Business travellers' needs have evolved significantly in recent years, notably due to the rise of remote and hybrid work setups. Travel managers face the constant challenge of securing comfortable and cost-effective accommodation for their employees. While hotels are often top of mind, serviced apartments have become a compelling alternative.
But what distinguishes a serviced apartment from a hotel, and why should it be on your radar? This blog will unpack the core features and benefits of serviced apartments, how they differ from typical accommodation, and tips on finding vetted corporate travel housing for your employees.
Choosing the right accommodation for staff can significantly impact their comfort and productivity, especially during lengthy business trips. Knowing what serviced apartments are and what they offer can help you make the best arrangements for your team.
So, what does a serviced apartment mean? A serviced apartment bridges the gap between hotels and traditional rentals, offering business travellers the best of both worlds. These self-contained living spaces provide the familiar comforts of home — a place to work, cook, and relax — while offering the flexibility of nightly bookings to accommodate varying trip durations.
A standard serviced apartment usually includes one or more bedrooms, a fully equipped kitchen, a comfortable living area, and at least one bathroom. While these apartments are adequately self-sufficient, they may also come with additional amenities such as concierge services, on-site restaurants, and fitness facilities. Whether it's an extended business trip or a full relocation, serviced apartments offer a comfortable and convenient accommodation solution for every type of traveller.
Serviced apartments offer a unique blend of home-like comfort and hotel-like convenience. Here’s what sets them apart from other accommodations:
Serviced apartments are gaining popularity — and for good reason. Explore why business travellers are slowly leaving hotels behind and choosing serviced apartments for extended travel.
Torn between a traditional hotel and a serviced apartment? To better understand the differences between these accommodation types, consider these features:
For assignments that stretch beyond 7 nights, serviced apartments are a compelling alternative to conventional accommodation. Here's why they are often the preferred choice:
The secret to securing seamless business travel accommodations — finding the ideal serviced apartment provider. This strategic partnership simplifies the entire process, ensuring your employees enjoy comfortable and productive stays.
How can you ensure you're partnering with a trustworthy provider? Below, we’ve listed key strategies for finding reliable serviced apartment providers and maximising your booking experience.
Reviews and testimonials from other business travellers or companies give you firsthand accounts into the provider's service quality, responsiveness, and the authentic condition of their apartments.
See if the provider is affiliated with reputable industry associations or has any relevant accreditations. This can indicate a commitment to professional standards and best practices.
The booking process should be streamlined and transparent to prevent any problems down the line. Additionally, credible providers are more reliable — offering clear communication, easy booking procedures, and flexible cancellation policies.
Excellent customer support is essential, especially when dealing with unforeseen issues. Test their responsiveness by asking questions or requesting information. A prompt and helpful response is a good sign.
When it comes to accessing property data, the more comprehensive the better. This is a key indicator of a reliable accommodation provider. You should be able to find photos, floor plans, amenities, and even virtual tours of the unit.
Platforms like AltoVita simplify the process of finding reliable serviced apartments. They curate a network of pre-vetted providers, ensuring quality and consistency. For leading consulting company PwC, integrating AltoVita’s centralised corporate accommodation platform resulted in nearly 30% of cost savings.
Controlling business travel costs is a top priority for companies. Serviced apartments offer a cost-effective alternative to traditional hotels, but understanding pricing variations is essential.
To help you find the best value for money, here are some key factors that impact the cost of serviced apartments:
Hotels often charge premium rates for extended stays, and the costs can quickly add up. For instance, popular cities like London recorded an average price of £158 per night at hotels in 2024. For a month-long stay, this could translate to nearly £5000 in accommodation fees alone. Serviced apartments often provide a more cost-effective alternative for trips of this duration, with possible discounts for longer trips.
There are countless affordable serviced apartments available to meet the varied needs of business travellers, accommodating both short-term weekend conferences and extended team getaways. For budget-conscious solo travellers, consider smaller accommodations like studio units. Be sure to negotiate monthly rates with providers for extended stays. Other ways to yield significant savings include apartment-sharing, where teams can reside in larger apartments together, fostering team cohesion. These flexible options allow companies to tailor their accommodation strategy to specific employee itineraries and budgets.
Efficiently managing business travel accommodations is a tall order, but AltoVita makes it a stress-free process, giving you full control over your team's stays worldwide.
AltoVita’s platform offers a suite of features designed to address the unique challenges of large-scale accommodation bookings for extended stays (+7 nights), ensuring compliance with company policies and providing access to real-time data. With our user-friendly self-serve booking tool, users can instantly search and request to book quality corporate accommodation, eliminating the need for time-consuming onboarding. From intuitive booking management to flexible data editing, we streamline every step. Learn how you can create a tailored booking experience, meet specific traveller needs, and enhance the overall guest experience for your employees.
By leveraging integrations with leading property management software, our curated platform delivers a flexible, efficient, and secure solution for extended stays. AltoVita simplifies corporate accommodation by connecting you to a vast, vetted network of serviced apartments globally.
To get started, explore our extensive inventory and optimise your business travel planning today with AltoVita's streamlined, technology-driven Group Bookings tool.