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JOHANNESBURG – For decades, the business-class upgrade has been the holy grail of corporate travel – a visible symbol of company investment in employee comfort and productivity. But growing evidence suggests hotel upgrades may offer better return on investment when it comes to the overall trip.
Herman Heunes, GM of Corporate Traveller, says businesses are increasingly recognising that hotel selection deserves equal, if not greater, strategic attention.
The math is compelling: business travellers spend 6-12 hours in premium airline seats but 24-72 hours in their hotel environment during multi-day trips. Yet upgrade decisions often prioritise flights over accommodation – which has more influence on sustained performance than many realise.
Business travellers consistently rank hotel-related factors – sleep quality, workspace reliability, and location convenience – as having significant impact on their performance throughout their trip.
“Premium air travel certainly delivers value, especially on long routes,” says Heunes. “There’s a reason people want to fly up front. But when you’re dealing with back-to-back meetings across multiple days, it’s your hotel that keeps you sharp and supported hour after hour.”
How Hotels Support Your Business Travel
If you’ve ever spent two nights in a budget room next to the elevator you don’t need convincing that hotels – and hotel rooms – matter. But what exactly separates an average stay from one that helps you perform at your best?
Heunes highlights the following:
Real rest when you need it
Sleep isn’t just recovery time; it’s cognitive fuel. The difference between a restless night and quality sleep determines whether you’re sharp during negotiations or struggling to process information during crucial meetings.
Top hotels invest heavily in sleep science – from mattress quality and pillow menus to blackout curtains, proper soundproofing, and climate control systems that maintain consistent temperatures. They understand business travellers aren’t just looking for a bed; they’re looking for a performance advantage that starts with proper rest.
Infrastructure that works when you do
The modern business traveller is essentially a mobile office, which means hotel infrastructure can make or break productivity. Business-ready hotels offer reliable Wi-Fi with guaranteed bandwidth, ergonomic desks positioned for natural light, and quiet spaces for focused work.
The gap between adequate and excellent infrastructure is vast. Standard hotels might offer “business centres” that consist of a single desktop computer in the lobby and Wi-Fi that struggles under load. Meanwhile, business-focused properties provide enterprise-grade connectivity, 24-hour business centres with professional printing and copying services, and in-room workstations designed for extended productivity sessions.
The ripple effects extend beyond immediate technical needs, says Heunes. “Reliable infrastructure means you can work efficiently from your room, potentially avoiding expensive co-working spaces or the awkwardness of conducting sensitive business calls in public areas.”
Locations that save time and energy
Staying close to meeting venues means less commuting in unfamiliar cities. But the benefits go deeper than time savings.
“A good location reclaims hours over multi-day trips. More importantly, it preserves mental energy you can redirect toward actual business objectives,” says Heunes.
Strategic locations also provide flexibility when plans change unexpectedly. When meetings run long or get rescheduled, being centrally located means adapting without scrambling across traffic-clogged cities or missing subsequent appointments.
Service that anticipates your needs
Business travel rarely goes according to plan. Flights get delayed, meetings shift unexpectedly, and emergencies arise that require immediate attention. Premium hotels excel at proactive service that adapts to these realities – front desk staff facilitating early check-in, housekeeping flexibility around important calls, and crisis support like extending stays due to delayed flights (when you really, really don’t want to swap rooms).
Making Your Hotel Budget Work Harder
In order to unlock these benefits, accommodation choices require thinking beyond price point, says Heunes. This means prioritising properties that cater specifically to business needs rather than leisure amenities you’ll never use. It means choosing locations that minimise commuting stress over properties that might be marginally cheaper but require additional transportation costs and time.
The loyalty programme landscape offers another opportunity. “Business-focused hotel chains often provide more accessible elite status thresholds than airlines, and benefits like room upgrades, late checkout and complimentary breakfast have immediate, tangible value,” says Heunes. And working with a travel management company provides the kind of negotiating power individual travellers lack to secure reduced rates with valuable perks.
“When we talk about upgrading hotel accommodation, we’re really talking about duty of care,” Heunes concludes. “Companies have a responsibility to ensure their people can rest and maintain wellbeing while travelling on business. A quality hotel is essential for protecting employee health and performance during physically and mentally demanding trips.”