How digital travel management programs are making business travel personal again
Travel planning, especially for small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs), hasn't been easy in recent years. Growing consumer demands for more agile technology and seamless digital solutions have shifted the way we all work and interact. In this new golden age of travel, it's top-of-the-docket for companies to conform to this shift in customer preference (and expectation), and hospitality is no exception. Hotels, travel companies and other travel providers are making notable investments to the digital journey for travelers, reshaping to offer an easier to use travel booking experience that removes traditional tension points. And there's one all-star group who this will particularly impact.
Self-service is good for business
Business clients are asking for streamlined digitization, so it's no surprise that businesses across the board expect the same from their travel partners. For example, 83% of B2B buyers prefer using self-service tools for repeated actions, such as booking hotel rooms for upcoming business travel, and we are seeing an ask for this kind of agility broadly.
Surprise: the future is more personal, not less
From booking to billing, every interaction, stop, stay, business decision, and customer conversion needs to be made with hospitable ease. The desire to get back to in-person work events, rekindle pre-pandemic client relationships, and foster new ones is fueling SMB travel.
The future of business travel is bright
Innovating and simplified travel platforms are coming together to offer more to businesses of every shape and size. We know that part of the solution is recognizing the face behind the business, and empowering users to scale from where they are. Hilton believes in making space for businesses to take ownership of their hospitality needs, and use self-service programs to propel their business forward. "At Hilton, we listen to the needs of our customers and then innovate to provide a superior hotel experience for every stay occasion. This includes our small and medium-sized business customers who have been looking for a travel platform and loyalty benefits - that meets their unique set of needs and reduces friction points, from booking to billing," said Chris Silcock, President, Global Brands and Commercial Services, Hilton.
Hilton for Business and their expanded meeting package capabilities are two yellow bricks on the road to today's ever-evolving business of hospitality. Companies like Hilton value the grit, determination, and key values of the SMBs that make up the business tapestry of the world we live in. Hilton looks forward to arming businesses, young and old, with tools and resources to make their travel planning and management simple and efficient.