Crowne Plaza encourages business travellers to combine work and leisure with 'Bring Your Bestie'

Crowne Plaza by IHG has unveiled a new "Bring Your Bestie" package, encouraging business travellers to invite friends or loved ones on their work trips to create more memorable, blended travel experiences, available at select hotels across the United States.

This new package will be of particular interest to UK-based business travellers who regularly undertake business trips to the United States. With the increasing trend towards blended travel, where business and leisure combine seamlessly, this offering provides a unique opportunity for Global Travel Management customers to enhance their business trips with a companion – improving well-being, reducing travel stress, and fostering deeper personal connections while maintaining work productivity.

According to Crowne Plaza’s white paper, *Leading the Charge in Blended Travel*, and a global YouGov survey of over 12,000 participants, 74% of U.S. travellers would invite a friend or family member on a work trip, particularly amongst Gen Z and Millennials. Nearly 40% blend business and leisure travel specifically to spend quality time with loved ones. Crowne Plaza's research highlights the benefits of travelling with a companion, including improved relaxation, better work-life balance, and greater rejuvenation, ultimately supporting increased productivity during work hours.

To support this trend, Crowne Plaza’s Bring Your Bestie package includes complimentary breakfast for up to two guests each day, a signature drink per night of stay, 1,000 bonus IHG One Rewards points, and curated itineraries to help companions enjoy their stay even while the business traveller is working. These offerings ensure that both work and leisure elements of the trip are catered for, with features such as reimagined guest rooms designed for work, relaxation and sleep, vibrant social spaces, and soon-to-launch Crowne Plaza Socials with activities like wine tastings and local delicacy sampling.

Ginger Taggart, Vice President of Brand Management – Global Premium Brands at IHG Hotels & Resorts, explained: “Today’s professionals are embracing blended travel and the perks it offers. Bringing a plus one on a work trip was once kept under the radar, but times have changed. Connectivity is at the heart of the Crowne Plaza brand, guiding how we deliver service and spaces across our hotels. The Bring Your Bestie offer delivers upon guests’ needs for shared experiences and meaningful relationships.

Paul Baker, Sales Director of Global Travel Management, commented: "Blended travel options like the Bring Your Bestie package open up a fantastic opportunity for our UK-based business travellers. By combining work commitments with valuable leisure time spent with friends or family, travellers can enjoy a more fulfilling, stress-reducing trip, boosting both personal well-being and professional performance."

The Bring Your Bestie package is available for booking at participating Crowne Plaza properties in the United States, including locations such as Cleveland, Fort Myers, Indianapolis, Louisville, Orlando, Seattle, and Virginia Beach. Bookings are open from 14 April 2025 to 12 May 2025, with stays available until 10 July 2025. Terms apply, and availability is subject to blackout dates and property discretion.

If you would like more information about the Bring Your Bestie package or how to incorporate blended travel into your next business trip, please contact your Global Travel Management Account Manager.