Booking business accommodation to maximise value for money

There are certain differences between organising personal and business accommodation. After all, booking a room for yourself for a weekend away and booking rooms for a few dozen of your colleagues are clearly quite different kettles of fish.

When booking business accommodation you need to be confident that your business is getting a good deal, while also ensuring that staff are comfortable and well catered for.

So how can you find the best deal?

Location, location

When you're on holiday, the location of your accommodation isn't all that important, as you have time to walk that extra 20 minutes to save a little money. But for business accommodation clients, time equals money.

"Location is far more important when you're away for business," says Dean Minett from the Hotel, Motel and Accommodation Association's advisory board.

"You also need to consider the availability of food and beverage, because you don't necessarily need an in-house restaurant if you're staying in a CBD location surrounded by good restaurants."

Getting there

If you're after business accommodation in a big city, consider which suburb would be most convenient for your staff. Find out where the guests will be coming from, such as the airport or from a regional area, and then research your options to find the best location for their business accommodation.

Those little extras

When searching for business accommodation, Dean says it's worth asking about added extras, such as internet access or a central lounge where business meetings can be held if necessary.

"If it's a short stay, no internet access or a smaller room might not matter all that much, but if your staff are staying for longer, these things become more important."

Sweetening the deal

Shop around to make sure you're securing the best deal when booking business accommodation, but it's not just the room rate that you need to consider.

Some business accommodation offers special privileges to guests, such as free breakfast, daily newspapers or discounts to in-house or nearby restaurants. These could be just the thing to make the difference between a happy stay and an unhappy one for your staff.

Direct from the source

While discount websites or travel agents are popular ways to book business accommodation, Dean says sometimes it's best to go straight to the source for rates and availability.

"Depending on the time of year, you can sometimes negotiate special rates," he says. "And large, regular bookings can attract discounts of up to 50% off normal tariffs, so it's worth showing loyalty if your company requires regular business accommodation."

The bottom line

Finding the good corporate deal can save your business money and also ensure a smooth and hassle-free stay for your staff. So when booking business accommodation, do your homework and make sure you get the most bang for your buck.