Forget the hi-tech kit – just get the tea and coffee right

POOR-quality food and slow service were rated the highest cause of dissatisfaction by customers booking conference hotels, according to a new report.

Some 65% of business people that frequently use a variety of hotels for conference purposes often find that lunch service is slow and food unsatisfactory.

More than half complained that delivery of tea and coffee is usually late and messages are not delivered.

The survey, by Millennium & Copthorne Hotels, also found that around half of those surveyed rated the ability to control the temperature in conference rooms as most important.

The hotel group has spent thousands of pounds on technical kit for its conference centre, located between its Gloucester and Bailey's hotels in London, which opened last year.

But 73% of customers thought that flip charts were more important than overhead projectors, screens or TVs and videos.

The survey also showed that customers rate efficiency and friendliness of staff in the hotel above value for money, location and on-site car parking.