Corporate travellers seize rare Easter–ANZAC window for bleisure breaks
One in three corporate travellers are stretching this year’s Easter–ANZAC trip to at least seven nights, an increase of 20 per cent during the same window last year, revealing the growing popularity of bleisure travel in Australia. The data also shows the average trip length has increased by 33 per cent on 2024, rising from six to eight days during the weeks of Easter and ANZAC day.
The figures come from newly released booking data from Corporate Traveller, the flagship SME division of Flight Centre Travel Group (FCTG), which demonstrates a clear uplift in longer business travel over the two-week Easter–ANZAC period.[1]
This year, as Easter and ANZAC Day fall unusually close together, it allows travellers to maximise their leave with Good Friday falling on 18 April, Easter Monday on 21 April, and ANZAC Day on Friday 25 April. Savvy Aussies can redeem just three days of annual leave from 22-25 April to bridge the gap between the Easter public holidays and ANZAC Day, resulting in a 10-day break (18-27 April).
The opportunity to convert just three annual leave days into 10 consecutive days off is a compelling option for time-poor travellers,” says Tom Walley, Corporate Traveller’s Australian-based Global Managing Director. “However, smart planning and flexibility on flight times are critical for making the most of this year’s busy travel period.
- Tom Walley, Global Managing Director - Corporate Traveller Australia
Melbourne–Perth is the most in-demand domestic corridor in late April, followed by Melbourne–Sydney, while Sydney–London tops long-haul bookings. Perth and Brisbane are leading domestic bleisure destinations, while London, Shanghai, Auckland, Jakarta, and New York rank highest for international trips of seven days or more.
Although a rise in bookings of shorter work trips is expected in the fortnight leading up to Easter, Tom says the bleisure trend has taken hold.
“The average length of a corporate trip in the first quarter this year was five days, so to see that jump to eight over the Easter-ANZAC period signals a cultural shift in how we approach business travel. There’s been a clear post-pandemic reset with travellers prioritising value, wellness and flexibility. Blending work with downtime is no longer just a perk, it’s the new normal,”
- Tom Walley, Global Managing Director - Corporate Traveller Australia
Corporate Traveller’s tips to maximise the Easter–ANZAC travel period:
Plan ahead: Booking early is generally the best strategy, with routes like Melbourne–Perth and Sydney–London in high demand. However, if you’ve left your booking to the last minute, you may be able to find deals by flying mid-week or off-peak (around the middle of the day) to help avoid heavier crowds and reduce costs.
Consider loyalty programs and perks: Redeeming frequent flyer points, lounge passes and securing corporate hotel rates can make bleisure travel smoother and cheaper.
Embrace flexibility and wellness: Factor in downtime for rest and exploration. A balanced itinerary helps maintain productivity and wellbeing during business trips.
Know your entitlements: Lock in annual leave dates early and confirm business travel policies or expenses that could support bleisure add-ons.
[1] Data tracked period: 14–27 April 2025 and 25 March - 7 April 2024
