Business Travellers Prioritise Hotel Function Over Bleisure, French Survey Shows

Functional Needs and Personal Service

Coach Omnium conducted a survey in France from February to March 2026, interviewing 603 hotel customers to understand their expectations. The findings indicate that business travellers primarily value practical hotel features and human interaction over leisure activities.

Key priorities include a well-located hotel, a room equipped for work with a desk, ample power outlets, and a reliable Wi-Fi connection. The study also revealed a strong preference for personal service, with 58% of all surveyed guests favouring a receptionist for check-in and check-out processes.

Only 14% preferred using an application or self-service kiosk, while 22% prioritised a simple and smooth arrival experience regardless of the method.

Bleisure's Limited Appeal

Contrary to popular belief, the Coach Omnium survey found that "bleisure" – combining business travel with leisure – is not as prevalent as often assumed. A significant 59% of business travellers surveyed reported never engaging in bleisure activities. Of the remaining 41%, 26% indicated they rarely do so, and only 15% sometimes extend their trips for leisure.

The study also challenged the notion that Generation Y (aged 30-45) is a primary driver of this trend, showing that this age group is no more likely to participate in bleisure than other demographics, with roughly 40% engaging in it. However, foreign clientele showed greater receptiveness, with 58% sometimes or rarely taking advantage of bleisure opportunities.

Strategic Value of Business Guests

Despite being a minority, business travellers represent a strategic segment for hotel profitability due to their consistent patronage. The survey highlighted that nearly half of business guests stay in hotels at least once a month, with 26% doing so monthly and 10% staying multiple times a week.

This contrasts sharply with leisure customers, 69% of whom visit a hotel only one to three times annually. Coach Omnium also observed a trend where fewer professionals book their own accommodation, with assistants, travel agencies, or corporate booking platforms handling arrangements for most.

Business travellers also show a higher inclination towards specific hotel amenities, with 35% valuing an in-hotel bar (compared to 27% of all customers) and 20% utilising or desiring coworking spaces (compared to 9% of all customers).

Implications for Asia's Hospitality Sector

For hotel operators across Asia, these findings suggest a need to recalibrate offerings to meet the core demands of business travellers. Instead of prioritising lifestyle amenities or extensive bleisure packages, the focus should be on enhancing fundamental services: reliable connectivity, efficient workspaces within rooms, and quick breakfast options.

The strong preference for human interaction also implies continued investment in front-desk staff training and personalised service, rather than a full shift to automated check-in systems.

Asian hotel groups targeting corporate clients may find greater returns by ensuring their properties are strategically located near business hubs and by integrating practical amenities that support productivity, a trend that is likely to resonate with the region's rapidly expanding professional workforce and frequent regional business travel.