NSBA PARTNER - IHG Business Edge | How To Balance Work and Personal Life Through Travel Management

Tips and tools for balanced travel, personal, and small-business work life from NSBA's partner IHG Business Edge

 

Establish Pre-Travel Communication: Implement a pre-travel approval process. Ask employees to submit an advance travel itinerary to help determine what defines work and leisure time. Encouraging open communication and fostering a transparent environment allows you to proactively address questions, concerns, and potential travel-related issues before a trip begins.

Outline and Communicate Guidelines: Set clear guidelines for what constitutes bleisure activities, how expenses will be managed, and who is responsible for costs should employees bring along family members or spouses. For example, an employee might attend business meetings during the week and reserve the weekend before or after for relaxing, sightseeing, and enjoying local cultural offerings. Clear compliance ensures employees are covered in the case of emergencies, reduces liability, streamlines expense reporting, and reinforces reimbursement procedures.

 Cost-Cutting Airfare Measures: Book travel on less-popular days to avoid airfare surges on peak business travel days. Departing on Mondays or Fridays often leads to higher airfare costs. According to a 2024 Expedia report, booking on a Sunday, can save an average of 6 percent on domestic flights and 13 percent on international flights.

Choose Bleisure-Minded Hotel Accommodations: According to the Global Business Travel Association, 82 percent of bleisure travelers stay at the same hotel for both work and leisure portions of their trip. Therefore, securing preferential corporate rates and choosing bleisure-friendly hotels can help reduce travel costs. Ensure accommodations come equipped with modern amenities such as high-speed internet, outlet access, conference rooms, and ergonomic workspaces. Additionally, amenities such as spas, swimming pools, and state-of-the-art fitness centers offer essential options for longer-term guests to reduce stress.

 

Adopt Time-Management Tools: From travel booking platforms to mobile apps, small businesses can take advantage of meaningful communication tools and productivity-scheduling technology to help manage employees’ time on the road. Furthermore, travel management software can help generate reports, track expenses, and secure employee records in one easy-to-access place.

 

Support Employees Downtime: A 2024 American Express report found that 87 percent of bleisure travelers are satisfied with their work-life balance. Allow employees time to relax and explore during non-working hours by encouraging downtime, suggesting unique itineraries, and recommending local attractions and outdoor activities. Small business owners can further help facilitate wellness experiences by reimbursing employees for activities like fitness classes or massages, or by providing a stipend for mindfulness or meditation apps.

 

Leverage Corporate Credit Cards: Corporate credit cards are essential tools for business travelers and provide small business owners with a convenient way to set credit limits and streamline billing. These cards often come with benefits and rewards that can help offset travel costs through valuable perks. For example, IHG Business Edge Pay offers cost-saving benefits for small business owners and employees, allowing them to earn points that can be redeemed for personal or business travel.

Prioritize Employee Well-Being on the Road: Today, health and well-being are top priorities for business travelers. Encouraging exercise and incorporating leisure activities into business trips can help reduce burnout and enhance mental health. From a morning run to a yoga session, integrating physical fitness and wellness into one’s routine can leave employees feeling invigorated and refreshed on the road. Additionally, maintaining healthy eating habits and staying hydrated while travelling is vital for sustaining energy levels.

Opportunities to Experience New Cultures: Bleisure travelers have the chance to enjoy unique and culturally immersive experiences. Small business owners can help by facilitating leisure activities for employees, such as sightseeing, culinary experiences, or visits to local arts/cultural venues. These unique experiences encourage community engagement while also helping develop a healthy respect for diverse cultures and new environments.

Provide Opportunities for Constructive Feedback: Encourage employees to provide constructive feedback on their bleisure travel experiences. Actively soliciting feedback with surveys and individual meetings helps employers understand what worked well and what improvements could be made.  By supporting work-life balance and employee wellbeing, small businesses can attract and retain top talent, new clients, and like-minded partners.

Leveraging Loyalty Programs: Encourage employees to earn loyalty points and rewards through business-savvy travel programs. Frequent travel often leads to priority check-ins, upgrades, access to executive lounges, and other exclusive services. For example, IHG is among the first hotel companies to establish a program for small and midsize enterprises, which Global Traveler has recognized as the Best Small-to-Midsized Business Program for six consecutive years.

The program features an easy-to-use online portal that consolidates important travel data, such as hotel spend and room nights. In addition, the program offers a guaranteed discount for direct bookings, accelerated loyalty status, and access to exclusive promotions.

With a vast network of over 6,600 hotels in more than 100 countries, IHG Business Edge ensures that you will find the right hotel for your needs, no matter where your travels take you.