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  • On ‘New Heights,’ Taylor Swift reveals ‘Life of a Showgirl’ release date

    On ‘New Heights,’ Taylor Swift reveals ‘Life of a Showgirl’ release date

    Taylor Swift will enter her latest era in a matter of months.

    The ubiquitous “Shake It Off” pop star announced her upcoming album, “The Life of a Showgirl,” would drop Oct. 3 as she made her podcasting debut Wednesday on “New Heights,” co-hosted by her NFL star boyfriend Travis Kelce and his retired football pro brother, Jason Kelce. The Grammy winner also unveiled the album’s tracklist, which touts a finale featuring Sabrina Carpenter.

    “It was something I was working on while I was in Europe on the Eras tour,” she explained to the Kelce brothers. “I was physically exhausted at this point on the tour, but I was so mentally stimulated and so excited to be creating.”

    Swift revealed her 12th album was imminent earlier this week in a teaser promoting the latest “New Heights” episode. In the clip, she pulls a blurred-out record out of a briefcase decorated simply with her initials.

    “The Life of a Showgirl” will be her second record in two years — following last year’s “The Tortured Poets Department” — and her first release since reacquiring the rights to her early recordings in May.

    That was a move that “changed my life,” she said Wednesday.


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  • Hezbollah chief thanks Iran for ongoing support to face Israel – World

    Hezbollah chief thanks Iran for ongoing support to face Israel – World

    BEIRUT: Hezbollah chief Naim Qassem has thanked a senior Iranian official for his country’s ongoing support in confronting Israel, the Lebanese group said on Thursday.

    For decades, Tehran has been the main backer of the Shiite Muslim group, which emerged badly weakened from last year’s war with Israel that saw its arsenal pummelled and senior commanders killed.

    Qassem met with Iran’s Supreme National Security Council chief Ali Larijani, who arrived in Beirut on Wednesday, and thanked Iran “for the ongoing support to Lebanon and its resistance against the Israeli enemy”, the group said in a statement.

    He also thanked Iran for its support for Lebanon’s “unity, sovereignty and independence”, and emphasised “the brotherly relations between the Lebanese and Iranian people”.

    Four Israeli soldiers killed in accidental explosion in Lebanon

    Larijani’s visit came after the Lebanese government tasked the army with drawing up a plan to disarm Hezbollah by the end of the year.

    Recent statements from Iranian officials in support of Hezbollah keeping its weapons have angered Lebanese officials.

    Lebanese President Joseph Aoun told Larijani on Wednesday that “we reject any interference in our internal affairs,” adding that “it is forbidden for anyone… to bear arms and to use foreign backing as leverage”.

    Prime Minister Nawaf Salam was equally firm, saying that “Lebanon will not accept, in any form, any interference in its internal affairs, and expects from the Iranian side a clear and explicit commitment to respect these principles.”

    Larijani said that “any decision that the Lebanese government makes in consultation with the resistance is respected by us”.

    “The one who interferes in Lebanese affairs is the one who plans for you, gives you a timetable from thousands of kilometres away. We did not give you any plan,” he said.

    He was alluding to Washington, which put heavy pressure on Beirut to disarm Hezbollah and even presented a detailed proposal, including a timeline, for the process.

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  • Strong Global Performance Driven by Clear Hybrid-AI Strategy, Investment in Innovation, and Operational Excellence

    Strong Global Performance Driven by Clear Hybrid-AI Strategy, Investment in Innovation, and Operational Excellence

    August 14, 2025 – Lenovo Group Limited (HKSE: 992) (ADR: LNVGY), together with its subsidiaries (‘the Group’), today announced strong first quarter results for the fiscal year 2025/26, reporting significant growth in overall group revenue and profit. Revenue grew 22% year-on-year to US$18.8 billion, with net income up 108% year-on-year to US$505 million. On a non-Hong Kong Financial Reporting Standards (non-HKFRS[1]) basis, net income grew by 22% year-on-year to US$389 million, adjusted for non-cash fair value gain on warrants[2]. 

