The world is changing and the dynamics of how we travel and where we stay has also shifted with our need for more space, flexibility and freedom.
The world of business travel is also changing with more business travellers opting for serviced accommodation over hotels for both short and mid-term corporate and relocation stays.
In fact, a survey suggested that bookings for serviced accommodation had increased by over 30% in the corporate travel sector.
Why?
Travel Managers, HR Managers and business travellers cite the following reasons for choosing serviced accommodation over hotels:
- Value for money
- Convenience
- More space
- Flexibility
- Long-term suitability
Valuing the space, flexibility and home-from-home environment. A place where they have space to work, spend less money on dining out and have a less intrusive stay – no need for hotel check-in queues and contact with other guests.
A whole new business travel sector
What’s more, since the Covid pandemic, a new genre of business traveller has come on the scene: the digital nomad and workation trips.
With the rise of the ‘work from home’ scenario, it’s not just the self-employed that can now ‘work from anywhere’. Anyone that works from home can choose to escape the confines of their own abode and head off for a few days or a few months working away.
The Statistics
In 2020, the global business travel sector was estimated to be worth 695.9 billion dollars and by 2028 it’s expected to reach a staggering $2,001.1 billion.
10% of all business trips are designated B-leisure trips (Forbes): a business trip involving a Saturday night (mixing business with leisure).
49% of business travellers extend their trips to spend more time at the destination (Booking.com for business).
70% of 25-35-year-olds desire to extend their business trip to explore the destination.
80% of digital nomads stay in one place for 3 to 9 months, and 66% stay in one place between 3 to 6 months.
Digital nomads making six-figure salaries (or close to them) usually hold a degree in a high-demand field.
How to attract business travellers to your Brighton accommodation
If you want to meet the needs and expectations of the business traveller or digital nomad, you will need to go above and beyond just a furnished holiday let. You’ll need to create an environment where business guests can enjoy the perfect work-life balance.
Let’s take a look at the best practices to implement.
Comfortable accommodation with space to work any time during the day
Business guests will be looking for a space to work and relax. Whether they are travelling alone or with their team, your accommodation should offer both.
You don’t have to have a separate office space, but your lounge or bedroom should have a workspace set up with a desk and high-speed Wifi connection.
You can also promote the delights of working from your Brighton terrace or sunny courtyard patio. This is especially relevant for digital nomads who are looking to get away from their typical home office scenario.
If you have a spacious home that can accommodate group bookings, this becomes attractive for corporate meetings and team retreats.
Corporate travel teams tend to choose accommodation based on being able to stay close as a group. They will need a solution that can offer space, flexibility and a place where their team can bond, dine together, hold meetings, and even entertain clients.
If you have a spacious property – a Brighton townhouse or Sussex Downs country cottage, for example, think about how you can tailor your message to corporate travel teams.
Sell the concept of your dining room converting into a meeting space, or your garden space as a great space for outdoor events or meetings.
Offer to organise the hire of any presentation or technical equipment needed.
This is a much more inspiring setting for a business meet-up than renting a bland hotel meeting room with a plate of stale croissants and cold coffee!
A business class experience
We’ve already identified the biggest selling points of serviced accommodation over hotels for business travellers: flexibility, convenience, more space, etc.
However, business travellers used to staying in hotel accommodation will also be accustomed to comforts such as daily cleaning and a concierge service.
When competing with hotels, you have to be able to match their accommodation and surpass it, providing similar amenities in a more relaxed and comfortable environment.
Top brand complimentary toiletries: make it easy for guests to travel light and buy brands that stand out for their quality.
High-quality bedding: an essential element for any holiday or business let is quality bedding. Hotel quality beds and bedding are highly sought-after for today’s guests.
Regular housekeeping service: business travellers who are used to a hotel cleaning service may require a regular housekeeping service in your accommodation. Regardless of the length of stay make sure that you have a service in place to offer cleaning based on their needs. By offering this, you’re making a stay with you easy and much more attractive.
Install devices that make it easy to work from home: printer, phone line, even use of a laptop or desktop computer – with a rental cost and insurance thrown in.
Super-fast Wifi: An absolute must for business travellers, who need to stay in touch with the office, answer emails and work during their stay.
Concierge service
Busy ‘business’ travellers want everything easy to hand and that’s not just about what they find in your accommodation. It’s about the overall experience from arrival to departure.
Going the extra mile and offering a concierge-style service will sure to impress. Help them with bookings for restaurants, taxis, activities and a shopping delivery service, are examples of what a concierge service might look like.
If a full-on concierge service might seem too much extra work for you, the My Getaways guest app features a host of information on your accommodation, local recommendations, activities and transport.
If we manage your Brighton holiday let all of your guests will have access to the guest app with all the info they need at their fingertips.
This allows your guest to concentrate on work without the headache of having to research and book services in an unknown destination.
If you choose to offer a concierge service, whilst we don’t always recommend that you charge the guest – unless you have a contract with a travel manager to do so – this is an opportunity to earn an affiliate commission for third party bookings.
Either way, charging a surcharge or earning a commission, there is an opportunity to increase your income with a concierge service for business travellers.
Or increased bookings through the My Getaways hassle-free property income program!
Easy access to transport and parking
The next ‘easy’ tip is ‘easy’ access!
A business traveller is looking for accommodation which is accessible whether they arrive by car or public transport. Especially if they have to commute during their stay.
They are not leisurely exploring the destination, they want to get from A to B as quickly and efficiently as possible. And they will be looking for a solution within easy reach of meeting locations, somewhere with good transport facilities, or easy parking.
Shorter business stays guests – three to five nights – are less likely to want to hire a car, especially if they are not familiar with Brighton or Sussex, so providing an airport or station ‘pick-up’ service takes away the hassle of queuing for a taxi or working out which bus or train to catch after a long journey.
For longer contractor or relocation stays, they may want to hire a car or indeed bring their own, so having a parking solution in your business accommodation is essential.
Travellers coming from shorter distances may choose to bring their car; especially self-employed or small business owners looking to save money on travel expenses and parking can be a huge daily expense, so having a ‘free’ or ‘low-cost’ parking solution is a big incentive for them to book with you.
Business Travel Promotions
You might think a sale promotion reduces your income, but it pays off in increased customer loyalty; and guest expectation is always about delivering value.
And if you want to look at it from another perspective, most business travel stays are out of high seasons, so offering these promotions will help to fill empty gaps in your calendar.
For business guests, why not offer a discount for an extra night’s stay, e.g. four nights for the price of three?
Rebrand your guest discounts’ as ‘Business Traveller Club’ and think about offering a loyalty scheme for business guests, who long-term may become loyal and valuable repeat guests, as they frequently travel to meet clients based in your location.
In return, help them to travel light: offer a free toiletry pack including all the necessities like toothbrush and toothpaste, shampoo and shaving foam.
Provide an invoice
Finally, if you want to take business travel bookings, you may be asked to provide an invoice for the stay, so check the tax obligation for offering serviced accommodation for business guests before you start.
If you think your accommodation has what it takes to welcome business guests and digital nomads, get in touch with the My Getaways team today for a no-obligation chat on how we can help kick-start your corporate travel bookings.