Is there any better guest than the business traveler? They stay mid-week. They have expense accounts. And it doesn't take too much to make them happy (more on that in a moment).
It might seem that large hotel chains own the lion's share of the business travel market, but here's the good news: Increasingly, business travelers have the power to choose. The average corporate preferred-hotel program lets employees choose from 280 hotel properties, and individual properties represent 69 percent of hotel agreements, compared to 31 percent for chains (according to the Global Business Travel Association).
This means small and independent hotels can capture the love and loyalty of business travelers. All it takes is finding unexpected ways to delight them. Here are eight ideas. 
1. Offer business travelers free Wi-Fi. This one's an easy win for smaller hotels. Reliable in-room Wi-Fi consistently tops the list of what business travelers want in a hotel; but many major chains still don't offer free Wi-Fi. If they do, they often charge guests a fee for high-speed Internet, unless they're a loyalty member. Business travelers have learned that independent hotels and budget chains are their best bet for free, no-hassle Wi-Fi.
2. Give the business center a makeover. Still have a creaky Dell desktop for guests to use? Time for an upgrade. While some chains, such as Aloft and Elements, have opted to get rid of their business centers entirely, other hotels are adding wireless printers and laptops. Having a color printer and scanner on the premises — as well as a selection of computer and phone chargers — can save a panicked business traveler's day.
3. Tout unique meeting spaces. One of the worst parts of business travel is the same-ness of it all: the same bland decor, the same gray meeting rooms. If your property has a repurposed barn, a cozy great room or a bright terrace, market those spaces to guests hosting meetings. It's more appealing than the standard conference space, Little Hotelier notes, and "it’s a great way to upsell other services, such as catering."
4. Pay attention to how they work. At the end of a long day, most business travelers shudder to think of sitting down at a desk. That's why Virgin America placed headboards with lower-back support in its Chicago hotel, so guests could use laptops comfortably in their beds.
5. Understand they're in a hurry. Hotels need to adapt to business travelers' irregular schedules. The Speckled Hen Inn, a B&B in Madison, WI, makes to-go breakfast boxes for early birds, usually with yogurt, fresh fruit and homemade sweet bread. Offering bottled water and snacks around the clock will win over guests as well.
6. Upgrade the coffee. “When coffee is free, it can be pretty awful,” observes Chris McGinnis, editor of Travel Skills. He suggests hotels please business travelers by providing a high-quality pod coffeemaker in the room — with real cream, please — or a delicious local roast in the lobby.
7. Make fitness fun. Business travelers need to work off all those working lunches, and a tiny, musty-smelling gym won't cut it. Of course, not every hotel can be The Houstonian, with a huge gym, a rooftop running track and fitness classes. But smaller hotels can still delight fitness-focused guests with simple touches like free yoga mats or a map of nearby running trails. Or, partner with a local trainer or yoga instructor to offer discounted classes to guests.
8. Don't push their buttons. After a 3-hour flight and a 2-hour meeting, business travelers' patience is running short. They don't want to move furniture looking for an outlet, or sweat as they wait for the A/C to come on. According to a 2015 survey from Frequent Business Traveler, the top pet peeves of business travel include small inconveniences like:
- Hidden electrical outlets
- Low water pressure
- Uncomfortable pillows
- Insufficient lighting
These are all small things — and simple fixes — that can make or break a business traveler's stay.
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