Sleeping well.

• Author: Faris, Charles
• Position: Hotel amenities update - Business Travel

... and also computing, faxing, exercising, ironing and barbecuing. Hotels strive to keep up with business travelers' needs.

What's hot and what's not in hotel amenities?

That's a question hoteliers continually study as they court business travelers. They are marketing various new products and services, seeking business-traveler comments and regularly upgrading to provide practical and value-added amenities and services. As a result of completion, what used to be considered luxuries in many cases are becoming expectations.

Change is, indeed, the name of the game in the hotel industry. In the last decade, for example, there has been a travel-industry trend toward market segmentation in hotel concepts. Choices have resulted as America's lodging companies have segmented their properties as all-suite, residential-style, luxury-budget, economy or some other distinction.

Since travel is difficult, the idea is to find hotel amenities that are custom-made for your specific trip and needs. Hoteliers are working to factilitate this goal. You'll find all kinds of hotels with a wide range of products and services--computer hookups, fax machines, expanded exercise rooms, hair dryers and in-room ironing boards, among others--to help take some of the hassle out of travel.

More and more, your hotel room is, in essence, your home and your office away from home. Therefore, the most popular hotel amenities help you both to relax and to be productive.

Study the choices--The keys to finding the hotel with the right amenities for your particular needs are to do a little research and draw upon the experiences of your travel colleagues. A good place to start is with two booklets from the Marriott Business Travel Institute, "Business Travelers: The Choice Is Yours" and "Getting Down to Business Travel." They are available by calling toll-free 800/MBTI-876.

These guides cover the gamut with suggestions for business travelers. Also, you'll find a traveler's glossary of hotel/lodging terms, a hotel amenities checklist and hotel category definitions.

If you have questions, ask. In view of the economy, competition and corporate travel policies, hoteliers are well aware that business travelers these days are a lot more savvy and demand more in terms of what they want and expect for their tightly budgeted lodging dollar. Therefore, hotel operations are more than happy to assist you in finding the right amenities for your needs.

Find the right services--What's hot in services may or may not be business-related. Many services for which certain chains are known may vary...