Read on to learn the benefits for both businesses and business travelers when it comes to choosing a serviced apartment over a hotel or another type of accommodation.
Traveling abroad for business is an everyday occurrence for many people – but the trips, and their costs, can vary widely. Requiring staff to travel regularly can be a huge drain on company finances, and with today’s economic climate, it’s crucial to take every possible measure to ensure that the cost of each business trip is reasonable as well as feasible.
Companies who need to send their staff on overseas trips will of course spend the largest part of their budget on flight tickets, with the cost of accommodation coming in at a close second. Unfortunately, many companies will automatically book their employees into a hotel without researching more affordable or suitable alternatives. Serviced apartments are becoming a more popular choice with business travelers around the world, and it’s easy to see why. Read on to learn the benefits for both businesses and business travelers when it comes to choosing a serviced apartment over a hotel or another type of accommodation.
#1. Cost:
With hotel prices on the rise – especially in big cities – it’s not surprising that the cost of business travel can quickly add up and leave a massive dent in a company’s pocket. Alternatively, serviced apartments certainly offer great value for money; they usually offer a lot more for cheaper than hotels, and the longer the stay, the cheaper the nightly rate usually is.
It’s not just the company that will benefit when travelers stay in serviced apartments. The business traveler themselves will often find that a fully furnished and equipped apartment helps them to save money on any additional expenses they incur during the business trip, too. For instance, the wide range of amenities available means that they can cook their own food rather than eating out, and they can do laundry for themselves, to avoid running up expensive service bills.
When in San Francisco it’s easy to find accommodation like these. Companies like Blueground provide thoughtfully designed and decorated apartments from studios to three-bedrooms. They are the ideal way to spend business trips and extended stays in new cities.
#2. Space:
It’s certainly not uncommon to have much more space than a hotel room in a serviced apartment. Usually they’ll be up to 30% bigger at least, which is quite considerable. In addition, compared to a hotel room, they are more likely to offer separate kitchen, bedroom, living room, dining and bathroom areas with all the same facilities that you would expect to be available to you at home. For business travelers, this isn’t just more comfortable – it can also be more practical and make the entire experience a more productive and less stressful one.
For travelers who have work to do from ‘home’, a serviced apartment’s comfortable vibe can make this far easier, whether they’re getting stuff done on their laptop alone, or holding a business meeting. With super-fast Wi-Fi included in the price, that’s one less worry checked off the list. If you’re taking a long business trip, you’re probably already familiar with the frustration that can arise from staying in a small hotel room for an extended period of time. A serviced apartment gives you space to spread out, store your stuff, and lots of places where you can relax during your down time.
#3. Quality:
Don’t let the ‘home away from home’ atmosphere of a serviced apartment put you off. This only refers to the comfortable feeling you will from the moment you arrive. You’ll feel settled instantly.
Most will offer just the same kind of quality that you would expect from a top-of-the-range hotel, except you’ve got your own laundry facilities, kitchen, much more space, and of course more privacy. Apartment owners will ensure that the furnishing and standard of furniture are very high – after all, they are competing against the area’s big hotel brands. Most serviced apartments will come with a range of entertainment options including a Smart TV, DVD player, speakers, and more. You may even be lucky enough to find one that provides you with access to all your favorite streaming services or even a gaming console.
Most quality serviced apartments will offer hotel-standard facilities and services. There is usually a 24-hour reception or concierge on hand if you have any issues or questions. In addition to being able to do it yourself, many serviced apartment blocks will still provide services like laundry and ironing, or even a restaurant where you can eat on-site. Depending on the type of service included you can expect your apartment to be cleaned regularly and provided with fresh towels and bed linen.
Whether you’re booking a business trip for a colleague or embarking on a business trip yourself, it’s well worth considering a serviced apartment rather than a typical hotel.
