Accor has revealed the findings of its Accor Asia Pacific Business Traveller Research 2011, which seeks to better understand the travel and behavioural preferences of business travellers based in Asia Pacific. The survey interviewed over 10,000 respondents who made business trips in the first half of this year.
From the findings, efficiency seems to be the overarching theme for executives on their business travels. The business travel starts with them booking directly with the hotel online (57%) versus 3rd parties travel
websites. Asia Pacific’s business travellers surveyed also perceived the hotel branded website as having the most competitive rates. These findings point to them looking to achieve both effeciency as well as autonomy.
When choosing the hotel, the main factor is the location throughout all markets (50%), with price competitiveness (25%) and previous experience with the hotel (28%) and/or the hotel brand (22%) also figuring strongly.
A large majority (75%) of Asia Pacific’s business travellers work in the hotel whilst travelling for business, especially during the hours of 21:00 to Midnight (52%). This could be due to the fact that they could be having their work related activities during in the day and catch up on work when they return to the hotel in the evening. Virtually all business travellers prefer to work in their guest room rather than in other areas of the hotel (executive lounge, cafe, lobby). This likely contributes to why Wi-Fi internet in guest room (85%)
and Wired internet in guest room (77%) are cited as the top two facilities used in the hotel during their last hotel stay.
Business travellers were also asked what in room facilities they expect to be introduced by hotels by 2014. Again, efficiency came to the forefront with Online Check-In/Out (50%) and Online Booking for Hotel Facilities (32%) featuring top of the list. Products and services that provide for greater autonomy reigned with business travellers wanting to take a greater degree of control of their time and experience.