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Despite often having limited time , it is still important to encourage the business traveller to extend their stay if possible
leisure / fitness facilities open 24 / 7 . Further , some establishments have been experimenting with placing fitness gear and equipment in-room in a limited way .
Further to this we have to consider changing demographics , in particular the millennials with their own often unique perspective .
They are completely dependent on digital technology and use it through mobile devices much more frequently than the average business tourist .
Not only this , but they are much more likely to be dissatisfied if there are issues with digital access .
A recent in-depth survey across north America found that WiFi is the number one amenity for frequent business travellers generally , surpassing breakfast and gym / leisure facilities .
That being said , the same survey found that the business traveller increasingly wants to combine activities , such as reviewing a PowerPoint presentation whilst fitting in a workout .
Such efficient and creative use of time is something that hotels , conference venues and even airports need to be catering to much more for today ’ s business traveller .
Getting more creative in what we provide , making things easier and more achievable for business people whilst on the move , and in-house in our hotels and conference venues can only result in more satisfied customers that recommend us and return .
Despite often having limited time , it is still important to encourage the business traveller to extend their stay if possible , and to engage more fully as leisure tourist .
This extends their footprint and their spend in the region they are visiting and adds value to what may encourage them to return again , thus building loyalty . What we now call ‘ Bleisure ’ – mixing business travel with leisure and tourism activities .
Despite time constraints this is something research shows many business travellers would like to do more .
So we need to find ways to make it easier for them , to encourage them and to make it worth their while with excellent experiences that really do add value to their trip .
It is crucial therefore , that we have managers in the industry coming through that have studied and understand these aspects specifically and in the wider tourism context that surrounds it . Managers that understand the emerging needs of the new breed of business tourist and everything that needs to be utilised in a strategic way to capture those tourists , ensure they have a top quality experience and that they will return to us again .
At the Ulster University Business School , through programmes such as our BSc in International Travel and Tourism Management , we are educating the next generation of such managers .
Our tourism graduates fully appreciate and understand such issues and how to harness them in the most effective way for business success .
Our industry needs such graduates who have taken a course that combines cutting edge areas of business and management but tailors and focuses them specifically on the tourism industry – an industry that has great momentum at the present time and is so crucially important to Northern Ireland ’ s economic development going forward .