Article from BTNews 2 SEPTEMBER 2019
Business hotels under the microscope
Business travellers want hotel options that are convenient, personalised and competitively priced with amenities, according to new research from the Global Business Travel Association (GBTA), in partnership with hotel portal HRS.
The study highlights these preferences while noting many corporate travel buyers underestimate their importance for clients. Most buyers and travellers agree factors like proximity to work and price are important in a hotel, but buyers undervalue the importance of “experiential factors” like proximity to restaurants and entertainment, reviews and loyalty programme benefits.
Travellers also place a higher priority than travel buyers on personalisation. Half of those surveyed say they prefer their online booking tool to offer more hotels with amenities, whereas only one in five travel buyers say this is a need.
The research also indicates travellers prefer direct payment. Only three in 10 typically use this method but 88% say if their company offered it, they would book the property involved over one that does not have the facility (see also ON THE SOAPBOX in this issue).
HRS Americas senior vice-president Suzanne Neufang said: “The 88% figure represents a true lighthouse metric for travel programmes seeking expedient avenues to higher adoption of preferred hotel suppliers and booking channels – once travellers use direct payment, they prefer it.”
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