FEATURE/Businesswomen Select Marriott for ItsConveniences, Small Luxuries and Safety According...

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE FEATURES)--June 30, 1999--

Findings Help Hotel/Travel Industry "Connect" with Growing Market

Segment

A recent study conducted by the Businesswomen's Research Institute (BRI), the research arm of MacDonald Communications Corporation (MCC), concluded

"Women currently make up 40 percent of all business travelers, numbering approximately 17.2 million strong," according to Barbara J. Litrell, president, MacDonald Communications Corporation, publisher of Working Woman and Working Mother magazines. "This study was designed to explore the wants, needs and attitudes of this large and growing market segment, particularly as they relate to the lodging industry," continued Litrell. "The results were significant - respondents to our survey out-travel, out-fly, out-rent and out-stay the typical US business traveler by a margin of 2 to 1 or more."

Nearly 500 businesswomen responded to the survey which was mailed to Working Woman's reader panel subscribers, Working Mother subscribers, executives from the roster of Working Woman's 1998 Top 500 Women-Owned Businesses and a random sample of business professionals. An additional group of business professionals were sampled at random from a compiled list.

Other highlights of the survey's findings include:

- Respondents took a median of nine roundtrips of more than 100

miles in the past year and a median of four air trips

- Eighty-five percent traveled for business and 95 percent traveled

for personal reasons or for vacation

- Four in five are members of airline frequent flyer programs

- Nearly two-thirds (63%) used rental cars for business purposes

and just over half (53%) used rental cars for personal/vacation

travel.

- Nearly all (95%) stayed in hotels one or more nights for business

and stayed a median of 10 nights for business.

- Better than four in five (83%) stayed in hotels a median of 6

nights for personal/vacation reasons

- The majority (64%) personally select their business hotels.

- Respondents stay in a variety of properties and price points,

both for business as well as personal/vacation travel

- Experiencing a different city and escaping office routine are

what respondents liked best about business travel. They liked

least the fact that business travel disrupts family routine and

takes away from free time.

- Business travelers take advantage of time spent away from home:

70 percent added vacation days to a trip and/or brought their

spouse/children along, either during the actual business portion

of the trip or at either end.

The Businesswomen's Research Institute was founded by MCC in 1998. Its mission is to provide marketers and media with facts about the businesswomen's market, insight into what those facts mean and their marketing implications.

Other studies released earlier this year and currently being conducted by the BRI include:

- Working Women and Media Consumption: This study found that

television was the least effective advertising media for

connecting with professional/managerial and that

professional/managerial women are most likely to purchase

products that are endorsed or recommended to them by other women,

most often, friends or business associates. High on their list of

sources of information are trade journals, newspaper headlines,

and business magazines. Beyond that, radio drive time and a

favorite magazine ranked high.

- Women and the Internet: This study will compare women

entrepreneurs with men and their adoption of the Internet and new

technology for business growth

- Women and LeadHERship: This study will provide insight into

women's roles as opinion leaders and their influence on

government and corporate agendas.

For more information or a copy of these studies, contact MCC's Businesswomen's Research Institute at 1-212-445-6100. MacDonald Communications Corporation, a publishing and conference concern based in New York, is dedicated to providing intelligent products and services to affluent, professional women. Through its family of resources, including two publications and a conference division, MCC reaches more than 6 million women per month.

Editorial Note: Members of the press may receive a complete copy of the study and its findings by contacting Christina Duffney at 212/445-6237.