Cartus – Types of Corporate Housing – Resources for Reference
Who stays in temporary housing?
This form of housing is ideal for business travelers, individuals displaced from their homes due to disaster or family circumstances, military personnel, and nearly anyone else in need of short or long-term housing.
This form of housing is ideal for business travelers, individuals displaced from their homes due to disaster or family circumstances, military personnel, and nearly anyone else in need of short or long-term housing.
Business Travelers: The most typical temporary housing tenant is a business traveler. Employees on long-term assignments often prefer to reside in a temporary housing unit so that they may maintain a lifestyle similar to the one they live at home.
Displaced Individuals: In times of disaster, temporary housing serves as a relief to displaced individuals. Hurricanes, earthquakes, fires, tornadoes, and flooding can wreak havoc, or even destroy, entire communities. With nowhere else to go, displaced people can rely on temporary housing while rebuilding their homes.
Military and Government Personnel: Whether positioned overseas or in their home country, military and government personnel travel often in the line of duty. This abundant travel creates a set of needs that only temporary housing accommodations can appease.
Other temporary housing tenants include those who work in the entertainment industry, sports teams, and even leisure travelers.
What are the different types of temporary housing?
The various terms used to explain temporary housing are often used interchangeably, despite there being slight differentiators between each term. Other names for the below forms of temporary housing include corporate lodging, furnished apartments, and temporary accommodations.
Aparthotels: An aparthotel, or extended-stay hotel, in the form of temporary housing most similar to a typical hotel. While these living spaces are slightly larger than the average hotel room, the basic amenities and booking-styles are nearly identical to that of a hotel. Aparthotels typically include kitchenettes, with limited kitchenware. Some people stay in apart-hotels for as little as three nights, while others may stay for a month.
Serviced apartments: A serviced apartment, or an extended-stay apartment, is typically a fully-furnished apartment that is bookable for either short or long-term stays (14 days or more). This housing option also has hotel similarities, sometimes including room service, a recreation/fitness center, a business center, swimming pools and saunas, on-site restaurants, and more. Serviced apartments offer larger living quarters than apart-hotels and typically have a full-sized kitchen. Similar to hotels, some serviced apartments also have front-desk and concierge services. Most serviced apartment providers require that a tenant stays for at least 14 days.
Corporate housing: As defined by the Corporate Housing Provider’s Association (CHPA), corporate housing is, “A furnished apartment, condominium, or house available to let on a temporary basis, primarily for 30 days or more.” Corporate housing is ideal for companies who continually send their employees to a specific area on a work assignment. Often times, these units are sublet to the guest, as a corporate housing provider typically leases the unit from a third party. Some corporate housing locations offer the same amenities as serviced apartments, making these two temporary housing terms nearly interchangeable. Unlike apart-hotels and some serviced apartments, corporate housing units are commonly located within highly residential areas, allowing the guest to feel a part of the local community. Some tenants may stay in corporate housing accommodations for over one year.
Is temporary housing less expensive than a typical hotel?
Oftentimes temporary housing units are, indeed, cheaper than hotels. Some temporary housing locations may have higher rates than a hotel, but these temporary accommodation options will offer better amenities and larger living spaces than the typical hotel.
It’s important to remember that the rate may not always be less, but that a guest will receive more “bang for their buck.”
Accommodation Type: Aparthotel
Description: Typically, a collection of fully furnished, standardized apartments set within a modern and purpose-built property, similar to that of a hotel. Includes kitchenettes, in-unit or communal laundry facilities, weekly housekeeping, and manned reception. Typically smaller in size. Often used for shorter stays and suitable for both business and leisure use.
Location Availability: Global
Recommended Guest: Suitable for all travelers
Timelines for Securing Inventory: Within 24 business hours
Furnishings and Fittings:
- Some variation is to be expected, although standards are consistent throughout brands and locations
- Can depend on price
- Amenities of the specific properties are stated when sharing property options
- Consistency in offering
- Options are legal, and vetting has been completed
- Strong health and safety features – often regulatedSuitable for single travelers and large groups
- Found in a lot of main cities
- A large number of units in one building brings consistency
- Flexibility in terms and rates
- Often includes amenities such as gym, cinema rooms, and co-working spaces
Disadvantages:
- Dynamic/fluctuating rate structure
- Competes with leisure market & Business Traveler
- Sometimes studio heavy
- Units can be small for long stay guests
- Not all properties allow windows to open
- Not always family friendly
- Extensions are not always guaranteed
Accommodation Type: Corporate Apartments
Description: Apartments, packaged to include servicing and bills, typically bookable for a minimum of 30 nights (can be less), either let and maintained by the operator on an ongoing basis or rented specifically for a particular housing requirement and length of time, after which they are handed back to the owner. Corporate housing is also the term used in the U.S. to describe serviced apartments and temporary living.
