It’s an apartment. No, it’s a hotel. Wrong on both counts, for it is actually 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.

Closer Look At Corporate Housing in Houston

Corporate housing in Houston is made up of several companies, including (but not limited to): Choice Corporate Housing, Oakwood Worldwide, RXHousing, and CorporateHousingcom.

What will you get out of using corporate housing? It is extremely convenient, the accommodations, with double the living area, are more enjoyable, and at about one-half the price, it is cost effective.

It is true that corporate housing was designed with business travelers in mind, but it can also be accessed by people who need a temporary place to live due to relocation or short-term military assignment. 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. We all remember Katrina in 2005, which hit southern Mississippi and devastated 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.. Honestly, the only limitation we had was that our furniture rental companies could not handle it any quicker that that, stated Oakwood Senior Vice President Gavan James in an interview with Mobility Magazine in 2007.

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
When you look at the overall travel spend picture, be it for special projects, relocations or ordinary business travel, Houston corporate housing provides cost savings and convenience over comparable 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. 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 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.

Travelling expenses are less, thereby saving money. A healthier option to dining out, employees can shop for the foods they like and cook their own meals which saves time and money.
This allows companies to lower the expenses for food during business trips. Employees will be able to cook their favorite meals, and still have the extra to dine out for business entertainment when required.

It is true that there are many advantages to staying in a hotel. However, once you stay in a hotel for a week or two, you tend to miss the comforts of home. The home-like atmosphere of temporary housing can mean more productive employees while on extended stays.

In Summary
The main reason companies tend to use temporary accommodations is how cost effective it really is; however, they also get the advantage of decreased elusive costs, because employees are more efficient and less stressed, meaning they can get more done when staying here. It is a natural human desire to want a relaxing home-like environment. This is exactly what Houston corporate housing provides. The privacy of a well-outfitted, furnished apartment in a convenient location will reduce employee tension when spending time out of town on business.

Lastly, the availability of amenity options is the frosting on the cake The next time your company needs to accommodate employees for extended time periods, check out the convenience of corporate housing in Houston.