Home on the road: in today's competitive market, hotels upgrade their properties and perks to keep the business travelers.

• Author: Held, Shari
• Position: BUSINESS TRAVEL

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BUSINESS TRAVELERS HAVE it good right now Competition is strong in the hospitality sector and every successful hotel is courting customers, especially business travelers.

"Right now the customers are very demanding," says Abid Khan, general manager of Evansville's Executive Inn. "They are discriminating. You have to provide top-notch service in order to retain your market share. If you do not provide the perks, business people go elsewhere."

Richard Smith, lead general manager of the Radisson at Star Plaza in Merrillville, says this year's biggest trend is providing choices. "People have freedom to make their hotel experiences personal to them," he says. "We like to open up the doors and say, 'OK, we understand that you are here on business, away from your family and friends. We are going to try to make it as pleasurable as possible by giving you as much freedom as possible within the limitations of running the hotel.'"

Keeping it fresh. The Hyatt Regency in downtown Indianapolis just finished a $13 million renovation that included a lobby redesign with new contemporary furnishings. Ten thousand square feet of meeting space was added to the property as well as new bar and dining options--a sophisticated bar, Level One, in the lobby and One South restaurant for breakfast, lunch and dinner. "To stay competitive in today's marketplace," says Katie Hurey, marketing manager for the Hyatt Regency, "especially with all the new properties that are expected to come into the city in the next couple of years, we have to stay ahead of the game and keep renovating ourselves, making sure we are the most up-to-date property."

The Executive Inn, the fourth-largest convention hotel in the state, just remodeled its more than 470 rooms, installing new carpet and upgrading the bedding. "Business travelers are looking for newer product, fresher product," says Khan.

Murals in the lobby and restaurant of the trendy new Hotel Indigo in Fishers will change quarterly with the seasons. The guest rooms will have four different themes. There will also be a taste, scent and a sound change for each season. "If someone travels here often, they are always going to walk into a different experience," says Chris Reth, director of sales. "We wanted something that was not just a business-traveler friendly hotel room, but provided space where they can relax and be inspired at the same time."

Keeping it fast. When it comes to checking-in and checking-out...