Location Availability: Global
Recommended Guest: Suitable for all travelers
Timelines for Securing Inventory: Within 24 business hours
Furnishings and Fittings:
- Some variation to be expected, although standards are consistent throughout brands and locations
- Can depend on price
- Amenities of the specific properties are stated when sharing property options
Advantages:
- Consistency in offering
- Options are legal, and vetting has been completed
- Strong health and safety features – often regulated
- Suitable for single travelers and large groups
- Found in a lot of main cities
- Large number of units in one building brings consistency
- Flexibility in terms and rates
- Often includes amenities such as gym, cinema rooms, and co-working spaces
Disadvantages:
- Dynamic/fluctuating rate structure
- Competes with leisure market & Business Traveler
- Sometimes studio heavy
- Units can be small for long stay guests
- Not always family friendly
- 3 Bed+ options limited
- Extensions not always guaranteed
Accommodation Type: Co-living
Description: Includes an aspect of shared or communal living. Accommodation can include private bedroom and bathroom with kitchenette, or shared facilities and/ or a combination of both. Private space is usually smaller in size with larger spaces for communal areas. Can often include social and local community events. Typically suited for 21–36-year-old business travelers.
Location Availability: EMEA
Recommended Guest:
- Interns & Graduates
- Clients looking for assignees to share accommodation
- Clients looking for cheaper options or a different product
Timelines for Securing Inventory:
- Existing set ups: within 24 business hours
- New set ups: 3-5 working days
- Larger programs can require significant lead time during the procurement phase
Furnishings and Fittings:
- Private room likely to be small, with larger communal areas
- Tend to be modern and purpose built
- Some variation to be expected
- Amenities of the specific properties are stated when sharing property options
Advantages:
- Often more cost effective than serviced apartments
- Options are legal, and vetting has been completed
- Community and wellness benefits for travelers
- Certain properties allow for flexibility on rates and leases
- Co-living and co-working amenities available, good for groups
- Often priorities sustainability and eco-friendly living due to being new builds
Disadvantages:
- Does not suit all traveler demographics
- Typically smaller units
- Shared kitchen and living space
- Not usually suitable for families
- Extensions not always guaranteed
Accommodation Type: Hotels
Description: Typically short term accommodation, basic in-room facilities, rooms of varying sizes; various brands and one-off establishments.
Location Availability: Global
Recommended Guest: Clients with short stay requirements or for transfers if accommodation is not available on the required date.
Timelines for Securing Inventory:
- Within 24 business hours
- Can vary based on the volume of specific program
- New set ups: 3-5 working days
- Larger programs can require significant lead time during the procurement phase
Furnishings and Fittings:
- Some variation to be expected, although standards are consistent throughout brands and locations
- Can depend on price
- Amenities of the specific properties are stated when sharing property options
Advantages:
- Options are legal, and vetting has been completed
- Strong security and Health & Safety features – heavily regulated
- 24/7 front desk and service
- Hotel amenities
- Flexible rate and term structure
- Often a solution in the Americas for guests with Restricted Breed dogs, or 1+ pets
Disadvantages:
- Typically more expensive than serviced apartments
- Dynamic rate structure – price fluctuations
- Competes with leisure market & Business Traveler
- Small rooms with no space for long stay guests
- Not all properties allow windows to open
- Not always family friendly
- No kitchens (unless it is an extended stay hotel)
- Extensions not always guaranteed
Accommodation Type: Extended-Stay Hotels
Description: Typically short term accommodation, basic in-room facilities often with small kitchenette, rooms of varying sizes; various brands and one-off establishments.
