Half Of Hotel Bookings Made Online

Almost half of hotel guests are booking online - with hotel branded websites gaining share from general travel sites. The level of online booking has increased from 34% in 2005, according to the J.D. Power and Associates 2006 European Hotel Guest Satisfaction Index Study.

Meanwhile, the poll found that nearly 70% of hotel guests in Europe prefer a smoke-free environment that exceeds the boundaries of their room - slightly less than those in North America (79%). The desire for a smoke-free environment ranges from 57% of guests from Spain, to a high of 76% of guests from the UK and Sweden.

Among 37 possible amenities and services, complimentary breakfast is the single most important amenity for hotel guests in France, Germany, Italy, Spain and Sweden. In the UK, complimentary breakfast follows the coffee/tea maker as the most important amenity.

High-speed internet access is also considered a "must have" for European hotel guests. But high-speed internet may not prove sufficient in the future, as guests within the upper upscale, upscale and mid-scale full service segments also consider wireless internet access a "must have" the study says.