The things that make me crazy when I check into a 4 or 5-star hotel on a business trip is that I don't get free WiFi and I have to take out a loan to have breakfast on the premises. According to a recent surbey, I'm not alone.

Respondents to a survey conducted among Canadian business travellers by Active International Canada say their hotel experience could be improved with more free services like  reliable Wi-Fi, parking, more "extras" such as newspapers, and either a complimentary or a better breakfast.
Complimentary Wi-Fi is now an expectation amongst all types of business traveller and is the most common suggestion given to improve the hotel experience. In addition, ambiance and amenities play a large role in differentiating one hotel from another. One in five travelers surveyed recommended hotels improve their restaurants, undertake renovations or modernizations, or invest in better fitness centers.

"Overall, hotels are doing a good job meeting the needs of Canadian business travelers," says Nikki Stone, vice-president business development, and head of travel at Active International Canada. "Good customer service and friendly, knowledgeable staff were commonly mentioned by the survey respondents when describing positive hotel experiences—while the top reasons for requesting different accommodation typically related to the quality and cleanliness of their room or poor service."
The Active International study also reveals that travellers, not companies, most often make business travel decisions, including when to travel, what airline to fly with, which hotel chain to select and the type of hotel room to book. 

Less than 20 per cent of people surveyed said their company has a central travel coordinator who must make all bookings. A large majority place their bookings directly with the hotel through the internet, telephone, or mobile app.

According to the study, price, room cleanliness and location are all important factors when travelers select a hotel, but not the only criteria travelers consider when making their decision. Loyalty programs, reliable Wi-Fi and online reviews are also important drivers.