With thoughtfully designed areas and visitor experiences centered on connection, Crowne Plaza stays a best choice for hybrid travellers within the Center East
DUBAI, UAE, Might 12, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Crowne Plaza by IHG – one of many world’s largest premium resort manufacturers and a thought-leader within the blended journey house – has launched its second white paper: Leading the Charge in Blended Travel.
The report unveils a serious shift since its 2022 report, pushed by a brand new breed of firms and people looking for far-reaching flexibility that extends past conventional work-life steadiness and right into a holistic strategy centered on private development, mind-body fairness, and connection when travelling.
To gauge the worldwide attain of this development, Crowne Plaza commissioned a YouGov survey of over 12,000 folks throughout Saudi Arabia, the U.A.E., the U.S., U.Okay., Germany, Australia, Singapore, Japan, and India.
The findings revealed 70 per cent of respondents within the U.A.E. and 65 per cent in KSA agree they see larger advantages and adaptability in blended journey in comparison with 5 years in the past, confirming travellers are extra keen than ever earlier than to make use of their time away to attain broader private objective, particularly within the GCC area. Within the UAE, 30 per cent of respondents to the YouGov survey stated that they had beforehand skilled blended journey, rising to 32 per cent of respondents from KSA.
“Flexibility in the place and when folks work is now an expectation for at the moment’s professionals,” stated Ginger Taggart, Vice President of Model Administration – International Premium Manufacturers, IHG Motels & Resorts. “Crowne Plaza has tracked the evolution of work-leisure integration for years. Blended journey has shifted from a development to a everlasting lifestyle—whether or not it is extending a enterprise journey, working remotely from a dream vacation spot, or discovering inspiration on the go. As this shift evolves and turns into extra subtle, we’re not simply responding to it—we’re actively shaping the way forward for it by reimagining Crowne Plaza resort designs, creating curated social areas, and rolling out purpose-driven experiences that help a extra dynamic, fulfilling manner of touring.”
The Evolution of Blended Journey
The Main the Cost in Blended Journey white paper reveals 4 rising developments driving the shift:
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Enhance and Develop: Blended journey is now key to each private {and professional} development, with travellers linking their journeys to self-improvement, ability growth, and artistic exploration. In contrast to conventional journey, which centered on relaxation and recharging, at the moment’s travellers see time away as an energetic pursuit that fuels creativity and enhances well-being. Blended journey gives a robust catalyst for creativity by exposing people to new environments that encourage recent concepts. And to expertise extra, vacationers throughout the Center East and Africa at the moment are extending their journeys by a median of three days in comparison with pre-pandemic ranges. The YouGov survey findings additional again this development, revealing the highest motivator globally for combining work and leisure journey is to discover locations they in any other case wouldn’t have visited (40 per cent). The will to be stimulated by new environment has at all times been a part of why we journey, and Crowne Plaza meets this want with quite a lot of inspiring assembly and occasions areas. Crowne Plaza Dubai Marina boasts state-of-the-art assembly services together with the Marina’s first ballroom with pure mild and in addition contains a new strategy to foyer design which can be utilized for conferences, co-working or enjoyable and the resort
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Thoughts-Physique Fairness: Wellness is now woven into each facet of life, and journey is not any exception. This can be a shift from self-care to self-awareness, with travellers demanding environments that encourage alternative for higher psychological and bodily well-being. Thirty-five per cent of YouGov survey respondents globally stated blended journey helps them set up more healthy routines and cut back stress, rising to 41 per cent of U.A.E respondents. Stress is extra widespread amongst workers within the Center East and North Africa area than some other, with the white paper revealing 52 per cent of staff reported feeling “plenty of stress” the day earlier than they have been surveyed (in comparison with 41 per cent worldwide). Crowne Plaza addressed this human want by way of its new Fashionable design type, the place biophilic design ensures friends really feel nearer to nature. At Crowne Plaza Muscat, a double-deck infinity pool permits friends to immerse themselves in pure vistas, whereas squash and tennis courts supply beautiful views of the encompassing greenery.
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The New Private Journey Financial system: New traveller calls for are all about getting probably the most worth from our money and time. Each second, greenback, and ounce of power spent is predicted to really feel significant. In areas just like the Center East, travellers are turning to expertise for help, with alternatives for AI and different tech options to make the journey planning course of extra seamless and pleasurable. In keeping with the white paper, this may’t come quick sufficient for one in three UAE customers and practically one in 5 KSA customers (39 per cent), who say they’d prefer to have an AI clone of themselves to maintain purchasing, admin, and communications duties on their behalf sooner or later. The YouGov survey additionally reveals that extending journeys at a decrease private price is a prime good thing about blended journey. Seventy per cent of respondents globally stated inexpensive offers or facilities that cater to each enterprise and leisure would encourage them to pursue blended journey experiences. Via the IHG One Rewards programme, members staying at a Crowne Plaza resort can earn and redeem factors totally free nights, unlock entry to unique experiences and occasions, and revel in Milestone Reward advantages corresponding to bonus factors, Meals & Beverage Rewards, Confirmable Suite Upgrades, and far more.
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Intentional Togetherness: With a lot of life lived on-line, travellers are inserting larger worth on in-person reference to colleagues, family members and new acquaintances. The white paper revealed that household relationships are a central theme in at the moment’s journey panorama. Actually, 65 per cent of individuals in MENA journey with household. Spontaneous journeys with household or important others have gotten more and more well-liked, with 41 per cent of travellers planning spontaneous journeys with household, and 35 per cent with a big different, in comparison with 27 per cent who plan to journey alone. Crowne Plaza’s Conferences & Occasions Concierge program caters to this, providing personalised itineraries that allow all friends to discover the locality and revel in significant connections.
