The Extended Stay Lodging Option
 
The demand for extended-stay lodging has existed since
savvy travelers found the time and the inclination to
travel away from home for business or leisure. The
extended-stay concept dates back to 19th century England
when wayfarers arrived at inns and rooming houses in
horse-drawn carriages, and travel was a more leisurely
affair than it is today.
The man credited with inventing the US extended stay
product is Jack DeBoer, who
started Residence Inn
Today, brands such as Homestead, Extended Stay America,
and others have raised the bar in terms of value offered
to travelers. The traditional hotel product is losing
share to facilities that can provide guests with a home
away from home - at a good rate. It is a viable lodging
alternative for the business person or leisure travelers
accustomed to more expensive hotels and resorts.
The lexicon of extended stay in its many variations can
be attributed in part to its history of development. In
the United States, extended-stay lodging has been
adopted by the hotel industry as an extension of what it
has to offer the traveling public. As such, the market
is primarily comprised of three extended-stay products:
(1) all-suite hotels; (2) limited-service hotels; and
(3) serviced apartments, the corporate housing market.
As lodging in general experiences a slow down in the
economy, this segment of the industry continues to
attract high demand. Extended stay hotels, which
escalated in number and brand just a few years back are
current industry leaders in occupancy according to The
Highland Group in Atlanta, a consultancy firm that has
been following trends in the extended stay market since
the early 80s.
And there's good reason for their popularity. Guests
like the built-in kitchen facilities and the residential
atmosphere. The services that often include grocery
outlets (Summerfield Suites includes a small
convenience store in the majority of their hotels) and
lower daily rates are attractive incentives.
CorporaCorporate apartments usually involve longer stays -
often defined by a lease and a minimum-stay of one
month. Oakwood Corporate Housing, the longtime leader,
now has 20,000 apartments in 22 states. They boast
full-size apartments that include fully stocked
kitchens, utilities and housekeeping services. And,
because they are Federal Emergency Management
Association certified locations, these facilities appeal
to people who work for and are reimbursed by
the
government.
One of the leaders in the field continues to be
Residence Inn by Marriott - a pioneer in the extended
stay arena. Marriott also has other brands within the
market:
TownePlace Suites
and
SpringHill Suites ,
mid-level extended stay; ExecuStay by Marriott,
corporate apartments in the US; and Executive Apartments
in Europe. Most of these Marriott brands adapted to the
wired business needs of the customer looking for extra
phone lines and data port outlets. The Residence Inn has
installed extra hookups in business meeting rooms as
well, and Marriott International is in the process of
installing high-speed access in all its properties.
Homestead, designed specifically for the extended stay
traveler, features studio rooms with a fully equipped
kitchen, plus a workspace with computer dataport, free
local phone calls and personalized voicemail. All at
surprisingly affordable rates.
At Homestead Suites the lobby is equipped with a pantry
and a fireplace. Continental breakfast is served daily
and the services (similar to a traditional business
hotel) include a meeting room, FAX and copy center, an
indoor pool with whirlpool, fitness room and game room.
The suites include a living room with sofa sleeper,
fireplace, cable TV, VCR, wet bar and deck. A separate
bedroom with a king-size bed includes an ensuite
bathroom, with a two-person whirlpool tub. Kitchens are
equipped with sink, refrigerator, microwave and coffee
maker.
With 112 locations to date in key business markets
across the United States, Homestead provides a quality
lodging experience for the growing ranks of travelers
staying four nights or more. The company targets large
corporate customers with multi-location extended stay
needs and offers nightly, weekly and monthly rates.
Hotels on the upper tier can perform many homelike
services for you. At
Homewood Suites
by Hilton,
according to Jim Holthouser, senior vice president of
brand management, "We do things like free grocery
shopping; there's a sheet hanging on the refrigerator
and you just check off what you need."
In addition to
Homewood Suites
by Hilton at the high
end,
Residence Inns and the
Summerfield Suites
are considered on equal par. In the middle are
Candlewood Suites
, MainStay Suites® 
By (Choice Hotels® brand ),
Sierra Suites,  Staybridge Suites
and
TownePlace Suites and in
the economy tier are Extended Stay America, Homestead
Village and Suburban Lodge. According to the American
Hotel & Lodging Association, the average length of stay
in 1999 was 33 nights at the budget level, 15 to 18
nights in the mid-market and nine nights at the
upscale
end.
The current generation of extended-stay hotels, however,
is dominated by properties that are priced in the mid-
to lower-end range. Like the upper end, these
moderate-price, extended-stay properties offer a
residential-style guest unit, albeit with more modest
furnishings. However, unlike the upper-end extended-stay
hotels, the moderate-price properties are designed to
welcome the price-sensitive, extended-stay travelers.
At the high end and not often associated with the
extended stay market, the Ritz Carlton lures long-term
business travelers who account for approximately 4
percent of its clientele. Ritz hotels offer high-speed
connections in each guest room, and every U.S. location
boasts an on-site "technology butler." Always available,
this live tech wizard bails out guests who run into
technical glitches. A Ritz-Carlton business travel sales
manager consults with each customer to identify his or
her needs and will arrange anything from providing an
in-room exercise bike to arranging for daily pressing
services.
The chain is converting three suites at its
Ritz Carlton Atlanta
property into extended-stay units by adding full
kitchens and larger parlors than usual. The Residential
Suites at
the Ritz-Carlton Towers in Boston offers 63
extended-stay units.
Of course, one big reason to choose extended stay if you
are on a long trip is the availability of frequency
points at extended stay brands run by the likes
of Marriott
 ,
Hilton Hotels and Don't forget to ask
to sign up for these programs.
Book
Homewood Suites Hotels and Get Our Best Rates. Guaranteed.
Book Doubletree Hotels Here and Get Our Best Rates. Guaranteed.
Book Embassy Suites Hotels Here and Get Our Best Rates. Guaranteed.
Book Hampton Inn Hotels Here and Get Our Best Rates. Guaranteed.
Book Summerfield Suites
 
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Extended Stay Hotels - The Comforts of Home, Wherever You Go
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Other Extended Stay Accommodations
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