The ever-changing landscape of business travel means ever-changing demands from business Travelers. As the business travel industry roars back to life, here’s what business Travelers want most from hotels in 2024.
When choosing hotels for your business Travelers, you’re likely taking into consideration a multitude of factors. You’re looking at cost, of course. A Global Business Travel Association survey found that one of the top barriers affecting business travel is now corporate budgets not keeping pace with price increases. However, you’re also thinking about location, convenience and Traveler preferences. For the latter, how can you know what business Travelers want from hotels in 2024?
It’s ideal to find quality accommodations that align not just with your travel policy but also your Travelers’ needs. When your team members stay in hotels that are comfortable, convenient and overall make their travel experience more enjoyable, they’re more likely to do their best work. In order to accomplish this task, here are the 10 things your team members are likely to want from their hotel stays this year to keep in mind as you book their trips moving forward.
1. Flexibility
According to Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals, flexibility is a big deal for business Travelers this year. With flight delays, train strikes, severe weather, and more all putting Travelers’ plans at risk, they want to know that they’re staying at a hotel that will adapt to their changing schedules.
As such, they want to stay at hotels where they can check in late if needed. They should also be able to change their reservation without a punishing cancellation policy.
2. A Loyalty Program
Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals also found that business Travelers are keen to stay in hotels where they can earn rewards points. Not only that, they want to stay at hotels that offer ample amenities to their loyalty program members. The organization reported that hotel bookings using reward systems by business Travelers are expected to grow by 10% in 2024.
3. Free and Fast WiFi
One of the amenities that business Travelers want from their hotels’ loyalty programs? Access to free and fast WiFi. However, across the board, this is an amenity business Travelers desire, regardless of loyalty program status.
When booking hotels for your Travelers, or partnering with a hotel brand for stays for your teams throughout the year, only opt for those that offer free WiFi. Doing so will make for a more convenient, hassle-free experience for your Travelers. It will also save on your organization’s Travel costs.
Additionally, consider leveraging the power of loyalty programs and status to ensure your Travelers have access to the fastest WiFi possible. Some chains will offer a lower-speed connection for free. However, a better, faster connection is available for an upcharge or to guests with a certain loyalty program status.
If you use a business travel agency, make sure your representatives negotiate status for your Travelers.
4. Fast Services
As Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals noted, business Travelers aren’t exactly traveling at a leisurely pace. As such, they want to stay at hotels that offer fast services that can meet their needs without lengthy waits.
For example, room service should arrive within 30 minutes. Dry-cleaning and shoeshine services should be available overnight. Before choosing a hotel, look at past reviews and offered amenities, to gauge whether or not the property can deliver on service.
5. Proximity
Along these lines of convenience and time savings, business Travelers have long prioritized proximity when it comes to hotels. Travel Managers should look at a trip’s purpose and where Travelers will be spending the majority of their time during a trip to choose the best, most convenient hotel. A close proximity hotel increases productivity, as it limits in-city travel time. It will also lower travel costs, as there’s little need for long rideshare or public transportation rides.
Finding a hotel that offers convenient proximity is one of the easiest things you can do for your Travelers. So, why not take that extra step?
If, though, your company allows team members to book their own accommodations, consider building something into your travel policy that encourages hotel bookings within a certain mileage of a conference center or client, for example.
6. Sustainability Initiatives
Sustainability is a top concern for many business Travelers and Travel Managers. As more organizations commit to more sustainability practices, this is something you should keep in mind during your booking processes.
Look for properties that not only boast a certain sustainability-related certificate or ranking but that follow through with actionable initiatives such as forgoing plastic key cards, removing single-use plastics from guestrooms and restaurants, and limiting cleaning services (within reason).
7. Wellness Offerings
Similarly, business Travelers continue to prefer hotels that can help them stay healthy while on the go.
This might look like a hotel that offers healthy dining options that are as convenient as they are nutritious (think 24/7 room service — your Travelers shouldn’t be limited by a restaurant’s dinner-only hours).
It might also be a hotel that offers easy fitness opportunities that go beyond a standard fitness center. Business Travelers want fitness centers that are outfitted with state-of-the-art machinery, as well as hotels that offer unique fitness options, like yoga classes on a terrace or rooftop, or guided runs every morning.
8. Technology That Makes a Stay More Convenient
Notice that business Travelers aren’t just looking for tech amenities in their hotel stays. As any Traveler can probably attest, sometimes just having tech in one’s guestroom isn’t enough. If the tech is useless, doesn’t work properly or doesn’t really make anything more convenient, what’s the point, other than to be flashy?
As such, look for hotels offering tech-related amenities that specifically make your Travelers’ stays more convenient. Think hotels with apps that allow Travelers to check in, bypassing the hotel check in desk, or hotels with apps that serve as digital keys, eliminating the need for Travelers to keep track of a flimsy keycard.
Find the Best Hotels with JTB Business Travel
At JTB Business Travel, we know how important it is for you to find affordable hotel options that still deliver the restful, convenient and productive experience your Travelers want. We offer a series of tools, resources and services that are designed to accomplish just that — and behind everything we do and every recommendation we make, there’s a commonsense approach to business travel.
To optimize business travel in accordance with the culture of the company, one should invest in a travel management system which will help in aligning the travel policies and corporate culture effectively. It is also important to make the travel policies easier for the employees so that they do not have to contact the HR for every trip. Employees should also understand their company’s values, missions and goals. At International Travel House, business travelers are offered several services along with ensuring that the travelers remain safe, secure and feel comfortable.