Blending meetings with personal travel – the trend toward “bleisure”
- Liz Perry
- Jul 31
- 2 min read
Anyone who’s attended a conference, convention, or large meeting knows the scene: after registering and picking up your badge and other information, you look around the foyer to see small groups of colleagues greeting each other, setting appointments, and making plans. Networking, sharing information, and the business of business has already begun.
Business travel has just begun to recover from the pandemic, and while technology like Zoom makes exchanging information more accessible, face-to-face engagement provides the greatest benefits and value for all types of organizations. Heather Collins, event and group sales manager for Travel Juneau, explains that meeting planners “will be navigating complexities such as government budget cuts, tariffs, and other economic uncertainties. Given that our largest meeting market segment is government, the full effects of these factors are yet to be seen.” Collins is also seeing some meetings with shorter lead times, a result of market uncertainty and planners waiting on board approvals and budget confirmations.
Planning events has indeed become more complicated, as attendee needs and wants have shifted to “bleisure” travel. For example, planners are striking a new balance between time spent directly with the business sessions and networking or downtime spent casually with friends, colleagues, and vendors. Further, attendees now often bring family with them, giving a destination opportunities to provide experiences before, during, and after the event.
Collins notes this and other trends that attendees want in their conference or convention:
Authentic, historic, or Indigenous offsite experiences — Planners are looking for unique and culturally rich experiences outside of traditional meeting spaces.
Wellness-based retreats, activities, and offsites — There's growing interest in incorporating wellness into meeting agendas.
More downtime for attendees — Planners are requesting tour options or working in longer breaks to allow attendees to explore and relax.
More included offerings — Planners are seeking packages with more amenities and activities included to attract attendees.
Attendee Safety — This remains a top priority for all event planning.
Travel Juneau is focused on securing smaller events for the summer and larger events in the shoulder season to help keep local hotels full year-round. In the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, the organization secured 20 meetings and events, bringing in over 3,500 attendees. Starting the new fiscal, Travel Juneau has already secured 11 meetings with approximately 1,700 attendees; several others are awaiting confirmation. Planners are now working on events for 2028. Average meeting size is 175 attendees, with the largest events being Celebration with about 3,000 attendees and the Alaska Travel Industry Association (ATIA) with 650.
Looking into the near-term, Collins notes that “Juneau will continue to attract conferences because it offers a unique ‘bucket list’ experience. Its appeal lies in being a safe, walkable city with excellent restaurants, vibrant local businesses, and its significant role as an Indigenous hub rich in authentic history and culture.”
• Liz Perry is the president and CEO of Travel Juneau, a private nonprofit organization dedicated to the visitor industry and its economic benefit to Juneau.
