Ally

Business travelers prefer branded, full-service lodging, according to a new study.

The yearly National Business Travelers Monitor prepared by Yesawich, Pepperdine, Brown & Russell also found:

* Business professionals prefer recognizable national chains.
* One-third of those surveyed preferred all-suite accommodations, a number which was up significantly since the late 1990s.
* Modestly-priced accommodations are still often preferred, but there's been a "significant" shift with a decline in preference for moderate and a rise of interest in economy lodging.
* Smaller properties of less than 300 rooms are still preferred over larger properties.
* Three brands dominate business traveler preferences: Marriott, Holiday Inn and Hilton.



"It is interesting to note, however, that these same rankings do not apply to the brand preferences for leisure travelers," noted the company.

(TM)