Hunting For A Business Hotel
Introduction
The number of business travelers hopping from city to city has been alarmingly rising in the recent past, so much so that almost all of us have become familiar with business travelers ruing about living out of suitcases. The growing demands of businesses the world over have made it all the more important for a business traveler to put their feet up at a good hotel, where he can eat well, have a good nights sleep and work in comfort, to be ready for that business deal in the morning afresh.
Zeroing upon a hotel
Though most hotels will not agree, they predominantly can cater well to a particular class of travelers. Hotels that are meant for leisure travelers or party hotels are a complete no-no. Business visitors need to have an eye for such hotels and steer clear of them. With an increasing shortage of rooms in the lodging and hospitality industry, a beforehand and thorough research on the hospitality scene in the city of visit will take you a long way in boiling down to a few options. Also enquire of friends who have visited the place earlier and their experiences of a stay at a particular hotel. Once this has been done, consider calling up the front desk of these hotels instead of the toll free customer care numbers to find out if the hotel has some of the following features, which are expected of a good business hotel.
Internet access
On a business trip, there is a need to stay connected to the work back home, which requires internet connectivity. Check if the hotel provides a wired or a wireless internet service, is it restricted only to the guest lounge area or is also made available inside the room. Find out if there is help at hand in the form of in-house technical support in case problems arise. If the internet connection is wireless, how good is the signal reception in different parts of the hotel? Some hotels offer the computers in their business centers or high speed access within the room. Ask if there are any charges for the use of internet.
Quick and efficient customer service
Service based industries are known to treat customers like kings. While an efficient customer service is essential for any hotel for that matter, to survive, this efficient service also needs to be speedy in case of business hotels. A quick redressal of any customer requirement allows travelers to focus on their purpose of visit business. A dexterous yet friendly staff is the key to an efficient and fast service.
Business centre
Find out if the hotel has its own business center and what facilities does it provide? Is there an opening and closing time for the center? Does it have equipment such as a fax machine, PCs etc.?
Location
Location is probably the most important factor for a business hotel. A hotel located in the citys business district or near the airport will pull the maximum crowd. These hotels make up on the convenience front what they lack on the scenic views from rooms front. If you cannot get a room in a business hotel near airport, look out for hotels that are close to public hotspots or commercial centers. This will be of tremendous help when the access inside the hotel goes for a toss for any reason whatsoever.
Transportation issues
A good business hotel understands the need of its clients to reach major business destinations within the city on time, and without much bother. Hotels offer transportation shuttles to business areas in the city or alternatively help customers in securing taxis or private cabs
In-room safes
Find out if there are in-room safes made available to business travelers. This will relieve you of safety issues, if any, during your stay. If at all there is access to in room safes, check if they can accommodate a laptop.
Flat screen TVs
Apart from just providing entertainment, flat screen TVs have connections for a laptop, MP3 player, portable DVD player and the like. With the help of a few cables, a laptop can be connected to the TV to view business presentations, watch movies or play music through TV speakers.
Specially designed rooms for business visitors
Many hotels have started embracing the concept of specially designed rooms for business guests. These rooms have a dedicated work area or there are also suites that are rooms wit guest quarters.
Wrap-up
All the above features distinguish a business hotel from leisure ones. Be guaranteed of a comfortable stay at any hotel that adheres to these features. Choosing a hotel on this basis will certainly enhance your business manifold.
Venugopal Naidu is the business development head at Ista Hotel in Bangalore, India.
Associated with Ista for the past five years, he has been active in projecting the hotel as a luxury five star hotel in Bangalore.
Catalyzing the growing popularity of Ista, Naidu foresees a major fillip in the customer base of luxury business accommodation worldwide
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