Does anybody take advantage of the hotel business center anymore? The place that somehow pulled off being even duller than an actual office. Nowadays, travelers simply log onto the hotel’s Wi-Fi with their own devices, and they can work anywhere they like, leaving the business center underutilized or entirely forgotten.
But what if you could create a spot that offered value for your guests who are looking for a great place to get some work done? It’s possible—if you reimagine what a business center can be.
Here’s our list of essential elements in a modern business center built for business travelers in the 2020s and beyond.
Update Your Available Business Center Tech
If your hotel business center looks like two desktop computers and a bottom-of-the-line printer, it’s stuck in the early 2000s. To modernize your hotel business center, start with tech that serves the needs of the contemporary business traveler.
A modern business center requires:
- A few loaner laptops that guests can borrow from the front desk when needed
- Basic hotel printing services on a wireless printer-scanner-copy machine that guests can send requests to from anywhere in the hotel
- Countertops and tables with integrated power
- Desks equipped with spare monitors that guests can connect to their personal laptops
Essentially, you want to build a miniature co-working space that’s open 24 hours. This amenity becomes a branding opportunity, turning your business into the perfect hotel for business travelers.
Create an Appealing Workspace
Next, you need to create an atmosphere conducive to work. That means a variety of tables and chairs so guests can select a comfortable seat and get in the zone.
Think of a hotel business center as both an extension of your lobby and a small coffee shop. You can have free coffee, tea, and water available round-the-clock, or partner with a local roaster to sell a selection of drinks and freshly baked pastries.
Offer Impromptu Meeting Spaces
If they’re traveling alone, many guests will take video calls and answer emails from their rooms. But if they need to collaborate with colleagues in the same space, or if they are combining work and leisure travel and have family with them, they will appreciate a semi-private, reservable meeting room. Furnish it with furniture that’s easy to move and can be organized in different configurations to accommodate meetings or brainstorming sessions.
Start with a linenless table and some stackable banquet chairs, a few cozy but sturdy upholstered armchairs, and some bar-height tables for workers who prefer a standing desk configuration. You could also offer a flat screen TV or a screen and projector, a dry-erase board, as well as other technology for video conferencing.
Stock Your Lobby Shop with Electronics and Snacks
Some hotels have opted for small shops—or even high-tech vending machines—that offer business travelers an opportunity to pick up something they might have left at home. USB memory sticks, noise-canceling headphones, charging cables, or rechargeable batteries could all be a big draw to your guests if they’re on a trip and find they can’t live without the one thing they didn’t bring with them. After all, who wants to go to the convenience store two blocks away in the middle of the night when they realize they forgot their phone charging cord?
Revitalize Your Hotel’s Business Center
Updating a hotel business center is a small investment that pays off in guest satisfaction and convenience. Today’s business travelers need comfortable tables and chairs where they can finalize tomorrow’s pitch deck, charge devices, and get some quiet space.
MityLite furniture is designed to withstand the daily use of a hotel lobby or business center. It also comes in a variety of styles, enabling you to choose business center furniture that meets your exact needs. To start building your modern hotel business center, request a quote from a MityLite sales rep.
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