Newsroom

By Liisa Sullivan

Americans are busy people whether on the road, or at home. We have become a nation of multitaskers. Have you ever clutched the phone between your chin and shoulder, while simultaneously tapping the keys on your computer and tossing your child his favorite stuffed animal so he stops crying? If so, you are not alone.

Whether you work at home, in an office, or spend a lot of time in the field, multitasking has become a way of life and without it we would probably come up short in achieving our daily goals. For many people, cell phones and laptops have evolved into accessories and have become extensions of who we are.

As a result, the line between home and business has begun to blur which prompts business travelers to seek out hotels that allow them to juggle an array of business activities, but that still make them feel at home.

Hyatt Survey Says...

So, it's no surprise that a new survey from Hyatt Place reports that 84 percent of business travelers want a hotel that allows for multitasking on the road exactly as they do at home.

The Hyatt Place survey reported that productivity is a top concern for business travelers, with 78 percent feeling the need to be equally productive when traveling as they are when in the office. Further, more than 70 percent of business travelers will only consider hotels with guestrooms offering up-to-date technology.

The union of home-like hotels and practical technology are popping up in hotels across the county. A new concept, the condo hotel, allows guests to enjoy home-like surroundings with all the comforts and practical tools of home.

A Unique Asheville Hotel that Caters to the Business Traveler

James Gibson, Managing Director for The Residences at Biltmore in Asheville, NC, explains that "our guests enjoy the residential atmosphere of our condo hotel suites. Business travelers spend enough time in airports and fast-food establishments, that it's refreshing for them to stay in an Asheville hotel that offers convenient services such as a travel concierge, wireless Internet services, and a state-of-the art kitchen that allows them to cook fresh food, not fast."

A recent business traveler was visiting from Miami to discuss a potential business merger with a partner. He landed in the Asheville airport and headed to The Residences at Biltmore.

"I have stayed there before," Robert Andreassen said. "I knew that I would feel at home, be able to kick up my feet, enjoy their flat-screen TV and comfortable surroundings and still be able to get some work done."

He goes on to explain that these new types of hotel condo accommodations are also perfect for client entertaining.

"Not many hotel rooms offer a conducive or practical business atmosphere," he said. "At The Residences at Biltmore, I have no problem inviting a client or business partner over. Their hotel concierge is happy to arrange for a gourmet breakfast to be delivered to the room and this is a perfect way to get business plans underway. In addition, it saves me travel time."

The survey goes on to say that one third of business travelers will drive 10-30 plus miles out of their way to ensure that they stay in a hotel with free high-speed wireless Internet access; 81 percent of travelers say "the guestrooms in their ideal business hotel are designed around the way people really live."

How a Hotel Concierge Can Help Business Travelers

Aside from the results reported in the Hyatt Place survey, business travelers also need an array of other services that may include information on where to make copies; where to buy office supplies; where to rent a conference room; where to hire a language translator; or where to go for a quick workout or run.

"A hotel concierge can assist with all of these and more," Gibson said. "Choosing a condo hotel with a concierge will not only make a business traveler's stay more effective, but will make them feel more at home. The concierge will make the necessary arrangements and before they know it, a strange city will be familiar."

Note: The Hyatt Place survey was the result of combined efforts from Sterling Brands who conducted a quantitative online study among 400 American travelers, ages 25-55, who stayed in hotels three plus times in the past 12 months; and Sommers Marketing Research conducted a quantitative online study of more than 1,000 American travelers, ages 25-54, who stayed in hotels more than one time for business in the past 12 months.