When we are about to travel, be it for personal or business reasons, we can easily finalise the destination or are aware of the location. But when it comes to staying, we often need clarification about whether to stay in a hotel or on Airbnb. Let’s not ignore that Airbnb has not only made a notable impact on personal travel but has also impacted business travel itineraries lately.
The automated travel and expense management software has tracked Airbnb’s exponential growth. In fact, comparing the features of Airbnb vs. hotel stays for business travellers shows that one isn’t better than the other. Instead, they each meet different and unique needs for work travel.
Airbnb’s Top Amenities
The amenities provided during business travel are often fixed. Airbnb has met the requirements, which might have yet to be considered in general. These are just a few highlights of Airbnb stays:
- Cozy spaces and additional facilities
- Healthy Eating
- Value for Money
- Travel with colleagues or long-term
- Get local Insights
Cozy Spaces & Additional Facilities
Often, Airbnb is known to be spacious, giving a homely touch and a cozy environment. More and more travellers are opting for Airbnb for its homely touch, kitchen access, etc. You can find various unique properties, such as apartments, houses, and even treehouses, which can add a touch of adventure and authenticity to your stay.
“It’s a home away from home.”
Healthy Eating
Airbnb provides its guests with access to cooking facilities. With a busy work schedule, going out and eating each time is impossible. Unhealthy eating habits develop in due course. On Airbnb, one can prepare anything they want to eat, just like at home. This not only ensures savings on corporate cards but also healthy eating.
Value for Money
In general, Airbnb’s cost savings are neutralised by the facilities provided. There are hotels available at budget prices, but they need to compare with Airbnb and its facilities.
Travel with Colleagues or Long-Term
Deciding whether to go for hotels or Airbnb is easy for single people on short trips. For business travel, trips with multiple team members, or extended stays, Airbnb is a better option. Having an apartment with two or three bedrooms is always better than bearing expenses for booking multiple hotel rooms.
Also, it encourages your colleagues to form groups, share ideas, bond more, and come together.
Get local Insights
It allows you to interact with hosts who are typically locals. They can provide valuable insights, recommendations, and insider tips on the best places to visit, eat, and explore, giving you a more personalized experience.
If you travel with a group or children, an Airbnb may be better than a hotel. Airbnbs often have more space and amenities, such as kitchens and laundry facilities.
Hotel Top Amenities
Hotels still stand out for meeting people’s requirements. They are:
- Rewards programs
- Convenience and service
- Consistent Standards
- Fitness
- Guaranteed Privacy, Safety, and Security
- Transport connections
Convenience and Service
Hotels provide higher convenience with benefits such as room service, housekeeping, concierge assistance, and 24-hour reception.
Consistent Standards
Hotels adhere to certain quality standards and regulations, providing predictability and consistency regarding room conditions, amenities, and services.
Rewards Programs
The hotels provide rewards programs that establish customer loyalty. Rewards can be earned and transferred across bookings with partnered airlines, car rental companies, restaurants, and more. For frequent travelers, this type of flexibility will take a lot of work to match.
Fitness
Travelers have the opportunity to get into a workout session before or after a day of meetings. Although it’s excellent to carry light fitness equipment, the range of equipment provided by hotel gyms makes it even more convenient.
Privacy, Safety, and Security
Here, private rooms are provided with shared bathrooms and other facilities. There’s no guarantee of privacy on Airbnb, and the cost of an apartment can be as high as that of a hotel. Hotels generally have robust security measures, including surveillance systems and controlled access, to ensure the safety of guests and their belongings.
Transport Connections
Accommodations built for travellers are generally situated to connect guests with the surrounding area. With Airbnb, one has to ensure they’re within walking distance of their meeting place or at least have access to public transport nearby.
What makes Airbnb and Hotels common?
Airbnb and hotels share a few things in common. They are:
- Wifi
- Flexible check-in and check-out times
- Overall Wellness
Wifi
Some hotels still charge for Internet access in rooms, whereas most average humans have Wifi in their homes and are willing to extend that access to Airbnb guests.
Flexible Check-In/Out
When it comes to flexible check-in and check-out, it varies as per the situation. Airbnb hosts are flexible and let you in or out at your desired time, depending on when the previous guests have left. Most hotels will want you to check out through the hotel reward system, which would still help provide flexible check-in and check-out.
Overall Wellness
In some way or another, Airbnb and hotels take care of your overall wellness. Whether cooking your favourite meal in an Airbnb kitchen or doing workouts in the hotel gym, it covers your personal requirements.
Why does Airbnb hold importance?
If an employee needs to be relocated or has to stay long-term at a place for project purposes, Airbnb can help out. Due to the various functions mentioned above, it also helps in finding more affordable and comfortable stays for team members.
Drawbacks of Airbnb
- It does not offer a loyalty program. Also, Airbnb is located a little away from the main cities and towns.
- No customer service or room service is available.
- As a platform, Airbnb offers support from agents in 11 different languages, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. It only offers it through messaging rather than by phone, making customer support weak.
Drawbacks of Hotels
- Depending on the destination, it can get expensive
2. You might feel claustrophobic or cooped up if you stay in a hotel room for a long time.
3. Lack of privacy, noise
Hotels still have a bigger advantage.
- The first consideration for business travellers is the guarantee of quality hotels.
- Secondly, hotels are more conveniently located. Whether in the main part of a city or near business parks, hotels make it easier for travellers to commute between where they stay and where they work.
With a service like Tratwo, business travellers can choose from various accommodation and transportation options on one simple dashboard. Plus, travel managers can establish parameters to ensure compliance and set automatic approvals to save time.
- Trust, safety, and security are concerns for travel managers using these platforms. Hotels offer safes, security cameras, and on-site staff to ensure safety of their travellers. Most company travel policies offer insurance against property theft or damage when staying at a recognized hotel.
Airbnb in India
Indian cities such as Delhi and Mumbai have the highest occupancy rates for Airbnb properties worldwide, indicating a strong demand for short-term rental accommodation in these areas.
Last but not least, we can say that:
Airbnb is Best For:
- Budget travellers (in private rooms)
- Independent travellers (in shared rooms or private rooms)
- Digital Nomads
- Long-term travelers
- Off-the-beaten-path travelers
- Large groups/families
Hotels are Best For:
- Business travellers
- Romantic getaways
- Vacation-goers
- Short-term travellers
- Luxury travellers
- Socially conscious travellers
Final Verdict
The choice between Airbnb and hotels depends on your personal preferences, budget, travel purpose, and the specific destination you’re visiting. Consider the factors such as location, cost, amenities, desired level of service, and the type of experience you want.
Remember that both Airbnb and hotels offer unique advantages, but your decision should align with your travel needs and preferences.
