While a chocolate on the hotel pillow was enough to make our grandparents happy in their day, we now want more from the hotels we choose… a lot more.
Especially for road warriors, the choice of amenities can make or break a hotel. So, what is it we really want from a hotel?
Free and fast Wi-Fi
Free Wi-Fi is hands-down the most-wanted hotel amenity for any business traveller. Let’s face it: it is not even considered a ‘perk’ anymore, because Wi-Fi is just a non-negiotable basic necessity when travelling.
As much as most business travellers would not be prepared to pay extra for a bed in their room or for indoor plumbing, they are also not that willing to pay extra for Internet access.
Free breakfast
The best things in life are free! As budget-conscious corporate travellers, most of us will not hesitate to skip breakfast at the hotel if we need to fork out a small fortune for it.
But, a free hearty breakfast at the hotel before that important meeting will be very much appreciated, and will be an important factor that will make us choose that hotel over and again. What do we like to eat? Fresh fruit, meats, eggs and toast, and a nice juice please.
Good coffee
There’s nothing worse than to arrive in your hotel room, craving a good cup of coffee, only to find some black powder in a sachet that is supposed to turn into what looks like coffee when stirred into hot water… A high-end Espresso or coffee machine on the other hand will be sure to hit the spot.
Phones
Who still uses the hotel’s bathroom phone? As it turns out, nobody does. Bathroom phones have officially been voted as the most unused amenity hotels offer. But, give us a tablet for the duration of our stay – even at an additional price – and that will truly make us happy. Also charging stations for cell phones or other electronic equipment will be highly appreciated.
Things we like to take along…
Hotel amenities are the perfect items to take along as ‘presents’ for our better half or our kids at home when we just don’t have the time to go shopping.
The most taken item at hotels is apparently stationery, slippers and magazines. Also little shampoo bottles continue to be in high demand.
Services that will truly wow us
Some hotels have really gone all out to attract business travellers. And although we know it’s not realistically possible to expect this at all hotels, it’s always nice to dream a bit.
At Il Salviatino in Florence, guests can indulge in a Champagne bubble bath, while at The Carlyle in New York a personal fragrance butler will advise you on just the right scent for that make-or-break business meeting. And at the Burj Al Alra, guests are offered a 24-karat-gold iPad engraved with the hotel’s logo at check-in to us as a ‘virtual concierge’.
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