Cambria Suites Research Finds Productivity Is Key To Achieving Work-Life Balance For Business Travelers

SILVER SPRING, Md., Aug. 17, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- A new survey* from Cambria Suites fielded by the GBTA Foundation, the research and education arm of the Global Business Travel Association (GBTA), revealed that work-life balance is an important goal for almost nine of 10 surveyed business travelers. Seventy-one percent of respondents say the key to achieving work-life balance is focusing on "work-life productivity" while traveling, which means living their entire life more productively and putting equal focus on work and personal needs. Business travelers identify the right hotel and technology as top drivers of their productivity, according to the "Total Work-Life Productivity of Business Travelers" survey. Technology plays such an important role for the efficiency of modern day road warriors that 62 percent rate free Wi-Fi almost as important as a comfortable bed (65 percent) when it comes to very important hotel services and amenities.

Companies Seek Greater Efficiencies from Business Trips

On the heels of reports that U.S. business travel continues to grow, so do the expectations of employers.  The survey shows that road warriors feel employers are demanding greater outcomes and higher efficiencies from each and every business trip. In line with a still-recovering economy, the survey suggests that companies are specifically looking for greater cost efficiencies. Almost a quarter (23 percent) of business travelers say that they are staying less frequently at hotels that are full-service or luxury class, and more than one out of five (21 percent) say they are facing greater scrutiny over outcomes from their business trips. The survey of 407 business travelers was commissioned by Cambria Suites, a contemporary, all-suites brand from Choice Hotels International, Inc. (NYSE: CHH), and is one of the first in the industry to explore how business travelers can achieve overall "work-life productivity" in an environment where cost efficiencies are top of mind for business travelers.

Value of In-Person Meetings Undisputed

Even in times of easily accessible technology and the rise of social media, American business travelers still want to have face-to-face meetings, with nearly eight of 10 (79 percent) claiming that in-person meetings are necessary for doing business successfully. More than three quarters of business travelers (76 percent) report that these trips help their companies grow.

"Business travelers are feeling more pressed today compared with a year ago.  They are facing greater demands from all sides as they are seeking to balance their work and personal lives, according to the survey," says Michael Murphy, SVP of Cambria Suites.  "In this environment, productivity away from the office is very important.  Our findings also revealed that if business travelers focus not just on their work productivity while traveling, but also on their personal productivity, they can make inroads to achieve a better work-life balance, which is an important goal for nine out of 10 road warriors (87%)."

Technology Critical to Balance Top Personal Challenges on the Road

The Cambria Suites survey found that spending time with loved ones (62 percent) and missing important events and milestones in their personal lives (42 percent) are two of the top five challenges cited by business travelers while on the road.  Others include: eating healthy and on a regular schedule (68 percent), getting proper sleep (62 percent), and exercising regularly (60 percent). Caring for pets at home (24 percent) is also a concern for some business travelers.

According to the survey, technology is a top tool for business travelers to balance personal and professional needs; nearly two-thirds (66 percent) of business travelers cite technology as critical in achieving greater overall work-life productivity. While technology has made business travel more efficient and productive for nearly eight of 10 travelers (78 percent), it is equally significant in helping them stay connected with loved ones on business trips (81 percent).

Right Hotel has More Impact on Staying Productive than Flight or Rental Car

The survey also revealed the importance hotels play in achieving balance and productivity when traveling. More than half of road warriors (56 percent) say that the hotel component has a greater impact on their ability to work productively than other trip components, such as their flight or rental car. Comfortable beds and bedding (65 percent), closely followed by free Wi-Fi (62 percent) are cited as most important when it comes to hotel services and amenities. Friendly, helpful staff (39 percent), free parking (30 percent) and a spacious, well-appointed hotel guestroom (26 percent) complete the top five must-have hotel services for business travelers.