Location Availability: Global
Recommended Guest: Suitable for all travelers
Timelines for Securing Inventory:
- Within 24 business hours
- New set ups: 3-5 working days
- Larger programs can require significant lead time during the procurement phase
Furnishings and Fittings:
- Some variation to be expected, although standards are consistent throughout brands and locations
- Can depend on price
- Amenities of the specific properties are stated when sharing property options
Advantages:
- Options are legal, and vetting has been completed
- Strong health and safety features – heavily regulated
- 24/7 front desk and service
- Hotel amenities
- Flexible rate and term structure
- Often a solution in the Americas for guests with Restricted Breed dogs, or 1+ pets
Disadvantages:
- Dynamic rate structure – price fluctuations
- Competes with leisure market & Business Traveler
- Small rooms with no space for long stay guests
- Not all properties allow windows to open
- Not always family friendly
- No kitchens (unless it is an extended stay hotel)
- Extensions not always guaranteed
Accommodation Type: Multi Family
Description: ‘Multi-family’ refers to a classification of housing where multiple separate housing units for residential inhabitants are contained within one building. This is the same as an apartment building or condos, where units are next to each other (side-by-side units) or stacked on top of each other (top and bottom). The individual units are leased and managed by an on-site Team, which may have vested ownership in the building or may be a 3rd party company hired to manage on the owner’s behalf. The units are all rental units; whereas, a condo building may consist of leased and owner-occupied units.
Location Availability: United States
Recommended Guest:
- Large volume clients looking for creative solutions
- Clients looking for flexibility with rates and terms
- Larger families
Timelines for Securing Inventory:
- Existing set ups: within 24 business hours
- New set ups: 1 month+ if inventory is readily available
- Larger programs can require significant lead time during the procurement phase
Furnishings and Fittings:
- Variation to be expected, although standards are consistent with Partner requirements
- Can depend on price
- Amenities of the specific properties are stated when sharing property options
Advantages:
- Consistency in offering
- Options are legal, and vetting has been completed
- Strong health and safety features
- Suitable for single travelers and large groups
- Flexibility in terms and rates
- Normally sourced close to office
- Tightened control surrounding rates and availability
- No large fluctuation in pricing during seasons
- Dedicated maintenance team or access to support in emergency situations
Disadvantages:
- Potentially longer to source and book
- Extensions not always guaranteed
Accommodation Type: Private/Vacation Rentals such as Vrbo/ Airbnb: Unmanaged by RMC or Partner
Description: A multitude of accommodation options – can be apartments, free standing houses, boats etc.
Location Availability: Global
Recommended Guest: Not recommended, RMC cannot book accommodation through these platforms directly.
Timelines for Securing Inventory: N/A
Furnishings and Fittings: N/A
Advantages: N/A
Disadvantages: N/A
Accommodation Type: Private/Vacation Rentals such as Vrbo/ Airbnb: Managed by RMC or Partner
Description: A multitude of accommodation options – can be apartments, free standing houses, boats etc.
Location Availability: Global
Recommended Guest:
- Large families (3+ bedroom)
- Clients with pets, especially those with multiple pets or restricted breeds
- Families requiring garages or larger accommodations
- Remote locations where serviced accommodation is limited
- Specific neighborhoods where serviced accommodation is limited
- Clients looking for assignees to share accommodation
- Clients looking for cheaper options or a different product
- Clients with stays for 30+ days and require more private accommodations versus busy apartment style living
Timelines for Securing Inventory:
- New set ups: Anywhere from 1 month upwards, depending on inventory and experience
- Existing set ups: within 24-48 business hours
- Larger programs can require significant lead time during the procurement phase
Furnishings and Fittings:
- Variation to be expected, although professional staging/furnishing companies are typically used to ensure minimum standards are met
- Mismatched items such as mugs, towels etc. are discouraged but can sometimes be experienced
- Amenities of the specific properties are stated when sharing property options
Advantages:
- Vetting has been completed
- Enhanced guest experience – less corporate, more of a home like atmosphere
- More options for larger families or in challenging areas
- Potentially reduced costs to Client
- Options are legal, and vetting has been completed
- Able to offer unique solutions that typical corporate housing and serviced apartments cannot offer
- Allows families to be in the neighborhoods where their children go to school
Disadvantages:
- May take longer to source and secure than the industry standard of 24 hours or less
- Maintenance issues may not be immediately resolved when working with property management companies or hosts as they do not necessarily have on-site staff like a hotel or serviced apartment
- Emergency maintenance or lock-out support timelines will vary and are often uncontrolled
- May result in post move out damage challenges and/or dispute between host/guest
- Cancellations are unlikely to be flexible
- Extensions not always guaranteed and are challenging in peak season
- Not all Health & Safety requirements are in place like they are for hotels and corporate apartments
- Often restricted by local/national or subletting regulations looking to minimize short term/vacation letting
Accommodation Type: Serviced Apartments
Description: The phrase “serviced accommodation” is often used interchangeably with “serviced apartment.” However, there are slight differences between the two terms. Serviced Accommodations refer to an individual housing unit let out by a landlord, usually on a daily rate. Serviced accommodations are typically just one unit in a housing block comprised of standard, long-term housing. This accommodation will include everything a corporate housing guest expects, such as housewares, furniture, utilities, and internet. The phrase “serviced accommodation” is rare in North American markets – it is usually seen in EMEA and APAC.
