A study has indicated that more than half of business customers now use mobile technology when it comes to searching and booking hotels, indicating a rapid increase in the use of mobile technology in the business travel sector.

Published: 18 Mar 2011

A study has indicated that more than half of business customers now use mobile technology when it comes to searching and booking hotels, indicating a rapid increase in the use of mobile technology in the business travel sector.

Travelport's survey, which polled over 600 corporate travel buyers, agents, hospitality and travel professionals globally, explored hotel experiences and expectations of the modern business traveller.

Some of the key findings:

• 80% would like to see mobile applications offering suggested restaurants and bars around the hotel location
• 67% would like similar apps offering suggestions for recreational activities.
• 71% rank Wi-Fi as one of the most important technology solutions that should be included as standard in hotel rooms - 82% of travellers expecting this service to be in all rooms within five years.
• 54% wanted more transparency and choice when it comes to charges for optional extras

Many in the poll commented that they should only have to pay for the services they really want or use when travelling for business

There was limited appeal for mobile apps which could record TV channels remotely or convenience solutions like the ability to adjust the temperature of the room when away.

Niklas Andréen, global vice president of hospitality and partner marketing at Travelport, said that the responses seem to indicate that “hotel rooms are no longer a place of rest but an extension of the office when travelling for business and as such it is important to move with the times and provide these services in a way that travellers want and expect.

Digital trends

In an interview with EyeforTravel's Ritesh Gupta in October last year, Gregg Brockway, CEO, Tripit mentioned that mobile technology is particularly useful for all types of travellers, because it provides them with easy access to important travel information while they are on the road.

Both leisure and business travellers need to keep their plans organised and have trip information like flight numbers, hotel addresses and driving directions readily on hand, Brockway said.

Significantly, corporate travel professionals are also increasingly using social media to communicate with travellers. Also, corporate travel departments are also becoming more comfortable with this form of collaboration. Corporate travel professionals are participating in more social networks than they did one year ago, and they are doing so at a higher rate.

One of the most interesting things about social media tools is their effect on human behaviour. Before social networking came on the scene, people were restricted to one-on-one communication with each other. Today, anyone who wants to can communicate one-to-many, using tools like LinkedIn and Twitter,said Brockway. Using social media, business travellers can see where important people in their professional network are going and where they have been. Social media provides an easy way for business travellers to communicate and connect, which increases efficiency and productivity, which in turn makes individual travellers happy. This also benefits the travel programmes, because companies will see greater return on their travel spending.