Clean rooms and comfortable beds are important, but today's business travelers want a lot more than that. If you own a hotel and are interested in attracting more business travelers, you should be aware of what amenities they usually look for. This will allow you to introduce those amenities in your hotel, which, in turn, will attract business travelers who prefer your hotel over the others.
Here are top 10 amenities that you should include in your hotel if you want to attract business travelers:
1. Airport Pickup and Drop-off
In any city, traffic can be troublesome, and the last thing is a business traveler wants to meander through the city's traffic. Also, in a new city, it is pretty common to inadvertently take the wrong turning and get lost. Road warriors will appreciate airport pickup and drop-off offered by the hotel. This ensures that the hotel guest does not have to wait for a taxi or go through the tiring process of purchasing a rental car.
2. Free High- Speed, Wireless Internet Service
Today, one of the most wanted hotel amenities for business travelers is Wi-Fi connectivity. A corporate traveler cannot spend even a single day without having Internet connectivity, even if he is on a vacation. Road warriors need high- speed, wireless Internet connectivity to stay in touch with their office, business partners, friends and family, and getting it free of charge is an attractive proposition.
3. Gadget Charging Station and Electrical Wall Sockets
Corporate traveler will never travel without their gadgets – notepads, laptops, smartphones, tablets and iPads. However, in their hurry to catch a flight, many business travelers often forget their chargers. Having a gadget charging station in the hotel room can give such business travelers peace of mind and reduce their stress. Furthermore, business travelers expect hotel rooms to have electrical wall sockets that allow them to plug in their chargers. Hence, having several electrical wall sockets makes it easy and convenient for the travelers to charge their gadgets while they go about their normal routine.
4. Full-Service Business Center
A corporate traveler needs many business related services. Hence, a hotel should have a full-fledged business center that has a printer, scanner, copier, fax machine and computers. It is important to keep the center running round the clock, as business travelers may want to use it at all times of the day and night, especially if they are dealing with partners and associates in other countries. In addition, if the center has IT staff that can be called in case of problems and glitches, it would be the ultimate icing on the cake!
5. Notebooks, Tablets and Other Gadgets and Vehicle Rental Facilities
Many times, corporate travelers do not feel like burdening themselves with all their equipment. Hence, if a hotel has a rental service that allows business travelers to rent notebooks, tablets and other gadgets, they would love to avail these facilities. It would mean that these guests can travel light and still have access to all the equipment and gadgets they need to fulfill their business obligations. Having vehicle rental is also another facility that hotels should seriously consider. These vehicles can be chauffeur or self-driven. So, there should be a desk at the lobby where business guests can book their vehicles and have the freedom to travel via automobile during their trip.
6. Meeting/Conference Room with Multimedia Equipment
Corporate travelers may sometimes require a venue where they can hold their meetings and business-related talks. Hence, having a conference or meeting room with state-of-the-art multimedia equipment will ensure that the guests have a place to hold their meetings without any complications. Hotels should consider having a room dedicated to this with equipment like a flat-screen TV, speakers, microphones, LCD projectors and other audio visual gadgets to make all business-related meetings flow smoothly and comfortably.
7. Recreational and Entertainment Facilities
A typical business traveler is always busy and may not get time to workout like other people. Hence, they look for swimming pools and gyms to get their daily dose of physical activity. Some like to use treadmills, while others may prefer doing a few laps before they head out for a meeting. Having a spa is also a good idea, as corporate travelers are often looking for ways to de-stress and energize themselves. Finally, after a long day of several meetings, there is nothing like sitting in front of a high-definition television and watching a movie. It can be a relaxing experience for business travelers, who seldom get a chance to enjoy movies. So, having a flat- screen HDTV with paid movie options is a good idea. Hotels that have this option can help their corporate guests relax and unwind after a tiring day. Other entertainment facilities that hotels can look into include PlayStation and Wii.
8. In-house Restaurant and Mini-Bar
Another amenity that a business traveler loves is an in-house restaurant that serves delicious and mouthwatering dishes. Having an in-house restaurant ensures that road warriors can get a break from the bland and insipid fare that is usually served at meetings and conferences, and they can also invite their guests for a business meal. Hotels can offer their business guests complimentary breakfast, and they can be certain that the guests will love returning to the same hotel during the next business trip. Having a mini-bar in the room also makes sense, as many business travelers love to have a drink or two after a long day. It can help them relax, and having a mini-bar in the room means that the tired guest does not have to go the hotel bar for a drink.
9. Necessary Facilities in Business Traveler's Time and Budget
Taking into consideration the current economic scenario, many businesses are slashing their travel budgets. Hence, business travelers are looking for hotels with lower costs that still provide all the facilities and amenities that they need. So, a hotel should make it a point to provide all the necessary facilities without hiking up the cost for those facilities and amenities. In fact, providing these amenities should be standard in hotels wishing to attract more corporate travelers. Ensuring that the room has a desk, chair, desk lamp, writing paraphernalia, mini-bar, Wi-Fi, television and electrical wall sockets should be standard in such hotels.
10. 24/7 Housekeeping
Finally, the hotel should have housekeeping that business travelers can call upon around the clock. Business travelers often have meetings and discussions until late at night, and when they return, they may want their clothes ready for the next day, shoes polished, fresh towels, room cleaned or bed turned down. They should be able to get this service at any time of the day (or night). Hence, having 24/7 housekeeping is a must for hotels that want to attract and retain road warriors.
The Bottom Line: It goes without saying that business travelers love hotels that offer all the amenities that they need to be productive and focused while traveling. They want hotels to have amenities that help them make their work easier, as though they were still working out of their offices or homes. So, hotels that are looking to attract business travelers should concentrate on ensuring that all the amenities and facilities that can help such travelers are readily available without costing a great amount.
Source: Hotel Cluster
