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are traveling , they tend to be more mindful of the reasoning and make a conscious effort to maximize their time .
In addition to making travel more purposeful , said Spence , “ we also see this to be a strategic decision to help deliver a more sustainable travel program .” As companies continue to travel , he said , “ we can anticipate this trend of fewer but longer trips to remain a constant , in part due to its reduction of carbon emissions .”
Within the hotel sector , according to Jeannie Milazzo , senior consulting manager for Amex GBT , the return of 2019 level spending is almost certainly going to occur before the return of room nights , a result of the rising cost of stays . With a regained confidence and sense of appreciation for business travel , the company expects upward movement to continue beyond 2024 .
FRANK PASSANANTE , SVP AND GLOBAL HEAD OF SALES FOR HILTON , SAID THAT HILTON EXCEEDED 2019 PEAK LEVELS IN THE THIRD QUARTER ON GROUP BUSINESS .
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FCM , a major TMC , has made a full recovery , with business travel now exceeding pre-pandemic levels , according to Billy McDonough , president , Americas .
From the hotel vantage point , Hilton has seen business transient and group demand returning to 2019 levels , with respect to both large and small accounts , according to Frank Passanante , SVP and global head of sales for Hilton . On the group side , Hilton exceeded 2019 peak levels in the third quarter . And small and medium sized businesses ( SMBs ) represented roughly 85 % of Hilton ’ s business transient guests . With that base established , said Passanante , the company expects continued improvement in business transient and group demand in the coming year , as well as increased interest in international markets .
STANDING ON SHOULDER NIGHTS NO MORE Shifting behaviors have significantly affected the traditional Tuesday-Thursday business travel pattern , said Demuth . Historically , Thursday and Sunday were the slowest nights because travelers wanted to be home or get home . Now , those nights are much stronger , particularly in businessoriented destinations like New York , Chicago and Washington . D . C ., as travelers extend trips for leisure purposes or to meet sustainability criteria .
Tammy Routh , SVP of global sales for Marriott International ,
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said the company continues to see guests blending their trip purposes , as evidenced by Sunday and Thursday night bookings , as well as adding days pre- and post-conference , looking for ways to include family and friends before or after a meeting , or simply extending their business travel to include a few days of leisure .
The flexibility provided by hybrid arrangements , said Italo Bustíos , VP of sales and marketing , Caribbean & Latin America , Highgate , has resulted in an increased length of stay for all his properties , including the Westin Lima Hotel & Convention Center , that have business transient as a relevant part of their mix .
Brian Macaluso , Sonesta Hotels ’ VP of global sales , reminisces about the yesteryear of business travel . “ I remember when Tuesday and Wednesday were peak individual business travel days for travelers and hotels ,” he said . “ Now , work from anywhere is the new trend and I don ’ t see it changing any time soon .”
With enervated office occupancies and fewer overall office visits , Macaluso said Sonesta is seeing more trips to meet with what are now-remote team members , prompting the need for smaller meet-up spaces .
Sonesta , said Macaluso , is seeing companies organizing team meetings at a regional level to win back some face-toface time from time lost during the pandemic . “ They ’ re hosting quarterly small groups that are coming together to maintain culture and relationships that
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THERE IS GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR HOTELS TO CONVERT BALLROOMS OR EVEN GUEST ROOMS INTO MEETING SUITES AND CHANGE THEM BACK FOR LEISURE GUESTS FOR THE WEEKEND
– ZACH DEMUTH , GLOBAL HEAD
OF HOTEL RESEARCH , JLL
would have been satisfied previously by time spent in the workplace ,” he said .
MEETING NEEDS How does the transformation of business travel impact the hotel product itself ? For Demuth , it means getting back to basics . “ It blows my mind ,” he said , “ that you might not always find reliable WiFi in a hotel , which is the number-one thing that business travelers demand ; not just reliable , but high bandwidth .”
Business travelers , said Demuth , now see hotels as not just places to stay , but venues to congregate within , with
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