Business Travel Executive, February 2019

SPECIAL REPORT Moving Experiences 18Business Travel Executive FEBRUARY 2019 Moreover he says with extended stay hotels guests can anticipate a consistent level of quality and service Amenities such as food and beverage options readily available on property and business center services can make a significant difference for individuals relocating And while alternative housing options present more unknowns guests at extended stay hotels may be more at ease knowing that hotels have security processes in place Goswami says it has been WWStays experience that employees are happy with a long term hotel for a certain period of time a few weeks to a month but past that point prefer to have more formal long term housing such as apartments or condominiums Long term hotels are typically in busier locations close to restaurants and other shopping he says The cons for long term hotels are overall that they offer less space than an apartment are located in high traffic areas and provide limited to no green space access On the other hand he says long term housing typically provides larger spaces in less trafficked areas with amenities desired by most Therefore he concludes the suggestion in general is the longer the stay the more desirable the long term housing option However companies looking for more options greater flexibility and increased value are expanding their search by looking at extended stay properties as well as furnished and serviced apartments which can provide a better experience for the guest who seeks a more home like environment Around the globe Oakwood offers furnished and serviced apartments in multiple locations providing relocated employees choice in terms of the location that works best for them such as being close to their work preferred neighborhood or schools Moore says Travelers tell us they feel like a local enjoying their own apartment and starting to become a member of the community As expected costs can be more manageable too Rogers believes there are many more benefits to a corporate apartment stay For anyone coming in from another country especially government sponsored internships or someone doing a knowledge transfer the focus is more to create a residential experience and a home away from home environment she says The Stay Is the Experience Changing market demographics and new housing options are shifting the playing field for employee mobility and the bar is getting ever higher for a positive relocation experience Companies that have not invested in technology process improvement and a true discipline to understanding theirs and their customers data will find themselves struggling to keep up Curtis says RESIDEs investment in our 3SIXTY platform which melds state of the art alternative lodging sourcing workflow and BI technology has been built to allow our customers flexible vetted solutions to help them navigate the volatile landscape ahead of them Moore notes a successful relocation experience must achieve three objectives It has to deliver value and focus on productivity to allow relocated employees and their families to settle quickly it should support the evolving lifestyle needs of relocating employees providing them with a positive first impression of their employer and reduce the stresses often associated with relocation and it must meet safety and business continuity standards This is an ongoing dialogue we have with our clients and we frequently look for opportunities to share client input and experiences with Oakwood executives in order to improve our ability to meet clients ever changing needs Moore says Goswami says that when companies are investigating the possibilities for relocation housing the complete cost option matrix is very large and complex Therefore it is imperative to understand the clients needs at the beginning This allows the viable options in terms of location amenities and cost to be presented succinctly he says The goal is to best meet the requirements of the employer and the employee within the allowable budget Only in parsing all the options can this be done effectively BTE In the field of employee mobility the bar is getting ever higher for a positive relocation experience