    All main business groups saw solid double-digit year-on-year revenue growth, with the PC business reporting particularly strong numbers following the highest year-on-year revenue growth rate in 15 consecutive quarters and an all-time high market share of 24.6%. The Group’s diversified growth engines continue to grow, with non-PC revenue mix up nearly half a point year-on-year to 47%. All sales geographies delivered high to relatively high year-on-year revenue growth. The strong results reinforce Lenovo’s ability and commitment to preserve competitiveness, maintain market share, and sustain profitability against the challenging external environment.

    Three main strategic factors drove the results. First, the Group’s firm execution of its hybrid AI vision sees it capitalizing on unprecedented AI opportunities. Second, a commitment to continuous investment in innovation, which saw R&D spending increase over 10% year-on-year, supporting the Group’s progress towards long-term goals of building personal and enterprise AI twins. And third, its operational excellence, including a unique ODM+ manufacturing model, a balanced global sales footprint, and a ‘Global/Local’ model that combines global sourcing and resources with local delivery.

    The combination of these factors gives the Group maximum flexibility and resilience to navigate through market cycles and geopolitical uncertainties. Looking ahead, Lenovo remains committed to delivering more breakthrough innovations for customers, generating higher returns for its shareholders, and creating lasting value for its stakeholders and communities around the world.

    Chairman and CEO quote – Yuanqing Yang:

    “By leveraging the resilience and flexibility of our supply chain and operational excellence, we overcame challenges brought by tariff volatility and the geopolitical landscape and achieved significant growth in both top and bottom lines. These record Q1 results underscore our ability to deliver on our promise to preserve competitiveness and continuously grow our business. Looking ahead, we will continue to firmly execute our hybrid AI strategy towards the vision of Smarter AI for all, relentlessly drive innovation in personal AI and enterprise AI products and solutions and consistently strengthen our operational competitiveness so that we can realize sustainable growth and profitability improvement.” 

    Financial Highlights:

    Lenovo management encourages investors, analysts, and the public to focus on its non-HKFRS measures, which exclude the impact of non-cash items related to warrants and convertible bonds as part of Lenovo’s strategic collaboration with Alat. Non-HKFRS offers a clearer view of the Group’s core operational performance, as the non-cash items related to warrants and notional interest on convertible bonds are expected to persist through the end of fiscal year 2027/2028.

    Intelligent Devices Group (IDG): Strong growth across the board, leading in personal AI

    Q1 FY25/26 performance:

    • Overall IDG revenue grew nearly 18% year-on-year to US$13.5 billion, with the PCs and smart devices business delivering 19% year-on-year revenue growth, the fastest pace in 15 quarters. All geographies achieved double-digit year-on-year revenue growth in PCs and smart devices.
    • The PCs and smart devices business maintained its industry-leading profitability with an operating profit of more than 8% thanks to a strong performance from high-margin segments.
    • PC market leadership was further reinforced with a record 24.6% market share, together with an increased lead over the number two player.
    • AI PC penetration accelerated, accounting for more than 30% of all Lenovo PC shipments. Lenovo ranks #1 globally in the Windows AI PC segment with a 31% market share.
    • Smartphone revenue grew over 14% year-on-year to US$2.2 billion, with sales volume outgrowing the market for eight consecutive quarters. In markets outside of China, smartphone market share reached a record high, with the success of the Razr phone seeing Motorola take the #1 position in foldables (flip and fold) with over 50% market share.
    • Looking ahead, IDG will continue to build agent-native devices of various forms, while enriching the application ecosystem for AI super agent to boost agent user engagement. This will drive toward “One AI, Multiple Devices”, positioning agent-native devices as the entry point for Personal AI.

