Are large hotel groups really focusing specifically on bleisure offers? “Yes,” says Gareth Cummings, Regional Vice President EAME – Hyatt Sales Force. He spoke to us about more spa demand in conference hotels and more opportunities for changing bills.
Gareth, in some parts of the world, business travel has clearly been on the decline since Covid-19. How do you explain the increased business travel demand at Hyatt?
As a company, we have quickly adapted to the changing demands of business travel, particularly the need to reinstate relationships that have been weakened by the pandemic. Many companies have now come to the conclusion that face-to-face contact offers a decisive advantage in building trust and promoting growth.
This revival has also been shaped by changing travel habits such as bleisure. Hyatt has responded to this change by enabling guests to work efficiently while also taking advantage of relaxation and wellness offerings such as fitness facilities, healthy dining options and a quiet environments. Also, we have recently started working with Peloton, where guests can earn loyalty points for Peloton workouts in hotels worldwide.
How are these hotels adapting to the increasing number of bleisure and workation guests?
Although requests concerning workations have decreased since Covid-19, the trend toward bleisure travel continues because increasingly more people in multiple industries are working remotely. We are seeing a growing number of companies negotiating stays before and after these kind of trips. Guests can conveniently stay in the same room for leisure purposes and switch from a company account to a personal account with a personal billing address and personal credit card. Our properties also offer a variety of work-enhancing amenities, such as high-speed internet, private meeting rooms and co-working spaces.
Which brands and which hotels are particularly suitable for bleisure or workation?
Hyatt Regency, for example, offers family-friendly facilities. The Hyatt Regency London Blackfriars has a family lounge and the Hyatt Regency Pravets Resort in Bulgaria has an indoor play area. The newly opened Park Hyatt London River Thames is ideal for conference guests looking for bleisure offers. It provides 14.337 sqm of event space, including one of London’s largest ballrooms, additionally it includes a spa with a 20 x 8-metre indoor pool and panoramic river views, as well as various restaurants such as a Tea Lounge & Wine Library. The features “Together by Hyatt” and “Unique Venues” are part of our meeting and event programmes. For example, guests can hold memorable meetings in the historic Masonic Temple at the Andaz London or in one of the salons at the Hôtel du Louvre. Here, participants have often decided on extending their trips.
Do you take advantage of the opportunities for bleisure and workation at Hyatt hotels yourself?
On a recent business trip to London, a family member and I managed to work during the day while still being able to enjoy some quality personal time in the evening. This not only made the trip more enjoyable, but also helped me achieve a better work-life balance. I will probably be doing the same at a conference in Barcelona soon.
Thank you for the interview, Gareth!
Photo: © Hyatt
