19 May 10 Amsterdam Serviced Apartments for Business Travellers
Often regarded more for its cultural sights and tourist hotspots, Amsterdam is, importantly, the capital city and economic hub of The Netherlands. Home to numerous Dutch organisations and their headquarters, there are a number for FTSE 100 companies based here as well. As well as holiday makers, Amsterdam also sees a significant amount of corporate travellers whose purposes are entirely different and who will require business accommodation that offers something above the standard hotel.
Business visitors are frequently opting for an Amsterdam serviced apartment because it suits their length of stay and personal requirements significantly more so than a hotel does. Amongst the reasons for doing so are the comfort, amenities and value for money that this type of accommodation affords.
Compared to holiday makers, most stays for a business traveller are longer than that of the average holiday maker where a corporate assignment or placement can be anything up to one year and beyond. The price structuring of Amsterdam serviced apartments differs to that of hotels in that the rate decreases the longer the guest is resident, contributing to savings of up to 30%. Corporate travellers also need to be within easy reach of the business areas and districts and serviced apartments are generally situated in very convenient locations.
Many opt for a serviced apartment as the space and facilities are the same as a fully furnished apartment and another reason they are opted for instead of a hotel by so many corporate travellers. Whereas hotel dwellers have to settle for the usual one room existence, a serviced apartment in Amsterdam provides guests with the space of separate living and sleeping areas as well as the convenience of a fully equipped kitchen or kitchenette. Many serviced apartments in Amsterdam include a private outdoor or garden area as well. This is all of great benefit to those who will be in Amsterdam for more than a few days, which any business traveller who has spent prolonged periods of time in a cramped hotel room can attest to.
2010 has already seen the city host a number of high-profile exhibitions with more to come including The Amsterdam Global Conference on Sustainability and Transparency, the 7th FENS Forum of European Neuroscience and plenty of arts and cultural festivals. An Amsterdam serviced apartment is perfect for any of those associated or involved with staging one of these events, and not only in terms of cost and comfort. Serviced apartments in Amsterdam are often clustered together within the same development, so groups, and perhaps whole companies, can all reside within close proximity to each other. A fully furnished apartment is also more conducive to getting some work done after hours than the confines of a hotel room. On the other side of the coin, it is a far better environment to relax and unwind in too.
Representing over 42,000 properties, SilverDoor is Europe’s leading independent serviced apartment agent. Visit the SilverDoor website for serviced apartments in Amsterdam, London, Paris and beyond.
Tags: serviced apartment, serviced apartments in Amsterdam, SilverDoor
20 Apr 10 Diversity of Cambridge Increases Demand for Serviced Apartments
Cambridge is a very diverse city, in which many varied events take place throughout the year. While these events bring in many tourists to the city, they also bring in hundreds of workers that will need suitable accommodation. Cambridge was recently found to be the least likely town or city in the UK to suffer from the recession and this is perhaps thanks to the sheer diversity of the city.
Though famous primarily for its university, Cambridge also plays host to a wide variety of sporting, cultural and business events. Popular events include the Cambridge Film Festival, the Cambridge Folk Festival and Strawberry Fair, amongst several others. Cambridge is also home to many theatres, staging both local productions and touring companies. It is therefore hardly surprising that Cambridge also benefits from being a year-round tourist destination, attracting about 3.5 million people per year, as well as conference delegates and overseas research fellows. Perhaps thanks to the university, there is also a lot of science-based new industry in Cambridge to complement the traditional education sectors.
These events may bring a lot of spectators into Cambridge but as is the case with all large scale events, there is a huge amount of planning, organisation and background work involved. This, in turn, means that there will always be a large number of behind-the-scenes personnel involved in the organisation of the event. Where then, will these people be able to stay? Many of these workers will need to stay on-site or very nearby before, during and after the event to ensure that it runs as smoothly as possible and to clear up afterwards. Cambridge serviced apartments really come into their own when it comes to accommodating these teams; they offer the flexibility and space required to work, while being more cost effective for a group of people that are sharing accommodation than a standard hotel would be.
