While people generally think of business travel as being filled will endless, dull meetings, the truth is that more and more hotels are expanding their offerings to make business trips a more leisurely experience for all involved. According to a survey conducted by Virgin Atlantic, “the new business traveler isn’t all work and no play…they are also putting more time aside to immerse themselves in their travel destinations”. Lucky for you, our clients have a quite a few creative ideas up their sleeves when it comes to catering to business travelers. Whether you’re looking for a way to see more of the destination or are looking for bonding activities with your colleges, we’re confident you’ll find something that will make you look forward to packing your mid-week bags.
Located in beautiful Southern California, Lake Arrowhead Resort and Spa offers many creative meeting packages for those visiting the area for business reasons. The “Re-Energize Your Meeting” Package, in addition to meeting space and guest rooms, features breaks that include fishing, chair massages in the meeting rooms, spa treatments for VIPs, healthy snacks such as fresh fruit, yogurt and sparkling water, and a choice of beach Zumba, Pilates, or yoga. Surrounded by serene mountains and the pristine Lake Arrowhead, the resort provides activities that allow meeting-attendees to relax, recharge, and re-energize, making your company or organization healthy, efficient and focused.
Hotel Vermont knows how to add unique experiences for those visiting Burlington for business. As a creative team-building breakout, attendees can utilize the hotel’s complimentary snow shoes to venture onto the frozen Lake Champlain to test their luck at ice-fishing – shielded from the elements courtesy of the hotel’s over-ice shanty. Once finished, attendees will enjoy lunch or dinner prepared by Executive Chef Doug Paine utilizing the day’s catch. Later, attendees can take in the perks of Vermont beside the lobby’s wood-burning hearth, sipping hot cocoa, hot toddies or seasonal cocktails from Juniper restaurant.
Pullman Hotels, a luxury brand from AccorHotels, offers its business travelers the best, tailored amenities to ensure they enjoy health, comfort, and productivity while on property. Available from 4:30am, Wake-Up Coffee – an exclusive concept created by Pullman and Nespresso® – provides sweet snacks, and a selection of coffees and teas to go. Between contract signings, try a workout in the Pullman Fit Lounge, including sauna, hammam or Jacuzzi and healthy snacks (in select hotels). For those with a jam-packed schedule, a Power Lunch by Pullman ensures a delicious meal in under 45 minutes from walking in to getting the bill, and also offers special service for business professions. Finally, guests can visit the Spa lounge any time of day to receive a special jet lag recovery treatment. The first Pullman in North America, Pullman Miami Airport, is scheduled to be fully transformed in January 2016.
No matter where your business travels take you, there should always be time set aside for yourself! According to Skift, more than 96 percent of the business people surveyed believe that they, “gain cultural experience and knowledge by adding leisure days to their business travel.” So, before you plan your next trip, take a moment to plot out some “bleisurely” activities. You deserve it.