Traveling to a new city starts with deciding on where you’ll stay. Often times, it seems like hotels are the only option. In comes corporate housing. While hotels are the standard for short term travel, corporate housing is designed as a home-away-from-home for the employee looking for an extended stay. So how are the two different? Check out our list of the major differences between hotels and corporate housing.
Often times a hotel room feels like just that – a room. The average hotel room is less than 400 square feet, which is hardly enough size to feel like a temporary home. On average, the square footage of a typical corporate housing unit is double that. Corporate housing gives you the space to stretch out and relax at the end of a hard day.
When staying in corporate housing, you won’t be coming home to a single stuffy room. A standard unit usually contains a bedroom, living room, kitchen, and a washer-dryer closet. Some corporate stays may even have the option for an office or additional bedrooms for family as well.
When you’re traveling for extended periods, eating out can be expensive and unhealthy. Hotels typically don’t have a kitchen, and if they do, they aren’t full size. This makes cooking nearly impossible in hotels. When you stay in corporate housing, you won’t have to sacrifice your diet or your dollars when you’re hungry. Corporate housing comes equipped with a complete kitchen, utensils, and space to stock up on food – just like you would at home.
While hotels can be convenient for a night or two, the truth is the average hotel rates add up fast! The average daily rate for a hotel is between $75 – $195, which doesn’t include the hidden fees hotels typically sneak in for items such as Wi-Fi and housekeeping. Corporate housing companies like Stay with CHC provide a breadth of communities for every budget with options ranging from luxury stay to economically-friendly, with no hidden fees.
It’s also important to consider additional costs when staying in a hotel. Without the in-unit washer and dryer found in corporate houses, you’ll have to pay extra money at a laundromat to clean your clothes. Similarly, without a kitchen, you’ll most likely be opting to eat out, which will also add up.
When choosing a place for your extended stay, you look at price, amenities, and features, but rarely location. With hotels, you never have many options. Most hotels are typically located near high-traffic areas or noisy freeways. Each day in a hotel will feel more and more like an extended work trip, and less like temporary living.
On the other hand, corporate houses are located all over a city, giving you the option to choose a location that fits your needs. If you want a sense of normalcy, then choose a corporate house located in a quiet residential area or suburban neighborhood. Or, if you want to stay in the heart of downtown and experience the culture of the city you’re staying in, you can. Either way you stay, you’ll feel like a local and part of the community.
When staying somewhere new for an extended period of time, you won’t want to miss out on your usual activities. Staying at a hotel can often force you to sacrifice your daily habits and routines. At best, hotels may have a subpar pool and a “gym” that’s too small to get a good workout in. Corporate housing communities often feature a plethora of amenities at no extra charge to make your stay more comfortable and ensure you can continue your daily routines. Here are amenities you may find a typical corporate house versus a typical hotel.
It can’t be hard to understated how important customer service is when traveling. High-quality assistance from staff when planning a trip can significantly reduce scheduling time, stress, and mistakes. Corporate housing companies are built around extended stay travelers. When you book with a corporate housing company, you know you’ll be receiving the most experienced service.
For long-term business travel, corporate housing is the undeniable superior. With more options, accommodations, and amenities for extended living, it is the go-to option. If you are interested in choosing a corporate housing company for your next stay, contact Stay with CHC today for more information on how we can help you.