    Infrastructure Solutions Group (ISG): Sustained high growth, building long-term competitiveness

    Q1 FY25/26 performance:

    • ISG delivered strong revenue growth of up 36% year-on-year to US$4.3 billion through a strong execution of its CSP (Cloud Service Provider) and E/SMB (Enterprise and SMB) dual strategy.
    • Increasing investments in AI infrastructure and R&D, as well as enhancing E/SMB competitiveness, even as profitability was impacted in the short-term.
    • The AI infrastructure business revenue more than doubled year-on-year with a robust pipeline and a clear product roadmap ahead. Revenue from industry-leading liquid cooling solutions grew 30% year-on-year.
    • Looking ahead, ISG is committed to investing in driving long-term growth and value through strategic market expansion, E/SMB business model transformation, AI infrastructure innovation and product development, to stay ahead of the AI curve and provide differentiated global competitiveness. The Group is confident that ISG will not only sustain mid-to-long-term growth, but also deliver stronger profitability returns.

    Solutions and Services Group (SSG): High growth and high profitability, unleashing Lenovo hybrid AI Advantage

    Q1 FY25/26 performance:

    • SSG delivered another record quarter of revenue, up 20% year-on-year to US$2.3 billion – marking 17 consecutive quarters of year-on-year revenue growth.
    • Operating margin was up 1.2 points year-on-year to over 22% – making SSG the key profit engine for the Group overall, thanks to its sustainable margin expansion.
    • Support Services achieved double-digit year-on-year revenue growth by leveraging strong market demand for hardware and focusing on attaching premium services, e.g., Premium Care and Premier Support Plus.
    • Managed services, and “as-a-Service” offerings, along with Projects and Solutions grew even faster with TruScale Infrastructure-as-a-service delivering triple-digit growth year-on-year in signings, and TruScale Device-as-a-service seeing double-digit growth for the quarter. Their combined mix increasing three points year-on-year to 58% of SSG’s total revenue.
    • AI-driven solutions have gained momentum, especially in manufacturing and supply chain sectors.
    • Looking ahead, Lenovo will further build the Lenovo Hybrid AI Advantage framework as its key differentiator and will focus on Digital Workplace Solutions, Hybrid Cloud, and Sustainability solutions, while at the same time building simple and scalable AI-led vertical solutions to solve customers’ most significant needs.

    Corporate and ESG highlights

    Lenovo published its FY2024/25 Environmental, Social and Governance Report in June 2025, key highlights included:

    • Detailed progress towards the Group’s 2030 emissions reduction targets, including reaffirming its long-term ambition to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.
    • Environmental progress through participation in the circular economy, including the continuous use of closed-loop recycled materials in its products as well as sustainability services for customers.
    • The Group’s sustainability performance was recognized by 3rd parties such as EcoVadis (Platinum Medal), MSCI ESG Ratings (AAA), and CDP (A list in climate, water security and supplier engagement). The Group’s governance and reporting was additionally recognized with a Gold Awardfrom the Hong Kong Institute of Certified Public Accountants (HKICPA) for Best Corporate Governance and ESG.

    Lenovo was recently ranked #8 in Gartner’s Top 25 Global Supply Chain, with an ESG Score of 9/10. The ranking recognizes excellence in supply chain operations among global leaders across various industries, including pharmaceutical, automotive, FMCG, and technology. The prestigious Gartner ranking highlights companies that consistently demonstrate leadership in supply chain strategy and execution.

    In July 2025 Lenovo climbed 52 spots on the Fortune Global 500 list. This achievement marks Lenovo’s 16th year on the Global 500, highlighting it as one of the world’s 500 largest companies by revenue, with its highest ranking in the Technology sector to date – placing 13th among the global technology industry.

     

    [1] Non-HKFRS measure was adjusted by excluding net fair value changes on financial assets at fair value through profit or loss, amortization of intangible assets resulting from mergers and acquisitions, gain on deemed disposal of a subsidiary, impairment and write-off of intangible assets, property, plant and equipment and construction-in-progress, fair value change on derivative financial liabilities relating to warrants, and notional interest of convertible bonds; and the corresponding income tax effects, if any.

    [2] Effects of warrant obligations will fluctuate positively or negatively in the coming quarters (through the end of FY27/28), primarily based on share price movements in the quarter. Lenovo encourages the market to focus on its underlying operational performance as reflected by non-HKFRS reporting.

