The Extended Stay Lodging Optionby Ron
Callari
The demand for extended-stay lodging has
existed since savvy travelers found the time and the
inclination to travel away from home for business or leisure.
The extended-stay concept dates back to 19th century England
when wayfarers arrived at inns and rooming houses in
horse-drawn carriages, and travel was a more leisurely affair
than it is today.
The
man credited with inventing the US extended stay product is
Jack DeBoer, who started Residence Inn (later sold to
Marriott) and remains active with Candlewood Suites.
Today, brands such as Homestead, Extended Stay
America, and others have raised the bar in terms of value
offered to travelers. The traditional hotel product is losing
share to facilities that can provide guests with a home away
from home - at a good rate. It is a viable lodging alternative
for the business person or leisure travelers accustomed to
more expensive hotels and resorts.
The
lexicon of extended stay in its many variations can be
attributed in part to its history of development. In the
United States, extended-stay lodging has been adopted by the
hotel industry as an extension of what it has to offer the
traveling public. As such, the market is primarily comprised
of three extended-stay products: (1) all-suite hotels; (2)
limited-service hotels; and (3) serviced apartments, the
corporate housing market.
As
lodging in general experiences a slow down in the economy,
this segment of the industry continues to attract high demand.
Extended stay hotels, which escalated in number and brand just
a few years back are current industry leaders in occupancy
according to The Highland Group in Atlanta, a consultancy firm
that has been following trends in the extended stay market
since the early 80s.
And
there's good reason for their popularity. Guests like the
built-in kitchen facilities and the residential atmosphere.
The services that often include grocery outlets (Summerfield
Suites by Wyndham includes a small convenience store in the
majority of their hotels) and lower daily rates are attractive
incentives.
Corporate apartments usually involve longer stays
- often defined by a lease and a minimum-stay of one month.
Oakwood Corporate Housing, the longtime leader, now has 20,000
apartments in 22 states. They boast full-size apartments that
include fully stocked kitchens, utilities and housekeeping
services. And, because they are Federal Emergency Management
Association certified locations, these facilities appeal to
people who work for and are reimbursed by the
government.
One
of the leaders in the field continues to be Residence Inn by
Marriott - a pioneer in the extended stay arena. Marriott also
has other brands within the market: TownePlace Suites and
SpringHill Suites, mid-level extended stay; ExecuStay by
Marriott, corporate apartments in the US; and Executive
Apartments in Europe. Most of these Marriott brands adapted to
the wired business needs of the customer looking for extra
phone lines and data port outlets. The Residence Inn has
installed extra hookups in business meeting rooms as well, and
Marriott International is in the process of installing
high-speed access in all its properties.
Homestead, designed specifically for the extended
stay traveler, features studio rooms with a fully equipped
kitchen, plus a workspace with computer dataport, free local
phone calls and personalized voicemail. All at surprisingly
affordable rates.
At
Homestead Suites the lobby is equipped with a pantry and a
fireplace. Continental breakfast is served daily and the
services (similar to a traditional business hotel) include a
meeting room, FAX and copy center, an indoor pool with
whirlpool, fitness room and game room. The suites include a
living room with sofa sleeper, fireplace, cable TV, VCR, wet
bar and deck. A separate bedroom with a king-size bed includes
an ensuite bathroom, with a two-person whirlpool tub. Kitchens
are equipped with sink, refrigerator, microwave and coffee
maker.
With 112 locations to date in key
business markets across the United States, Homestead provides
a quality lodging experience for the growing ranks of
travelers staying four nights or more. The company targets
large corporate customers with multi-location extended stay
needs and offers nightly, weekly and monthly rates.
Hotels on the upper tier can perform many
homelike services for you. At Homewood Suites by Hilton,
according to Jim Holthouser, senior vice president of brand
management, "We do things like free grocery shopping; there's
a sheet hanging on the refrigerator and you just check off
what you need."
In
addition to Homewood Suites by Hilton at the high end,
Residence Inns and the Summerfield Suites by Wyndham are
considered on equal par. In the middle are Candlewood,
Mainstay Suites (a Choice Hotels brand), Sierra Suites,
Staybridge Suites and TownePlace, and in the economy tier are
Extended Stay America, Homestead Village and Suburban Lodge.
According to the American Hotel & Lodging Association, the
average length of stay in 1999 was 33 nights at the budget
level, 15 to 18 nights in the mid-market and nine nights at
the upscale end.
The
current generation of extended-stay hotels, however, is
dominated by properties that are priced in the mid- to
lower-end range. Like the upper end, these moderate-price,
extended-stay properties offer a residential-style guest unit,
albeit with more modest furnishings. However, unlike the
upper-end extended-stay hotels, the moderate-price properties
are designed to welcome the price-sensitive, extended-stay
travelers.
At
the high end and not often associated with the extended stay
market, the Ritz Carlton lures long-term business travelers
who account for approximately 4 percent of its clientele. Ritz
hotels offer high-speed connections in each guest room, and
every U.S. location boasts an on-site "technology butler."
Always available, this live tech wizard bails out guests who
run into technical glitches. A Ritz-Carlton business travel
sales manager consults with each customer to identify his or
her needs and will arrange anything from providing an in-room
exercise bike to arranging for daily pressing
services.
The
chain is converting three suites at its Atlanta property into
extended-stay units by adding full kitchens and larger parlors
than usual. The Residential Suites at the Ritz-Carlton Towers
in Boston offers 63 extended-stay units.
Of
course, one big reason to choose extended stay if you are on a
long trip is the availability of frequency points at extended
stay brands run by the likes of Marriott, Hilton and Six
Continents. Don't forget to ask to sign up for these
programs.
|
Other Extended Stay Accommodations
 |
|
Candlewood Suites is an all suite hotel
where comfort makes itself at home. We are perfect for
those travelers staying for an extended period of time,
or just tired of the typical hotel room. |
|
|
 |
|
With more space and lots of amenities you
should have everything you need to settle in, whether
you're here to work or relax. |
|
|
 |
|
SpringHill Suites, Marriott's new
moderately priced all suites brand, offers you more room
to stretch out and get comfortable. We'll get you
started each day with a complimentary deluxe continental
breakfast. |
|
|
 |
|
Extended StayAmerica was designed
specifically for Road Warriors - the long-term,
value-conscious traveler. If you're a Road Warrior, you
need more than a place to stay when you're away from
home. |
|
|
 |
|
The all-American, all-suite hotels stand
proud across the countryside, symbols of continued
growth and exceptional value. From coast to coast,
AmeriSuites blends with the natural beauty of its
surrounding landscape. |
|
|
 |
|
TownePlace Suites by Marriott are designed
to make you feel at home for a day, a week, a month or
more. Our office suites give you thirty percent more
space than a traditional hotel room. |
|
|
 |
|
The
Golf Villas
When looking for Tucson Golf Arizona
accommodations, information or reservations, turn to The
Golf Villas. The four-diamond rated Golf Villas at Oro
Valley provides all the luxuries and amenities of a
full-service resort with the added convenience of
spacious condo-style villas. |
|
| |
Lodging.com's partnership with extended stay
leader Homestead is great for travelers. Find exclusive discounts at
Homestead properties nationwide (you'll find a Homestead property in
almost any city). Enjoy the comforts of home at a steal.