What hotel travellers want

Shot of two friends checking in to a day spahttp://195.154.178.81/DATA/i_collage/pi/shoots/783620.jpg

By Hannah Edensor

Just like Mel Gibson in What Women Want, hotels and agents are constantly wanting to know exactly what travellers want when they jet off on a trip. Now, we let you in on the obvious (and not so obvious) desires of hotel stayers.

In a new study, commissioned by HotelsCombined and conducted by an independent research agency, over 1000 Aussie adults have revealed what floats their boat when it comes to checking into hotels, from spas and babysitting to a freshly pressed shirt.

Interestingly, despite spa treatments seeming like one of most desirable services within hotels, surprisingly 50 per cent of Aussies don’t use them. Laundry services also seem essential, but they, too, are only used by half of Aussies (48 per cent of respondents).

On top of that, more than a third of Aussies admitted that they don’t use a hotel’s concierge and 34 per cent said they don’t use room service. Nearly two thirds of respondents (61 per cent) said they don’t use child minding services offered by hotels.

So what the hell do travellers want?

Chris Rivett, Head of Marketing for Australia and New Zealand at HotelsCombined, said, “We are travelling more often but spending less time away from home each time and that means we have less of a need for laundry services, spa and beauty treatments or babysitting when we’re away.

“Instead, our survey shows that we seek services that enable us to remain on the go, and keep us connected.”

And this makes sense now, given 47 per cent of Australians are taking shorter and more frequent holidays.

The most popular hotel services among survey respondents was hotel free Wi-Fi (used by 83 per cent of respondents), 24-hour receptions (used by 83 per cent of respondents), and housekeeping services (80 per cent of respondents).

Other services the majority of travellers use include pillow options (66 per cent) to enable us to feel more at home and get a good night’s rest, and airport shuttles available through hotel accommodation (77 per cent), indicating that ride sharing services are not yet the transport of choice when it comes to airport travel.

When asked if hotels can improve on the facilities, features and services they offer, almost half of respondents believe hotels can up their game and get better.

“With hotel accommodation more affordable and accessible than ever before, we are seeing a shift to Aussies maximising the value in their room rates and making choices based on the services they require,” Rivett added.

“Many hotels are prioritising the guest experience more than ever, and it’s very likely we’ll see even more of this in the future as advancements in technology allow for further personalisation of services.”

Where to now?

So HotelsCombined’s done the legwork and handpicked a few Aussie hotels that don’t just come with a high rating, but also high-speed internet. Thank you very much.

Mercure Sydney
With panoramic city views and a rooftop terrace and pool, the Mercure Sydney might distract you from the virtual world. The best value room for a one-night stay over a weekend in March will cost you $341.

Stamford Plaza Melbourne

Unwind streaming a movie in a stylish and relaxed room with extensive city views at the Stamford Plaza Melbourne. The best value room for a one-night stay over a weekend in March will set you back $361.

Capri by Fraser Brisbane

Enjoy the best of both worlds with complimentary internet throughout the entire hotel – even poolside – at Capri by Fraser Brisbane. The best value room for a one-night stay over a weekend in March is just $152.

Parmelia Hilton Perth

A spacious room at the Parmelia Hilton will allow you to work remotely in style and comfort. The best value room for a one-night stay over a weekend in March will cost $192.

Peppers Waymouth Hotel Adelaide

After exploring the entertainment district and unwinding with Peppers Waymouth Hotel sauna and jacuzzi, catch up on your life at home. The best value room for a one-night stay over a weekend in March will set you back an easy $213.

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Email the Travel Weekly team at traveldesk@travelweekly.com.au

Latest comments

Bruce says:

March 3, 2017 at 5:40 pm

Oh come on! Everyone ***WANTS*** these services from a hotel but few people are willing to pay $7 per sock to get laundry done (ie: $586 for a full load), not to mention you need to wait 24hours to get it back. How many people will pay $250 for a 1-hour massage when its $60 per hour only a few doors away from the hotel. Or $80 for a room service meal when its half that price in the same hotel’s restaurant downstairs.

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