Survey: Travellers prefer smoke-free hotels

Over two-thirds of European travellers prefer staying in non-smoking hotels, according to new research.

Holidaymakers staying in North America also appear to favour hotels that are mostly smoke-free, with 79 per cent indicating this preference, says the survey by JD Power and Associates.

A number of American hotels already offer completely smoke-free environments and "it's only a matter of time before the trend also hits the European market," comments Linda Hirneise, travel practice executive director for the market research firm.

The study also found that hotel guests in France, Germany, Italy, Spain and Sweden single out complimentary breakfasts as the most important amenity that can be offered, while those in the UK prefer tea and coffee-making facilities.

In addition, almost 50 per cent of survey respondents were found to make their hotel bookings online, mostly through the hotel's own website.

Travel research firm PhoCusWright recently predicted that nearly 40 per cent of European flight, hotel and other travel bookings will be made online by the end of 2008.

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