Trip Chaining
Introduction
The travel and tourism sector has undergone an unprecedented transformation, marked by the emergence of new forms of mobility and a growing overlap between business and leisure travel. In 2024, business travel surpassed leisure tourism, with a growth of 19% compared to 11%. At the heart of this evolution is the concept of Trip Chaining, which originated from urban transport planning.
Trip Chaining in brief : the practice of combining multiple destinations into a single journey
The origins of Trip Chaining
Historically, Trip Chaining described the succession of daily activities (e.g., errands, family tasks) integrated into a home-to-work commute. A “Tour” represents the entire journey that begins and ends at a primary destination or "Anchor," such as home or the workplace. A stop of more than 30 minutes breaks the chain, marking the end of a tour.
Initially used to understand the dynamics of road congestion and energy consumption, the analysis of this practice is structured around precise terminology to differentiate the components of a complex itinerary:
Trip: The one-way movement from one address to another.
Anchor: A main or substantial destination that serves as the starting or ending point of a trip, such as home or the workplace.
Tour: The total journey that begins and ends at an anchor destination, whether it's a direct round trip (home-work) or a series of chained trips (home-grocery-daycare-work). A stop of more than 30 minutes is considered a break in the chain, marking the end of one tour and the beginning of a new one.
However, when applied to business tourism, Trip Chaining shifts from a strategy of utilitarian efficiency to a value-creation approach. The goal is no longer just to optimize a logistical constraint, but to enrich the traveler's experience, promote their well-being, and maximize their personal return on investment.
Hanoi, the millennial city, is the gateway to Southeast Asia - Mr Linh's Adventures
Extending the Trip Chaining concept to professional travel
Trip Chaining provides the conceptual model that unites MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, Exhibitions) and Bleisure (Business + Leisure). The MICE event is the primary anchor of the trip, while leisure activities, such as museum visits or gourmet dinners, become intermediate stops that enrich the experience. The most obvious manifestation of this practice is extending a business stay for pleasure.
Trip Chaining as a value enhancer
For the traveler
By grouping activities and minimizing the number of trips, Trip Chaining reduces distance traveled, fuel consumption, and congestion, which translates to savings in time and money. This efficiency frees up time for more enriching activities and reduces the stress associated with travel.
Furthermore, integrating leisure into professional travel is a powerful lever for employee well-being and mental health. Studies show that travelers who benefit from these extended stays feel happier, less stressed, and more rested upon their return. This sense of well-being directly translates into improved productivity and creativity at work. Exposure to new cultures and environments—a central element of Trip Chaining—fosters new perspectives that are then reintegrated into professional activities, stimulating innovation. A tangible financial benefit for the employee is also the reduction in costs, as the company covers the initial transport expenses, leaving the traveler responsible only for accommodation and leisure activity costs for the personal portion of their stay.
Angkor Wat — a must-see Khmer masterpiece in Cambodia - Mr Linh's AdventuresFor the company
Adopting a policy that supports Trip Chaining and Bleisure is a particularly effective human resources management strategy. About 79% of travelers state they are more willing to go on business trips if they can extend them for pleasure. This flexibility is perceived as a valuable benefit, contributing to the company's attractiveness and talent retention, especially for Millennials and Generation Z.
Beyond employee engagement, integrating Trip Chaining helps optimize the return on investment for business travel. A company can encourage its employees to group several appointments and meetings into a single tour, thereby reducing the total number of trips and, in turn, transportation-related expenses. The investment in business travel has a direct impact on profitability and revenue, with a 29% lower employee turnover rate in companies that have increased their travel budget to connect with their teams.
For destinations and the tourism ecosystem
Tourist destinations have everything to gain from promoting Trip Chaining. Travelers who extend their stay for leisure reasons spend more and over a longer period, generating a significant additional source of revenue. The Bleisure market, valued at $315.3 billion in 2022, is expected to more than double to $731.4 billion by 2032, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.9%. The lengthening of the average duration of business trips, evidenced by the fact that one-day trips decreased from 14.3% in 2019 to 6.8% in 2023, is a testament to this growing economic opportunity.
