The global travel industry is amid a violent shakedown. The COVID-19 Pandemic has caused wide-sweeping changes in the nature of the industry. Everything from airline travel to hotels has had to follow new protocols to ensure customer safety at all times.
With the world slowly opening up thanks to rampant vaccination activities and conscious travelers, things are getting back to normal. However, the ‘new normal’ as many like to call it, has led to far-reaching changes in what travelers are preferring in terms of their plans.
With hotels not being able to come to terms with the changing nature of customer expectations and requirements, service apartments have emerged as a much feasible option for short term rental stay in Singapore.
In this article, we are going to explore why hotels are bad for short stays. If you are someone that is looking to travel for a project to a new city for a month, or a family looking at a safe and affordable place to stay while you house-hunt, please stick around till the end of the article.
Why are hotels not great for professionals or families that are traveling?
One of the first things that you need to consider when answering this question is the diverse nature of requirements. For example, a corporate professional looking at a one-month stay would require a large enough table to make all those presentations. They might also need the space to have extensive meetings with other stakeholders over a table for hours.
On the other hand, a young family with a couple of kids will never be able to adjust to a one-room hotel setup. The father might need to catch up on some video calls, while the kids should be fed some home-cooked meals to prevent them from falling sick. This means that the parents should have the flexibility and freedom to make some food when they want to.
In both cases, a hotel room is a poor option for both these types of travelers. Service apartments for short-term rental stay is a much better option simply because they come with a fully operational kitchen along with an extra living room to take those meetings when you need to. The benefits of additional space are something that can never be discounted in this regard.
Affordability and Cost-Efficiency: Where have hotels dropped the ball?
If you have ever availed of Wi-Fi in a hotel, you know how it is charged separately and quite exorbitantly, if we may add. For someone that is traveling for work-related work and is expected to stay at a place for a period of one month, he or she would be required to use the Wi-Fi extensively.
Secondly, when it comes to food and eating options in hotels, the same is far more expensive when compared to service apartments. One key advantage of service apartments is the fact that when you feel like not having the hotel’s restaurant food and want to opt for something healthier, you can always cook up a meal with the full kitchen that is available.
Apart from the above two critical cost-saving factors, the average hotel room rent is always more than service apartments. You need to understand that service apartments can offer much lower rates because they are booked for longer periods (they do not stay vacant for long periods like hotel rooms). This helps them average out the costs and offer greater benefits.
Personalization of service and attention to details: Where service apartments take the lead
Last, but by no means the least, is the factor of service and attention to detail. Think about this for a minute. The staff at the hotel and how they form relationships with guests and more importantly, for what duration? One day, two days, or at best, three days? Now contrast the same with a service apartment stay for ten days to a month.
The staff needs to be at their best right through the entire duration of the customer’s stay. In fact, great service apartments ensure that the staff is fully committed to providing the best experience for the guests at all times. Over time, they come to know about your habits and personal traits. They even enquire about food habits and nutritional requirements.
The Final Word
Being located at strategic locations works in the favour of service apartments looking to attract travelers. Most point to the fact that service apartments offer a sense of familiarity that is similar to the one you find at home. This helps in creating a conducive and relaxed environment for both the solo traveler, as well as the entire family. If you have any more questions or want us to clear any of your doubts, please reach out to us in the comments below.