Three primary drivers that factor into your hotel selection:
- You’re budget-driven – Just like me on my 1st trip, you make your decision on how much you’re allotted to spend on a hotel or a trip. Your loyalty is to the best deal that keeps you in budget for your trip. This method is solely for the benefit of the company and often can wear a business traveler down and even out of business travel.
- Budget Tip for Budget-Driven – Do your homework. Every part of the country and depending on key cities are just flat out more expensive. Leverage booking sites to compare.
- You’re chain-driven – You’re a “Marriott guy” or a “Hilton girl” and the only variation is which hotel within your mothership chain. You’ll drive further just to stay at your favorite hotel chain. This is the largest category with seasoned road warriors. For example, you may find a preferred chain during your budget-driven days and now you can finally commit to the chain.
- Chain Tip for Chain-Driven. – If and when you change companies, let them know your preferred chain and even preferred hotels within that chain.
- You’re rewards-driven – You just want the benefits as quickly as you can that you can use for you, significant other, and/or family. If you have your family travel with you or you take a lot of trips, you may convert to this option over time. How is rewards-driven different than chain-driven? Well, you may be loyal to a chain, but the difference is in the loyalty is not to a chain but to a credit card or site that you actually see the rewards and doesn’t limit you.
- Loyalty Tip for Rewards-Driven – www.Hotels.com honors you with a free night with every 10 nights, not hotel stays.
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The other key factors in choosing business travel hotels:
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Hotel Location – This is all about convenience. Maybe this limits your drive time and/or gives you more access to attendees.
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Hotel Amenities – what’s at the actual hotel matters more to you and there are four amenities that enhance your hotel stay:
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Restaurant- Often, it’s just nice to have a restaurant right on site that is part of the hotel whether they serve a hot breakfast or offer lunch and dinner, the convenience cannot be beat especially if you’re tired or short on time.
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Restaurant Pro Tip -Check out the menu for the restaurant right away to not only save you time but also help you avoid making a reactive poor food choice.
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- Bar- Sometimes if you’re with a co-worker or team, this is very convenient to meet before dinner or a nightcap but… it’s also often just TOO convenient and can be an enabler and sleep-stealer. Know thyself.
- Bar Pro Tip -Always apply the 1:1 drink to water ratio and end one drink earlier than planned and have your last drink be a glass of water to limit the alcohol effecting your sleep. Also, put a glass of water or water bottle on your bed stand to have available in the middle of the night.
- Fitness Center- Having a good workout option while on the road is an absolute must especially if you implement energy habit one: MOVE. It’s amazing what even 20 focused and intense minutes of movement can do for your body and even your mind.
- Fitness Center Pro Tip – Visit your fitness center before you even go to your room or right after you check in to your room to know exactly what options you have available to you for your workouts during your stay.
- Kitchen- If you travel a ton for work, having the option to prepare your own meal and relax in your own room or even in the commonplace patio, is a rare gift.
- Kitchen Pro Tip -If you’re focusing in energy habit two: FUEL, stay at as many hotels with kitchens to control your food options. I did this for a month and lost over ten pounds. Heavy decision for me!
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Challenges:
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You’re limited by your company and it’s not your preference. This is especially true for companies who are cost-focused. The key is making the best of your options and when it starts to wear on you, it may be time to move on.
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You start with a certain hotel chain and feel committed or stuck. This is the “sunken costs fallacy” where you invest so much in something, it becomes a point of no return.
You’ve got this!
References
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