Business Travel: Tips for Finding the Best Accommodations
When you’re on the road for business, your hotel room becomes not only your home away from home but often your office, too. So choosing the right hotel can be crucial to the success of your trip.
Location is key. If you’re only going to be in town for a short time and you’re on a tight schedule, make sure your hotel is easy to reach from the airport, conference center or any other place where you’ll have meetings. Be sure to check on the commuting time from the airport and also from the hotel to your work sites, especially if you’ll be on the road during rush hour. You don’t want to waste time in traffic. It’s also a good idea to scope out the public transportation options. Looking for a hotel that has a shuttle service to and from the airport can also save you money.
Do some research beforehand on area restaurants. See what’s available either in the hotel or within walking distance. That will save you the cost of a taxi, and make it easier to wind down after a busy day. You’ll also have options readily at hand if you need to hold a business dinner with a client or colleague. Make sure the hotel offers breakfast. It’s easier to head to the dining room than search for a coffee shop when you’re trying to get ready for your meetings. Check on the late-night food options, too, in case a meeting runs late.
If you plan to do some work from your hotel room, make sure there’s free, unlimited high-speed Wi-Fi. A slow connection can make it difficult to get work done. And look at what’s available in the business center. In case you need it, you want to have one available if your computer suddenly has a meltdown, or you need to print out documents before your meeting the next day. Also see if there’s an option to book a meeting space.
Other amenities that can be important to business travelers include dry cleaning and suit pressing, in case your clothes get stained or rumpled during the flight.
Security is also an important consideration when choosing a hotel, especially if you’re traveling by yourself as opposed to part of a team staying at the same hotel. If most of your meetings take place in a financial district that tends to clear out after 5 o’clock, it may not be the most comfortable place to stay. Look for a location where there’ll be people walking around at night, especially if you’re in an unfamiliar place. Also, access to guest floors on the elevator should require a room key.
For help planning a business trip, contact our corporate team at sales@ttravel.com
