Inflexible accommodation policies may soon be a thing of the past. HotelsByDay allows travelers to book day stays at hotels, and that’s just the start.
We’ve all been there – arrived at your destination early in the morning and unable to check-in to the hotel until 2 or 3PM. Maybe you didn’t catch a single wink on an overnight flight, or maybe you just need to re-organize yourself before a day of meetings and conferences, but the afternoon check-in time adopted by most hotels doesn’t really help anyone, including the hotel.
Traditionally, accommodations are booked according to the nights spent. HotelsByDay is helping hotels and guests alike take advantage of empty day space to boost hotel revenue and provide flexibility. For business travelers, it’s almost too good to be true.
“Essentially, our mission is to create technology solutions that enable flexibility in consuming a hotel stay, while better monetizing hotel rooms sitting empty all day long.” – Yannis Moati, CEO
How It Works
So what does a typical HotelsByDay booking look like?
Searching for a hotel on their app or website, you’ll recognize the names that appear – Hilton, Holiday Inn, and Ramada are just a sample. Typically, a guest will check-in during the morning and check-out by late afternoon. With 10AM to 4PM the most-booked time slot, midday stays seem to be the norm.
From New York to Los Angeles, travelers in the U.S. can use the platform in a plethora of locations. Internationally, day stays can be booked in such countries as the United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, Canada, India, Australia, and more.
When it’s time to hand in your expense report, a day stay shouldn’t break your company’s travel budget. The price tag on the majority of HotelsByDay reservations is between $85 and $99.
Business Travel
While nearly half of bookings made on HotelsByDay are for leisure experiences, business use is a growing sector. Making up 16% of reservations, “business” can account for things like a change-up in office scenery for remote workers or day accommodation on business trips.
Day stays in hotels can change productivity in so many ways. Whether it’s having the space to adequately prepare for a conference or chipping away at projects during free blocks of time, spending the gaps in your itinerary at the hotel beats killing time at the airport, local cafes, or wherever else you can find Wifi and a place to sit.
Convenience and productivity aren’t the only factors that will attract road warriors to this service. Being well-rested is an important yet often overlooked part of traveler health. With lack of sleep leading to stress and other ailments, frequent work travelers will appreciate how the HotelsByDay platform molds to fit their needs when on the road.
Alongside leisure and business, 21% and 12% of guests also use HotelsByDay for “transit” and “nap” purposes, respectively.
The Future of Accommodation
Interestingly, travelers between the ages of 25 and 34 account for over half of bookings on HotelsByDay. It’s no secret that millennial travelers have been reshaping the business travel industry, and this marks yet another way that trends are shifting. In a market that’s largely impacted by Airbnb and other sharing economy tools, day stays keep hotels fresh and relevant to travelers.
Day stays are just the start of how HotelsByDay is changing the way we stay at hotels. For the next steps, the company aims to combine day and night bookings to allow travelers to check-in and check-out at their preferred time. Ultimately, every traveler knows that a more accommodating itinerary leaves room for you to get the most out of your trip, whether it’s for business or for pleasure.
Has there been a time during your travels you could have used a day stay? Of course there has been! Share your experience in the comments below.
Business Travel Life
Business Travel Life is an online resource supporting the road warrior lifestyle. We give business travelers the tools they need to maintain their wellness and productivity when traveling. The topics we cover include business travel tips, travel workouts, healthy travel hacks, travel products, general travel tips, and industry trends. Our goal is to make business travel a healthier experience – and to make healthy travel practices more accessible to all road warriors.
