Blatant leisure? Bulk leisure? “Bleisure”, a mutation of business and leisure, has crept into the lexicon, confusing some, and making others cringe. But the concept itself – tacking a bit of downtime onto the beginning or end of a business trip – is not a bad idea. A burgeoning culinary scene, fun bars, nice weather and easy connectivity.
Is this how Brisbane won over corporates? Credit: Brisbane Economic Development Agency I wasn’t calling it “bleisure” at the time, but I did a lot of this kind of travel in a previous job. I turned a week in Melbourne for Australian Fashion Week into a month-long stay in Fitzroy, commuting to a co-working office on weekdays and exploring the city on the weekends. I did the same in Sydney, extending trips to include non-working days, or planning month-long blocks, switching between suburbs to properly get a feel for the whole city.
That’s how I discovered Jimmy’s Falafel and my favourite place for dumplings, and how I learnt I’d never live in Bondi Beach. Sydney and Melbourne have long been the obvious choices for weekenders and business trips. But Brisbane recently threw its hat into the ring as a bleisure destination of note.
According to Corporate Traveller – a division of Flight Centre Travel Group – Brisbane has overtaken Sydney and Melbourne as Australia’s “bleisure epicentre”. Data from October 2023 to March 2024, analysed by Corporate Traveller, showed inbound travellers to Brisbane were now staying an av.
