What is a Serviced Apartment?
By Mark Harris
The term 'Serviced Apartment' is usually positioned by operators and agents alike as an alternative to hotel accommodation for long stay leisure or business travellers.
However, there are two types of
accommodation to which the description
serviced apartment applies. Although -
this being the hospitality industry - there
are sub categories, clones and wannabes,
all claiming to be serviced apartments.
Here is The Apartment Service's guide to
what is - and isn't - a serviced apartment.
| Although 2007 research by HVS estimated that the average number of apartments
in an extended stay property in European cities ranges from 100 to 120 units,
(or 'keys'), in London the average size of a property is greater at around 150 keys. |
Source: HVS Research
Extended Stay hotels and Aparthotels
Operators such as Staybridge, Residence
Inn, Studio 6, Frasers, Citadines, Ascott
and others are targeting the business
(and leisure) markets with an extended
stay product. This type of serviced
apartment grew rapidly in the 80's at a
time when costs for both operators and
guests were a major consideration and
the concept delivered the required results
for both.
Typically their apartments will be in
urban locations, range in standard from
budget to deluxe and offer hotel services
such as 24hr reception desks, many are
run by major players in the hotel market
such as Marriott, InterContinental, Accor,
Hyatt and Hilton.
In an extended stay hotel the guest can
expect a no frills approach - compared
to mainstream hotels. There are usually
no restaurants, large lounge areas or
room services, although some operators
serving the luxury end of the market
such as Parkview Suites in Hong Kong
(non urban) and high-end hotels which
have apartments annexed to their buildings (such as the Athenaeum in London or
The Harbour Hotel & Residence in Dubai)
make a full range of services available to
their clients.
Extended stay hotels (such as Staybridge)
are urban products, offering a high
standard of accommodation in
configurations of one, two, and/or three
bedrooms. They tend to have a higher
level of hotel services than mainstream
serviced apartments and Aparthotels
which - usually a leisure or resort based
product, also come in standards of
accommodation and range of services
from budget to deluxe.
Serviced
Serviced apartments in extended stay
hotels vary in style and standard, however
most are fully furnished with en suite
bathrooms, a fitted kitchen/kitchenette &
lounge/dining area sometimes including
a sofa bed or 'bed in a cupboard'/pull
down bed.