SERVICED APARTMENTS
apartments sector, which is making its mark with investors from around the world. Brands are merging, and there may be choppy times ahead for some of the smaller players. A summer of disasters and disruption in UK and European cities
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has been a wake-up call about the importance of safety, security and compliance, with corporate buyers increasingly expecting operators to provide reassurance around due diligence. The Grenfell tower- block fire, in London’s Notting Hill area, was a timely reminder, if one were needed, that employees must be kept as safe as possible when on an international assignment or a business trip. Employers like the serviced apartment solution because they
know the quality of accommodation they are dealing with, especially if it is accredited. The Association of Serviced Apartment Providers (ASAP) has expanded its accreditation scheme from the UK into Europe, the US, Australia and the Philippines. It now has accredited operators in 130 cities in 12 countries across four continents. Chief executive James Foice comments, “ASAP has recognised
the importance of due diligence and duty-of-care responsibility for many years, and it forms the basic framework of our global quality accreditation programme. Given the tragic events at Grenfell Tower, it has never been more important to differentiate the risk the unregulated accommodation industry poses.” As well as fire, political instability, natural disaster and disease
epidemics are all potential risks. The burgeoning number of apps available to help track employees
on the move and provide immigration advice and tax alerts is starting to include other alerts as well. It is just a matter of time before everything is in one place. See our technology coverage (p38) to get up to speed with developments in this area of global mobility.
Impact of aparthotels The new wave of aparthotels will help to scale up the volume and bring the benefits of trackability, ease of booking, and compliance checks. Whether it is a studio or a two-bedroom apartment, this type of extended-stay accommodation is really taking off with employees on the move. For more on extended stay, see p38. The 24-hour reception and being able to check in at any time
of day or night will be a reassurance to weary travellers arriving in an unfamiliar district. The warm welcome will be appreciated as much as the ‘arriving home’ feel when you open your own front door and can kick off your shoes, unwind, and do exactly as you want, whether that is making a meal, watching TV, catching up
The business traveller is now much more on the corporate radar because of changes in business style, the need for a rapid response to projects and business requirements, and, of course, cost constraints. See the evidence in our feature on the latest RES Forum survey (p30). But here is the conundrum. Companies know there is business
out there, across the globe, and they need to be able to respond quickly, mobilising their talent as fast as possible to stay ahead of the competition. In their private lives, employees are used to rapid responses. If they decide to go away for a weekend, they immediately begin searching the internet for deals and checking out the location on their mobiles. In snatched moments on the move, they get the answers they need and a number of options. It is the whole picture of the anticipated experience that helps them to decide where they will spend that leisure weekend. They expect the same in the work context. With the rise of Airbnb, the genie is out
Zoku, Amsterdam
of the bottle. Most people have tried it and liked it in their personal lives, and many, it seems, want to ‘live like a native’ when they are away on business. However, as debated at the recent Serviced Apartment Summit session on business travel and relocation, for
parthotels are the hot ticket at the moment, with more and more brands coming into the space, especially from the US. This is against the backdrop of the fast-growing serviced
Residence Inn London – London Bridge, Cycas-managed
with work, or just relaxing in your own space. Those on an international assignment or a domestic relocation
move for a number of weeks know what is in store, and they like the serviced apartments option. But as HR increasingly becomes the custodian of the safety and security of all their company’s mobile employees – even business travellers – the benefits of serviced apartments for even a few nights are becoming clear.
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