     

    About Lenovo

    Lenovo is a US$69 billion revenue global technology powerhouse, ranked #196 in the Fortune Global 500, and serving millions of customers every day in 180 markets. Focused on a bold vision to deliver Smarter Technology for All, Lenovo has built on its success as the world’s largest PC company with a full-stack portfolio of AI-enabled, AI-ready, and AI-optimized devices (PCs, workstations, smartphones, tablets), infrastructure (server, storage, edge, high performance computing and software defined infrastructure), software, solutions, and services. Lenovo’s continued investment in world-changing innovation is building a more equitable, trustworthy, and smarter future for everyone, everywhere. Lenovo is listed on the Hong Kong stock exchange under Lenovo Group Limited (HKSE: 992) (ADR: LNVGY). To find out more visit https://www.lenovo.com, and read about the latest news via our StoryHub. 

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  • Apple Reportedly Planning AI Comeback, Complete With a Tabletop Robot

    Apple Reportedly Planning AI Comeback, Complete With a Tabletop Robot

    Apple wants a bigger place in your home, according to a report Wednesday from Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman. While you might think of Apple primarily as the maker of the iPhone, Apple Watch, iPad, MacBook, AirPods and more, the tech giant reportedly hopes to use artificial intelligence to sell you a number of new smart home devices. Those devices may include a tabletop robot, home security cameras and a smart speaker with a screen.

    An Apple representative didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.

    Tabletop robot

    According to Bloomberg, at the center of the plan is the tabletop robot, reportedly coming in 2027. Bloomberg — and CNET — have reported on this plan before. At that time, the company reportedly had two concepts in mind: a robot that can move around the home and a tabletop robotic device. 

    Now, Bloomberg says the robot “will feature a lifelike version of Siri and the ability to engage with users throughout the day.” It reportedly resembles an iPad mounted on a movable limb that can reposition itself to face you.

    Former CNET senior editor Lisa Eadicicco wrote in 2024 that “perhaps the biggest challenge when it comes to a home robot is that the market is unproven.” We’ve all seen the robot maid Rosie on the old Jetsons cartoon, but do we really need or want a robotic helper in our homes?

    Standalone smart display

    Another item Apple is reportedly working on is essentially a smart speaker with a screen. Bloomberg calls this a “stripped-down version of the robot.” 

    It won’t have a robotic arm or conversational Siri, but it should be able to do such things as music playback, note taking, control home devices and video conferencing. Bloomberg says it will run a new operating system called Charismatic.

    Home security cameras

    Home security cameras are becoming more and more popular, and Apple wants to move into that realm as well. The company will make cameras that will anchor an Apple security system, the report says.


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  • Apple Watch Series 11 to feature minor upgrades in S11 chipset

    Apple Watch Series 11 to feature minor upgrades in S11 chipset

    A tiny detail has been discovered via an inadvertent leak from Apple, which suggests the Apple Watch Series 11 chipset won’t see significant changes from the previous model.

    The Apple Watch is a mature product that doesn’t have much room to grow in its current form factor. After a few years of external tweaks, there’s not much left for Apple to do beyond a major redesign.

    Rumors suggest that Apple Watch Series 11 will be a smaller, iterative update with relatively few changes. According to information gained by MacRumors via leaked internal information from Apple, the S11 chipset won’t see big upgrades.

    The leaked data indicates that the S11 used in Apple Watch Series 11 will use the same T8310 architecture used in the S9 and S10 processors. While that doesn’t mean Apple won’t introduce any new features or processing updates, it does mean upgrades will likely be small in scale.

    In addition to the leak around the chipset, additional device codenames were found. These codenames are for Apple’s upcoming 2025 and 2026 Apple Watch models.

    • N227: Apple Watch Series 11

    • N228: Apple Watch Series 11 (Cellular)

    • N230: Apple Watch Ultra 3

    • N237: Apple Watch Series 12

    • N238: Apple Watch Series 12 (Cellular)

    • N240: Apple Watch Ultra 4

    This information doesn’t provide much beyond proving the existence of the future products being developed. The Apple Watch Ultra 3 and Apple Watch Series 11 are both expected in September 2025.

