion followed the business appointment. The average Bleisure traveller was 36.7 years old and most travelled alone.

"The more frequently people travel for business, the more likely they are to combine their business trips with private stays. Only among very frequent business travellers does this tendency begin to decline again," said Prof. Alfred Bauer, Head of the Bavarian Center for Tourism.

At the same time, the study suggests that further growth remains possible. Around 24 per cent of respondents who have never taken a Bleisure trip deliberately prefer to keep business and leisure travel separate.

Domestic destinations remain the top choice

Germany is the leading destination for Bleisure travel, with 38 per cent of respondents extending their stay within the country. Among international destinations, Spain (8 per cent), Italy (7 per cent) and France (6 per cent) rank highest.

The most popular cities are Berlin, Hamburg and Munich, followed by London, Paris, Vienna and Rome.

On average, travellers extend their business trip by 3.1 nights, generating total travel expenditure of around €1,642, of which approximately €616 is spent on the leisure portion of the journey.

Relaxation remains the main motivation

The leading reasons for extending a business trip are rest and relaxation (30 per cent), taking a break from everyday life (26 per cent) and discovering new destinations (26 per cent). Visiting family and friends, as well as making more efficient use of travel time and travel costs, also play an important role.

"Bleisure travellers hardly differ from traditional leisure tourists in the way they spend their free time," said Prof. Alfred Bauer.

The study also points to continued growth. Seventy-six per cent of respondents who have already taken Bleisure trips intend to combine business and leisure travel again in 2026, while roughly one-third of those without previous Bleisure experience are considering doing so for the first time.