A new survey has revealed that 41% of employees want to travel more for business, and just under a quarter of employees (23%*) now request an additional night’s stay so they can explore their location. Commissioned by LateRooms.com Business, the survey supports the continued boom in bleisure travel in 2017, where people use business travel as an opportunity to explore and experience new locations.
The research, commissioned by the UK’s leading hotel booking specialist, also highlighted that UK locations within an easy drive or train ride were 10 times more popular choices for business travel than flights overseas. London, the Lake District, Edinburgh and Manchester came out as the top destinations for employees to visit in 2017, and LateRooms.com Business predicts this trend to continue through to 2018.
The survey also looked at the different hotel preferences when booking for business travel. Whilst WiFi and connectivity continue to be a priority for business bookers, LateRooms.com Business also identified that 73% of employees seek leisure facilities (gym, pool, sauna) when travelling, and 39% search for a hotel with an on-site bar or restaurant.
Graeme Descoteaux, Head of LateRooms for Business, said: “The demand for staycations within both the consumer and business travel markets shows no signs of abating, and it’s interesting to see employees are now being savvy with their business bookings, using them as an opportunity to take a night away and enjoy cost-effective access to the best of the UK.
“With great savings and free VAT reconciliations, a service which saves the average business £14,000, it means that both the booker and traveller get to experience the wide array of hotels LateRooms.com has to offer. Whether embarking on a road trip to the beautiful Lake District or planning a city centre stopover in the likes of Manchester, our improved service is designed to ensure business travel in 2018 is even more cost efficient.”
LateRooms.com Business is building on its strength as a provider of bespoke solutions to businesses and UK-based expertise. Its vast array of business solutions and added value products and services include dedicated one to one account management, access to bespoke reports via the Business Portal, Corporate Rates, automated hotel VAT receipt reconciliation and consolidated monthly billing.
