GSAIR 2023 : APAC 8
Buyer preferences and channels
Darren Jeacock has worked in the business travel sector for just over 10 years , beginning his career in the industry at EY where today he is responsible for supplier management ( airline , hotels , corporate housing , rail , car rental and ground transportation ) in the Asia- Pacific and EMEIA region .
Question and Answer
With Darren Jeacock
Travel Supplier Manager , Global Supply Chain Services EY
Which destinations take the bulk of your serviced apartment bookings ?
EY utilises significant transient ( short and long stay ) business travel and relocation room nights globally . Europe sees the greatest demand with most bookings coming from India and ASEAN1 countries to support client engagements . The United States sees the greatest demand for relocation / mobility bookings . We also have a very mature program in the Middle East with many EY people using corporate housing for both business transient and extended stay accommodation .
Why do you use serviced apartments ; business travel , relocation , assignment working , or a combination ?
Our professionals choose serviced apartments for business trips and extended stays due to the convenience and flexibility they offer . In some cases , the local travel policy asks people to consider a serviced apartment for stays of three nights or more . People using serviced apartments for extended stays enjoy having more space , a fully equipped kitchen , and amenities that make their stays comfortable . We also have many people working on short-term assignments or projects who say they prefer serviced apartments over traditional hotels because they offer a more homely atmosphere and often cost less .
What is driving demand in EY for serviced accommodation in the APAC region ?
A change to the travel policy , which encourages people to consider an apartment for three or more nights in some locations and , globally , a policy of six or more nights , has seen growth in serviced accommodation demand . We see outbound demand from Europe for short-term client engagements and project stays driving the greatest production , as well as relocations into major EY hubs .
Does the emerging generation of business travellers and / or relocatees have different priorities / requirements from serviced accommodation than their predecessors , and how are changing preferences impacting how you source serviced accommodation in APAC ?
The average age of EY employees is 28 years old , which brings a younger perspective on accommodation preferences . Access to online booking technology is important as younger business travellers often prefer online booking . Serviced accommodation can be clunky . They also want flexible workspaces to support remote working , access to local experiences , and an element of personalisation . The desire for personalised
1 The Association of Southeast Asian Nations is a regional organization that brings together disparate neighbours to address economic and security issues .