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Why Short-Term Corporate Housing is Better than Long-Term Hotel Stays

Why Short-Term Corporate Housing is Better than Long-Term Hotel Stays

Sunday, 28 April 2019 15:45

A long-term hotel stay can be rough on employees and contractors alike. It's usually not the best form of corporate housing. Anything longer than a few days and staying in a hotel room can begin to feel limiting and claustrophobic.

Everything begins to feel the same. Every day starts and ends impersonally, and that can impact the behavior, attitude, and productivity of people who need to be on their game. That can quickly lead to jobs that are done worse or that take longer, which lead to delays and the job having to be done over again. That doesn't reflect well on any organization.

It's better by far to rely on short-term corporate housing. For weeks or months on the job, this gives someone a home away from home, with more amenities and at a comparable or an even lower cost. Let's compare the two element by element.

Space

A hotel room can feel extremely limiting. Live there for longer than a few days, and what at first seems quaint begins to feel stale. Most hotel rooms are under 400 square feet. This can lead to workers seeking to be anywhere but the hotel. That leads to less sleep, which impacts the job at hand.

By comparison, corporate housing can offer a full living space – anywhere from 800 to 1,500 feet. That's the size of a small house, and it means a relaxing place to stay that you don't dread returning to every night.

Food

Staying at a hotel means you eat out, get take out, or order room service. All of these are extremely costly. In most cases, that cost is passed on to an organization. You repay receipts or pay a per diem. Food becomes extremely expensive very quickly and eating out all the time likely means workers aren't eating healthy. This can also impact their performance.

Using corporate housing means you can eat out when you like or cook in a full kitchen. Paying back receipts for groceries is far more affordable for an organization than paying back receipts at restaurants. Cooking also enables healthier eating. Win-win!

Laundry

There's nothing more frustrating than being an experienced professional who's hauling their laundry down a dimly lit hallway in order to figure out which public laundry machines do or don't work. Did you bring exact change for coin-operated machines? Do you have to sit in the laundry room for two hours in order to ensure someone doesn't steal your clothes? Will these overused machines ruin your good work clothes?

Corporate housing includes washers and dryers in every unit. This allows you to do as much laundry as you need at no extra cost. There's no risk of someone taking off with your clothes. The machines are well-maintained. You can set the machines going, walk into the next room and enjoy the sunset, or a movie on TV.

Entertainment

For that matter, a hotel might not provide much in the way of entertainment. You get a basic TV package and that's it. Ordering a movie costs extra. Getting the streaming service you already pay for means using your phone, tablet, or laptop. It's all frustrating, if not depressing.

Corporate housing means a full cable package with high-speed internet. It's easier to access your streaming services. Don't feel like TV? Go outside and use the swimming pool, fitness center, or sand volleyball court.

Location

Hotels need access to busy local roads, which means there's not much opportunity to get away from the sound of traffic in the background. That can begin to wear employees down. Both sound and air pollution from highways can make for less enjoyable stays and less focused employees.

Corporate housing is typically set back from the roads. It features access to residential and commercial areas that feel more like a suburb. This allows quick access to banking and shopping, as well as recreation like parks and movie theaters. Being away from noise and in a healthier environment can help employees feel well-rested and more focused.

Pets

Some employees may feel much better bringing a pet along. That's nearly impossible at most hotels unless you want to pay massive fees or the pet's a service animal. Even then, there's not much pet space.

Corporate housing means there's plenty of space for a pet to comfortably stay during the workday. When the day's done, you can step outside with an outdoor pet and enjoy running around on a big stretch of lawn. This is way less hassle and far less expense than doing so at a hotel.

Accessibility

Hotels are required to provide accessible parking, rooms, and other features. Depending on the hotel, these are not always of the highest quality or upgraded regularly. A lack of focus on these features can make those with accessibility needs feel ostracized and ignored. Such a setting is not a great way to make all employees and contractors feel included.

Corporate housing focuses on state-of-the-art accessibility features. These aren't treated as something extra or ignored. They're well-maintained and upgraded regularly.

Costs

The costs will vary depending on hotel and corporate housing, but they're usually very comparable. The higher quality a hotel, the more favorable corporate housing becomes. This makes corporate housing very favorable from a price point in comparison to most hotels where you'd be comfortable putting employees and contractors up.

Then add in factors such as workers being able to buy groceries and make their own food, that will help you save on receipts you need to repay. On top of this, more comfortable, roomier spaces with more entertainment options and quieter, healthier environments mean employees are happier, more focused, and hidden costs such as lost productivity are minimized. If you are searching for short-term corporate housing options, contact Regency Park Apartments in Greenwood, SC.