GSAIR 2023 : EMEA 12
Traveller preferences
The top 4 preferences of the corporate traveller are connectivity , in-apartment cooking facilities , a designated workspace and in-house services according to the GSAIR survey . 4 Gavin Pereira , founder of Check-In-London , a London based serviced apartment agency shares what he is seeing in terms of emerging traveller needs .
In conversation with Gavin Pereira
How cost conscious are serviced apartment customers ?
Business travellers , project workers , groups , and longer leisure stays ( 3-6 weeks in prime locations ) are returning to pre-pandemic booking habits by allowing time to research all accommodation options to match their organisational and personal needs .
Corporates are balancing travellers ’ preferences in terms of location , service , space , and amenities , against procurement objectives around ESG and duty of care . Although price is usually a priority at the planning phase , service , reviews , accreditations , and overall value are ultimately the deciding factors .
Despite an overall increase in supply in tier 2 and tier 3 locations across cities like London , some locations still carry a premium . However , when location is flexible – as with intern placement groups or short term project workers – travel time becomes more important . The London Underground ’ s Elizabeth Line means people can travel from Canary Wharf to Tottenham Court Road in under 11 minutes . 5
After location , floorspace is the next most important criteria , especially for travellers on extended stays in cities like London . One bedroom apartments are most requested for travellers staying 28 nights or longer , although senior executives request additional bedrooms to accommodate family visiting during the weekends or holidays . 6
Designated workspaces and internet speed
As of 2023 , corporate customers are no longer requesting designated workspaces because their trip purpose is to meet with clients or colleagues at an office or project site . Instead , they expect reliable , high speed internet suitable for when they choose to work from the apartment , together with a decent work desk separate to the dining table when space permits .
This is where professionally managed serviced apartments triumph over other categories of accommodation due to greater floorspace in each unit and a more consistent quality of amenities .
Top level executives might request a separate bedroom or room to be used as an office .
Although corporates are not specifying a specific internet speed , some agents like us ask operators to disclose the internet speed available in their apartments so that customers have a point of reference . This usually averages about 150 mbps 7 in London region , although some have connections of up to 500 mbps to enable guests to receive calls online without any interruptions .
Traveller wellbeing
The increased awareness around wellbeing and mental health brought about by the pandemic has evolved further . Customers now want to find out more about
4 . Global Serviced Apartment Industry Report 2023 5 . TFL . gov . uk 6 . Check-in-London reviewed 200 bookings between June 2022-July 2023 for stays over 28 nights . 58 % booked 1 Bedroom Apartments vs 21.5 % choosing to book Studios . 7 . Megabits per second