THE SUITE LIFE

Why an upgrade to a hotel suite is becoming ever more attractive for the frequent business traveller

- MICHAEL ALLEN

Why shell out for a spacious suite when you stay at a hotel, rather than just staying in a more budget-friendly standard guestroom? Different travellers have different reasons, but the consensus among frequent business travellers is that a standard room often does not quite provide everything you need to smoothly and seamlessly conduct your business when on a trip.

Indeed, trying to conduct your business in too small a room can sometimes lead to embarrassing misunderstandings, as experienced by Business Traveller Forum user Nick Inkster – a UK-based retiree who worked in the hospitality business in CEO roles – during a Canadian hotel stay around the turn of the millennium.

“In Montreal years ago – can’t remember which hotel – I had a colleague come to my suite for a very early conference call. Room service arrived with coffee, croissants, etc, and the server, whilst placing the tray on the dining room table, said ‘Good morning, gentlemen, I trust you slept well’. We had both slept well, just not on the same floor of the hotel!”

Such cheek-reddening incidents aside, the Business Traveller readership seems to broadly agree that if you can get a suite for a decent price – or upgrade to one using points from a loyalty programme – it’s often worth it.

“Would I upgrade to one? That would depend entirely on the premium I have to pay and my requirements on that trip – whether I need to invite people into my room or hold meetings, etc. However, if the cost is only marginal, I would not think twice,” says Ahmad Attaur Rehman, a BT Forum user and barrister who lives in Islamabad.

ALL SHAPES AND SIZES