Budget boom continues

The boom in the budget hotel sector looks set to continue as more and more business travellers switch to the low-cost alternative.

According to Barclaycard's Travel in Business survey, more than two-thirds of business travellers used budget hotels last year, reflecting the continuing cautious approach to expenditure in the business travel industry.

Even chief executives and financial directors have switched to the cheaper accommodation option, with 64% of chief executives and 61% of financial directors admitting to using budget hotels on a business trip last year.

The survey also revealed that business travellers spend an average of £81 a night on accommodation. Business travellers from the financial sector spend the most (£98), while travellers from the agriculture and mining sectors spend the least (£69).

People working in the aviation and auto sectors were most likely to use budget hotels while away on business, with 75% saying they had stayed at a budget hotel.