It's not just business or leisure travel these days — it's both at the same time. The term "bleisure" (business plus leisure) has been making the rounds for the past year or two, but it seems to have gained momentum in the past six months and is set to make itself quite a phenomenon for the travel and hospitality industry in 2016.

Bleisure has already contributed to the growth of travel and tourism in 2015 and promises more revenue in the future. A 2014 survey by BridgeStreet Global Hospitality showed that 60 percent of travelers were thinking of adding a leisure component to their business trip.

It is imperative that the travel and hospitality sector wake up to this growing trend and seize the opportunities that are coming their way. They need to understand their customer segments better and offer better and more relevant deals. An interesting development is seen in the serviced apartment industry, which has been quicker on the uptake, as they are gear up for better services both for business travelers and their families.

While executives themselves are opting for bleisure, the corporate world has been quick to see its advantages as well. The company is already paying for the business trip, so allowing employees to add a weekend of sightseeing is a perk that will keep the constant travelers happy. More than half of these business travelers want to bring their families or their significant others with them or have them join in at the tail end of the business trip.

A staggering amount of employees have reported work-related stress and taking sabbaticals in recent years. Desperate to stem the attrition in an already distressed market, businesses are keen to boost their workplace wellness with innovative concepts like these.

A healthy dose of pleasure among the work and meetings will lead to better work-life balance and perhaps more loyalty toward the employer. Hotels, restaurants and many wellness retreats are now offering tailored programs to provide unique experiences for guests in this segment, but the number is still too low to bring in the desired results.

Many of these travelers are opting to use their frequent-flyer miles to defray the extra costs for flying family in for these trips. Thus, they are happy to opt for a carrier that belongs to a global airline network that can consolidate members' programs. This will allow the passengers to earn and redeem miles across multiple networks through their friends and family sharing plans.

Megaresorts like Disney World have reported major earnings from bleisure customers. They have upped their offerings for business conventions as more executives opt to combines costs and schedules to have their families enjoy themselves while they work.

Technological advances and the communication revolution have redefined the workplace culture, especially for millennials, and this is driving the rise in bleisure travel. People today can connect anywhere they want, from airport lobbies to the roadside cafe, which means they can work and stay afloat with the business world even as they travel with family.

Companies are no longer fussy about location either, as long as they get the work done. Productivity is more important after all, and this flexibility has indeed made employees far more productive and appreciative than before.

Looking at all the positive outcomes from this trend, employers and the companies across the travel/tourism/hospitality landscape should incorporate this lifestyle messaging in their 2016 marketing profiles.