What Do Business Travelers Want

Or how to cater to the needs of business travelers

By Max Lent

Having traveled a great deal for both business and pleasure, I can say with some authority that tourists and business travelers have different needs.  Better business hotels provide some of the services needed by business travelers, but not all.  Some traveler needs overlap.  Both business travelers and tourists need hotels that provide clean quiet rooms.  However, the business traveler is more likely to need Internet access, a table, and good lighting to perform work.    

Here's some of the information business travelers need from their hotels:

• Where to get papers copied
• Where to rent a conference room
• Where to rent a temporary office
• Where to rent a videoconference room
• Where to rent or buy computer equipment
  • Cables
  • Notebook computer batteries
• Where to buy office supplies
  • Notebooks, folios, paper, flip charts...
• Where to rent a flip chart stand and purchase flip chart paper
• Where to rent or buy a cell phone
  • Where to rent or buy a cell phone charger
• Where to rent or buy business equipment
• Where to rent or buy video equipment
  • Where to buy a digital data projector bulb
• Where to rent or buy camera equipment
• Where to hire a language translator
• Where to hire temporary information technology (IT) staff
• Where to hire temporary office workers
• Where to obtain temporary legal services
• Where to go to play sports or go for a run

Here's some hotel requirements for business travelers:

• Internet access, preferably free wireless broadband access
• Table and chairs for performing office work
• Bright full spectrum lighting especially near tables, chairs, and beds.
• Free local calls
• In-house notary services
• Free long distance calling over the Internet
• Room service that can provide hot food or coffee at a specified time
• Starbucks or a Starbucks competitor coffee shop in the lobby
• Quick turnaround dry cleaning, pressing, shoe shine
• Beauty Salon with the ability to provide last minute services for business travelers
• Barber shop with the ability to provide last minute services for business travelers
• Massage services
• Gym services that have accessible treadmills, weights, and aerobic classes
• Quiet.  Rooms that sound insulated.
• Concierge desk with staff who know how to get things done and make credible recommendations
• Restaurants that have business traveler tables where business travelers can meet each other when they are dining alone

Here's some services needed by business travelers from their corporate travel agents:

• All standard travel agency services such as ticket sales, hotel
• Reservations, rental car reservation, and so on
• Live telephone support 24X7
• Email, SMS text, voice, and video chat 24X7
• Restaurant reservations
• Limousine reservations
• Drivers
• Security arrangements
• Tour guides
• Convention arrangements
• Business meeting arrangements
• Business events, such as river trips, hikes, and other adventure travel trips
• Business cruises
• Legal services
• Travel insurance

Here are some of the recreational information needs of business travelers:

• Where to eat
• Where to drink
• Where to have fun
• Where to run
• Where to walk
• Where to rent a bicycle
• What to see
• What to do
• Where to get a haircut
• Where to shop
• Where to find a pharmacy
• Where to find medical care
• What to do after work while on the road