Business travelers have always had unique needs when it comes to seeking accommodation.

Now with the travel environment changing and new trends taking place such as the blending of business and leisure travel (known as bleisure; more on this below), it’s even more difficult to understand and satisfy this lucrative travel segment.

Whether traveling for a conference, meeting, or any other work-related event, they need a comfortable and functional space to work and relax, as well as amenities that support their productivity and well-being.

Before we dive into the key factors that business travelers usually consider when choosing a hotel, let’s look into emerging trends shaping the sector.

Growing Once Again

After riding through the tumultuous peak of the Covid years and facing speculation as to whether or not it would fully recover, business travel has a significant growth trajectory for the next decade.

The size of the business travel segment was worth $689.70 billion in 2021. However, it is projected to reach a value of $2095.4 billion by 2031, increasing at a CAGR of 9.5% from 2022 to 2031.

This represents a significant opportunity for the hospitality industry to capture.

The Rise of Bleisure

This has been one of the hottest trends in travel. As the name suggests, bleisure is the practice of blending business trips with leisure — combining work and play, if you will.

For instance, you could fly out for a conference in Barcelona, which ends on Thursday, and stay through the weekend to take in the sights of the city.

Just as is the case with standard business travel, bleisure travel is expected to grow significantly over the next decade.

According to Allied Market Research, the global bleisure travel industry was estimated at $315.3 billion in 2022 and is expected to hit $731.4 billion by 2032, at a CAGR of 8.9% from 2023 to 2032.

This emerging form of travel means that hotels have even more to consider when it comes to the depth of their offerings.

Focus on Sustainability

Sustainability has become one of the biggest topics in all of travel. Consumers are becoming more conscious of their environmental impact, and in turn, businesses are offering sustainable travel options.

For example, IATA (International International Air Transport Association has Committed to fly net zero carbon by 2050.

Additionally, many organizations now have corporate sustainability programs, which extend to their travel policies.

This sentiment also extends to the individual. According to TravelPerk, 59% of travelers will pay to offset their carbon emissions when they travel, while 50% of travelers generally choose sustainable travel options because they care about the impact of their travels.

Rise of Technology & Personalization

It’s no surprise that technology is playing an increasingly significant role in business travel, with the emergence of several corporate travel management companies (TMCs) in recent years that are digitalizing the entire process from planning to booking and expensing.

According to the Trends Global Survey, 80% of travelers feel it’s important to be able to book their trip entirely online, while 57% of business travelers want to have a single application to manage their planning, booking, and reimbursement needs.

With this emergence of technology, comes the expectation of having more personalized travel experiences.

For example, 76% of global travelers appreciate travel apps that reduce friction and stress. Another 80% say utilizing personal devices seamlessly with on-property technology is key, from Wi-Fi to streaming apps.

Every guest wants to feel special and wants their accommodation providers to ensure their stay runs smoothly.

Now let’s get into what hotels can do to satisfy the needs of today’s business travelers.

Location

Location is a top priority for business travelers. They usually look for hotels that are convenient for their work-related events, such as conference centers, meeting locations. or offices.

Business travelers also seek hotels close to restaurants and other amenities, so they can easily relax and recharge whenever they have some free time instead of spending too much time in transit.

Speaking of, the hotel’s proximity to an airport or other forms of transportation is also essential. Not only does this save on time and hassle but can make the trip more sustainable.

And of course, if the stay is getting extended into a vacation, the traveler will also want to have convenient access to entertainment and attractions.

It’s helpful  — and can lead to a faster booking — to provide this information during the booking process so the traveler doesn’t need to spend time searching for it.

Room Amenities

Business travelers often have to travel frequently, so they need to have a place to stay where they can truly relax and recharge. A comfortable bed with quality bedding and pillows is a must-have, as it allows them to get a good night's sleep.

Additionally, ambient lighting, a quality shower with good water pressure, and a noise-insulated room go a long way toward creating a pleasant stay.

Bonus points if a hotel can provide any extras to make the stay more relaxing such as comfy robes, an eye mask, or things such as a face mask or relaxing soap.

A well-lit workspace with a desk, comfortable chair, and power outlets helps business travelers to be more productive.

They usually need to work from their room after their meetings and events. A quiet room is crucial, so they can focus, and be productive but also have a good night’s sleep.

Business travelers rely heavily on the Internet to stay connected with their colleagues and clients. A hotel with free, high-speed, reliable Wi-Fi throughout the hotel is essential for work.

The more sustainable you can make these amenities, the better! For example, replacing single-use toiletries and reducing unnecessary packaging.

Not only should these amenities be displayed front and center during the booking process, but it should be easy for the traveler to add any necessary amenities that don’t come standard (and can in turn, be a great way to generate ancillary revenue).

Service & Staff

A helpful and attentive staff who can assist with requests and provide recommendations can make or break a business traveler’s experience.

These travelers often find themselves navigating unfamiliar cities and relying on the hotel staff to provide seamless support.

This help is especially useful when they are transitioning from the business part of their trip to the leisure portion. It may be that they have been too wrapped up in business to have time to think about and plan what to do in their free time.

Personalized services that recognize the unique needs of business travelers are highly valued, especially when accommodating loyal customers.

From providing early check-in or late check-out for last-minute meetings or travel schedules to offering assistance with luggage storage or transportation arrangements, personalized service makes a lasting impression.

Given the emergence of new technology, staff should be given access to and trained on how to use value data the hotel has to provide personalized offers to travelers.

Value for Money

Flexible booking policies that allow for early check-in and late check-out or the ability to amend travel dates are crucial for business travelers, especially those in fast-paced or unpredictable businesses.  

Business trips can often be unpredictable (especially if a leisure portion is tacked onto it), and plans may change at the last minute. A hotel with a flexible cancellation policy can be a lifesaver in such situations.

Business travelers always look for hotels that offer reasonable rates that fit the budget stipulated by their companies, while still meeting their needs.

This is especially important when travelers extend their stays for leisure purposes. What about providing a special rare for extended stays?

Most business travelers also prefer hotels that offer loyalty programs or discounts for frequent travelers, so these points and rewards can be used to their advantage.

Loyalty customers should be able to easily collect and redeem points and be provided valuable and personalized offers based on their travel preferences.

In essence, the key to finding value in a hotel for business travelers lies in striking a balance between location, amenities, services, rates, and flexibility.

Having a simple and informative booking process is a must and can be the difference between gaining a customer or losing a booking.

A hotel that offers a comprehensive range of features, attentive service, sustainable options, competitive rates, and flexible booking policies can provide business travelers with a truly enjoyable and cost-effective stay.

Are you a hotel, wanting to (better) capture business travel demand, or a TMC looking to expand accommodation options for your customers, get in touch with us! We’re happy to help!