The Rise of “Bleisure” Travel: Volunteering or Interning While on a Business Trip

Today’s business travelers increasingly combine work and leisure – known as bleisure travel – and many want to use their downtime to make a difference. Volunteering during a trip is a powerful way to contribute to local communities, build skills, and deepen your connection with the destination. 

Why Bleisure Volunteering?

Integrating service into a business trip helps professionals develop leadership, teamwork, and cross‑cultural awareness while demonstrating a company’s commitment to corporate social responsibility. 

Volunteering also gives travelers an authentic cultural experience and inspires fresh perspectives that can improve problem‑solving at work. Some companies even incorporate volunteer programs into annual training to cultivate empathy and global awareness among staff.

Below, we highlight major organizations offering flexible programs tailored for professionals on the go.

International Volunteer HQ (IVHQ) 

IVHQ operates in more than 40 countries, making it easy to find a project near your work destination. Its corporate programs emphasize problem‑solving, resilience, and teamwork. Assignments last from one week to three months and cover areas like education, health care, conservation, and community development.

Groups can tailor placements to specific CSR goals, and IVHQ matches them with local partners and arranges logistics.

Featured Program: Protect endangered sea turtles on IVHQ’s Turtle Conservation in Huidong — an easy add-on to a Shenzhen or Guangzhou business trip. Choose 1 to 4 weeks with up to six volunteer hours per day, then enjoy free weekends. Your impact includes preparing food, cleaning enclosures, assisting research, joining beach cleanups, and supporting community education about marine protection. 

GoEco

For professionals with limited time, GoEco offers one to two‑week projects in areas like marine conservation, wildlife rescue, and community health. These shorter programs are perfect add‑ons to a business trip. With operations in over 40 countries and a focus on responsible travel, GoEco enables volunteers to make a meaningful impact in a timeframe that fits their schedules.

Featured Program: Make a real impact in Barcelona with GoEco’s Barcelona Food Rescue & Community Empowerment program. Support two local NGOs combating food waste and uplifting a diverse migrant neighborhood in Nou Barris. Volunteers help collect, sort, and distribute surplus food, run community workshops, and assist at Europe’s only 100% inclusive hostel, which trains and employs people with disabilities. 

Maximo Nivel

Operating in Latin America, Maximo Nivel runs volunteer programs lasting from one to 52 weeks. Packages include lodging, meals, airport transfers, and 24/7 in‑country support. Corporate teams can opt for custom programs that allow volunteers to contribute up to four hours per day, leaving time for work commitments and exploration. 

Featured program: Support shelters and rescue centers while experiencing pura vida on Maximo Nivel’s Animal Care in Costa Rica. You’ll help with feeding, cleaning, grooming, basic maintenance, and community education that improves animal welfare. The San Pedro campus in San José keeps you close to transport, cafes, and local life between shifts. Purposeful, city-based, and schedule-friendly!

Projects Abroad

Projects Abroad places professionals in roles that match their skills while contributing to sustainable projects. Volunteers choose independent “Flexi Trips” or group trips and set their own duration. For companies, the organization offers turnkey CSR trips covering accommodation, meals, transport, and excursions.

Featured program: Support migrants and refugees in Guadalajara, Mexico, with Projects Abroad’s Migrant and Refugee Support project. You’ll volunteer at a 24/7 aid shelter alongside social workers and lawyers, helping run the clothing bank, prepare and serve hot meals, keep shared spaces clean, and collect vital demographic data that improves services. Start anytime, stay a minimum of two weeks, with weekends free to explore Mexico’s cultural capital. 

African Impact

African Impact designs customized group itineraries that balance service projects with cultural immersion and adventure. Projects often involve teaching, wildlife conservation and community development, and the company’s sustainable approach ensures contributions support long‑term goals.

Featured Program: Level up your portfolio while doing good on African Impact’s NGO Photography project in South Africa. Based in Stellenbosch near Cape Town, this two-week workshop-plus-field assignment pairs tutoring from a humanitarian photographer with real shoots for grassroots nonprofits. You’ll learn ethical storytelling, document programs, and donate a selection of images that help partners raise awareness and funds. Bring your DSLR and laptop!

Involvement Volunteers International (IVI)

IVI is a not‑for‑profit organization that coordinates placements with schools, hospitals, and NGOs worldwide. It offers affordable options for corporate groups and individual travelers. Programs can be adapted to short timeframes, making them easy to integrate into business travel. 

Featured Program: Turn business or vacation days into purpose with IVI’s Refugee Humanitarian Support in Turkey. Work alongside trusted local NGOs on city-based projects that ease daily pressures for displaced families: help sort and distribute essential supplies, support community outreach, assist informal education and language activities, and contribute to needs assessments or data tasks that strengthen services. 

Volunteering Solutions (VolSol)

VolSol’s corporate programs let employees participate in meaningful service while traveling. The programs align with company values and allow staff to contribute to global causes while developing new skills. You can also volunteer as an individual!

Featured Program: Support a local Irish charity while gaining retail and community experience on Volunteering Solutions’ Charity Shop Volunteering Program in Ireland. Typical duties include sorting donated clothes and books, pricing and merchandising items, moving furniture, and assisting at the till. In summer, pop-up book sales and festival stalls add variety. An easy, English-speaking placement that fits many schedules!

Global Vision International (GVI) 

Global Vision International runs a corporate division called World of Difference. GVI’s award‑winning projects and expertise in CSR program management make it a trusted partner. Programs highlight a company’s commitment to sustainable initiatives and focus on locally led projects.

Featured program: Join GVI’s Marine Conservation Expedition in Bocas del Toro, Panama, and help protect coral reefs while advancing your dive skills. You’ll log roughly 10–12 dives per week and contribute 35 hours of fieldwork, gathering data that supports local reef monitoring and restoration.

Planning Your Bleisure Volunteering Trip

1. Duration: Many programs run for a week or less; match your volunteer schedule with your business itinerary.
2. Goals: Decide whether you seek professional development or wish to support a specific cause, which determines the right program.
3. Company buy‑in: Emphasize benefits such as morale and CSR to secure management support.
4. Logistics: Understand visa requirements and cultural norms; rely on the orientation and support offered by these organizations. Some programs require vaccinations or background checks. Remember to check travel advisories and ensure your travel insurance covers volunteering activities.
5. Share your experience: Document and share your volunteer story to inspire colleagues and demonstrate the value of bleisure volunteering. Early communication with the organization helps secure a project that aligns with your schedule and skills.

Add CSR to Your Itinerary!

Bleisure travel is more than a perk — it’s a practical pathway to make an impact between meetings. By choosing city-based, short-term, skills-friendly projects, professionals can align personal values with Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) goals while building leadership, cross-cultural communication, and resilience. 

Pick your destination, block one week, loop in HR for CSR support, and book. Your next business trip can drive results — for your company and the community.