    Apple Watch Ultra 4 and Apple Watch Series 12 are 2026 products. Rumors have focused on the upcoming generation models, so there isn’t much to say about those beyond Apple’s moonshot goal of diabetes management.

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  • James Gunn Addresses Margot Robbie’s Future In New DC Universe & The ‘Suicide Squad’ Actor He Wants To Bring Back

    James Gunn Addresses Margot Robbie’s Future In New DC Universe & The ‘Suicide Squad’ Actor He Wants To Bring Back

    As James Gunn and Peter Safran continue to build the DC Universe, there have been many questions surrounding Margot Robbie‘s future in this new era.

    With the release of Superman, all eyes have turned to the characters in the Batman universe and Harley Quinn.

    The filmmaker and DC Studios co-head was asked if Robbie would reprise her role of Harley Quinn, to which he told EW, “That will be revealed down the line.”

    Robbie played the role of Harley Quinn in 2016’s Suicide Squad and would reprise the role in 2020’s Birds of Prey. When Gunn took over the villainous characters for 2021’s The Suicide Squad, Quinn also returned.

    Although Gunn is working on rebooting the DC Universe, aspects of The Suicide Squad have become canon in the new universe, with John Cena’s Peacemaker’s story continuing in his HBO series.

    Another character from the old universe Gunn is trying to bring over to the new universe is Bloodsport, played by Idris Elba.

    “I definitely am always looking for a place to put Bloodsport and figuring that out,” Gunn told the publication. “So we’ll see what happens.”

    Gunn recently said he was busy working on a new script, which would be the follow-up to his Superman film. The filmmaker made it clear it’s not a direct sequel to the David Corenswet movie, but Superman would be heavily featured.

    Following the release of Superman in theaters, Gunn took a moment to express his gratitude to everyone who watched the film.

    “I’m incredibly grateful for your enthusiasm and kind words over the past few days. We’ve had a lot of ‘Super’ in Superman over the years, and I’m happy to have made a movie that focuses on the ‘man’ part of the equation – a kind person always looking out for those in need,” Gunn wrote on Threads. “That that resonates so powerfully with so many people across the world is in itself a hopeful testament to the kindness and quality of human beings. Thank you.”

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  • Google Gemini Adds Personalization From Past Chats

    Google Gemini Adds Personalization From Past Chats

    Google is rolling out updates to the Gemini app that personalize responses using past conversations and add new privacy controls, including a Temporary Chat mode.

    The changes start today and will expand over the coming weeks.

    What’s New

    Personalization From Past Chats

    Gemini now references earlier chats to recall details and preferences, making responses feel like collaborating with a partner who’s already familiar with the context.

    The update aligns with Google’s I/O vision for an assistant that learns and understand the user.

    Screenshot from: blog.google/products/gemini/temporary-chats-privacy-controls/, August 2025.

    The setting is on by default and can be turned off in Settings → Personal context → Your past chats with Gemini.

    Temporary Chats

    For conversations that shouldn’t influence future responses, Google is adding Temporary Chat.

    As Google describes it:

    “There may be times when you want to have a quick conversation with the Gemini app without it influencing future chats.”

    Temporary chats don’t appear in recent chats, aren’t used to personalize or train models, and are kept for up to 72 hours.

    Screenshot from: blog.google/products/gemini/temporary-chats-privacy-controls/, August 2025.

    Rollout starts today and will reach all users over the coming weeks.

    Updated Privacy Controls

    Google will rename the “Gemini Apps Activity” setting to “Keep Activity” in the coming weeks.

    When this setting is on, a sample of future uploads, such as files and photos, may be used to help improve Google services.

    If your Gemini Apps Activity setting is currently off, Keep Activity will remain off. You can also turn the setting off at any time or use Temporary Chats.

    Why This Matters

    Personalized responses can reduce repetitive context-setting once Gemini understands your typical topics and goals.

    For teams working across clients and categories, Temporary Chats help keep sensitive brainstorming separate from your main context, avoiding cross-pollination of preferences.

