Business travel makes up a significant travel niche around the world. Here in Cape Town, South Africa, business travellers may not be as large a group as leisure travellers, but they still account for a notable portion of total travellers that come into the city each year. Unlike holidaymakers, these travellers often have very unique needs.

To understand what these travellers need, it is useful to understand the current business travel trends that have emerged in 2017. Keep reading to find out more about these trends.

Business Travel Trends for 2017

Some of the trends that are driving business travel in 2017 include the following:

• Bleisure travel. Bleisure travel merges business and leisure travel in a way that adds more value to those travelling for work. Many companies are starting to realise the benefit of giving their employees time off to explore during designated corporate trips. A number of airlines and properties have jumped on this trend, offering an easier way for partners to join business travellers. As day tours continue to grow, this allows couples and solo travellers a chance to combine business and holiday in one trip. You can take advantage of this trend by making your property suitable for work and play. Offer tour guides and other features that provide your guests with things to do when they are not in meetings.
• Smart homes. Home technology is also on the rise. Smart homes are fitted with a host of features, from automatic window blinds and lighting to room to room music players, keyless entries, enhanced security features and other gadgets that add value. As WiFi gives way for fiber internet, connections in South Africa are getting more stable every year. This further helps properties become smarter and more adapted to the rise of technology.
• Personalised bookings. Gone are the days of faceless rentals that offer no chance for guests to customise their stays. Today, personalisation has changed the face of travel – especially for business travellers seeking a better booking experience. Rather than trying to cater to everyone, clever rental hosts have realised that they can attract the right guests through a more tailored offering that is personalised and geared towards quality.
• Big data. Don’t underestimate the role that data plays in short term accommodation. The more information you have about your guests, the more easily you will be able to craft a personalised experience for your guests. This goes hand in hand with holiday rental marketing. Luckily, if you have invested in a short term rental manager, you won’t have to think too much about this personally. Instead, your rental manager will be able to help you grow your rental in the background, using unique data to reach your audience in the most effective way possible.
• Water-wise features. As the 2017 Cape Town water restrictions have shown us, water-wise properties are more important than ever. Many properties will start to replace thirsty swimming pools and baths with eco-friendly features such as natural pools, showers and water saving devices that use grey water instead of drinking water.

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Here at Totalstay, we like to stay on top of current trends. Above all else, however, we aim to make it it easier for you to generate results. Contact us today if you would like to know about how you can capitalise on business travel through your short term rental.