Clarendon Serviced Apartments provides fully furnished and equipped serviced apartments in central locations across London, including Kew, Richmond and Staines. Here it explains why serviced accommodation is increasingly popular with relocation professionals and global mobility teams looking to source suitable accommodation for extended stays and relocatees.

Travelling for work used to be the preserve of a small corner of the working population. International travel or relocating as part of the job used to be a rare phenomenon. Not anymore. In the past decade relocation rates have increased, thanks to the growth of the global economy and more companies establishing headquarters in major cities around the world.

In 2012, global relocation firm Cartus predicted a 57% increase in relocation. New markets were opening, companies tired of being constricted by the recession wanted to opt for growth and expansion rather than sitting still and facing dwindling opportunities.

Relocating to London might be great news on paper but for the individual facing the move it can be a source of headaches, stress and disruption.

Insurance firm Aviva asked consumers between April and May in 2012 about relocation. The average stay is 1 to 5 years. 68% described it as a challenging process and more than half said they moved back home because they missed their family.

There has to be a way to bridge the gap between the needs of the company and the needs of the individual. One of the solutions is to provide a home away from home.

Serviced apartments offer relocating individuals and families’ the much needed space, freedom and flexibility,  minimising unnecessary disruption to everyday life and allowing efforts to be concentrated on acclimatising to a new city and culture not to mention getting to grips with perhaps a new role.

Benefiting from fully fitted kitchens and separate lounge dining areas serviced apartments naturally encourage people to lead a more balanced lifestyle. And with a proper base to call home for as long as is needed guests can focus on the more important aspects like discovering their local area.

The international business community will continue to look for ways to boost their profits and income as the recession ebbs away. Relocation and expansion is a major part of that.

Yet to reduce the gap between the benefits for business and the personal disruption for employees’ flexible options like serviced apartments in London will become increasingly popular. Happy staff means more productive staff!