There has been a marked increase in the number of Cambridge serviced apartments available due to increasing demand for spacious, self-contained accommodation. New serviced apartment companies have been successfully establishing themselves in the market, while many long-established companies have been adding new serviced apartments to their portfolios to cope with the year round demand.
There is a fantastic variety of first-class serviced apartments in Cambridge, ranging from studios to three-bedroom apartments, available for stays of 7 nights or more. Not only are they better value than the local hotels, but they also provide a far superior standard of accommodation, with fully equipped kitchens, dining areas, living rooms and spacious bedrooms. Considering the very high standards of decoration, fixtures, fittings, and furniture found in most serviced apartments in Cambridge, along with lower rates than the best local hotels, there is really no need to stay in a hotel ever again.
Serviced apartments in Cambridge are many and varied. Whatever you require in your business accommodation, SilverDoor will be able to assist in your search for the right serviced apartment.
Tags: serviced apartment, Serviced apartments in Cambridge, SilverDoor
08 Apr 10 Celebrity Come Dine With Me Filmed in Serviced Apartments
Celebrity Come Dine With Me has been met with controversy after the revelation that some celebrities were not hosting dinner in their own homes but rather in London serviced apartments.
These complaints from some viewers centred around the argument that the whole point of the programme was for celebrities to provide an evening of food, drink and entertainment in their own homes. However, producers of the show countered with the argument that there were concerns about security that had to be considered in the case of celebrities and that the format of the programme is for the host to entertain. It has been argued that using a serviced apartment in London did not detract from this central concept, as the properties often feel like a home away from home . The benefits of London serviced apartments have therefore been showcased to an audience of millions, thanks to Come Dine With Me’s immense viewing figures, ranging from 2 to 3 million per episode.
The benefits and advantages of serviced apartments in London and throughout the world have long been promoted by the serviced apartment industry which continues to experience double-digit growth year on year. Popular programmes such as Come Dine With Me, which show off and promote this type of accommodation to a mass audience, are very welcome.
In a recent survey conducted by a leading serviced apartment agent, 100% of respondents, who had not previously heard of serviced apartments, said that they completely understood the concept of “holiday apartments”, the majority of which had said that they had stayed in an apartment on holiday. The concept of a serviced apartment, is very similar to that of a holiday apartment although London serviced apartments are mainly oriented towards business travellers because of the high-end features and overall quality they offer. They are also appealing to those on business because they are usually located within or close to the central business districts.
The ease with which the Come Dine With Me producers decided upon a London serviced apartment may be due to the wide variety of quality apartments available, along with the features and facilities that each property offers. A full kitchen or a kitchenette is available in each apartment, giving residents the option to cook when and what they want. All are fully furnished, and many offer the space of a lounge, living room and/or dining area. If you are looking to entertain outdoors, there are also properties that give you access to an enclosed garden area. So thanks to programmes like Come Dine With Me, awareness of this accommodation option will continue to increase, allowing more and more people to enjoy the benefits of serviced apartments. They provide more space, privacy and home comforts than hotels, yet cost much less and yield hardly any of the substantial per diem expenses.
With a decade of experience in the serviced apartment industry, SilverDoor can provide accommodation throughout the world. SilverDoor’s portfolio features serviced apartments in London, New York, Paris and beyond.
Tags: serviced apartment, serviced apartments in London, SilverDoor
30 Mar 10 Covering Sporting Events from a Paris Serviced Apartment
There’s no underestimating the power of a home ground advantage in sport. The Stade de France stadium in Paris has just seen the French take another major sporting title there, the recent Six Nations Championship, which is a highlight of the northern hemisphere Rugby Union calendar. They won the same title here in 2004 and 2007, and the stadium saw France win the 1998 FIFA World Cup title too, so it has seen its fair share of French sporting triumphs since opening in 1998.
