Houston Corporate Housing: The Convenient Travel Solution With The Comforts Of Home
It appears to be an apartment. No, it’s a hotel. No, it’s corporate housing. The popularity of corporate housing has increased over the past 10 years, but some companies have yet to understand what it really is. The Corporate Housing Providers Association values the corporate housing industry at $2.77 billion in the United States during 2008, being comprised of approximately 73,385 units with an occupancy rate of 88.5 percent.
Corporate Housing in Houston Explained
Houston is fortunate to be home to several firms from which you may choose when your needs include corporate housing, including Choice Corporate Housing, Oakwood Worldwide, RXHousing and CorporateHousingcom.
What will you get out of using corporate housing? Simple, it’s very convenient, it’s more comfortable with twice the living space, and it’s cost effective at half the price.
Although corporate housing is best known for catering to the business traveler, the services may also be utilized for short-term living arrangements during a relocation or for brief military assignments. Traveling theater groups use corporate housing for extended performance stays, and television/film actors and crews use it when shooting on location. Corporate housing is also used for personal getaways and by insurance companies for displaced policyholders.
When an emergency happens, corporate housing companies are known to move very fast to provide temporary housing. Everyone recalls hurricane Katrina which came ashore in 2005, creating havoc in southern Mississippi and wiping out New Orleans, Louisiana. Being relatively near, Houston was inundated with inquiries for corporate housing to sustain thousands of employees who had lost their living quarters.
Oakwood Worldwide made 1,500 apartments available in several locations within a matter of three weeks.. According to Mobility Magazine in 2007, Oakwood Senior Vice President Gavan James stated, “Frankly, the only thing we were limited by was our furniture rental companies couldn’t take it on any faster than that,”
Some companies own their own furniture. Paul Sternberg of Choice Corporate Housing states,”We own all the furniture in our units.” He feels this is more advantageous than renting it, because it allows them to be free of the burden of depending on other sources for the furniture and housewares they require. He goes on to say that by owning the furniture, his company “can ensure that the quality meets our specific needs, and we know our units are in top shape, allowing us to control every aspect of our business,”
Benefit of Corporate Housing in Houston
For people traveling and staying for a short period of time, whether it is for special projects, relocations, or general business travel, Houston corporate housing is a source of convenience and savings you would not get from mid to high-end hotels. Many corporate units will offer amenities such as fitness centers, laundry and business centers.
“We provide great value with corporate housing in Houston,” Sternberg said. He went on to say that being a small company allows for a lot of flexibility. We can swap accommodation rapidly and we provide reduced rates.
“We can set clients up with a 700-950 sq ft elegantly furnished apartment in a Houston high-rise for as little as $60 a night, less than what you would pay for a 285 sq ft hotel room”, he added. The value of Houston corporate housing vs hotels differs as you get over twice the living space at bargain rates with all the comforts of home. In corporate housing in Houston, you are also provided with the option of having a kitchen stocked with cooking tools.
Companies can save money by reducing travel expenses.
Employees can purchase food and cook their own meals, instead of constantly going out to eat or ordering room service on the company’s tab.
It may also reduce charges for food allowance as employees favor preparing the meals they like and still have the capability of dining out for business entertainment.
Although there are advantages with hotels, after a couple of weeks most people long for the comforts of home. So, taking advantage of corporate housing can increase employee productivity on prolonged business trips.
Cost Effectiveness
Cost effectiveness is generally a top factor as companies choose corporate housing in Houston, but an underlying benefit is the decrease in vague costs of employee non-productivity and mental pressure. There is a natural wish for a calm environment when travelling and this is made possible by Houston corporate housing. The privacy of a well equipped, furnished apartment in a convenient locale also lowers employee stress level when conducting business out of town.
Lastly, the availability of amenity options is the frosting on the cake On the next occasion that your firm has to seek employee accommodations for prolonged periods, explore what corporate housing in Houston has to offer.
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