User:JeanetteL641/The Apartment Service

General Information
=The Apartment Service=

The Apartment Service is a provider of serviced apartments and corporate housing for corporate procurement teams, business and leisure travelers.The company has an extensive network of accommodation providers located worldwide from both the extended stay and aparthotel brands as well as residential property for longer term stays.

The apartments are used by companies relocation departments as an interim housing option for when they are searching for a permanent home or for short term assignments when a full relocation is not required.

Likewise, the business travel community are frequent and regular users of serviced apartments for their business trips or extended stays away – typically from 4-5 nights up to three months. The serviced apartment sector has grown rapidly over the past 20 years reflecting the need for more space and comfort for those staying away from home – they have kitchens or kitchenettes enabling self-catering and also have lounges where guests can relax.

The cost of a serviced apartment is usually lower than in an equivalent standard hotel as most extended stay hotels and aparthotels do not have the large public areas associated with hotels and therefore lower operating costs.

History
In 1981 The Apartment Service became the first company in the UK to offer an independent sourcing and management service for serviced apartments. Originally part of the Expotel booking agency, a management buy-out by Charles McCrow in 1991 saw the start of steady growth sustained throughout the recession.

The Global Serviced Apartments Industry Report
IN 2008 The Apartment Service was the first to undertake detailed research on the sector. The 2013/14 edition has been compiled from primary and secondary sources. Primary sources include a survey undertaken by The Apartment Service and the Travel Intelligence Network (TIN) amongst serviced apartment operators worldwide. The other primary sources used in this report include articles contributed by, and interviews with commentators from around the globe, together with other research.The Global Serviced Apartments Industry Report is published bi-annually. The next edition is due to be published in January 2015.

Locations
According to the Global Serviced Apartments Industry Report, The Apartment Service sources accommodation from over 700,000 apartments in 9,000 locations worldwide. Roomspace is the brand under which The Apartment Services operates over 450 apartments in London, The Home Counties, Madrid and Lisbon.

Brands
The Apartment Service Group consists of 4 brands, each providing specialist sourcing and management for apartments and corporate housing:


 * The Apartment Service: for short, medium and long-stay accommodation worldwide.


 * Roomspace: Started in 1995, Roomspace is the UK’s longest established corporate housing provider. Each apartment is either owned or managed by The Apartment Service.


 * The TAS Alliance is a collection of independently-owned serviced apartments from around the world that have come together under a single brand, sales representation and booking platform. Launched in January 2014, the TAS Alliance already comprises over 12,000 apartments.


 * Complete Accommodation Solutions: CAS is ideal for companies housing individuals working on longer term assignments or undertaking training programmes. Services include negotiating leases and tenancy conditions, managing and paying all services such as utility bills and in providing any other additional services needed.

Clients
The Apartment Service works with corporate procurement and HR teams in sectors ranging from banking and finance to oil & gas, construction and retail. The company also works with travel management companies, relocation management companies and hotel booking agents (HBAA). The company is a founder member of the Association of Serviced Apartment Providers (ASAP) and a long standing member of the Corporate Housing Providers Association (CHPA), the Worldwide Employee Relocation Council (Worldwide ERC) and the Institute of Travel & Meetings (ITM).

Awards

 * People Awards 2014 - Best Business Development Manager / Melanie Degand


 * BBT Diamond Award for Best Serviced Apartment Company 2007

Shortlisted for:


 * Business Travel Award 2015 - Best Serviced Apartment Provider


 * Re:Locate 2013, 2014 - Best Property Provider or Solution


 * EMMA´s 2012, 2013, 2014 - Best Serviced Apartment Provider