Flight Centre’s Corporate Traveller reveals the most in-demand hotel amenities
Amidst an estimated 27 per cent surge in Australian business travel expenditure last year,[1] fuelled by an uptick in travel and rising costs for airfares and hotel accommodation, business travellers are becoming more discerning in their hotel selection. Australian hotel room rates averaged AUD$250 (USD$163) in 2023 – a 5.8 per cent rise from 2022 and are predicted to increase by three per cent in 2024.[2] Given these escalating costs, business travellers are increasingly prioritising value, and booking hotels not only for comfort, but also for productivity and well-being amenities.
The findings come from a new survey of an independent, nationally representative panel of 1,001 Australians, commissioned by Corporate Traveller, the flagship SME division of Flight Centre Travel Group (FCTG). The survey found hotels which provide an ‘office away from the office’ experience, alongside facilities conducive to health and relaxation, will be favoured in the current climate of heightened fiscal awareness among business travellers.
Corporates want an office away from the office when travelling
Major hotel chains offer basic in-room business facilities such as a desk, complimentary Wi-Fi and a business centre – but is it enough? Corporate Traveller found that most respondents are looking for accommodation that offers business amenities and rooms equipped to serve as efficient workspaces within the hotel’s standard rate. Three quarters (73%) want free and fast Wi-Fi, and 41 per cent want free printing facilities. While 35 per cent of respondents want larger or better-equipped workspaces in their hotel room including phone chargers and charging banks, and 37 per cent want more electrical outlets and USB ports.
The survey indicates a strong preference for in-room office amenities over communal business centres or separate meeting rooms, indicating that guests travelling for business value the ability to work privately within their hotel room. Just 21 per cent of respondents want on-site co-working spaces or offices, only 18 per cent said they would seek a separate meeting room, and 13 per cent want the hotel to extend its concierge services to organising business meetings, transport, and dining options.
Hotels supporting workers in staying healthy is another top priority
Corporate Traveller’s research underscores the importance for hotels to enhance their breakfast offerings with health-conscious options, as a significant 44 per cent deemed it essential. Additionally, one in four respondents (25%) expressed a preference for hotels that include comprehensive, well-equipped fitness facilities. The study also revealed that over a third (36%) of business travellers seek amenities that facilitate relaxation outside of their hotel rooms.
| Hotel amenities wish list: | Respondents |
| 1. Free, fast Wi-Fi | 73% |
| 2. Healthy hotel dining options | 44% |
| 3. Free printing facilities | 41% |
| 4. More electric outlets and USB ports | 37% |
| 5. An area to unwind outside of the hotel room | 36% |
| 6. Extra phone chargers and/or mobile charging banks | 35% |
| 7. Larger or better-equipped workspaces in hotel rooms | 35% |
| 8. Same-day or overnight drying cleaning services | 25% |
| 9. Large, well-equipped fitness centres | 25% |
| 10. On-site co-working space or offices | 21% |
| 11. On-site tech support | 19% |
| 12. Separate meeting rooms | 18% |
| 13. A business concierge to organise and book business meetings, business dining options, and transport to meetings | 13% |
ENDS
About Corporate Traveller
Corporate Traveller is an award-winning business travel management and solutions provider for SMEs, operating in six global markets. Established in 1993 as Flight Centre Travel Group’s first corporate brand, Corporate Traveller has offered its personalised service, expert tailored advice, dedicated travel consultants, and advanced booking technology to more than 6500 Australian business customers. Offering an all-in-one innovative booking platform with the support of a personal travel consultant, Corporate Traveller makes travel simpler, faster, and easier for businesses. With a wide range of solutions available, Corporate Traveller can cater for simple requirements through to the most complex SME business travel management needs. For more information or to book a business consultation, visit corporatetraveller.com.au
[1] ‘Beyond Rebound: Charting the Next Course for Global Business Travel’. Global Business Travel Association, 6 March 2024.
[2] https://www.fcmtravel.com/en-au/resources/white-papers/business-travel-trends-and-forecasts-q4-2023#form