NRL Grand Final 2024 sees strong corporate bleisure travel trend

Corporate Traveller, the flagship SME division of Flight Centre Travel Group (FCTG), today released booking data revealing a surge in corporate bleisure travel to Sydney for the 2024 NRL Grand Final. The data reveals that corporates are increasingly combining business with leisure, known as ‘bleisure’, by booking trips of 2-plus days—accounting for 68 per cent of all bookings.

Corporate Traveller analysed corporate travel bookings for trips to the NRL Grand Final on 6 October, as well as comparative dates from last year’s events.

Two-to three-day trips are the most popular overall bleisure option chosen by corporates in 2024—making up 33 per cent of bookings, trips of four to five days accounting for 10 per cent. However, the most significant increase is found with trips of seven days, this category has seen a 38 per cent year-over-year increase in bookings, rising from 13 per cent in 2023 to 18 per cent in 2024.

Compared with last year’s bookings, the trend towards longer stays remains strong. In 2023, bleisure bookings accounted for 71 per cent of all bookings, with two-to three-day trips making up 34 per cent, four to five-day trips at 15 per cent, and trips of seven or more days at 13 per cent.

Corporate Traveller Global Managing Director Tom Walley said the data reflects a sustained interest in bleisure travel during major sporting events like the NRL Grand Final.
 
“The continued high proportion of bleisure bookings to Sydney for the NRL Grand Final indicates that more corporates are combining business with leisure to experience the excitement firsthand. It’s a positive sign for the industry and showcases the growing appeal of rugby league.”
 
He added, “The appetite for longer stays given nearly one in five bookings is for trips of seven or more days underscores Sydney’s appeal as a bleisure destination. This trend is beneficial for major sporting events as well as local businesses and the tourism sector.”