Business travel is no longer just about meetings and schedules. A new report from Expedia Group reveals a growing shift toward bleisure—the blending of work and leisure—and the rise of “hotel hopping” as travelers seek richer, more flexible experiences.
The findings come from Unpack ’26: The Trends in Travel, a report that tracks evolving traveler behavior. It points to a clear transformation: professionals are extending work trips, adding personal experiences, and redefining what it means to travel for business.
A global shift in travel behavior
According to the report, seasonal travel periods offer the best opportunity to extend business trips with leisure stays. The trend is also gaining traction online, with more than 165,000 mentions tied to bleisure travel.
Melanie Fish, Vice President of Global Public Relations at Expedia Group, emphasizes that this reflects a deeper behavioral change among travelers.
“Brazilian travelers are increasingly looking for ways to turn one trip into multiple experiences, whether by planning around concerts and sporting events, extending work trips for leisure stays, or exploring more destinations within Brazil.”
This shift is influencing not only how people travel, but also where they choose to go.
Top trending destinations
The report highlights cities driving conversations around bleisure and hotel hopping. Helsinki leads with a 71% increase, followed by London (47%), Oslo (46%), and Paris (24%).
Other emerging destinations include Cape Cod, Lake Michigan, Seoul, Chicago, Boston, and São Paulo, which has seen a 28% rise in interest.
The rise of hotel hopping
Hotel hopping—booking multiple hotels during one trip—is becoming a natural extension of bleisure travel. It allows travelers to experience different neighborhoods, atmospheres, and services within the same journey.
This behavior is often tied to major live events, encouraging travelers to move across locations to maximize their experience.
São Paulo gains momentum
In Brazil, São Paulo stands out as a key destination shaped by this trend. Its dynamic calendar of events plays a central role in driving travel demand.
Major events such as the São Paulo Formula 1 Grand Prix and Lollapalooza Brasil are influencing booking patterns, with travelers extending stays and choosing multiple hotels across the city.
Properties like Hotel Unique, Rosewood São Paulo, Hotel Fasano São Paulo, and Canopy by Hilton São Paulo Jardins are among those benefiting from this demand.
Data and methodology
The report combines proprietary data from Expedia, Hotels.com, and Vrbo with social media monitoring and research conducted by OnePoll. It analyzes booking trends, consumer behavior, and cultural signals.
Hotel hopping insights are based on increased demand for combined hotel bookings between 2024 and 2025, while online mentions were tracked between March 2025 and March 2026.
