This is actually an apartment. No, it’s a hotel. No, it’s corporate housing. Corporate housing has gained traction over the last decade, yet some companies still don’t know much about it. 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.

Closer Look At Corporate Housing in Houston

When it comes to corporate housing, Houston is lucky to have several companies you can choose from, including Choice Corporate Housing, Oakwood Worldwide, RXHousing and CorporateHousingcom, to name a few.

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. Theater groups on tour will avail themselves of corporate housing during prolonged performance engagements, as will television or film crews and casts when filming on location. Others use corporate housing for personal getaways. Insurance companies often provide this type of housing for displaced policyholders.

Corporate housing providers are able to react rapidly to offer temporary shelter in the event of an emergency. Everyone recalls hurricane Katrina which came ashore in 2005, creating havoc in southern Mississippi and wiping out New Orleans, Louisiana. As a nearby metropolitan city, Houston was flooded with requests for corporate housing to accommodate thousands of displaced employees in dire need of temporary living space.

Within tree weeks of this terrible event, Oakwood Worldwide was able to provide 1,500 apartments in different locations to assist these employees. . 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. “Our firm owns all the furniture in our units, stated Paul Sternberg of Choice Corporate Housing, “which is beneficial since we are not dependent upon others for our furniture and housewares.” “We can make certain that our quality needs are met, and we are sure that our units are in the best shape, permitting our control over each section of our business”, he said.

Benefits 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 apartments provide access to fitness centers, laundry facilities and business centers.

“We give excellent value with corporate housing in Houston, Sternberg stated. He went on to say that being a small company allows for a lot of flexibility. He states that they are able change accommodations quickly and provide a discounted product.
“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 over hotels is striking as you can obtain in excess of twice the living area at discounted pricing together with the comforts of home. Another benefit of corporate housing in Houston is being able to get fully-equipped kitchens.

Companies can save money by reducing travel expenses. In lieu of room service, employees can cook their own meals which not only saves money, it is also healthier than eating out.
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. Therefore, using corporate housing can result in more productive employees on extended stays.

The Bottom Line
Cost effectiveness is generally a top factor as companies choose corporate housing, however an underlying benefit is the decrease in intangible costs of employee non-productivity and mental pressure. There is the human desire for a tranquil home environment, and this is afforded by Houston corporate housing units. The privacy of a well-outfitted, furnished apartment in a convenient location will reduce employee tension when spending time out of town on business.

Finally, the amenities available top it off. The next time your company needs to accommodate employees for extended time periods, check out the convenience of corporate housing in Houston.

If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!