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An Apartment Hotel (also ApartHotel, Apart Hotel and
Apart-Hotel) is a type of accommodation, described
as "a serviced apartment complex that uses a hotel
style booking system". It is similar to renting an
apartment, but with no fixed contracts and occupants
can 'check-out' whenever they wish.
Apartment hotels are flexible types of accommodation;
instead of the rigid format of a hotel room an apartment
hotel complex usually offers a complete fully fitted
apartment. These complexes are usually custom built,
and similar to a hotel complex contain a varied amount
of apartments. The length of stay in these apartment
hotel is very varied with anywhere from a few days
to months or even years. Prices tend to be cheaper
than hotels. The people that stay in apartment hotels
use them as a home from home therefore they are usually
fitted with everything the average home would require.
Origins
Apartment hotels were first created in holiday destinations
as accommodation for families that needed to 'live'
in an apartment rather than 'stay' as they would in
a hotel. The apartments would provide a 'holiday home'
but generally be serviced. Later on these apartments
evolved to be complete homes, allowing occupants to
do everything they would at home, such as cleaning,
washing and cooking.
Services and facilities
Essentially the apartment hotel combines the flexibility
of apartment living with the service of a hotel. Many
of the apartments take advantage of prime locations
with panoramic views of cities seen through wall to
ceiling windows. Suites usually include high quality
finishes, broadband connection & interactive TV, servicing
and integrated kitchen and bathroom. High quality
leather sofas in the living area and king size beds
bring the hotel experience to a whole new level. Those
are the luxuries, they also come with the basics:
satellite or cable TV, washer, dryer, dishwasher,
cooker, oven, fridge, freezer, sink, shower, bath,
wardrobes, all the furnishings to be expected in a
luxury home.
Extended stay hotels
Extended stay hotels are a type of lodging with features
unavailable at standard hotels. These features are
intended to provide more home-like amenities. There
are currently 27 extended stay chains in North America
with at least 7 hotels, representing over 2,000 properties.
There is substantial variation among extended stay
hotels with respect to quality and the amenities that
are available. Some of the economy chains attract
clientele who use the hotels as semi-permanent lodging.
Occasionally, these budget establishments can be the
scene of criminal activity.
Extended-stay hotels typically have self-serve laundry
facilities and offer discounts for extended stays,
beginning at 5 or 7 days. They also have guestrooms
(or "suites") with kitchens. The kitchens include
at a minimum usually: a sink, a refrigerator (usually
full size), a microwave oven, and a stovetop. Some
kitchens also have dishwashers and conventional ovens.
Extended stay hotels are popular with business travelers
on extended assignments, families in the midst of
a relocation, and anyone else in need of temporary
housing. Extended stay hotels are also used by travelers
who appreciate the larger space a typical suite provides.
Residence Inn is credited with popularizing the "extended
stay" concept. The chain was launched in 1975 in Wichita,
Kansas by Jack DeBoer, and acquired by Marriott Corporation
in 1987. As of April 2005, there were over 450 Residence
Inn hotels in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Some extended stay hotels are coming up in United
Kingdom and Ireland as well.
One of today's most popular long term lodging brands
came from the merger of Extended Stay America and
Homestead Hotels. Both these chains were already well
established when they combined in 2004 to become Extended
Stay Hotels with over 670 owned and operated properties
nationwide.
Another worldwide hotel chain, Choice Hotels International,
franchisor for name brands such as Comfort Inn, Comfort
Suites, Sleep Inn and Quality Inn, entered the extended
stay market with their MainStay Suites brand. They
proceeded to acquire the Suburban Extended Stay hotel
chain in 2005, making them a sizeable extended stay
system with over 150 hotels open and under development.
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