Small-business owners are traveling plenty this fall season

Small-business owners are hitting the road in increasing numbers this fall according to a new survey from Best Western International and Wakefield Research. The Best Western Small Business Travel survey, which was conducted among 400 U.S. small-business owners with business travel needs, found that 89 percent of respondents expect to travel as much or more for business this fall than they did in the fall of 2012.

While fall travel is on the rise for small-business owners, 90 percent of respondents said they feel large companies still get more travel perks like discounts, upgrades and loyalty status. To help combat these concerns, programs such as Best Western Kick Start Your Business Travel program, now spotlight and reward select small-businesses with a package of free nights, loyalty status and gift cards, to help them get on the road this fall and grow their company.

Additional highlights from Best Western Small Business Travel Survey include:

•Road Warriors Ramping Up: While 34 percent of respondents expect to travel more this fall than last season, that number jumps to 49 percent with the most frequent travelers, defined in the survey as those who take six or more business trips per year.

•Mixing Business and Pleasure: More than half (53 percent) of respondents say they are likely to pay out of pocket to bring a friend or family member along on a business trip, while 46 percent are likely to spend to extend a business trip into a vacation.

•Location, Location, Location: Internet is still king when it comes to hotel amenities for the business traveler, but being near restaurants and entertainment was more important (26 percent) for respondents than a hotel’s business center (18 percent).

•Computers Still Key for Booking: While phone and tablet usage continues to be a growing trend, more than two-thirds (67 percent) of respondents say the primary way they book a hotel for business remains via desktop or laptop computers.

•Bedeck your bag the last thing you want to deal with is a piece of lost luggage so tie a red ribbon around the handle.