While a home ground might be a distinct advantage to a sporting team, being close at hand to those involved in organising and covering the event is imperative. A major sporting tournament in Paris draws numerous press packs, production teams and contractors who will be based in one location for weeks at a time leading up to and during the event. Many companies opt for expensive hotels to house their employees, but a Paris serviced apartment is a far more appropriate and cost effective alternative.
Serviced apartments in Paris are conveniently located across the city, from Grenelle in the south west of Paris, to the nightclub-rich district of Montmartre in the north, to the cultural quarter of Bercy in the east as well as within La Defense business district. The variety of locations provides plenty of choice when deciding where to base your operations, and Paris serviced apartments are usually clustered together within the same property or development so there is no need to split up groups.
Set within traditional residential blocks, Paris serviced apartments offer residents the sense of living like a Parisian as opposed to the usual 12th storey hotel existence. Homely comforts and conveniences, like the inclusion of a kitchen or kitchenette, add to the sense of living in your own apartment. Guests have the means to store food, cook and prepare their own meals, thereby removing the reliance on room service and take-away meals which reduces overall costs by a significant amount. Guests can also relax in the comfort of their own living room or lounge after work, or enjoy the space as an area to entertain guests in.
The benefits of a serviced apartment in Paris to those on business is highlighted by the features and amenities most offer. There is no escaping the need to work after hours at times, especially for a journalist covering a major sporting event but serviced apartments differ from the standard hotel room in that they always have a desk or table to work at as well as high-speed internet that is often included free of charge or provided at a much lower rate than a hotel. Many serviced apartment properties also have on-site business facilities like conference rooms and secretarial services, thereby providing a company or team with purpose-built amenities, within comfortable surroundings, to discuss and plan forthcoming work.
The rate structuring of serviced apartments in Paris may be the biggest appeal when compared with that of hotels. When staying in a serviced apartment, the rates reduce the longer the guest is resident. Housekeeping and utilities will be included within this rate, contributing to a decrease of up to 30% for your company’s accommodation spend.
Representing over 40,000 properties worldwide, SilverDoor is Europe’s leading independent serviced apartment agent. SilverDoor can provide serviced apartments in Paris, London and New York as well as hundreds of other global locations.
Tags: serviced apartment, serviced apartments in Paris, SilverDoor
23 Mar 10 Business Travellers Prefer Abu Dhabi Serviced Apartments
As Abu Dhabi becomes more and more important to the global economy, business travel to the city has inevitably increased. Abu Dhabi has the highest GDP out of all seven of the Emirates. A lot of this wealth is due to the fact it has 9% of the world’s proven oil reserves and 5% of the world’s natural gas. It is also the federal and financial hub of the Emirates being home to the UAE. Government, Central Bank and Royal Family. With these figures, it is hardly surprising that the latest reports indicate that Abu Dhabi is the second most expensive city in the world. Business travellers may need to stay for just one week or as long as six months but hotel rooms in Abu Dhabi can be very expensive. Even a short stay can prove very costly and business travellers are increasingly looking towards an alternative accommodation solutions.
Thanks to the increase in business travel to Abu Dhabi, serviced apartments in the city are now a sought after commodity. Abu Dhabi’s latest development project is Yas Island, a US$36 billion undertaking that includes a Formula One Grand Prix circuit, a Warner Brothers movie theme park, Ferrari World theme park, shopping centres and a golf course. With the steady development of the island comes the increase in serviced apartments which are a favoured choice amongst business travellers and contractors who will be working on this immense project.
Abu Dhabi has already played host to major exhibitions and conferences this year such as the World Future Energy Summit and the International Security National Resilience conferences. It is also due to host the Cityscape Real Estate conference, the Red Bull Air Race, WOMAD world music festival and the Abu Dhabi International Motor Show at the end of the year, and a serviced apartment is perfectly suited to those in front of and behind the scenes of one of these renowned events.
