Product and service inconsistency, actual or otherwise, have long been a bone of corporate contention
Skyline, Roman House, London Systems, support, training and market-
ing have all been “tiered” according to the requirements of the individual partner or member. “The key differentiator is that being part of the TAS Alliance allows operators to own their local relationships and access global systems and tracking,” says Layton.
DEMANDING MORE FOR LESS Product and service inconsistency, actual or otherwise, have long been a bone of cor-
porate contention. Those travel buyers and managers who have grasped the apartment nettle are becoming increasingly picky: demanding more, and usually for less. End-users – at least those who know what a serviced apartment is – are demand- ing better, faster connectivity and an im- proved guest experience. Brand awareness has improved, but there is still a way to go. Lenders, unconvinced that the apart-
ment sector is anything more than a niche business, make market entry difficult, and
SERVICED APARTMENTS – A POCKET GUIDE
A RECENT STUDY BY ONLINE BOOKING AGENCY LATEROOMS. COM suggested that 47 per cent of business travellers work less effectively when they are away from home and office.
Susan Cully is managing
director of Marlin Apartments. Here she gives her five- point “buyers’ guide” which, she argues, shows how apartment life can improve employee productivity.
Free and reliable wifi connectivity: Cully cites an Egencia survey, which
110 BBT SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2015
indicates that 67 per cent of business travellers now reckon that connectivity can often mean the difference between a productive day and a wasted day. Beyond business, she says, a reliable broadband connection allows travellers to keep in contact with friends and family.
More space for working, entertaining or relaxing: “Cramped conditions, or a feeling of being shut in are often reported as reasons why work productivity suffers,” she says.
Location, location, location: Cutting commuting time is key. “That extra half- hour in bed makes all the difference,” says Cully.
Corporate assistance: From photocopying and printing facilities to personal assistance services, some accommodation providers can give a helping hand, enabling business travellers the chance to focus on their work.
The kitchen: While business travellers can choose to dine
out, apartments give them the option to prepare their own meals and snacks – which, in the long run, can save employers a great deal of money.
Conclusions: “Business travellers often reveal that they have chosen to stay with us based on how our apartments facilitate productivity,” says Cully. “We pride ourselves on ensuring our apartments are business- friendly and we constantly look for new ways to take this one step further.”
BUYINGBUSINESSTRAVEL.COM
the big-name aparthotel and extended- stay operators are beginning to make their mark on this side of the Atlantic, potentially threatening smaller operators. If this were Dragons’ Den, Peter Jones and company would be chorusing “and for those reasons, I wish you well, but I’m out”.
Go back to that Savills survey: “The real
positive for the sector going forward is the fact that business visitor numbers, on the whole, are yet to return to pre-recession levels. This suggests that there is still a considerable upside.” That “considerable upside”, as James
Foice would doubtless testify, has been a long time coming. However, it looks as though it’s on its way. Can sainthood be far behind?
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