Business travel

On the road this Christmas?

If you're away on business over Christmas, don't despair: many hotels can help provide some of the home comforts you thought you'd miss out on

It’s never easy being away from family and home, especially over the festive period, so let your Expotel partner hotel take the boredom out of being on the road this Christmas.

You’ve drawn the short straw in the office and are away on business during the Christmas period. But, after you’ve hung up your suit, unpacked your toiletries and done a spot of work, don’t despair.

“No one really enjoys working over the Christmas period,” says Expotel’s Commerical Marketing’s Laura Ogilvie. “However, Expotel’s vast portfolio of fantastic hotels are on hand to help make your stay as enjoyable as possible.”

And as well as providing you with comfortable surroundings and room service, from ‘home entertainment’ to Oracle-esque concierges, your hotel can ensure you’re kept entertained, too.

Make the most of Wi-Fi

Don’t forget you can access free Wi-Fi throughout many Expotel partner hotels. Radisson Blu, Radisson Edwardian, City Inn, Hilton brands Hampton by Hilton and Hilton Garden Inn, and some selected Legacy hotels, all offer this – meaning once you’ve responded to your work emails you can catch up on all the Christmas TV specials online with services such as BBC iPlayer or Channel 4’s 4 on Demand.

Stay in touch

All the bedrooms in the City Inn group have an iMac computer, which, in addition to a great pick of TV channels, have video conferencing plus Skype – giving you a quick and easy way to chat to friends and family.

There is also a DVD library, so you can hire out a few of your favourite films and turn your stay into a movie-fest!

Reading present

If you didn’t pack anything to read for your stay at the Radisson Edwardian Bloomsbury Street in London, never fear, the hotel has its own book club. Each month, guests can flick through the hotel’s recommended read, or even take away a free copy if you really can’t put it down.

The show must go on

If theatre’s more your bag, ask your hotel concierge what’s on and how best to grab a good seat. In London, the Strand Palace Hotel is ideally placed near Theatreland, while a number of Red Carnation hotels, also in the capital, have theatre packages running over the Christmas period.

Why not step out to the cinema? Boxing Day sees the release of some top-notch films, including Guy Ritchie’s Sherlock Holmes and the John Lennon biopic Nowhere Boy. Ask at reception for details of your nearest cinema.

Eat, drink and be merry

Many hotels will be serving turkey with all the trimmings, so you won’t miss out food-wise. Principal Hayley is also giving business travellers staying overnight at the Beaumont Estate in Old Windsor on Christmas Eve an upgrade to one of the luxurious master suites in the White House, with a free glass of champagne on arrival, subject to availability. 

And finally, if you’re staying in a city-centre hotel, you’re ideally placed to hit the sales and snaffle some extra gifts before you return home. Merry Christmas!

Expotel is the UK's leading hotel, travel and venue booking agency. If you'd like to find out more about any of the hotels listed above, please call Expotel on 0844 793 7300.

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Macdonald Old Swan Hotel in Harrogate. Bed & Breakfast. From the revolving wooden doors to the magnificent glass-ceilinged restaurant, the ivy-clad Old Swan Hotel is steeped in mystery and romance. This historic Harrogate hotel was once the secret retreat of world-famous Mistress of Mystery, Agatha Christie, when she disappeared for 10 days in 1926. Booking code: EXP-OLDHAR. £85

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