Moreover, chaining destinations creates spillover effects, where the traveler visits multiple places and thus contributes to the economy of neighboring regions, beyond their main destination.
Trip Chaining also offers destinations a strategic communication angle regarding sustainability. Studies on urban mobility show that trip chaining reduces vehicle kilometers traveled and pollutant emissions. This same logic applies to business travel. By encouraging travelers to combine their professional and personal goals in a single, longer trip, companies and destinations can help reduce the overall carbon footprint of travel, addressing a growing concern for eco-responsibility. This proactive approach positions the destination as a committed player in more responsible tourism.
Several destinations and companies have already capitalized on the Bleisure trend by adopting strategies aligned with Trip Chaining. Cities like New York, Paris, and London position themselves as Bleisure capitals due to their dual appeal for business and leisure. Their tourism boards, such as NYC Tourism + Conventions, target both business and leisure audiences by highlighting unique experiences that facilitate the combination of the two.
Pha That Luang — Laos’s national symbol and most sacred stupa - Mr Linh's Adventures
Added value in motion
Trip Chaining transforms a business trip into a series of combined opportunities—optimizing these chains increases business efficiency, traveler satisfaction, and the revenues of local players while allowing for attractive Bleisure offers. For the travel ecosystem, this approach generates significant value for all stakeholders:
For travelers, it results in better well-being, increased productivity, and a richer experience.
For companies, it becomes a lever for talent retention and attractiveness, in addition to offering efficiency gains.
For destinations, it is a source of additional revenue and a vector for sustainable development.
The future of business travel lies in an integrated, personalized, and traveler-experience-centric mobility. Technology, particularly artificial intelligence and data analysis, will play a crucial role in the design and management of these complex itineraries.
To capitalize on this trend, industry players must stop treating business and leisure travel as distinct silos. Instead, they must develop collaborative strategies and integrated offerings that transform professional travel into a fluid and enriching experience.
For business tourists, trip chaining means integrating work-related stops with non-work activities
Case Study: Optimizing a multi-city business stay in Southeast Asia
Product Sheet
MICE + Trip Chaining Package: Vietnam – Laos – Cambodia
⇒ Target audience: Companies / MICE agencies looking for a mixed program of conferences, B2B meetings, and Bleisure extensions.
⇒ Group size: Small (5–15 participants).
⇒ Level: Intermediate comfort.
⇒ Duration: 8 days / 7 nights (Hanoi → Vientiane → Siem Reap → Hanoi).
Sales pitch: A multi-city program optimized to maximize B2B meetings, event visibility, and the Bleisure experience—all while minimizing downtime and logistical costs.
Package contents
- ♦ Multi-city domestic/regional flights (economy): Hanoi → Vientiane → Siem Reap → Hanoi (taxes included).
- ♦ 7 nights in 3★–4★ hotels (standard twin/double rooms): 2 nights in Hanoi, 2 nights in Vientiane/Luang Prabang combined as an option (1 night LP or 1 night VTE+LP), 2 nights in Siem Reap, 1 night in Hanoi.
- ♦ Private transfers from airports ↔ hotels and daytime shuttles for appointments
- ♦ 2 half-days of conference room rentals with coffee & breaks (Hanoi + Siem Reap).
- ♦ 3 organized B2B meeting sessions / appointments (local coordination, invitations, room for meetings).
- ♦ 1 offsite workshop (resort/venue) + light team-building activity (materials included).
- ♦ 1 networking evening (3-course dinner + cultural entertainment).
- ♦ English-speaking local guide + regional MICE coordinator (24/7 assistance).
- ♦ Logistics documents.
- ♦ Basic travel insurance (limited—upgrade recommended).
- ♦ Visa management: assistance and formalities (visas not included if required).
Included / À la Carte options (Supplements)
• Personalized Bleisure extension (Ha Long Bay tours, Ninh Binh, Angkor sunrise, etc.).
• Accommodation upgrade to 4★–5★.
• Business class flights / premium seats.
• On-site professional translation/interpretation.
• Factory visits/technical inspections (cost depends on location).
• Full visa management & premium insurance.
Sample Itinerary (Condensed Day-by-Day)