Workations & Bleisure Trips: The New Norm for Aussie Professionals

The Rise of Workations and Bleisure Trips in Australia

Remember the days when remote working was a rare perk? Fast forward to today, and 37% of Australian bosses are now giving the green light to workations and bleisure trips, marking a significant shift towards workplace flexibility and remote work arrangements. This trend is not just changing how we work but also opening new opportunities for travel professionals.

Key Findings from the Insure&Go Survey

• 43% of Australian employees are blending business with leisure, taking advantage of remote work to enjoy workations.
• Despite the push for return-to-office mandates, 36% of employed Australians continue to work remotely in some capacity, with only 3% interested in returning to the office full-time.
• Looking ahead, 49% of Aussie bosses anticipate offering cross-border remote work options within the next five years, nearly double the global average.

Generational and Gender Perspectives on Workations

• 56% of under-50s have taken a workation, compared to just 25% of over-50s.
• Men are more likely to embark on workations, with 51% taking personal domestic trips while working remotely, versus 35% of women.
• Employees aged 30–49 are the most transparent about their workation plans, with 49% seeking employer approval.

The Future of Work: Co-working Spaces and Luxury Workations

With co-working spaces emerging in popular holiday spots like the Gold Coast and Margaret River, and professionals working from luxury hotels and even cruises, the line between work and leisure is blurring. Predictions suggest that co-working spaces could occupy over 30% of commercial lettable space in the next decade, signaling that workations may soon become a mainstream option for Australian professionals.

David Mayo, Insure&Go Commercial & Marketing Director, notes: "Businesses embracing hybrid or remote models are more likely to attract and retain staff. Employees now expect flexibility, including the freedom to work from anywhere, even while traveling."