From Boardrooms to Beachfronts: Inside Cape Town’s Bleisure Shift
Blending business commitments with pleasurable moments
Once upon a time, travel fell neatly into two categories: business or pleasure. These days, those lines have all but disappeared — especially in Cape Town, where work trips are increasingly stretching into long, leisurely stays filled with sunsets, seaside strolls and slow mornings behind a laptop.
Welcome to the era of bleisure — a hybrid style of travel where professionals blend business commitments with meaningful downtime. Furthermore, few cities wear the trend as effortlessly as the Mother City.
Already a magnet for digital nomads, Cape Town has quietly become a global poster child for this work-meets-wander mindset. With remote and flexible work now firmly embedded in modern culture, travellers are choosing to linger well beyond their meeting agendas. They are staying connected while soaking up everything from ocean views to world-class dining.
When work-life balance goes coastal
As professionals rethink how and where they work, bleisure travel has emerged as a natural evolution. It offers the freedom to stay productive without sacrificing quality of life. Hotels, in turn, are reimagining what business travel looks like, designing spaces that feel as inspiring as they are functional.
“As travel and the meaning of life-work balance evolve, we are seeing many guests now opting for longer stays that allow them to weave work into a more enriching experience,” says Leonie Andereya, General Manager of Radisson Collection Hotel, V&A Waterfront, Cape Town. “They’re seeking environments that support productivity while allowing for meaningful moments of rest and inspiration — places where they can start the day with their laptop open and end it watching the sun set overlooking the Ocean.”
It’s a sentiment that feels distinctly Cape Town: productive mornings followed by evenings that invite you to slow down and savour the moment.
The bleisure boom, by the numbers
The shift isn’t just anecdotal — it’s backed by data. According to the World Travel & Tourism Council, more than 60% of travellers now add leisure days to their trips whenever possible. Locally, the trend is becoming increasingly visible, with business travellers choosing to extend their stays long after meetings have wrapped up.
For employers, the appeal is just as compelling. Flexible travel policies that allow for bleisure trips can boost morale, reduce burnout and even improve staff retention — a win-win in an increasingly competitive workplace.
“We’re seeing more companies build flexibility into corporate travel policies,” says Andereya. “It’s about recognising that travel can be a powerful tool for sparking creativity and refreshing the mind.”
Where design meets downtime
Today’s bleisure traveller expects more than a desk and strong Wi-Fi. They’re looking for spaces that feel personal, seamless and rooted in their destination — environments that support focus by day and indulgence by night.
“The modern business traveller is looking for more than just a meeting room. We’re curating unique experiences that bring work and leisure together, making every stay a chance to recharge and refocus,” explains Andereya.
From thoughtfully designed workspaces to lifestyle-led amenities, the goal is simple: make work feel lighter, and leisure feel effortless.
A glimpse into the future of travel
As global work culture continues to evolve, Cape Town’s lifestyle-driven hospitality scene is helping shape the future of travel. With its rare mix of natural beauty, cultural energy and world-class connectivity, the city feels tailor-made for the bleisure movement.
Here, business doesn’t end when the laptop closes — it simply makes room for a sunset, a glass of wine, and the kind of balance modern travellers are no longer willing to compromise on.
For more travel inspiration, click here.
Read our digital magazine.
Follow us on Instagram.
