Serviced Apartments: the new frontier for professional travel

This article is taken from the latest issue of Relocate magazine, sponsored by AKA.
– the must read for HR, global managers and relocation professionals.

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According to the latest Global Serviced Apartments Industry Report (2018), there are now over 1,022,984 serviced apartment units worldwide in over 13,164 locations. Corporate travellers are increasingly well informed and are actively seeking more flexible options in their travel accommodation.With hotel accommodation remaining largely unchanged, these travelling professionals are now considering serviced apartments. These apartments offer a vastly different proposition compared to hotel rooms as they provide greater amenities and can be used over short-term or longterm stays. Serviced apartments provide a home-away-from-home when compared to a hotel.

What are the advantages of serviced apartments?

• Serviced apartments are more spacious compared to hotel rooms
• They offer more privacy
• No hidden costs make it a more cost effective option
• Reduced meal expenses – as they include a kitchen or kitchenette
• In fact, according to a report by The Apartment Service, serviced apartments are 15- 30% cheaper than hotel rooms inclusive of their business and tourism appeal

What is an aparthotel?

Experienced travellers may also opt for aparthotels during their stay. This is a convenient happy medium between a hotel and a fully-furnished apartment. Length of stay varies from one night to a month or more. An aparthotel contains a kitchenette, one or more bedrooms which provides similar services to a quality hotel. They are very spacious and provide a comfortable, modern home experience. However, they are not as cost-effective as serviced apartments.

How to find the right serviced apartment for you?

Finding a quality serviced apartment can be tedious for the busy business traveller. This is because unlike hotels, serviced apartments tend to be a more complex proposition and there are thousands of small operators each with their own website and booking system. In response to this, and the need to provide transparent and simplified serviced apartment options SITU Serviced apartments have developed a simple, easy to use platform bringing together a global portfolio of serviced accommodation. 

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What is SITU?

SITU is a company accredited by the Association of Serviced Apartment Providers (ASAP) to provide apartments fully furnished to the highest standards which make travelling accommodation a home away from home. SITU offers a wide range of serviced apartments in over 500 locations across the globe:

• Europe (34,323 apartments)
• Asia (3,585 apartments)
• North America (2,400 apartments)
• South America (47 apartments)
• Africa (562 apartments)
• Oceania (364 apartments)

It also offers accommodation options for people with disabilities. The minimum length of stay in a SITU apartment is three nights, while a maximum length of stay varies. A stay with SITU serviced apartments can easily be extended when required. SITU accommodation offers kitchens and kitchenettes, lounge areas to relax and even laundry services.The SITU platform enables users to find a list of locations, facilities, details about in-room amenities and prices for each room type. This falls into line with the expectations of experienced professionals when seeking accommodation and increases transparency.It’s no secret that the serviced accommodation sector is lagging behind other categories in the travel industry. We’re all used to booking hotels and air tickets in seconds, but it can still take time to get a price estimate for a serviced apartment, due mainly to the lack of cohesive systems which support and track availability in each property. SITU are working hard to change this too and expect to have an industry leading live availability feature online very soon. Watch this space.To find out more about SITU Serviced Apartments, please visit www.situ.co.uk

This article first appeared in the autumn 2018 issue of Relocate magazine.

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For related news and features, visit our Serviced Apartments section.Relocate’s new Global Mobility Toolkit provides free information, practical advice and support for HR, global mobility managers and global teams operating overseas.Access hundreds of global services and suppliers in our Online Directory 

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