Business Travel Executive, September 2019

27 Business Travel Executive askBTE com September 2019 tions Based on our customers requests we have designed a solution that easily gives our customers access to long stay housing while providing seamless booking and payment experiences as well as the traditional TMC services such as support reporting and duty of care Abad says Now more than ever business travelers are interested in more space alongside value added amenities and homelike touches all at a cost efficient price point according to Adrian Kurre global head Home2 Suites by Hilton The extended stay model has always been a popular option for business travelers but in order to remain that way we must continue to adapt develop new amenities and enhance the ones we already have he says One trend that we continue to see is the rise of bleisure travel the mix of business and leisure in the same trip Thats why Home2 Suites by Hilton and its sister extended stay brand Homewood Suites by Hilton have made changes to the long term lodging strategy Both now offer free breakfast with an abundance of healthy options to choose from Homewood Suites by Hilton properties offer a 24 hour fitness centers and most locations also have a pool Moreover these properties offer a complimentary grocery service so guests can choose to cook healthy meals in their fully equipped kitchens rather than eat out or order in Victoria Yanakos executive vice president sales for Furnished Quarters says abundant choice and access to diverse inventory can be a benefit to one firm when it aligns with the companys culture and overall objectives and a challenge for another We see some companies very receptive while others are seeking more traditional housing programs for reasons like cost containment and duty of care she cautions Our strategy has been two fold We both participate on these sites when it makes strategic sense but likewise compete against others We are very selective of who we partner with to offer our inventory outside of our direct clients RESIDE purposely built its technology supply chain and systems to be B2B friendly Curtis explains not just for the guest but also for the travel managers and those tasked with managing a large traveling workforce We are the only company that has merged existing global compliance software into our sourcing platform to meet the duty of care and compliance needs of our customers But most of all we have done this to give our clients peace of mind when using these new styles of housing options he says We have painstakingly designed our apartments and homes to be comfortable stylish and functional and are continually in the lab looking for product options that will stay ahead of the business travelers needs Rajeev Goswami WWStays co founder and CEO thinks this is an exciting time for corporate travel and the company is prepared for the changing traveler We changed our focus years back investing more in technology and expanding more in different countries he says We found people want more space a home away from home They want amenities that make travel easy Enticing Features Abad notes extended stays are more enticing than traditional hotels when the traveler is seeking an accommodation with more space and more convenience such as a kitchen and parking in some cases This ultimately helps drive travel costs down as travelers dont need want to eat at the hotel restaurant for every meal they can do their laundry and not use costly hotel laundry dry cleaning services he says Additionally long stays are continually becoming more business friendly by offering WiFi more locations and an easier booking experience For short term stays extended stays can still be a good option to hotels especially when hotels are sold out during a convention The lifestyle and choice options have actually been appealing features Curtis says since many business travelers have grown weary of the proliferation of the hotel brands There are over 280 brands today most of which are a copy of a copy of another brand The business traveler of today is much more savvy and no longer US Extended Stays by the Numbers Total extended stay occupancy first half 2019 765 down 01 YOY Average daily rate 10448 up 12 YOY Increase in extended stay rooms 26000 rooms up 56 over the past 12 months Rooms under construction as of June 30 Down 77 percent YOY Source The Highland Group