As meeting venues, airports flying high

Budget-conscious planners as well as tourists are ensuring that long-maligned airport hotels remain healthy, with some properties routinely running at 85 percent occupancy.
 

That’s the number reported by Paul Williamson, director of sales for the Embassy Suites Philadelphia Airport. “We weren’t sure what to expect this year, but we’ve been pleasantly surprised,” he said.
 

One major reason is that airport hotels have changed a lot in the past decade.
 

Not just meeting planners but tourists in general are increasingly thinking of hotel properties.
In years past, staying at the airport usually meant travelers had to spend the night in often dingy surroundings to catch an early morning flight.
 

“But a new analysis from Hotels.com’s guest reviews suggests airport hotels have surprisingly exceeded expectations and have made travelers reconsider staying at airport hotels,” said the site.
 

Lower costs are a major reason for attracting all types of travelers.
 

Data shows that airport stays are, on average, 42 percent lower in cost than downtown hotels, US$75.50 per night versus $130.80 per night. Many airport hotels aim to further the cost savings by offering complimentary Wi-Fi and hot breakfasts.
 

Additionally, many airport hotels are conveniently located within major cities, with easy access via subway, bus, shuttle or light-rail.
 

Planners and others are finding airport hotels have also become far more comfortable in the past decade.
 

“The quality of the hotels often comes as a surprise to planners when they come for a visit,” Ray Robichaud, sales director for the Westin Atlanta Airport, told Meetings South.
 

Often, planners are surprised to find the same amenities at airport properties found at upscale conventional hotels.
“Some of them even have spas,” said Victoria Jones, director of sales and marketing for the Hilton Los Angeles Airport.
 

An example of how luxurious new airport hotels can be is the newly-opened Hilton Beijing Capital Airport Hotel and Conference Facility, China’s first and only five-star international airport hotel.
 

Located at Terminal 3, the 320-room hotel features seven restaurants and bars with 32 private dining rooms, two ballrooms and 21 meeting rooms, a luxury spa and a state-of-the-art fitness center.
 

“The facility is truly revolutionary and offers travelers a luxurious hospitality experience with a convenient airport location. It also boasts stunning internal design that integrates Chinese and Western architectural features,” says Hilton Hotels and Resorts in a press release.
 

The release said:
 

“Meeting facilities were designed to balance the needs of different types of functions; each ballroom has a private entrance, check-in and networking or entertaining areas. The meeting rooms, which are directly connected to the ballrooms to make for easy and convenient breakout sessions, include a mix of conference table and seating styles that are popular with both Asian and Western executive meetings. All meeting room areas are equipped with state-of-the-art technology.”
 

Airport hotels are also money-savers because of transportation costs, which is another major reason they should continue to hold their own in the near future as they get more exposure to all types of guests.
 

By David Wilkening