www.buyingbusinesstravel.com
Germany
tickets. Trains are used for most trips, even when booking air, since most airports in Germany have good rail links. It is not surprising that bookings on Deutsche Bahn will increase in 2014, with shorter journeys on the rise, according to VDR. Rail travel is generally booked outside of any large fixed travel contracts, and hotel bookings are also now going the same way. “While rail travel is a good option for many, it can prove to be more expensive than the alternatives because the market is dominated by one national rail provider,” says Amex’s Lill.
STATE OF INDEPENDENTS Germany’s vast network of good quality independent hotels that are frequented by many executives, colours both attitudes domestically and internationally. “Travellers are typically happy to stay in these properties, ahead of branded chain hotels, due to the
monetary savings on offer,” explains Hillgate’s Munsey. Many are also not even bookable through the global distribution systems (GDSs). This means that the touch points of value-for-money, functionality and convenience that are sought after in Leipzig and Dusseldorf are
Travellers are happy to stay in good quality independent hotels due to the monetary savings on offer
also sought after in Shenzhen or San Francisco. Whether it’s a Hilton, a Hyatt or an Intercontinental is a secondary concern. Domestically, the cost of hotels rose by 15.5 per cent from 2009 to 2010, which has led to companies reconsidering what room nights they purchase, according to VDR. This is why the middle ground – three to four-star properties – are
thriving: 87 per cent of business travellers use this type of hotel, to the detriment of five-star providers. “You will find that mid-range hotels established close to company premises, in rural areas, or even those established in co-operation with companies have a high level of customisation and specialisation towards business traveller needs,” reiterates CWT’s Eggler. What is unique and a rarity within Europe is the situation with Berlin, the capital. While hotel accommodation in other European capitals can be eye- wateringly expensive, Berlin, due to high levels of competition, historic and geographical reasons, offers competitive rates and conditions. This makes the capital attractive for meetings, events and exhibitions. Costs for executive travel to the capital are a lot more reasonable when compared with cities such as London and Paris. n
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