BCD Travel’s newest report, Traveler Insights: Hotel Booking Trends, offers a deep dive into the hotel booking habits of over 1,000 business travelers across North America, Europe, and Asia Pacific. The findings reveal not only how travelers book and choose accommodation, but also what frustrates them, what they value most, and how companies can better support their needs.
Whether you’re managing travel, sourcing suppliers, supporting employee wellbeing, or overseeing risk and security, this report is packed with actionable insights that can reshape how your organization approaches hotel booking.
Key findings:
- Booking behavior: 84% of travelers book hotels via corporate online booking tools (OBTs), yet many still research options independently—highlighting a need for better guidance and transparency.
- Accommodation preferences: Midscale and upscale hotels are the top choices, driven by convenience, location, and alignment with company policy.
- Sustainability gaps: Half of travelers rarely or never consider environmental factors when booking, but interest in eco-certified properties is growing—a clear opportunity for programs to lead by example.
- Loyalty matters: 80% of travelers are members of hotel loyalty programs, and most are allowed to keep their points. Loyalty influences booking decisions and can be leveraged to improve traveler satisfaction.
- Traveler friction: Slow Wi-Fi, lack of breakfast, and outdated rooms are the top sources of frustration. These seemingly small issues can have a big impact on traveler experience.
- Safety concerns: Nearly half of travelers report experiencing risky situations during hotel stays. From poor locks to unsafe locations, duty of care remains a critical priority.
Why this matters for your travel program
Understanding these trends helps you align your hotel strategy with traveler expectations, improve satisfaction, and optimize spend. BCD Travel and its Advito consultancy offer tools and expertise to help you:
- Build a best-in-class hotel program: From sourcing to negotiation, BCD helps you secure the best deals and preferred properties.
- Influence traveler booking behavior: Through smart booking tools and targeted engagement, you can guide travelers toward policy-compliant, cost-effective, and sustainable choices.
- Drive savings and sustainability: Use data-driven insights to reduce costs and support sustainable travel choices—without compromising traveler comfort.
- Enhance duty of care and traveler wellbeing: Ensure your travelers feel safe, supported, and satisfied throughout their journey.
Download the full report to explore the data and discover how BCD Travel can support your goals.
Ready to elevate your hotel program? BCD clients can contact their program manager. Not a client? Start here.
