Business travel hotels: 'New, cool, comfortable'

By Lena Katz

I don’t know about you, but I don’t spend nearly enough time at the Four Seasons Wailea. Or the Banyan Tree Phuket. Or any Shangri-La, anywhere. I am a strictly business traveler, and sadly, those hotels don’t often fit into my itinerary.

And I’m a travel writer, so I can only imagine how much worse the plight is for a corporate type. You’re dreaming of Shangri-La, sleeping in a nondescript Kansas City hotel, and wondering, "Why is life so unfair?"

Apparently a lot of hoteliers have started to wonder the very same thing, because at the annual American Lodging Investment Summit in January, the hot topic was … drumroll … the resurgence of the "new, cool, comfortable" business hotel.

Whether in the Caribbean, Hawaii or the big city, that hotel category is starting to get a lot more attention, just because business travelers have such endless need of it. Road warriors get understandably tired of lumpy beds and instant coffee. They want a little something extra … and they’re about to get it.

The W Hotel Group (and its parent company Starwood) have probably made the biggest splash, with their well-publicized launch of the Aloft brand, a "vision" of contemporary, bright-and-styley city hotels that promises to revolutionize the concept of corporate lodging.

Hilton Hotels has devised a (warning, cheesy pun ahead) tasteful promotion for its Homewood Suites chain: free personal grocery shopping for guests who want to utilize their ensuite kitchens, and free beer, wine and "light dinner" (Monday-Thursday) for those who want to utilize the sit-around-and-do-nothing feature.

Meanwhile, other hotel groups are expanding their established business travel brand into under-the-radar destinations.

"While they’re not as sexy as some of the luxury projects, limited-service hotels in Caribbean cities are very profitable,” said Carlton Ervin, senior vice president of International Development for Marriott International. The lodging industry giant just signed a deal for a Courtyard by Marriott in Bridgetown, Barbados, and is about to open one in Aguadilla, Puerto Rico. The aim is to offer business travelers a hotel with a familiar name and service standard in developing business cities that haven’t quite elevated themselves out of sketchiness yet.

In New York City, a destination known for its lavish hotels at insane prices, low-key but elegant properties like the Kimberly on East 50th and Lexington have long known that the secret to return business is "home away from home" comfort, friendly service and reasonable rates. The Kimberly’s key strength is its suites, which are larger than many Manhattan apartments and outfitted with fax machines and wide-screen plasma televisions. It’s currently building on that strength with a refurb that will turn several floors’ worth of regular hotel rooms into luxury suites.

The 5-member Apple Core group is made up of a Red Roof Inn, a Super 8 and various other non-glam hotels. But their recently bumped-up amenities will make you take a second look:

Complimentary in-room wireless
24-hour business center
Complimentary breakfast with coffee AND Red Bull.

See? Now remember that all five New York hotels are located in the heart of Manhattan (where continental breakfast typically costs $15) … and suddenly they become much more appealing.

Even Las Vegas hotels finally are acknowledging the business traveler’s need for a property that’s upscale, grown-up and quiet. The first week of March, the Palms (a.k.a. Ground Zero for NC-17 reality show-worthy mayhem) will open Palms Place. This hotel/condo high-rise boastsfully equipped en suite kitchens, a two-story spa and … no casino.

Meanwhile The Harmon, an MGM venture managed by the LIGHT Group, is set to open in 2009. Its main draws? Boutique status and a promise to offer "a peaceful refuge away from the limelight."

Phew. It’s about time.

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Lena Katz lives on the Left Coast and writes about tropical islands, beach clubs and ski resorts, but her heart belongs to NYC.

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