PAs under pressure to provide the best beds
• 92% under pressure to book ‘good’ hotels for bosses
• Seven out of ten feel ‘left out’ when booking beds
• 4% have booked somewhere ‘bad’ on purpose
PAs across the country have been divulging their pillow talk to reveal the secrets of booking hotel accommodation for their bosses and it’s certainly anything but sweet dreams
The revelations come as part of a survey conducted by Best Western Hotels which show that PAs are increasingly stressed out by the demands placed on them to provide good quality accommodation, within a tight budget, and long to visit the same destinations as their bosses. So it’s not surprising that some aren’t adverse to playing a trick or two on their superiors!
The survey, conducted by Best Western Hotels, found that 92% of British PAs were under pressure to provide good quality accommodation for their boss when he or she is out of town on business.
With senior managers and directors travelling more than ever, booking hotel accommodation is an important administrative duty and when choosing suitable accommodation, 52% of PAs surveyed cited location as the most important factor, followed by cost (32%) and comfort (16%).
With all that pressure to source the perfect bed, it’s no surprise that sometimes things go wrong – sometimes on purpose it seems. One in three PAs surveyed said that their boss had a bad experience when staying at a hotel they booked. Complaints such as misplaced bookings and noisy building works as well as more general gripes with the overall standard of hotel accommodation show just how hard it is to please.
However, if you’re a manager booked into a less than agreeable hotel be warned. A mischevious 4% of all PAs admitted booking their boss into somewhere bad on purpose, showing that next time you’re miles from your next meeting and things are not up to scratch there may be more at play than a fault on the booking system.
The survey also highlighted the unfulfilment of many PAs working in the sector today. Over 80% wished they could go to the places their bosses visited from time to time while 72% said they felt overlooked at work when other members of the team were given incentives.
Here to help our PAs out is the launch of Best Business perfectly placed to not only take the stress out of booking accommodation, but also give back some well deserved rewards in the shape of wine, spa breaks and Amazon voucher rewards – to name but a few.
It’s not just PAs who will benefit from great perks either. Businesses are entitles to a 3% rebate on all bookings, 5% off all conferences and 15% off leisure breaks for all staff - as well as the all important discounts on everyday business accommodation. That will certainly help with the credit crunch!
With the launch of Best Business, Best Western hopes that problem bookings may be a thing of the past. Tim Wade, Best Western’s Head of Marketing, said: “It appears that booking hotel accommodation is a minefield and we hope that with the launch of Best Business we can help make this process as smooth as possible.
“If you’re a PA responsible for booking business accommodation then this is the solution for you. Simply sign up your company to the scheme and enjoy ease of booking over the phone or online, monthly statements and rewards. With all these benefits we hope PAs will no longer feel overlooked at work.”
“Also, there will be no more worries about what your boss is going to receive when he or she stays away on business as all Best Western hotels are subject to stringent quality and assurance checks to ensure standards are maintained throughout Britain.”
For more information on joining the Best Business scheme log onto www.bwbestbusiness.co.uk or call the dedicated Best Business team on 01904 695576.
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Notes to Editors:
Total sample size was 150 UK PAs and Office managers. Fieldwork was undertaken between 3rd – 9th June 2008. The survey was carried out online.
Survey Results
Best Western is the largest group of independently owned and managed hotels in the UK. Member hotels maintain their independence, charm and personality, while benefiting from being part of the Best Western consortium. Hotels can take part in sales and marketing activity available to them by joining with like-minded independent hoteliers.
1. Who do you book accommodation for in your company?
a. MD 12%
b. Director 16%
c. A specific team 12%
d. All above / whole company 60%
2. Do you feel under pressure to find good quality accommodation for your boss when he/she is out of town on business?
a. Yes 92%
b. No 8%
3. Which is THE MOST important factor when deciding on suitable accommodation for your boss?
a. Cost 32%
b. Location 52%
c. Comfort 16%
d. Service 0%
e. Personal recommendation 0%
f. Facilities such as leisure and WiFi 0%
g. Dining / restaurant 0%
h. Meeting and conference facilities 0%
4. Have you ever booked your boss in somewhere bad on purpose?
a. Yes 4%
b. No 96%
5. Has your boss ever had a negative experience when staying at a hotel that you have booked for him or her?
a. Yes 32%
b. No 68%
6. Do you ever wish you could go to the places you book for your boss?
a. Yes 84%
b. No 16%
7. Do you ever feel that you get overlooked at work when other members of the team are being given incentives or rewards?
a. Yes 72%
b. No 28%