Are You Being Served? Serviced Apartments vs Hotels for Business Trips

Many business travellers stay in hotels on work trips, but are serviced apartments actually a better fit?

Typical business travel booking platforms usually offer accommodation in chain hotels such as Mercure, Novotel, Rydges or Crowne Plaza. Serviced apartments are another option. In Australia, think of brands like Mantra, Quest, Adina, Sebel or Oaks.

What are the pros and cons of these two types of accommodation, and why would you pick one over the other?

Midscale hotels

Business-oriented hotel chains like Novotel or Crowne Plaza offer predictable accommodation and services, within – and between – brands.

I find that the age of the hotel is often the biggest variable. Newer properties usually have more contemporary decor and better upkeep. The trade-off, in my experience, is that newer hotels also often have smaller rooms and furniture that sometimes foregoes practicality for looks.

I’m increasingly finding that seating is a problem with hotels in this segment. Some properties eschew sofas or arm chairs in entry level rooms, meaning the bed offers the only comfortable place to sit and watch TV (or browse AFF on my laptop).

Desks and ergonomic chairs are also hit and miss. I’ve stayed in too many rooms with a small round table instead of a desk and an accompanying chair that’s the wrong height for working at the table.

On the plus side, you’ll find 24-hour reception, buffet breakfast, bars, restaurants and room service in most hotels. There’s also often facilities like a gym and pool.

Serviced apartments

For me, the primary appeal of a serviced apartment is having more space.

I like knowing that at the end of a busy day I can crash on a sofa and unwind. This is a given in any serviced apartment. Even if there isn’t a dedicated desk to work at, you’re likely to find a dining table with chairs that are at least okay. The furniture will be practical but the decor will usually be otherwise uninspiring.

Service tends to be perfunctory, at best. There may only be one or two staff on site and reception may have limited hours.

Don’t expect room service or a lavish breakfast, either. But it’s easy enough to pop out to nearby cafe in the morning for better food than four-star buffet fare. Alternatively you could make breakfast in your kitchenette – unlike hotels, serviced apartments often have basic cooking facilities.

Unfortunately, post-Covid, “serviced” apartment has become a misnomer as daily housekeeping is often no longer offered.

Loyalty and status

For many AFF readers, the choice comes down to points-earning potential and status benefits.

Hotels usually offer more meaningful status benefits than serviced apartments (even ones that are part of a chain). Hotel room upgrades tend to make a material difference. Conversely, an “upgrade” from a one to a two bedroom serviced apartment is kind of pointless for a solo business traveller.

As an Accor Platinum member, Accor’s hotel brands have usually provided me better welcome snacks and amenities in the room than their apartment brands. And a welcome drink coupon requires a bar on site!

You can read others’ first hand experiences with Accor status on the AFF Accor elite benefits thread.

Don’t have status yet with the hotel chain that best meets your needs? Don’t forget that you might be able to take advantage of hotel status match offers between chains.

Or, check if your airline or credit card offers hotel status perks. For example, Velocity Gold and Platinum members can get a status match into the Hilton Honors or IHG One Rewards programs. And American Express Platinum cardholders receive automatic mid-tier status with several hotel loyalty programs.

My preference? 

It’s probably evident that I lean towards serviced apartments for work trips. I value space and practicality more than facilities and amenities that I tend not to use.

Which do you prefer? Let us know on the Australian Frequent Flyer forum!