Business travellers choose wifi

Business travellers under 35 say that high-speed internet connection is a priority for maintaining productivity on the road, highlighting a difference of opinion between the “millennial” generation and older employees.

Research conducted by serviced apartment provider SACO shows that employees under the age of 35 are more likely to have travelled for business in the past two years than older people (25% and 15% respectively). Of those surveyed, 62% cite high-speed internet connection as a priority, 51% of whom are millennials.

Although access to technology in hotel rooms is considered essential by 46% of younger travellers, comfort comes first for all ages, with 89% of those asked saying a decent bed is an important factor when staying away from home.

Younger employees are also twice as likely as their older counterparts to associate serviced apartments with being sociable (11% and 5% respectively). This goes hand-in-hand with the fact that 12% of millennials want to be seen as “local” when travelling for work, compared to 7% of those aged 35 and up.

According to SACO’s Sales Director Ben Harper, the company estimates that the millennial generation will make up more than half the workforce by 2020, which will change the face of business travel.

In another piece of research conducted by serviced apartment provider BridgeStreet, 74% of corporate travel policies around the world include serviced apartments as an accommodation option, with 44% recommending them for stays of one to four nights. This number rises to 76% for trips lasting longer than a week.

Meanwhile, 46% of those surveyed say they are responsible for making their own arrangements when travelling for work and 67% say consistent customer service is a driving factor for loyalty to specific hospitality brands.