long-stay bookings that they have experienced in their personal lives for short-stay and leisure bookings. “Relocation companies and
serviced apartment providers are also having to meet the standards and facilities
from their B2C private life and their short-stay rental booking experience,” says Philipp. However, while this increases
flexibility for customers, it can be problematic for corporations who have a duty of care for their staff moving and living abroad and who may have strict company policies around budgets, location and safety. “Employees often prefer using
consumer platforms like Airbnb or
Booking.com for business travel, leading to issues like ‘leakage’ where corporations lose control over bookings, have employees staying in disparate locations, and potentially miss out on negotiated rates,” Philipp says. His comments follow the recent
merger between Homelike, a German long-stay B2C platform, and experienced B2B corporate accommodation provider Q Global Network, a subsidiary of Glade Capital. The resulting entity, operating under the Homelike brand, has emerged as a significant player in the long-stay serviced apartment sector, boasting a vast portfolio of approximately 180,000 beds across 70 countries. The merger is opening up markets not only in Europe to instant booking,
20 that people expect
but also globally including North America, South America, Asia, Australia and Africa. “It’s not only Generation Z and
Y who are used to booking hotels online and who expect certain standards,” he says. “A lot of people are familiar with using technology and platforms to book and this now extends to business travel as well.” Homelike is facilitating this
change by helping landlords to digitise their offerings so they can reach a wider audience of potential clients. Homelike’s cutting- edge technology also provides international assignees and business- user tenants with the opportunity to see prices and availability in real time. This enables corporate clients to make better decisions around budgets, location and pricing.
HOW THE GENERATIONAL SHIFT IS AFFECTING LONG-STAY ACCOMMODATION Younger people entering the workforce are also more open to flexible living arrangements and are less tied to long-term commitments. Unlike previous generations, they prefer furnished apartments and are willing to pay a premium for this convenience. “When I was younger, I rented
unfurnished apartments and I would buy my furniture from IKEA and sell it when I moved on after three or four years,” says Philipp. “Now a lot of people don’t want
the hassle of selling their furniture because they know they will only be staying for six or 12 months.” The definition of short stay
has also changed, he says, with the rental period shifting from 30 days to 14 days or more, based on market demand.
HOW CAN TECHNOLOGY SOLVE PAIN POINTS FOR CORPORATIONS? Changing work habits, increased mobility and the demand for transparency in accommodation choices are shaping the global mobility sector, with technology playing a pivotal role in addressing these trends and challenges. Greater digital connectivity
can also provide users with the information they need to make informed decisions about their accommodation. Platforms can offer features like maps, location, proximity to workplaces and schools. Corporations are having to
adapt to the changing landscape of remote work and global mobility, especially for senior executives. New work-from-anywhere policies are being introduced to attract and retain talent. However, this means that organisations face a greater administrative burden in finding accommodation for an increasingly disparate network of employees. There are a number of ways
in which technology can help businesses with globally mobile staff manage these trends:
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