Like Dubai, Abu Dhabi attracts a high volume of expats who are employed contractually for varying lengths. It is difficult for foreigners to own property in the UAE, so serviced apartments in Abu Dhabi are regularly used by those with plans to stay for a while because. Essentially, a serviced apartment is a fully equipped apartment, meaning that residents have separate living and dining areas, full kitchens and conveniences like satellite TV and high-speed internet. Whilst Abu Dhabi serviced apartments offer homely convenience and comforts, the majority are housed within developments that offer a number of on-site amenities as well. This often includes a broad array of services and amenities from dry-cleaning to on-site gym facilities, restaurants and room service. Importantly, the range of Abu Dhabi serviced apartments is varied enough so that there is something for everyone and you do not have to pay for what you do not need or want. Price structuring for Abu Dhabi serviced apartments are suitable for contractors and business travellers too, because the rates reduce the longer a guest stays and they aren’t tied down by restrictive lease agreements.
Abu Dhabi’s burgeoning economy is set to entice even more business people and contractors who are looking to take advantage of the city’s favourable job prospects. With the benefits of serviced apartments in Abu Dhabi plain to see, these comfortable and cost-effective alternatives to hotels are sure to fit the bill.
Business travellers to Abu Dhabi can avoid expensive hotels by staying in a serviced apartment. SilverDoor represents properties in hundreds of international locations, including a wide variety of serviced apartments in Abu Dhabi.
Tags: serviced apartment, serviced apartments in Abu Dhabi, SilverDoor
17 Mar 10 Manchester Serviced Apartments in High Demand
The BBC’s current relocation from Wood Lane in London to the new BBC Media Centre in Salford has been one contributor towards a steady increase in demand for serviced apartments in Manchester. The £1billion relocation exercise, set to complete in 2011, will see as many as 1,600 staff being relocated from London along with 800 from nearby BBC Manchester. The accommodation budgets will vary greatly as big name presenters make the move from London along with T.V. production staff.
Another factor is the upcoming 2012 Olympic Games. Well known for its football associations, being the home of Manchester City and Manchester United, and having hosted the XVII Commonwealth Games in 2002, Manchester looks set to attract more visitors in the near future as the Old Trafford football ground is set to play host to a number of events of the 2012 Olympics.
Leading up to the games and the BBC transfer, an increase in the cost of business accommodation and hotels is expected, due to the rise in demand. One solution to this impending price hike is to opt for a Manchester serviced apartment. This type of accommodation is ideal for those contractors who are trying a local area on for size or who are only required for the length of the event, be it the period of the games in the Summer 2012 or a short term contract at the BBC. Serviced apartments are also available throughout the city, from the Victorian warehouses of Piccadilly in the city centre, to the canal side developments of Salford Quays just north of the city centre.
Many of the famous landmarks in the city centre are residential blocks as Manchester has a very amenable planning department with a history of saying yes to contemporary structures rather than no. This is supplemented by a vast amount of warehouse conversions that occupy the now defunct industrial buildings. Serviced apartments in Manchester are fortunate to be housed in this variety of buildings and offer a unique and superior alternative to the bland hotel room, a prime example being the serviced apartments of Castlefield which are housed in an old dye works. These boast polished concrete walls, tall ceilings and large panelled windows. The interiors also reflect the industrial heritage of the property with industrial looking stainless steel kitchens and original wooden parquet floors that have been carefully refurbished. The Castlefield district also offers a host of contemporary apartment blocks that have been built in the last few years. These serviced apartments are located along the canals and close to the bustling bars and restaurants of the area.
It isn’t just the distinctive nature of these serviced apartments that makes them an appropriate alternative to hotels. Many employees will spend prolonged periods of time here over the entire course of a contract. This is often a costly exercise if you consider a hotel stay of 3 weeks to a number of months, but Manchester serviced apartments offer both savings on the cost per night and on the inevitable restaurant, internet and laundry bills that you would pay if staying in a hotel.
SilverDoor is Europe’s leading serviced apartment agent, offering properties in over 190 countries. The UK portfolio includes a wide variety of Manchester serviced apartments.
Tags: Manchester serviced apartments, serviced apartment, SilverDoor
