Travel Leaders Corporate Finds Business Travellers Use Mid-Priced Hotels

　　Travel Leaders Corporate, in new survey analyzing data from a sample of nearly 625,000 business travel bookings in the first quarter of 2012, found its clients spent approximately 2.4 percent more on the average nightly cost of a hotel room as compared to the first quarter of 2011 and the top hotel chains being used for business travel are mid-priced hotels.

　　According to the Travel Leaders Corporate survey, the average hotl cost per night went up $3.15 in 2012, from $130.13 to $133.28. “The modest increase in average hotel cost per night for our business travelers is roughly 3 percent less than what other industry sources are stating,” said David Holyoke, president of Travel Leaders Corporate. “What this data shows us is that our clients are focused on managing their expenses and looking for value. We constantly work to help our clients manage their expenses and find the most value for their corporate dollar. Our clients continue to find value in our negotiated rates, especially those for mid-priced hotels.”

　　According to Travel Leaders, hotel booking data for April of this year indicates the average cost per night of a hotel room fell slightly to $129.45 on similar demand as compared to the first quarter of 2012. Travel Leaders Corporate’s data suggests that Hampton Inn, Holiday Inn, Courtyard by Marriott, and Hilton Garden Inn were four of the top five most booked chains in terms of room nights during the first quarter of 2012.

　　“These chains are outpacing the more marquee brands within a hotel group’s portfolio,” Holyoke said. “This is reflective of a continuing trend among U.S. corporations, including our clientele, to manage hotel expenses by staying at mid-priced properties.”

　　According to Travel Leaders, through the first quarter of 2012 the most booked hotel chains, in order, were Hampton Inn, Holiday Inn, Courtyard by Marriott, Marriott, Hilton Garden Inn, Hilton, Hyatt Regency, Sheraton, Doubletree and Fairfield. “Mid-priced hotels offer our clients added amenities like free Wi-Fi and hot breakfast, so I’m not surprised that we’re seeing trending toward more of our clients booking in that category,” Holyoke said.

　　Travel Leaders Corporate found that business travelers spent an average of approximately 1.7 percent more across the upper upscale, upscale, upper midscale, and midscale categories. The upper midscale hotel rates remained steadiest, increasing by just $0.38 per night. By Category, the average cost per night for Upper Upscale Hotels went up just $0.62 in 2012 to $163.91. The average cost per night for Upscale Hotels with up $5.48 to $132.10. The average cost for Upper Midscale hotels went up $0.38 to $108.19. The average cost for Midscale Hotels went up $1.72 to $103.06.

　　“All categories are seeing growth and that is encouraging. Where there is more competition, in the midscale and upper midscale categories, prices are more affordable,” Holyoke said.