3 calendar hacks to fill 2024 business trips with bleisure

Chipped away at your 2024 leave days already? No sweat! We’ve got the insider tips on mixing business trips with leisure to spice up your year. Think less all-work-no-play, more globetrotting with perks – and even your boss will be on board. After all, bleisure is the trick to a better work-life balance, beating burnout and increased productivity.

Get ready to balance those spreadsheets with some fun – it's time to plan your bleisure business trips like a pro.

Here’s how to hack the 2024 calendar for the best bleisure travel

Make public holidays work for you

Wave goodbye to last-minute scrambles and say hello to smart 'holiday hacking'. In 2024, your calendar is the key to blending business with pleasure. With 12 public holidays at your disposal, it’s time to unlock all those glorious long weekends to make more of your business trips.

How about a seven-day break from 28 March to 3 April over Easter? Or seize a nine-day escape by adding 29 April to 3 May to your travel plans. September’s Heritage Day? Turn it into a five-day retreat by taking the Monday off. And December's a goldmine – 16 days of festive fun potential.

Get the ultimate score: tag on a sports event

Imagine aligning your August business meetings in Europe with the gees of the Paris Summer Olympics, rooting for Team SA. With some clever corporate travel planning you could make it happen. If France is on your itinerary in mid-August, experience the high-octane Tour de France Femmes.

For football aficionados, Germany's Euro Cup Football in June and July is a must-see. And for those who crave speed, the Monaco Grand Prix in May is your call to action.

Top bleisure destinations for 2024

The Q3 2023 Business Travel Trends Report showcased the top African business travel destinations for South Africans, showing how you can easily spice up any regional business trip. Picture this: business in Botswana, then a wild detour to the Khutse Game Reserve near Gaborone. Or, swap boardroom talks in Harare for the awe of Victoria Falls. And if Mali's on your itinerary, add the historic City of Djenne to your travel tales.

A tip for the perfect bleisure blend? When booking consider swapping a business class ticket for two economy ones, bringing a partner along. Just remember to ensure you still arrive refreshed and ready to tackle the business head-on. When blending work and leisure, don’t forget to discuss any extra costs with your company and keep your expense tracking sharp – business only, of course!

About Flight Centre Travel Group
The Flight Centre Travel Group is one of the world’s largest travel retailers and corporate travel managers. The company, which is headquartered in Brisbane, Australia, has company-owned leisure and corporate travel business in dozens of countries, spanning Australia, New Zealand, the Americas, Europe, the United Kingdom, South Africa, the United Arab Emirates, and Asia. ASX listed Flight Centre Travel Group (FLT) also operates the global FCM corporate travel management network, which extends to more than 100 countries through company-owned businesses and independent licensees, along with Corporate Traveller, the flagship business specific to the small-to-medium-sized enterprise sector. For more information, visit fctgl.com.