Unit 10a: Business hotels Listening 1 So, what special needs do business travellers have?
One of the most important things is a quick check in and check out.
After a long trip it's annoying to have to wait at the hotel reception for five minutes.
Room service is also very important.
Guests often stay in their rooms working and do not have the time to go out to a restaurant,
so they want their neals to be served in their rooms.
And what facilities are there in the rooms?
Well, nowadays communication facilities are essential, so things like a modem socket, where guests can plug their modems in,
and a fax are very important.
Yes, of course.
The lighting is also very important.
We 've just spent a lot of money upgrading the lighting in our rooms.
As I said, guests often spend their evenings preparing work, so they need good lighting at their desks.
And what about facilities in the hotel in general?
The bars are important.
Corporate guests tend to spend more time in the hotel bars than tourists.
It's very important to provide a business centre, too.
What services does the business centre provide?
Basic secretarial services such as photocopying and typing.
It also coordinates conferences and any catering which is included in them.
Clients always find it helpful to have these kind of things organised for them.
Right, and what about distance to the airport and city centre?
Is that important?
Yes.
We 're in the east of London so we 're near city Airport.
A lot of our guests have meetings in this area, so they do not want to be near Heathrow airport or right in the city centre.
But it is easy to get to the centre of London for here.
It only takes about 15 minutes with our courtesy bus.
And there's a river taxi, as well.
Are your corporate guests interested in using your fitness centre or swimming pool?
Not really.
They 're more popular with tourists.
Our corporate guests are more interested in getting in and out of the hotel as quickly as possible and working while they 're here.
Unit 10a: Business hotels Listening 2 Good morning.
Can I help you?
Yes.
Could you tell me the best way of getting into the centre of London, please?
Well, there is a courtesy bus, which leaves every 20 minutes during the rush hour, or the river taxi service to London Bridge.
And when is the rush hour?
It's between seven and nice in the morning and five and seven in the evening.
And after nine in the morning?
After nine the courtesy bus service runs every 40 minutes.
Ah ha.
And how long does it take?
The bus takes about 15 minutes, depending on the traffic.
And which way does it go?
Here, I 'll show you on the map.
From the hotel it goes along the river bank and then on to Brunel road. it crosses the river at Tower Bridgeand then stops just after Tower Bridge at Tower Hill Underground Station.
And what about the river taxi, does taht change after rush hour?
Yes, It's half hourly service during rush hourand after that it runs to a timetable.
It takes about 15 minutes.
It's a really nice trip.
You go across to Canary Wharf Pier first, then you go along the river, under Tower bridge and you stop at a pier just before London Bridge.
The only thing is, it costs $1.80 each way.
Ok, Thanks very much.
You 're welcome.
Bye.