Executives will make fewer, shorter and cheaper business trips in 2009

According to Amedeus Hospitality Business Group's survey instead gyms and restaurants hotels should concentrate on efficient check-in and check-out and internet access.

 Business travellers' expectations are
changing. Economic pressure means executives care less about extras
and are instead concentrating on whether hotels deliver on the simple
things. 47% of executives surveyed will be taking fewer trips in the
next twelve months, and over a quarter (28%) expect to downgrade from
4 and 5-star hotels. In addition, 63% of respondents expect their
companies to use the economic downturn to extract the best possible
rates from hotels. A huge proportion of executives – 61% – said a
trusted brand with uniform levels of service across locations would
be a decisive factor when choosing a hotel in 2009.
When asked
which features they simply could not do without, business travellers
were impressively devoted to productivity on the road: internet
connectivity is indispensable to more business travellers (76% of
respondents) than a quiet room (56%), good transport links (54%) or
central location (52%).
These findings suggest that business
travellers measure value by price and guaranteed uniform service and
efficiency. Respondents cited flexibility to change requirements
(68%), efficient check-in and check-out (64%) and rapid resolution of
problems (59%) as the best indicators of good hotel service. Almost a
third (29%) also appreciate hotels which remember their preferences.