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Deloitte Survey Predicts Increase in Business Travel in 2012

By Kate Rice
December 06, 2011 2:06 PM

Business travel, which has been driving a recovery in the hotel business, should take off next year, according to a new Deloitte survey. Part of the surge is due to Millennials and Generation X professionals who expect to hit the road more next year.

Eighty-five percent of business travelers surveyed expect to take more or the same number of trips next year, with 27 percent of 18- to 44-year-olds expecting to take more trips in 2012, while only 16 percent of business travelers 45 years old and above are planning to take more trips next year.

Eighty-one percent expect to take more or the same number of business trips than they did in 2010. Of the 19 percent of business travelers who expect less travel in 2011, more than six of 10 (64 percent) cited the recession as the primary reason, and 14 percent cited a job change.

The majority of business travelers surveyed feel experiences at hotels operating under the same brand name differ depending on location, with six in 10 (60 percent) noting that facilities and service quality vary widely. However, when looking at perceptions around hotel consistency among different age groups, 49 percent of respondents aged 30 and older believe hotel brands are inconsistent whereas only 39 percent of those ages 18 to 29 indicate the same. When considering loyalty, nearly half (46 percent) of the 18- 29-year-olds say they prefer to stay at their favorite hotel brand even if it is not conveniently located, whereas 37 percent of those 30 and older do the same.

Two-thirds of respondents (67 percent) say they often work in their hotel room, with younger business travelers enjoying working in more social spaces, such as executive/business lounges and the lobby or common area. Nearly two-fifths (36 percent) of the 18- to 44-year-olds surveyed say they often work in the lobby or common area, while only 17 percent of those 45 and older do the same. When it comes to interacting with hotel staff for check-in, almost two-fifths (36 percent) of the 18- to 44-year-old respondents favor automated kiosks rather than checking in with a hotel employee at the front desk, whereas only 19 percent of the 45 and older survey participants say they prefer automated kiosks.

Amenities continue to play a key role in the overall hotel experience, with six in 10 respondents (61 percent) expecting more from hotels with regards to amenities and services now that hotel prices have increased. As a whole, 77 percent of business travelers surveyed indicated that complimentary Internet is important to them, and 63 percent are satisfied with the availability of free Wi-Fi in hotels.

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