Apartment hotels and free breakfast top business travel wish list

What type of accommodation do business travellers want?

The latest travel manager survey from Corporate Traveller, the flagship SME division of Flight Centre Travel Group, reveals that 44% of business travellers now prefer apartment-style accommodation with kitchenettes and more space, while 83% ranked convenient location as the most important factor when choosing where to stay.

The findings come as hotel bookings climb 6.3% globally, yet those managing corporate travel face mounting pressure to maximise budgets and justify every booking.

Shifting priorities in corporate accommodation

"The question isn't whether people are travelling for business – they are, and they are doing so because it isn’t a discretionary spend, it’s critical to business growth and survival," said Tom Walley, Global Managing Director at Corporate Traveller.

"But the decision-making has fundamentally changed. A hotel three blocks from your meeting with a good workspace and free breakfast will beat a five-star property across town every time. Business travellers are optimising for outcomes, not Instagram moments."

Pricing, savings and loyalty programs influenced 58% of booking decisions, underscoring how cost management drives accommodation choice in 2026's climate.

However, 55% still value larger full-service hotels offering business amenities, dining variety and wellness facilities – suggesting different trip types demand different solutions.

Why apartment hotel demand reflects changing travel patterns

The surge in apartment-style preference aligns with broader industry shifts, driven by longer stays, multi-generational travel and the rise of blended business and leisure trips (‘bleisure’).

Accor, a key Corporate Traveller partner, has seen this evolution firsthand across its 125-plus extended-stay properties in the Pacific region, operating brands including Peppers, The Sebel and Mantra. 

and Mantra. 

“For corporate travellers, this sits as a complementary alternative to traditional hotel stays, providing greater choice and flexibility depending on the nature and length of stay," said Adrian Williams, Chief Operating Officer for Accor in the Pacific region.

"Apartments, branded residences and extended-stay living are becoming central to how people want to travel, stay and live today.

"Our role is to deliver quality services to guests, residents, and owners, while bringing confidence through professional management and a long-term partnership mindset."

The model addresses what corporate travellers now prioritise: the independence and space of apartment living combined with hotel-quality service, professional management, and access to loyalty programs that deliver ongoing value.

The new non-negotiables: free breakfast, fast Wi-Fi, and flexibility

When it comes to hotel add-ons and amenities, three perks emerged as critical drivers:

• Complimentary breakfast (72%) – the single most attractive hotel feature
• Free cancellation up to 24 hours before arrival (58%) – essential as plans change rapidly
• Free high-speed Wi-Fi (50%) – a baseline expectation for connectivity

"Complimentary breakfast removes friction from the travel day," Walley said. "You're not hunting for a café at 6am before a meeting, you're not expensing meals, and if your travel management company has done its job well – like our Breakfast Plus arrangement – you're still earning your loyalty points while getting that inclusion. Just smarter travel."

The flexibility trend reflects heightened uncertainty in business planning, with free cancellation policies now considered essential rather than nice-to-have as companies manage risk and rapidly changing schedules.

Bleisure and the blurred lines of work travel

The data also points to how Australians are blending business and leisure, with three in four business travellers now embracing bleisure trips. Hotels are increasingly expected to function as workspaces, with charging stations, quiet zones and meeting-ready facilities becoming standard requirements.

"Someone might fly in for a two-day conference and stay through the weekend, or tack on a few remote work days in a different city," Walley noted. "The accommodation needs to work for both modes. A kitchenette, decent desk setup and separable living space can make all the difference for employees on the go."

As Australian SMEs navigate rising travel costs and evolving workforce expectations, the message from travellers is clear: deliver value, enable productivity, and stay flexible.