    Both features include controls that meet privacy requirements for client-sensitive workflows.

    Availability

    The personalization setting begins rolling out today on Gemini 2.5 Pro in select countries, with expansion to 2.5 Flash and more regions in the coming weeks.

    Featured Image: radithyaraf/Shutterstock

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  • Chikungunya battle requires long-term vigilance, say experts

    Chikungunya battle requires long-term vigilance, say experts

    A member of a mosquito eradication team sprays insecticide on a potential breeding site at a community in Foshan, Guangdong province, on July 28. WENG HUAN/FOR CHINA DAILY

    Guangdong province has brought the mosquito-borne chikungunya outbreak under control after a weekslong battle, but health experts have warned that vigilance needs to be maintained in the face of wet weather patterns in South China.

    Over 8,000 people in the province have been infected with chikungunya, suffering symptoms such as fever, rashes and joint pain. No serious illnesses or deaths have been reported.

    Foshan, a manufacturing city of about 9.7 million people, has been the core battlefield against the outbreak. Authorities implemented mass mosquito control measures, including lighting mosquito coils, installing nets and removing stagnant water. Disinfection crews and drones to eliminate breeding grounds were also deployed.

    During a visit to the city earlier this month, Shen Hongbing, director of the National Disease Control and Prevention Administration, emphasized maintaining “a sharp focus” on mosquito vector control and implementing multichannel monitoring and early warnings to stem the virus”s spread.

    “It is crucial to conduct regular and scientific mosquito elimination and disinfection efforts, strengthen guidance for grassroots disease control workers, and encourage households to overturn containers and remove stagnant water to create a clean, fresh and tidy living environment,” Shen said.

    Since the end of last month, the control efforts have resulted in the epidemic declining.

    In Foshan, the daily number of new cases dropped under 200 for five consecutive days and fell to 148 on Friday, compared with a peak of 674 reported on July 19, local authorities said on Saturday.

    Kang Min, director of the Institute of Infectious Disease Prevention and Control at the Guangdong Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, pointed out positive developments, including declining new infections in the hard-hit Shunde district of Foshan and reduced mosquito vector density.

    “However, the epidemic will likely rebound as frequent typhoons and heavy rainfall are complicating disinfection and water container cleanup efforts,” he said. “The situation remains severe, and resurgence risks persist if mosquito vector density is not continuously controlled.”

    Sporadic cases of chikungunya fever have also been reported in other parts of the country, including Beijing and the Hong Kong and Macao special administrative regions, health authorities said. Preemptive steps have included health surveillance of people returning from Foshan.

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  • Gaza joint statement: Israel threatens to ban major aid organisations as starvation deepens – ReliefWeb

    1. Gaza joint statement: Israel threatens to ban major aid organisations as starvation deepens  ReliefWeb
    2. Israeli Ministry says it revoked permits from 10 humanitarian NGOs aiding Palestinians  Haaretz
    3. Israel imposes extra restrictions on efforts to feed Gazan civilians  The Irish Times
    4. UN agencies and NGOs warn that without immediate action most international NGO partners could be de-registered by Israel in coming weeks  ochaopt.org
    5. The arduous system for getting aid into Gaza : The Indicator from Planet Money  NPR

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  • Most business travelers are taking families along on trips

    Most business travelers are taking families along on trips

    When American Natasha Colkmire returned to work after having her first child, she didn’t want to leave her newborn son with a nanny to go on a business trip.

    So she convinced a family member to tag along.

    “They would meet up with me when my son needed to be nursed,” she said. “We also had the evenings together.”

    The trip worked so well that Colkmire took more business trips with non-colleague companions.

    “My grandma went to Houston with me, a friend went to St. Paul, and my mom helped me when I needed to do a job in Washington D.C.,” she said. “Each person loved getting the free trip.”

    More than half of business travelers (55%) have had loved ones join their work trips, according to a survey of 4,000 adults from the United States, United Kingdom, Germany and Spain published Wednesday by the travel tech company TravelPerk.

