UTRECHT, The Netherlands – BCD Travel recently surveyed 1,035 business travelers worldwide to explore their choice of hotels and other types of accommodation, as well as their booking behavior and experiences during business trips.

Accommodation preferences

Most travelers opt for midscale (3-star) or upscale (4-star) hotels when traveling for business. Hotel location (77%) plays a major role in selecting a hotel, along with employer policy (56%) and cost (53%). Travelers who occasionally stay in apartments say this type of accommodation is more convenient for longer stays, providing more space and the option to prepare meals and do laundry.

Searching, booking and paying

Over three-quarters of business travelers use their company’s online booking tool (OBT) to search for accommodation, while a third turn to hotel websites or apps. When booking, 84% use their company’s OBT, one in five book directly via supplier websites, while one in 10 call the hotel. Three-quarters pay with a corporate credit card. Virtual cards are used rarely. Three-quarters of travelers say their employer sets hotel rate limits, one in 10 report no limits and 18% don’t know if their employer sets rate limits.

A high-performing hotel program is never static. It’s a dynamic strategy shaped by continuous rate monitoring, traveler insights and agile adjustments. By embracing dynamic sourcing, travel managers can respond in real time to shifting needs and market conditions, creating programs that deliver savings, earn traveler trust and drive adoption. Teri Miller, executive vice president, Global Client Team at BCD

Traveler behavior

Personal preferences strongly influence hotel choices: 77% prefer chain hotels with familiar service standards and 73%stay at the same hotel when visiting a destination repeatedly.

Wi-Fi and breakfast are the most frequently used hotel services. Other popular amenities include on-site restaurants and bars, parking facilities, fitness centers and flexible check-in/check-out. Travelers also value wellbeing-related features, such as complimentary bottled water, gyms, pools, spas and healthy food options.

Travelers favor hotels that help them earn and maximize loyalty points, especially in North America where as many as 99% are members of a hotel loyalty program. Overall, eight in 10 participate in at least one program and many are enrolled in two or more. Two-thirds often or always choose hotels aligned with their loyalty programs. Three-quarters say their employer allows them to keep points earned from business stays, while 21% are unsure.

Challenges

While seven in 10 are satisfied with their company’s hotel policy and preferred suppliers, there’s still room for improvement. Common issues include slow Wi-Fi, breakfast not being included in the rate, outdated rooms and uncomfortable beds.

A third report no challenges during the booking process. Among those who do, the biggest challenge is insufficient rate limits set by employers.

Safety remains a concern. Three in 10 say they didn’t feel safe in their hotel location and seven in 10 double-lock their doors when in their rooms.

Sustainability

Half of travelers rarely or never consider environmental factors when booking hotels. Four in 10 don’t take any sustainability elements into account at all. Only one in five look for features like eco-certification, reduced single-use plastics, low carbon emissions, water-saving measures or limited housekeeping.

Hotels may not be the primary driver of carbon emissions in a travel program, but they’re still an essential part of a holistic sustainability strategy. Travelers often don’t consider sustainability when shopping for hotels because most booking tools lack strong sustainability guidance in that category. We advise clients to embed sustainability into their annual hotel sourcing exercise and then clearly communicate expectations and targets back to travelers to help them make better choices. April Bridgeman, senior vice president of Hotel Solutions

Click here to view the full survey report, including tips on how BCD’s total booking and trip management platform TripSource® and BCD’s consulting division Advito can help companies in building smarter, more sustainable hotel programs.

With hotel sourcing season underway, the Connections with BCD Travel podcast is sharing expert insights into smarter hotel sourcing strategies. The August 14 episode will offer a timely discussion to help negotiate better rates for hotels in 2026.

About BCD Travel

BCD Travel helps companies travel smart and achieve more. We drive program adoption, cost savings and talent retention through digital experiences that simplify business travel. Our 15,000+ dedicated team members service clients in 170+ countries as we shape a sustainable future for business travel. BCD’s leading meetings and events management and global consultancy services complete our comprehensive suite of solutions for all aspects of corporate travel. In 2023, BCD achieved US$20.3 billion in sales. For more information, visit www.bcdtravel.com.

Janneke Kraanen
Manager, PR & Content Creation