/ / / / / / /

A Short Look On Extended-Stay Hotels

August 22, 2012 at 4:18 PM | by | Comment (1)

A one-bedroom suite at The Residence Inn San Juan Capistrano

What’s the deal with extended stay hotels? Some people think they’re those seedy-looking places along a highway that house transient folks unable to commit to monthly rent or a mortgage. But while there are some questionable establishments, HotelChatter is fascinated by the surge in the more upscale extended stay properties and packages seemingly cropping up left and right.

The industry generally defines an “extended stay” as 5 or more nights in the same hotel. Once you pass five nights, the discounts start rolling out, starting at around 5% and get deeper once you get to 12 nights, usually up to 15%. The lowest rates are for those staying longer than 30 days.

We did a little digging and found out who’s booking these stays and why.

Residence Inn by Marriott
This chain has over 600 locations across the country, with their latest international hotel opening last December in Bahrain, the first outpost in the Middle East. So, who would spend over 30 days in Bahrain? Diane Mayer, RI's VP and Global Brand Manager says, “Our typical business guests are professionals working on projects, such as consultants, engineers, IT professionals and government employees. We also host training sessions and a small portion of our business is relocations.”

She goes on to say that a key component the extended-stay traveler is looking for is a spacious suite which allows them to spread out and be productive on the road. They also want a daily hot breakfast as well as health and fitness options so they can maintain their normal routines and a sense of balance while away from home.

Home2 Suites by Hilton and Homewood Suites by Hilton
Homewood Suites also caters to business travelers and family vacationers. They particularly attract visiting professors, consultants traveling for training, and relocations, including the military. By the end of this month, Home2 Suites will have 12 extended-stay hotels throughout the U.S., and Hilton has nearly 70 more properties in the development pipeline. There are currently nine properties under construction in Houston, Atlanta, Washington, D.C., and Denver.

Hilton says that unlike the luxury traveler, the bells and whistles, while good, are not the most important in the extended-stay market. What do they want? Just three things. Free WiFi, a full-sized refrigerator, and a microwave. All of these are standard at Homewood and Home2 hotels. And the average price is appealing as well. Home2 begins around $95 per night, and Homewood starts at $125 depending on the location, dates, and stay length.

Avalon Hotel, Beverly Hills
The Avalon, part of the Viceroy Hotel Group’s Urban Retreat Collection, is now offering a long-term stay package for guests who book a minimum of 30 nights. Unlike a traditional corporate hotel, this is a stylish retro-luxe hideaway with a bit of character. It's in the heart of L.A., so it does appeal to business travelers who also appreciate the easy access to shops, trendy restaurants, and galleries. While luxury apartments in this area can cost thousands of dollars a month, renting a room at the Avalon can cost as little as $165 a night. Plus you’ll get all of the amenities of a hotel guest such as free WiFi and daily housekeeping.

Book a premium room or suite and they’ll even toss in discounted or complimentary valet parking. So, who would this deal appeal to? We’re thinking that budding actor who’s heading to Hollywood, the screenwriter trying to sell that script, or the bicoastal exec with commitment issues.

Next month we’ll take a look inside Istanbul’s Swissôtel The Bosphorus. These luxury apartment rentals are part of the Swissôtel Living division.

Have you been to an extended-stay hotel? Ever did a 30-day stint? How was it? Tell us about your experience in the comments below!

Photo: Marriott Hotels

Hotels mentioned in this story

Comment (1)

Post a Comment

Return to » A Short Look On Extended-Stay Hotels


My parents are about to

They are doing 31 days in a Fairmont in California (it's a long story). They opted for the extra day because after 31 days you dont have to pay tax on the room which is a significant amount.
juliana on August 22, 2012 at 6:20 PM #Permalink

Return to » A Short Look On Extended-Stay Hotels

Join the conversation!

Not a member? .
Use of this Site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement (effective 3/21/12) and Privacy Policy (effective 3/21/12). © Condé Nast. Your California Privacy Rights. All rights reserved. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Condé Nast.
Ad Choices