Many hotel programs offer air miles, while some chains offer a complicated series of points linked to the cost of the room. The hotels need to offer benefits that the traveler will want, so free hotel nights are not attractive, unless the chain also has resort hotels for the business traveler's vacation.

Below are some of the benefits, or 'awards', offered by Hyatt Hotels' 'Gold Passport' program. For every US Dollar spent during a stay, five 'Gold Passport Points' are awarded. When at least 3,000 points have been "earned"(i.e. $600.00 have been spent), awards can be claimed for:

• An upgrade from Economy to First Class on a return flight on Continental Airlines
• An upgrade on type of car (to one size larger or more powerful) with car hire from Avis or Alamo

• An upgrade by two categories on a 3 or 4 night cruise on Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines. (If a traveler had booked into the cheapest type of cruise cabin, he would be moved into the type of cabin two steps up in price).

Many hotel chains offer smaller rewards to business travelers who may only stay a few times each year, such as:

• Discounts on golf trips, ski holidays or romantic weekends
• Family passes to theme parks
• Gift certificates to theatres, cinemas, restaurants and specialty shops