Corporate travelers have more options these days. Over the last several years, the popularity of Extended Stay Hotels and Corporate Housing (Furnished Apartments) has grown faster than most traditional lodging segments. Many large hotel brands are expanding into the extended stay space and are launching specific brands to target long term stay customers. Corporate housing providers are fighting back by expanding their products lines. Some of them are launching upscale suites with additional services. These developments have brought several new extended stay options to the marketplace and an increase in industry awareness.
 
What's all the hype about? In a nutshell, it's about convenience, more space, more privacy and all for less than the cost of a traditional hotel. Let's dig into some of these points a little deeper.
 
Extended stay hotels and furnished apartments offer several amenities to make your stay efficient and convenient. Typically, there is a full sized kitchen with all the necessary equipment to cook homemade meals. Laundry facilities are typically found onsite and in many furnished apartments, there is a personal washer and dryer right in your suite. Many extended stay providers also provide a workstation with free high speed internet.  Finally, guests benefit from fabulous recreational facilities that help them stay fit and relaxed including a fitness center, pool, whirlpool, sauna, billiard room and more. Recreational facilities differ by location.
 
With extended stay accommodations, there is much more living space than a traditional hotel. The average one bedroom suite ranges from 600 to 800 square feet, typically twice that of a typical hotel room. With a separate bedroom, living room, office space and a full kitchen, travelers have a more comfortable overall living experience. Extended stay suites are also perfect for those travelers who have family or guests that visit from time to time. A second bedroom or a pull out sofa is commonly available to accommodate extra people.
 
In an extended stay hotel or corporate apartment, the business traveler is in a true 'home away from home' environment. There are no transient guests coming and going, constantly reminding guests that they are on the road away from their families. Most extended stay hotels and corporate housing providers eliminate certain services to reduce the overall cost to the customer. More about cost in a minute, however, this limited service arrangement eliminates a lot of the coming and going of hotel workers leaving you with the privacy you come to expect in your own home.
 
Traditional hotels have been costly for organizations because of steep hotel rates, numerous taxes and lavish pay-per-use services. Much of this is necessary due to more overhead costs associated with labor and special services. Extended stay providers operate with less overhead and can offer lower rates without any of the added service charges you would expect to pay in a typical hotel.
 
Finally, if you are responsible for finding accommodations for your employees, it might be wise to consider an extended stay option. An employee satisfied with their living accommodations, can more quickly adapt to their new work location and be most productive for the company.