Unit 10a: Business hotels Listening 1So,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 don't 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 don't 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 2Good 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.