Business Traveller (Asia-Pacific)
FRESH OUTLOOK
Twenty-one reasons to choose a serviced apartment over a traditional hotel room – plus the region’s new offerings
THERE IS ROOM TO 1 SWING A CAT Rather than just being somewhere to lay your head, serviced apartments give you the room to sleep, work, cook and relax – so no need to perch on the end of your hotel bed with a dinner tray. THEY’RE 2 GOOD VALUE Serviced apartment prices are typically 20 per cent less than hotel rates of the same standard – their running costs are lower, as they don’t need to operate a kitchen 24/7 to provide room service, or fund a team of cleaners to offer daily housekeeping. YOU CAN COOK FOR 3 YOURSELF Sitting at a table for one, night after night, becomes a drag. And queuing for the expensive breakfast buffet seems silly when all you fancy is some peanut butter on toast. Being able to cook in your own kitchen is cost-effective, convenient and handy for keeping your calorie intake in check. YOUR FAMILY CAN JOIN YOU 4
The extra space makes it easier and cheaper for you to have several loved ones join you. Simon Morrison, managing director of the UK-based Select Apartments, says: “If you want your family to stay with you at the weekend, there’s no extra charge, and most apartments have sofa beds, whereas a hotel wouldn’t take kindly to you smuggling additional people in to your room.” WIFI IS FREE 5
Unlike many hotel brands, the vast majority of serviced apartment companies have offered free wifi from the start. Business Traveller was unable to find a provider that charged for it.
YOU CAN SKIP THE 6 SMALL TALK If you’re not one for fawning treatment from hotel staff, or over-zealous housekeeping, apartments allow you to bypass the formalities. You often don’t even have to talk to anyone – simply let yourself in and make yourself at home. FACILITIES CAN RIVAL 7 HOTELS Gyms, pools, restaurants, bars, concierges – if any of these are an important part of your business travel routine, Aparthotels and some serviced properties now offer many of them. YOU CAN WASH YOUR 8 CLOTHES Having the option to do your own laundry – rather than paying for the privilege of having hotel staff do it for you – is cost-saving and convenient. At the very least, serviced apartments have communal laundry rooms, but many have washers and dryers in their kitchens. THEY HAVE SPACE 9 TO MEET Time and money can be saved by hosting small meetings around the dining table of your flat. Alternatively, many providers will book external meeting space for you, while some, such as Pan Pacific Serviced Suites Beach Road, Singapore, have on-site meeting rooms. BOOKING IS EASY 10
The traditional system of booking an apartment – making an enquiry with a provider and waiting to hear back once they’ve checked availability – has largely changed. Many are now available on the likes of booking.com, and most providers offer online reservations for short stays. For longer periods, where enquiries are still necessary, the turnaround time has improved.“We’ll respond in one hour with a detailed proposal – web links, the rates, cancellation details and policies,” Select Apartments’ Morrison says.“Then the client sends us an email about which apartment they’re interested in, and we’ll book it.”
NO MINIBAR TEMPTATION 11
Many serviced apartment properties offer bespoke hampers or shopping services, where you pre-select groceries that you actually need, rather than reaching impulsively for the US$10 M&Ms when you get hungry. YOU SAVE ON LONGER 12 STAYS Apartments are a good option for those working away from home on a long-term project – the general rule is that after seven nights, the nightly rate starts to fall (unlike hotel rates, which remain static). THEY’RE REGULATED 13
Tried Airbnb? Loved it? Great, but if you’re on a company travel policy, you can’t always ensure that its properties meet the necessary safety and quality requirements. Booking with large providers like Frasers Hospitality or Oakwood means you won’t arrive and find something different from the website – or that they don’t exist at all… THEY’RE UNASSUMING 14 FROM THE OUTSIDE Serviced apartments tend to operate under the radar. Many are housed in converted buildings around a city, which can not only create that “live like a local” experience but can boost their security rating when you don’t want to stay somewhere that screams “tourist”. THEY’RE NOT 15 ALL BORING Don’t dismiss serviced apartments as boxy, bland spaces with cookie-cutter décor. For example, the Ascott Raffles Place Singapore is a restored heritage building that offers an art deco façade with 146 furnished suites. A unique feature of this serviced residence is the 19th-century mail chute, which is still used by residents. YOU CAN HAVE 16 PEOPLE OVER After a long day at a conference, joining colleagues on a bar crawl can be the last thing you want to do. Opting for an apartment means you have the space to invite people over for some actual downtime – sofa space, company, a couple of beers and a well-priced takeaway – or if you’re feeling antisocial, simply relax in your living room and watch TV. THEY’RE EVERYWHERE 17
The demand for serviced apartments in AsiaPacific has grown by 25 per cent in the past decade. And as the market is maturing, properties are opening up in new destinations, with brands making ambitious growth plans (see overleaf). MANY REWARD LOYALTY 18
Being part of Accorhotels, Adagio Aparthotels’ guests can collect Le Club points, while those who stay at Fraser Suites properties can take part in the Fraser World scheme. Ascott Online Advantage members can enjoy a 30 per cent discount on reservations made 21 days in advance, while Apple Apartments’ Apple 21 Club offers a 21 per cent discount on stays for its members. THEY’RE WELL LOCATED 19
Struggling to find a hotel near a particular business park? See if there’s a serviced apartment there instead. You’ll also find them dotted around city centres, near stations and financial districts. EVERYBODY NEEDS 20 GOOD NEIGHBOURS Opting for a serviced apartment means it’s highly unlikely you’ll be sharing a building with noisy families and large tour groups – during the week, the clientele will be like-minded business travellers with a need for peace and quiet. THEY’RE MORE 21 LIKE HOME Staying within the four walls of a hotel room for an extended period can become a bit miserable. A home-from-home experience can give you a mental boost if you’re spending a long time away.