Buy “smart” for value

CORPORATE Traveller is urging SMEs to implement “smart buying” through preferred hotels to achieve better value.

The comments follow the release of the 4D Accommodation Focus Report Australia and New Zealand 2019, which showed average room rates (ARRs) and occupancy levels across Australia and New Zealand varied significantly during 2018.

The figures showed increases fuelled by demand growth and new room inventory in markets such as Sydney, Auckland and Hobart, while rates were flat in Perth and Brisbane due to new room inventory being released with discounted opening rates.

“Increasing your booking volumes and loyalty with preferred hotels, rather than spreading your bookings across a wider range of hotels and last-minute booking sites, will pay dividends to SMEs,” said Corporate Traveller’s Product Manager Zahrah Roush.

“Even though SME accommodation volumes are lower than those of large corporates, SMEs can still leverage loyalty with the same hotels to access negotiated or customised rates or tap into their travel provider’s customised hotel rate and products such as SmartSTAY rates, particularly in cities where the ARRs will be higher in 2019,” Roush added.

The report predicted across Australia in 2019 average room rates are anticipated to rise by $6-8, while occupancy levels are expected to remain flat at 81%.