The Rise of Business Travel
Business travel is growing again, and the numbers show why hotels are paying attention. Global business travel spending is expected to reach nearly $1.8 trillion by 2027, according to GBTA’s Business Travel Index outlook. That scale matters because corporate bookings tend to be planned, repeatable and tied to company needs like meetings, projects, and events. As this market expands, hotels that prepare early for RFP season can compete more confidently and protect midweek revenue.
Corporate Guests Want Convenience
Convenience is still the clearest driver of corporate loyalty. After a long day of travel and meetings, most business guests want the same thing: a stay that feels effortless.
That means the basics must work every time:
- Smooth, quick check-in
- Reliable, fast Wi‑Fi
- Flexible food options
- Helpful service that is easy to reach
Sleep also plays a bigger role than many teams expect. Research referenced by the Global Business Travel Association shows that around 70% of frequent business travellers experience sleep disruption directly linked to travel, with average sleep loss ranging from 22 minutes per night to more than an hour on longer trips. When guests are tired, small points of friction become far more noticeable. Speed, clarity, and comfort quickly turn into part of the overall value story.
Corporate guests extend stays and blend work with leisure
Corporate trips are no longer “in and out” by default. More travellers are adding personal time before or after work commitments, which increases the total value of each trip. GBTA’s traveller research shows 42% add leisure days to business trips, and 79% of those travellers stay in the same accommodation for both the business and leisure parts. More recent round-ups of corporate travel research also point in the same direction. One 2024 compilation of bleisure data reports that 66% of corporate travellers extended a business trip for leisure in 2023.
That pattern matters during RFP season because travellers and travel managers increasingly consider the overall experience, not just the meeting itinerary.
Corporate guests come back when they like a hotel.
Corporate travel creates dependable demand because work trips often fall on weekdays and centre around business schedules. At the same time, business guests often generate additional revenue through on-site services such as dining, meeting spaces, and other paid amenities.
GBTA’s report also shares a useful benchmark for trip value: business travellers estimate average spend of $1,018 per person per trip, with $391 typically allocated to lodging and $189 to food and beverage. These are practical reference points for positioning corporate travellers as high-value guests in your RFP messaging.
How to Attract More Corporate Guests
Strong RFP performance is rarely accidental. It comes from being visible in the right places, responding quickly, and presenting a compelling offer with clear value.
RFP season is competitive because large organisations compare partners closely. Hotels that stand out usually do three things well:
- Keep rates, availability, and content accurate
- Respond on time, with a clear value proposition
- Support a consistent experience that travel managers can trust
Winning corporate accounts is not only about price. A confident, well-managed RFP process signals reliability, which is exactly what corporate buyers look for.
Explore HotelREZ’s corporate RFP solutions
How HotelREZ Supports Hotels
We provide dedicated support for RFP management and global visibility across key booking channels, helping you drive more direct corporate bookings. By combining our technology, expertise, and hands-on support, we help hotels compete more effectively during RFP season and beyond.
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Want to increase corporate bookings and improve RFP outcomes? HotelREZ can help you build visibility, tighten your RFP process, and win more of the business that matters.
Explore HotelREZ’s corporate RFP solutions