What do American business travelers want most when they’re attending meetings in a hotel? It isn’t better food, nor more high-tech gadgets, nor more attractive hotel staff. What they wish for the most, according to a survey commissioned by Crowne Plaza Resorts & Hotels is – drum roll – a more comfortable chair! We aren’t talking about bar chairs or contemporary bistro chairs or dining room chairs here. Non-business travelers sometimes forget that hotels are popular destinations for business meetings too.
It isn’t too surprising that businesspeople want and expect comfortable seating when they attend corporate functions held in a hotel. After all, business meetings can take hours, and not feeling comfortable wouldn’t be good for productivity. Having to use bad chairs would, in other words, be a pain in the butt.
Here are some of the survey’s other findings:
- The majority of respondents would rather attend business meetings if they were held in a location other than the office
- But they spend most of the time during meetings wishing for more comfortable chairs
- Many of them feel that their bosses or other higher-ups have superior seating options than they do. Seems like not all companies are equal-comfort employers.
In light of the survey’s findings, Crowne Plaza is installing Herman Miller Caper chairs at its establishments in the United States and Canada. Corporate functions make up a large part of their operations, so it makes sense for them to give the optimum comfort they can to their business guests.
The Herman Miller Caper chairs that the hotel will be using in their business meeting rooms kind of look like office chairs, complete with casters. However, these chairs designed by Jeff Weber, are much lighter. The seats are made from FLEXNET, which the Herman Miller company claims to be a “breathable suspension material that enhances comfort and distributes weight evenly.” For banqueting purposes, though, the Crowne Plaza will be going with banquet-style chairs of course – but with the same ergonomic comforts.
