Almost one in three business travel buyers said they booked serviced apartments as their accommodation more frequently this year than last year, according to new research carried out ahead of the Business Travel Show.
In addition, a further 35 per cent said they used serviced apartments the same amount as last year.
The serviced apartment sector was the only category of accommodation that saw growth in its use over the year.
The reasons given for choosing serviced apartments over other types of accommodation were numerous, but the top reason was ‘value for money.’ The conveneince of having self-catering facilities came in as the second most frequently given reason, followed by the opportunity to experience the destination like a local. Many also said they liked the fact that serviced apartments gave them a better long-term option for their business travellers.
In a further testament to the growing popularity of serviced apartments for business travellers, only 32 per cent said they don’t use this option at all, down from 42 per cent last year.
David Chapple the event director at the Business Travel Show called the figures “pretty extraordinary,” while the CEO of the Association of Serviced Apartment Providers, who carried out the survey, also welcomed the results. He stated: “This year, in particular, we have found that more and more companies are booking two-bedroom or two-bathroom apartments, as colleagues will often share the apartment, making it a more cost-effective choice as well as giving employees working away from home some companionship. A two-bedroom option also provides privacy and collaboration space under one roof.”
