“Bleisure” at the Races

The way we meet is changing. Business trips are no longer defined by long days in windowless rooms followed by an early train home. Today’s delegates want something more: quality time with colleagues, memorable experiences, and even a chance to bring family or friends along for the fun. Enter ‘bleisure’, the fusion of business and leisure.

This is never more prevalent than within ARC racecourses, where there continues to grow a fan base of event planners that not only are not only looking for professional meeting place, but a more modern approach to delegate experience.

Business with a Winning Edge

Across ARC’s portfolio of racecourses, meeting planners will find a wealth of smart, versatile spaces. Private boxes and suites, designed to host VIPs during prestigious race meetings, translate beautifully into high-end meeting rooms, breakout zones, and boardrooms. They come with natural daylight, green views and the reassuring sense of history that gives each course, and each room, its own personality.

Because these venues are built around world-class hospitality, organisers expect professional service and exceptional catering, from polished business lunches to gala dinners and glittering awards nights. Large halls and pavilions suit conferences and exhibitions, while the elegant boxes work perfectly for strategy sessions or client entertaining. And with acres of outdoor space, planners can add team-building activities, al fresco coffee breaks or mindful strolls in the fresh air.

From Suits to Spectators

What sets these venues apart, however, is what happens once the business wraps up, and this is where bleisure begins to show its value. The same grounds that host morning brainstorms can, by afternoon or evening, come alive with the colour and buzz of a live race meeting. Delegates can step straight from the boardroom onto a balcony overlooking the track, glass in hand, to enjoy the thrill of the turf.

Racecourses are home to a rich social culture. Networking becomes more relaxed when taking place trackside, chatting over canapés as the horses parade past. ARC’s teams can even arrange a professional tipster to share insider knowledge, explain the form guide and help novices place their first bet, a playful, confidence-building moment that breaks the ice between colleagues and clients alike.

Beyond the Rails

The leisure options don’t stop at horse racing. Many of ARC’s courses host concerts, festivals, seasonal fairs and consumer events, giving organisers the chance to package extra entertainment into their programmes. Imagine a full-day conference culminating in a headline music act, or an incentive trip that mixes workshops with a behind-the-scenes tour of the stables and weighing room.

For those who love detail, ARC can open doors to rarely seen parts of the sport: the jockeys’ changing rooms, the all-important parade ring, even the farrier’s forge. These experiences give delegates a new perspective on racing and make for brilliant talking points long after the event ends.

A Contemporary Take on Hospitality

Bleisure also reflects how work-life balance is evolving. Delegates are increasingly keen to extend trips, invite partners or families, and enjoy shared downtime around their professional commitments. Racecourses lend themselves perfectly to this. They’re large, welcoming and easy to navigate, with excellent transport links and on-site or nearby accommodation.

A partner might spend the afternoon exploring the grounds before joining delegates for dinner and an evening at the races. Colleagues can continue conversations informally over cocktails or simply soak up the atmosphere of a live event together, forging the kind of personal connections that virtual calls can’t replicate.

A Fresh Proposition for Planners

For event professionals looking to offer something distinctive, and something modern, these venues tick every box. They’re credible, practical and steeped in character, yet they also open the door to immersive leisure experiences that amplify the impact of any gathering.

Whether it’s a strategy day followed by a private racing package, a conference combined with a live concert, or a reward trip enriched with tours and tastings, the “business first, relax later” formula is proving a powerful draw.

As delegates’ expectations continue to evolve, so too must the spaces we choose for meetings. ARC’s racecourses invite planners to think beyond the ordinary, to turn agendas into adventures and transform corporate occasions into lasting memories. In the fast-paced world of modern events, that’s a winning bet.

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