    Among C-suite executives, the number jumped to 73% — with executives saying they’ve had partners (53%), children (22%), friends (21%), and even pets (7%) join their business trips, according to TravelPerk’s data.

    Companionship and cost savings

    For some, bringing loved ones on business trips is a way to reclaim time together, according to Jean-Christophe Taunay-Bucalo, TravelPerk’s president and COO.

    “Traveling for work can be lonely,” he told CNBC Travel. “Work trips can be an opportunity to experience something new, and by taking a loved one along, you remain connected.”

    Plus, business travelers don’t have to miss family time, be it bedtimes or birthdays, said Taunay-Bucalo.

    “For me, it’s about having the best of both worlds, and sometimes performing at my peak also means seeing my kid at the end of a work day — it provides some normality,” he said.

    Other business travelers who spoke to CNBC said there is another motivation — money.

    Colkmire, who now runs a travel website, recalled the time she joined her husband on a work trip to Vienna, Austria.

    “Our expense was cut in half, which was a huge blessing so that we were able to explore an area of the world that we had not yet been to without breaking the bank,” she said.

    I didn’t keep [my] travel plans a secret, nor did I broadcast them to coworkers.

    Bridgette Borst Ombres

    founder of The Commsultant

    Bridgette Borst Ombres, a former journalist turned public relations consultant, said she has used work trips to create “budget-friendly mini-vacations” for her family.

    “Attending a tech conference at Disney World in Orlando, Florida, was the perfect business trip to bring along my husband and then-2-year-old daughter,” she said. “The conference lasted two days, so while I was working, my husband took our daughter to visit his dad, who lived in the area, and we’d meet up for dinner in the evenings.”

    After the conference ended, Ombres and her family spent a few days at Walt Disney World.

    Bridgette Borst Ombres turned a tech conference in Orlando into a mini-vacation to Walt Disney World. Her family has also joined her on business trips to New York City, she said.

    “My hotel was covered by my company for the first two days, but I paid for the additional nights and all of our activities. My plane ticket was also covered by the company but I purchased my husband’s ticket separately,” she said.

    That blend of personal and business travel, or “bleisure” as it’s known, was valued at $315 billion in 2022 by Allied Market Research. The advisory firm projects blended trips will reach $731 billion globally by 2032.

    To tell or not to tell?

    Bringing loved ones on business trips is common and generally accepted, said Frank Harrison, regional security director for the Americas at risk management company World Travel Protection.

    However, that doesn’t mean that employees are revealing their plans to their companies.

    “I didn’t keep [my] travel plans a secret, nor did I broadcast them to coworkers,” Ombres said. “Part of it was worrying it might come across as unprofessional.”

    Deepak Shukla, CEO of the London-based marketing company Pearl Lemon, said he’s turned three-day work trips into week-long adventures with his wife in New York City, Lisbon, Dubai and Tokyo.

    “I don’t hide it from my team,” he said. “If the work’s done and costs aren’t creeping into the company card, it’s nobody’s business.”

    However, he said big corporations often view traveling with family as a “policy grey zone.”

    “The sticking points are expense claims, insurance coverage, and whether leisure days blur into workdays … [which are] messy for tax and liability,” he said. “That’s why some companies quietly allow it but expect employees to keep receipts and activities clearly split.” 

    Business first

    Ombres said allowing family and friends to join business trips can boost morale and build loyalty among employees.

    “I’m all for it,” she said. “As long as it doesn’t interfere with the work.”

    She said she sets clear expectations for work to be completed on trips, and as long as that’s met, “there’s no reason to try to micromanage how people spend their personal time.”

    Gabe Richman, CEO of Seattle-based biotech company Omic, agreed, saying he’s combined work trips with family vacations in San Diego and Frankfurt, Germany.

    He said he encourages employees to travel with loved ones as long as “business objectives are met first.” He said employees should clearly separate personal and work expenses and ensure companies incur no additional costs. Travelers should also be transparent about their plans with their companies, he said.

    Beyond that, travelers should make the most of the trip — for business and pleasure.

    “Business takes me to places we’d never vacation to otherwise.” he said. “Why waste the opportunity?”

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