Serviced Apartment: A serviced apartment is just one unit in a building comprised entirely of other serviced apartments. Serviced apartments always include furniture, housewares, utilities, and internet. In addition, serviced apartments may also offer hotel-like amenities such as laundry and maid service. These serviced apartment buildings range from equivalent to a US extended stay to the equivalent of high-end luxury condos. Serviced apartment buildings are common in markets outside of North America and becoming more common in North America, especially in walkable metros such as New York and Toronto. Serviced Apartments are usually rented via a lease or other contract that requires a minimum length of stay. How long these minimums are dependent on the market – in APAC it’s common to see week-to-week rentals, while in New York City month-to-month rentals are more common.
Location Availability: Global
Recommended Guest: Suitable for all travelers
Timelines for Securing Inventory: within 24 business hours
Furnishings and Fittings:
- Some variation to be expected, although standards are consistent throughout brands and locations
- Can depend on price
- Amenities of the specific properties are stated when sharing property options
Advantages:
- Consistency in offering
- Options are legal, and vetting has been completed
- Strong health and safety features – often regulated
- Suitable for single travelers and large groups
- Found in a lot of main and second/third tier cities
- Large number of units in one building brings consistency
- Flexibility in terms and rates
- Often includes amenities such as gym, cinema rooms and co-working spaces
Disadvantages:
- Dynamic/fluctuating rate structure
- Competes with leisure market & Business Traveler
- Sometimes studio heavy
- Units can be small for long stay guests
- Not always family friendly
- Extensions not always guaranteed
Accommodation Type: Student/Campus
Description: Student accommodation, often found on or near a university campus. Basic, low quality, hard waring. May only be available at certain months in the year.
Location Availability: United States and EMEA
Recommended Guest:
- Interns or Graduates
- Remote locations where serviced accommodation is limited
- Large programs requiring density
Timelines for Securing Inventory:
- Will vary based on the volume of the specific program, larger programs can require significant lead time during the procurement phase
- New set ups: 2-3 months
- Existing set ups: within 24 business hours
Furnishings and Fittings:
- Variation to be expected, although standards are of more basic quality
- Amenities of the specific properties are stated when sharing property options
Advantages:
- Options are legal, and vetting has been completed
- Remote areas can be serviced
- Good for large populations
- Cost effective option
Disadvantages:
- Quality and Health & Safety requirements unlikely to reflect corporate accommodation or hotels
- Accommodation consists of basic features and guests only have access to a shared kitchen
- Potentially longer to source and book
- Only available at certain points of the year and not availble in all locations
- Not family friendly
- Cannot control host actions, may be challenging to resolve maintenance issues
- Extensions not always guaranteed
Dwellworks Living: Global Solutions for Corporate Accommodations
Dwellworks Living is committed to providing our clients and their employees with the best possible corporate housing and serviced accommodations experience. With a global network of property partners, a tri-regional team of customer experience and supply chain professionals, and a wide range of services for global mobility and travel customers, Dwellworks Living can provide the perfect corporate housing solution for any need or budget.
Dwellworks Living is the global corporate housing solution of Dwellworksopens in a new tab, an award-winning, business-to-business provider of global mobility and business travel services. As a global leader in corporate housing and serviced accommodations solutions, Dwellworks Living is uniquely positioned to meet the temporary living needs of businesses and their employees who are relocating or traveling on short-, medium- or extended-stays. With 60,000 high-quality professionally managed properties in over 125 countries worldwide, Dwellworks Living is the preferred housing solutions partner of many Fortune 1000 and leading relocation management companies.
Dwellworks Living’s corporate housing and serviced accommodations solutions are designed to help businesses attract and retain top talent, support employee productivity, and ensure a smooth and successful relocation or business travel experience. In addition to our core global accommodations management services, Dwellworks Living, through our worldwide network of local experts, is uniquely capable of offering our clients expanded and related services, such as area orientations, group move assistance, destination services and intercultural training.
Whether you have corporate housing needs for an individual employee or a large team, Dwellworks Living can provide the serviced accommodations solutions you need anywhere in the world to ensure a safe and successful stay. Please contact us to learn more or visit our Properties page to begin your search for global corporate housing accommodations.
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