The Club Lounge at The Ritz-Carlton Central Park meets the needs of bleisure travelers.
On a gray spring day, I sat near a large picture window inside the Club Lounge of The Ritz-Carlton New York, Central Park, watching tourists below filter into a leafless exapanse to wander the trails of Olmsted’s urban masterpiece. I’d been invited on business, which gave me the chance to tour the property’s rooms and amenities. A long time New Yorker, I had always thought of the city’s Ritz-Carlton properties as leaders in both tourism and business, but rarely blended. However, as I waited for the meeting to start, a colleague urged me to grab a quick lunch. I took a lap around the lounge buffet, a full spread of soups, sandwiches, salads, fruit, desserts, sodas, and Champagne, then settled in for an hour-long chat from a chartreuse-hued club chair with postcard views of the park. Naturally, I wasn’t the first to have a lightbulb moment: bleisure.
View of Central Park from The Ritz-Carlton
The Rise of Bleisure Travel
The Covid-19 pandemic impacted multiple industries in lasting ways, including travel, hospitality, and traditional work models. Though tourism numbers dropped precipitously during the pandemic, they’ve surged over the last 18 months during a time when hybrid or remote employment has been normalized and even expected. Naturally, this phenomenon has spurred various new initiatives, from countries luring digital nomads with remote work visas to hotels expanding their amenities to entice business guests.
A portmanteau of 'business' and 'leisure’, bleisure travel refers to fusion of leisure travel with business. This trend includes professionals extending their business trips to enjoy leisure pursuits, often staying at the same hotel for both work and tourism.
Research suggests that the bleisure niche is gaining in popularity and value. As GlobeNewswire reported, Allied Market Research estimates the global bleisure market was at $315.3 billion globally in 2022, but expects it to more than double to nearly $731.4 billion globally by 2032. That’s a compound annual growth (CAGR) rate of 8.9%. The growth is attributed to several factors such as a rise in demand for work-life balance, digital transformation in the travel industry, and an increase in the number of affordable hospitality services, the report states.
La Prairie Spa at The Ritz-Carlton New York, Central Park
How The Ritz-Carlton New York, Central Park Meets Bleisure Needs
From the hotel’s all-day ground floor gastro lounge Contour, to elegant rooms and suites, the property has long been a magnet for tourists looking to soak up the brand’s famous hospitality at a tony New York address. Though the hotel has 206 rooms, it feels like a boutique property, starting with the friendly welcome at the front door to the intimate lobby footprint.
Guest rooms, spacious by New York standards, borrow elements from New York’s history, both in layout and architectural details, while adding a touch of French style through décor and textiles. Pre-war layouts give rooms a bigger footprint, allowing for desks and seating areas for the bleisure traveler with a laptop and extra clothes or shoes.
For guests wrapping up meetings or looking to relax after a long flight, the hotel’s La Prairie Spa offers six treatment rooms for facials and therapeutic massages. A relaxation lounge and steam room add the finishing touch.
Where the hotel’s bleisure amenities shines, however, is the Club Lounge. The lounge offers an exclusive place to rest, relax, work and network. There are five daily food presentations that can be customized to meet any dietary restrictions. Additionally, there is a dedicated concierge to take care of all guest requests and needs, such as pressing items of clothing of which two are included, complimentary.
Asked about the bleisure market, Director of Sales & Marketing Megan Ferguson noted the hotel’s ideal location for this type of clientele. “Guests can easily unwind with a stroll through the iconic Central Park or take in the breathtaking views from their room. Our club lounge is a versatile space where bleisure guests can get down to business while enjoying the luxury surroundings,” Ferguson said.
"When it comes to attracting the bleisure market, New York City has that perfect mix of work and play. At The Ritz-Carlton New York, Central Park, we've created an environment that caters to both. Our hotel evokes the feeling of a cozy, residential townhouse making it a welcome retreat after a busy day in the city,” they said.
The Ritz-Carlton New York, Central Park, 50 Central Park S, New York, NY 10019
*Club Lounge costs an additional $450 per night for 2 people, on top of the room rate. During the holidays, it is an additional $650 per night for 2 people. The Club Lounge is available for all paying guests.
