Pros & Cons Of Business Travel Options

Arranging a business trip has a lot of planning and research involved. After all, you want to ensure everything runs smoothly for the trip. You want it to be as successful as possible, leading to potential leads and new clientele. But it’s not as simple as arranging the journey from A to B. You want to ensure your employee has a safe, comfortable and enjoyable time during business travel. After all, this will boost their morale and ensure higher work productivity. They are more inclined to make the trip again and it will benefit your company greatly.

The first thing you need to plan is how the employee will make the business travel. For instance, if they are going to fly to a destination, flights need to be arranged as well as the organisation of how they are going to get to the airport and the accommodation from the other end. If they are going to drive during business travel, you also need to arrange car hire. Research is highly important to make sure the right, efficient car is chosen for the trip. 

You then need to sort out accommodation for business travel. Even a decade ago, the main option for business travel was hotels. But now this has broadened with a lot more options available for accommodation. However, now there are so many options, it’s hard to choose the right one for your employee. Therefore, here are the pros and cons of business travel options.

What to consider when making your decision on business travel options?

Before we discuss the different business travel options, here are a few things you should be looking for to ensure you make the right decision on the accommodation when conducting business travel. 

Comfort

One of the biggest requirements you are looking for with business travel accommodation is comfort. You want the employee to have a comfortable stay, so you want to choose accommodation which lets them unwind and relax after a busy day of business. After all, they are unlikely to want to go on a business trip again with the company if they have uncomfortable surroundings.

Security 

You want your employee to feel secure when they are away on their trip. After all, they are going to be potentially alone on the trip, so you want them to feel safe at the accommodation. Therefore, whenever you are booking business travel options, you should have security as a top priority to ensure the employee feels safe on the trip.

Space

While your business will not have an unlimited budget for business travel, you do want to ensure the employee has enough space for the trip. After all, they are not going to have an enjoyable trip if they have limited space. You want the employee to have enough space to be able to work from the location if possible as well as have space for the family if they are joining them.

Location

You also need to consider the location of whatever accommodation you choose. After all, certain accommodation options will be closer to the business quarters than others. It’s most important for convenience that the employee can easily get to the workplace. Therefore, you should keep in mind location when picking out accommodation for business travel.

Business travel options- pros & cons

Here are a few of the different business travel options with the pros and cons for each so you can make a well-researched and informed decision on what is right for the employee, taking their specific requirements into account.

Serviced apartments

What is a serviced apartment?

A serviced apartment is an apartment which is let to guests on a fully furnished basis. It’s available for both short and long-term lettings so is suitable for a couple of days or a longer business trip. As well as offering guests accommodation, it has a range of services included in the price such as housekeeping and a concierge service.

Pros

They are like a home from home accommodation

With serviced apartments, you get a lot more space than you do in other types of accommodation. It feels like a home-from-home accommodation as you get various areas such as a kitchen area and a living room in your serviced apartment. For those who are constantly travelling for business, this type of accommodation gives them a lot more space and comfort. They will feel more relaxed and will be able to unwind, especially if they have had a busy day. It won’t feel like they are away on business with this type of accommodation. They will feel like they have a lot more freedom and independence during their stay.

The services you get with the accommodation 

Another benefit of serviced apartments is that they have added services which makes the trip run a lot smoother for the employee. They will enjoy all the additional services which they might not get in other accommodations. From housekeeping to security, these will all ensure the business traveller has a secure and comfortable stay while they are on business travel. This also works out better for employers as they know all the extra activities are included in the one price.

Cons

Arranging own food

You do have to make your food when you stay at this type of accommodation which is a bit of a con. After all, a lot of business travellers enjoy the benefit of getting a cooked breakfast and dinner on-site when they are staying away. It makes it easier, especially if they are back late or up early. With this type of accommodation, employees have to hunt down cafes and restaurants nearby and will have to charge this to the company.

Serviced homes

What is a serviced home?

As above, this is a property, likely a house, which is fully furnished so has everything the business traveller needs for an enjoyable stay. It comes with services included in the price such as housekeeping and has all the bills included in the one specific price.

Pros

The size of the house

When you stay in this type of accommodation, you are going to have a great amount of room compared to the other options on this list. From having extra bedrooms to ensuite facilities, these are all luxury extras that the business traveller will love. These serviced homes work well if the employee is working away with their family going with them or if multiple staff members are going on one trip. After they can share the house and all the facilities with enough room for them all.

The option of a garden

We all know how important fresh air is for our mental and physical health. And with this type of accommodation, you can often get a property which comes with a garden. Therefore, you get to spend some time outside of the house and enjoy the outdoor area. This is brilliant for business travellers who are looking to unwind and have some space after a busy day with clients.

Cons

The location

In some cases, the serviced home might be a little bit further out than the other options on the list. After all, you might find it’s in a residential area rather than right in the middle of town. So you have to weigh up the location of the property before booking it for the employee to use on their business travel. After all, you don’t want to stress them out if they have miles to go to the business quarters.

Hotels

What is a hotel?

A hotel is an establishment which offers paid stays. It tends to be in the short-term rather than long-term and the price of this tends to be nightly. The rooms tend to be similar in size although there are premier rooms or suites available for the stay. Facilities on-site regularly include restaurants and a shop.

Pros

The facilities available

One of the main benefits of choosing a hotel room for business travel is the wealth of facilities avaliable to the guest. Depending on which hotel you go for, the business traveller might get the use of a pool or gym on site. They can contact the front desk for additional services if required and they can help to organise trips and transport if necessary which is a bonus when travelling for business.

Food options

There are also good options when it comes to food when you stay at a hotel. For starters, a lot of this type of accommodation offers breakfast. Therefore, the business traveller gets a good start to the day and will be fed well in the morning. They also offer meals and have a bar on site to help the business traveller to unwind after work. You can also order room service so if you are hungry at the end of the day but don’t fancy restaurant seating, you can enjoy food in your room.

Cons

The lack of space

Even in the higher-priced rooms, you are going to get less space than other accommodation options. Aside from a bed, a chair and a bathroom, there isn’t much room for anything else. And if the business trip is a week, it can feel a bit small in this case and there will be limited room if anyone else is joining them on the trip.

Airbnb

What is Airbnb?

Airbnb has risen in popularity over the last decade and is a short-term rental which is owned and rented out to guests. You can book the rental for up to a month and it can be anything from an apartment to a cottage. 

Pros

The price system for this accommodation

A lot of companies are using Airbnb for their business trips due to the price of this type of accommodation. Instead of doing a strict price on a nightly basis, they often do discounts depending on how long you are staying. It works out cheaper than other accommodation types on this list which is a lot more appealing to businesses.

The unique accommodation available

It’s also appealing due to the different types of properties available. There are some unique options which will make an enjoyable stay for the business traveller. Airbnb often has some extra features which will make it even more comfortable for the guest. And whether you want them to stay in an apartment or a villa, there are a variety of options available.

Cons

The lack of facilities

While you get to enjoy what is on offer in the home, you are unlikely to get as many facilities as with other types of accommodation. You might have to pay extra for the employee to use the gym or pool if there is one on-site. There might not be parking or housekeeping which you get automatically in most cases with a serviced apartment or hotel.