The Apartment Service Launches Complete Accommodation Services

The Apartment Service launches Complete Accommodation Solutions (CAS) across Europe

 

The provision of temporary accommodation for flexible short term stays of 6 months or more, has now been made easier in 16 major European countries including Austria, Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Holland, Hungary, Ireland, Luxemburg, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and UK. A further 8 countries will be added to CAS in the near future.

 

Until now, it has not been easy to find and prepare temporary accommodation for assignments in advance of arrival. The provision of serviced apartments, as shown in the Global Serviced Apartment Industry Report 2008/2009, commissioned by The Apartment Service and published earlier this month (available at www.apartmentservice.com) varies widely. Most existing buildings usually cater for stays of one week or more and their locations are limited. CAS offers a much better option for longer stays of 6 months or more…where you want to be.

 

“Location and price are the major factors”, says CAS Co-ordinator Susan Wood, “and the CAS service will meet these by using residential accommodation and provide it with service and management. There is an increasing demand for staff mobility worldwide and the need for this unique service is there. CAS will provide a central point of contact for bookers from both Human Resources and Business Travel departments as well as Project Managers.

We will provide Management Information about all assignees in one consolidated report. We are working with our chosen Supplier Partners – all local experts who have a long standing experience of the destinations – who speak the language, know their areas intimately and are typically already in the relocation business. We have developed a Service Level Programme with all of them to ensure consistency of service for the client across all Europe.

 

CAS is a natural development of The Apartment Service´s Roomspace Solutions service, which has been operated to date only in the UK.

 

For further information please see

www.completeaccommodationsolutions.com or contact:

Mike Stapley, The Apartment Service, 5-6 Francis Grove, London SW19 4DT – tel +44-(0)20-8944 1444, MikeS@apartment.co.uk

 

About The Apartment Service:

The Apartment Service, founded in 1981, is the largest European booking agent for serviced apartments, offering thousands of locations worldwide for stays of one night, one week, one month or even a year.

 

Members of: Association of Relocation Professionals (ARP), Corporate Housing Providers Association (CHPA) and the Employee Relocation Council (ERC)

Awarded Best Serviced Apartment Accommodation Provider 2007 – Buying Business Travel Magazine

GLOBAL SERVICED APARTMENT INDUSTRY REPORT READY FOR DOWNLOAD

SERVICED APARTMENTS SECTOR TO

WITHSTAND GLOBAL ECONOMIC SLOWDOWN

First ever Global Serviced Apartments Survey published by The Apartment Service

- includes Extended Stay Hotel, Aparthotel and Corporate Housing sectors:

Key findings

* 65% of corporates have travel & relocation policies in place

* 72% of companies worldwide use apartments instead of hotels for stays of 7+ nights

* Location is most important selection criteria

* Space and comfort are biggest influences on buyer choice

* Ability to cook for oneself cited by 63% of survey respondents as key factor

* Brand trust is surprisingly not a key purchasing criterion

After almost 50 years, the serviced apartment has finally come of age in the corporate world, with 47% of organizations across the globe now using apartments for long stays, temporary assignments or relocation as hotel rates continue to rise.

That's one of the key findings of the Global Serviced Apartments Survey 2008, undertaken by The Apartment Service amongst over 20,000 bookers, Travel Management Companies, Relocation Management Companies and apartment operators worldwide.

According to the survey, the apartments sector is set to withstand the global economic slow down, due to demand outstripping supply and the cost saving benefits apartments are able to offer over hotels.

The findings of the research form the basis of the first-ever Global Serviced Apartments Industry Report, which has been written by Travel Intelligence Network. A copy of the report in PDF format can be downloaded for FREE from the website of The Apartment Service and a hard copy can also be ordered.

To download the first ever Global Serviced Apartment Industry Report for free, or order your hard copy, please visit http://www.apartmentservice.com/web/GSAIR08

ENDS

Global Serviced Apartment Industry Report

PRESS RELEASE TO UK BUSINESS TRAVEL MEDIA



HALF OF BRITISH COMPANIES TURNING TO SERVICED APARTMENTS
First ever global serviced apartments survey published by The Apartment Service

Key Findings

* 67% of agents reporting significant increases in serviced apartment bookings
* 72% of companies worldwide use apartments instead of hotels for stays of 7+ nights
* Location is most important selection criteria
* Space and comfort are biggest influences on buyer choice
* Ability to cook for oneself cited by 63% of survey respondents as key factor
* Brand trust is surprisingly not a key purchasing criterion


After almost 50 years, the serviced apartment has finally come of age in the corporate world, with 48% of British companies now using apartments for long stays, temporary assignments or relocation as hotel rates continue to rise.

That's one of the key findings of the Global Serviced Apartments Survey 2008, undertaken by The Apartment Service amongst over 20,000 bookers, Travel Management Companies, Relocation Management Companies and apartment operators worldwide.

The findings of the research form the basis of the first-ever Global Serviced Apartments Industry Report, being written by Travel Intelligence Network and due for publication on September 11th at the Hotel Booking Agent's Forum.

As well as detailing the survey's results, the report will contain market size, spend and rates for the UK, Europe and other regions around the globe. The 40 page report brings together comment, case studies and trend information into one reference tool for buyers and suppliers alike.

"Serviced apartments are still something of an unknown quantity for many corporate buyers" explains Charles McCrow, Managing Director of The Apartment Service. "A lot of independent research has been carried out in different territories, but this is the first-ever global survey of its kind. This is also the first time anyone has ever looked at the available data and published a definitive guide to the apartment sector. Hopefully we've achieved that."

The findings will highlight the major operators, explain the different types of property which can be defined as serviced apartments, examine how apartment operators run their inventories and focus on how the sector has come to meet the needs of the corporate.

The Global Serviced Apartments Industry Report will be available to download, free of charge, from The Apartment Service's website - www.apartmentservice.com

ENDS

AWARD NOMINATION FOR THE APARTMENT SERVICE

Hello,

After winning the Diamond award for Best Serviced Apartment Company 2007, The Apartment Service has now been nominated for a Buying Business Travel Diamond Award in the category "Best Serviced Apartment Company - for business" for the 2009 edition.

It is an exciting period for The Apartment Service. Very shortly our new web service will be launched with a much enhanced search facility and brand new XML connectivity, which will allow us to offer an even greater selection of serviced apartments around the world.

And then there is the first Global Serviced Apartment Industry Report, which will be launched on the 12th September. With extensive, fascinating survey results and statistical information, views from key industry figures, serviced apartment providers, corporate buyers of serviced apartment accommodation and agents, it promises to be an invaluable source of reference and a catalyst for discussion, which will be updated on a regular basis.

We feel therefore that we are worth our nomination and we hope we can count on your support to win the award to build on our reputation as the largest European booking agent for serviced apartments worldwide.

To vote for The Apartment Service in the Buying Business Travel Diamond Awards 2009, please follow this link. Thanks very much in advance. For further information about The Apartment Service, please contact Mike Stapley (Sales Manager), or Bard Vos (Marketing Executive)

THE APARTMENT SERVICE