In 2021, the UK was ranked 5th among significant business travel destinations in the world. It’s even expected to grow further by 188% from 2020 to 2028. This is proof that business travelling is back in full swing - but there are drastic changes that landlords and property owners should pay attention to.
In the past, the norm for business travellers is to stay in hotels. But in a post-pandemic world, a hotel room isn’t enough. Business professionals are looking for a private place to stay where they can confidently move within a safe space.
This presents an incredible opportunity for private rental properties. Business travellers bring a wealth of opportunities that can grow occupancy rates and rental income. As a landlord, it’s up to you to attract this demographic so they can book your property as a guest. The key to doing that is through thoughtful property design.
In this article, you’ll discover how to turn your property into a business traveller haven. You’ll understand their preferences and get design tips to transform your rental property into a comfortable home and functional workspace at the same time.
The Business Traveller Profile
To design your property for business travellers, you should first understand what is business travel. It’s travelling with a specific purpose that’s related to one’s work or profession. That means these travellers aren’t in London to do some sightseeing. They’re here to do tasks that can advance their business or the company that they work for.
In the past, staying in a hotel was enough to meet the needs of business professionals. All they needed was a place to stay and eat. But all that changed after the pandemic. The need to protect one’s personal space and be isolated from the rest gave rise to a new type of preference - private rental properties.
Business travellers still need proximity to the central business district or access to parking or public transport. But they’re also looking for a space where they don’t have to interact with other people unless it’s for business. “Less contact, less risk.” That’s what the pandemic taught us all.
Some business professionals prefer to apply this when choosing a place to stay. This makes short-term private rentals the perfect option. It provides them with a place to sleep, work, eat and even prepare their food. If they want to stay in after a busy day, they have a comfortable home away from home.
But that’s not where the opportunity ends for this niche. Transforming your property for business travellers can also attract remote workers and freelancers. These are the people who are lucky enough to bring their work while they travel and see the world. These people would feel more comfortable living in a private rental than a hotel room.
Catering to the needs of these people presents an incredible opportunity for landlords and multi-property owners to achieve a higher rental income.
Design Tips to Make Business Travellers Feel at Home
Turning your private rental property into a haven for business travellers requires you to do three things.
First, offer amenities that a business traveller would want in a home (workspaces, wi-fi). Next, provide options to help them move around to do their business (e.g. parking space, public transport directions or a London public transport map). Also, give them a business-class experience that caters to their well-being and can boost their productivity (leisure elements like a smart TV).
Here are design tips that you can use to meet these requirements.
Functional and comfortable furnishings
Invest in ergonomic furniture that’s both functional and aesthetically appealing. Choose a stylish home office table and chair that blends with the other furniture and appliances in the unit. Don’t forget to add enough storage space so your professional guests can organise their temporary workspace.
Comfortable couches and sturdy dining tables can also be used for work. This will give guests the option to move around the place and still work comfortably.
You should also equip the rental unit with an iron and ironing board, washer/dryer, hangers as well as basic grooming tools like a hair dryer. This will allow your guests to keep their work attire pressed and professional looking. They’ll have what they need to look presentable for their business transactions.
Dedicated workspaces
Think about where you can put the home office spaces. Ideally, it should be in a quiet area where there’s a lot of light. The living room or the dining area are great options for this. Feel free to research interior design tips that can help you arrange the furniture so it creates a comfortable atmosphere that’s still conducive for business tasks.
You can also place the office space in the bedroom, specifically near the window. Even the kitchen counter can be used as a temporary workspace - as long as it’s spacious enough with a comfortable seat. Make sure there are enough ports for cables and chargers.
Usually, rental properties offer free towels and basic grooming kits like toothbrushes, soaps and shampoo. If you’re catering to business travellers, don’t forget to add items that they’ll need for work as well. Things like pens and paper should also be provided for their use.
Smart home technology and safety features
Equip the property with smart home devices and safety features. Install a smart thermostat so guests can come home to a cool home after work. Include a streaming device and smart TV so your guests can watch their favourite programs after a busy day. Include an HDMI cable so they have the option to connect their laptops to the TV when necessary.
Use a keyless entry or smart lock so your guests can come and go easily. Remember, they are busy people so they’ll appreciate being able to come and go conveniently. You can even add motion-sensor lights so guests can feel safe even as they come home late at night. Add security cameras as an additional safety measure.
Fully equipped kitchen
While business travellers often eat out, give them the option to have a home-cooked meal if they want to. Equip your rental property with cooking tools and appliances so they can prepare their meals. Don’t forget to include an easy-to-use coffee maker and also a tea kettle so they have something to drink in the morning before work. Add a selection of coffee and tea that they can choose from.
Provide enough dining space with plates, glasses and cutlery so they can eat meals comfortably.
High-speed Internet and stable connectivity
A stable and high-speed Internet connection is also important. In the digital age, this is a non-negotiable. It’ll be ideal for remote workers and freelancers who wish to work in between leisure activities.
For business professionals, they’ll appreciate the stable connectivity because it’ll allow them to continue working at home. Give your guests the ability to conduct video meetings, send emails and keep in touch with their main office.
If possible, invest in a backup option in case the main connection gets disrupted.
Get Expert Property Advice to Attract Business Travellers
The post-pandemic business traveller has specific needs that landlords should meet to benefit from this growing rental demand. Catering to professionals, remote workers and freelancers opens a lot of opportunities to achieve maximum portfolio growth.
With the right design and property features, you can easily attract business travellers by offering them functional and comfortable temporary living arrangements.
If you’re a multi-property owner who wants to tap into this niche, seek expert property advice to transform your unit into a business traveller haven. At the very least, you’ll get interior designing tips and access to rental market expertise. Property management companies like Opago also provide cleaning and maintenance services so your property is always ready for the next business traveller to arrive.
With thoughtful design, you can meet the expectations of business travellers and improve the profitability of your rental space. If you want to explore this niche, get in touch with us. Opago can help set up your rental property to reach new heights.
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