The debate continues. There continues to be tremendous growth in both of these sectors of the hospitality industry. Corporate Housing is typically a fully furnished apartment or condo with a fully equipped kitchen, separate bedroom(s) and in suite laundry. An Extended Stay Hotel is typically a transient hotel environment with larger suites including a small kitchenette with amenities such as internet and breakfast included in the rate. Today’s business traveler has many more options to choose from compared to only a few years ago. These travelers are also benefiting from better rates, complimentary services and top notch locations.

Corporate Housing has traditionally had the upper hand when it came to pricing. Lower overhead meant less costs to be passed onto the customer. Today, Extended Stay Hotels are reducing their costs in order to be more cost competitive. Many are getting rid of the full service restaurants, 24 hr security, room service, overnight front desk staff, etc. They are still offering some services to differentiate themselves including free breakfast, newspaper delivery and concierge services to sway travelers away from Corporate Housing. Corporate Housing still has an edge on most Extended Stay Hotels from a cost standpoint due to the money that is saved on in suite laundry and cooking meals in a fully equipped kitchen.

When it comes to services, many Corporate Housing companies struggle to compete with Extended Stay Hotels due to not having staff on the premises. Response time is generally longer for Corporate Housing personnel who usually have to travel to the apartment or send a trade. Other services such as complimentary breakfast, newspaper delivery and a concierge are typically much easier and less costly for an Extended Stay Hotel to coordinate.

Location may be the most important factor for most business travelers. It is very convenient to be close to your place of business in that a car rental can be avoided. Good public transportation can make up for this, however, no one wants to be on the bus or subway for too long. Extended Stay Hotels were first being built up in more suburban locations due to the scarcity of land and the high cost of real estate in most major cities in Canada and the US. This usually gave Corporate Housing the edge in terms of location due to the large number of apartment buildings or condominiums in central urban locations. Corporate Housing companies can choose where to set up an apartment so there is lots of flexibility with regards to location. In the last couple years, many Extended Stay Hotel brands have figured out ways to open up locations in central urban locations by either converting an existing hotel to an Extended Stay or by purchasing an old apartment building and converting it to an Extended Stay format. Corporate Housing probably has the edge with location, although Extended Stay Hotels are not far being in some major cities.

So which was is the preferred choice? It is hard to say. It seems to be a tight race right now and it may be a few years before one of the two emerges as a clear leader.

Author Bio: Looking for Extended Stay Hotels or Furnished Apartments? Corporate Housing can be a great solution for your business travel needs.

Category: Travel
Keywords: corporate housing, extended stay hotel, furnished apartments, canada