"At Cambria Suites hotels, we check off the top must-haves from a business traveler's wish list without busting their expense budget," says Murphy. "Today's business traveler is really looking for great value in a hotel and Cambria Suites provides that." The all-suites hotel chain offers spacious suites that are larger than average hotel rooms with separate sleeping and living areas; free high-speed Internet and remote printing throughout the hotel so that guests can stay connected on the road.

More Women Than Men Use Technology to Stay In Touch with Loved Ones

The survey found women value and use technology more than men to stay connected with their personal lives on business trips. Women are more likely (plus 13 percent points) than men to say that social media in particular has enhanced their business travel experience by keeping them in touch with their personal and professional networks (42 percent compared with 29 percent). Eight of 10 female business travelers state that technology is just as important in their business and personal life to enhance their overall productivity, compared to seven of 10 men. The survey also revealed that achieving work-life balance is more important to female road warriors, with 96 percent of women saying work-life balance is an important goal compared with 82 percent of men.

Survey respondents were full-time employees and had taken at least four business trips with a minimum distance of 50 miles in the last 12 months. More than eight out of 10 respondents (83 percent) said that it was not only important to increase their work productivity, but to live their entire life more productively.

All Cambria Suites hotels feature Reflect, a casual dining and gathering area serving a dinner menu, liquor, wine, beer, freshly prepared grab-and-go gourmet salads and sandwiches, a barista bar featuring Wolfgang Puck® coffee and a hot breakfast buffet; Refresh, a state-of-the-art fitness center with an elegant pool and hot tub/spa area; and Refill, a 24-7 convenience store that offers energy drinks, snacks and sundries.

Methodology

*Cambria Suites commissioned the GBTA Foundation to field an online survey of frequent business travelers between Aug. 1-11, 2012. The GBTA Foundation provided recommendations and edits to the questionnaire drafted by Cambria Suites. The GBTA Foundation programmed and fielded the study to a representative online sample of 407 frequent business travelers utilizing the population samples provided by ResearchNow. All analysis conducted with the data was performed by Cambria Suites. To participate in the study, respondents had to be at least 18 years old, be employed full-time and have taken at least four business trips in the last 12 months that required travel of at least 50 miles. All surveys have a margin of error due to the random nature of sampling. The margin of sampling error for aggregate results is +/-4.9 percentage points.

About Cambria Suites

Cambria Suites offers contemporary, upscale accommodations at affordable prices. Designed as a lifestyle hotel brand, Cambria Suites offers more than just a place to sleep at night. It features a larger lobby to give guests a more social atmosphere, all-suite rooms that are larger than standard hotel rooms and include a separate living, working and sleeping space, providing business and leisure travelers a haven to relax, socialize and network. As of June 30, 2012, there were 19 properties open across the country, representing more than 4,600 guest suites, and 26 properties in various stages of development, representing an additional 4,600-plus rooms.

About Choice Hotels

Choice Hotels International, Inc. franchises approximately 6,200 hotels, representing more than 495,000 rooms, in the United States and more than 30 other countries and territories. As of June 30, 2012, more than 375 hotels were under construction, awaiting conversion or approved for development in the United States, representing more than 30,000 rooms, and approximately 75 hotels, representing approximately 6,700 rooms, were under construction, awaiting conversion or approved for development in approximately 15 other countries and territories. The company's Comfort Inn, Comfort Suites, Quality, Sleep Inn, Clarion, Cambria Suites, MainStay Suites, Suburban Extended Stay Hotel, Econo Lodge and Rodeway Inn brands, as well as its Ascend Hotel Collection membership program, serve guests worldwide.

Additional corporate information may be found on the Choice Hotels International, Inc. website, which may be accessed at www.choicehotels.com.

Choice Hotels, Choice Hotels International, Comfort Inn, Comfort Suites, Quality, Sleep Inn, Clarion, Cambria Suites, MainStay Suites, Suburban Extended Stay Hotel, Econo Lodge, Rodeway Inn and Ascend Hotel Collection are proprietary trademarks and service marks of Choice Hotels International.

© 2012 Choice Hotels International, Inc. All rights reserved.

SOURCE Choice Hotels International, Inc.