If you relocate staff for weeks or months, can you imagine cutting their accommodation costs by nearly half ? It is possible. And you do not need to open hundreds of browser tabs or compare a thousand hotels to achieve it. You simply have to give corporate apartments a chance.
When stays go beyond just a few days, housing your employees in serviced apartments is not only more cost-effective but also more efficient and comfortable . Below are the figures that prove it.
The rise of temporary accommodation for companies Work mobility has changed. Temporary projects, training sessions, or the opening of new offices require looking for accommodation beyond just a few nights . This is where corporate apartments make all the difference.
These accommodations are designed for longer stays and offer some clear advantages over hotels :
Equipped kitchen , reducing dining-out expenses.Workspace , ideal for meetings and remote workdays.Greater privacy and comfort , essential for stays of weeks or months.Fixed cost with no extras , simplifying expense planning.They are move-in-ready homes with everything a business traveller needs to perform as if they were at home.
Cost comparison between hotels and apartments The key is in the numbers . To prove it, we calculated prices in four of the most relevant cities in the European business environment: London , Paris , Munich , and Madrid .
Prices by city: How much can you really save? Hemos analizado en varios portales de alojamiento los precios mensuales de estancias corporativas en hoteles frente a apartamentos con servicios. El resultado es claro: el ahorro es significativo en todos ellos .
City
3–4* Hotel
Apartment
Estimated Savings
London
€5,100
€3,200
37%
Paris
€4,800
€3,000
38%
Munich
€4,200
€2,850
32%
Madrid
€3,000
€2,200
27%
Practical savings example To better illustrate the financial impact, here’s a scenario: a company houses five employees for 30 days in Paris:
In a hotel : €4,800 x 5 = €24,000In a corporate apartment : €3,000 x 5 = €15,000Total savings : €9,000 in just one monthThese savings scale quickly when it comes to large teams , multinational projects, or more expensive destinations and dates.
Hidden costs of the hotel model Hotels not only involve a higher initial cost but also accumulate secondary expenses that add up to the final budget.
Additional services not included in the base rate Hotels may offer an apparently competitive rate, but essential services are sometimes charged separately. Some of the most common are buffet breakfast (from €15 per day) or external laundry service (about €30 per week).
These extras, while small on their own, can add up to between €600 and €900 more per month for your company.
Eating out: an avoidable expense Without a fully equipped kitchen, the traveller is dependent on restaurants or takeaway meals . According to Numbeo, these are the average daily food costs per city in 2025:
London: €35 Paris: €32 Munich: €28 Madrid: €25 Over 30 days, this represents up to €2,100 per person for lunch and dinner, while also limiting food options for those who wish or need to follow a specific diet.
You may also be interested in… 👓
Taxes and fees: the surprise on the bill In addition to services, many hotels apply taxes that are not always disclosed upfront. These may include nightly tourist taxes or administrative charges.
For example, in our Paris case, the hotel adds up to €3.75 per night in tourist taxes. Over a 30-day stay, that means an additional €112.50 .
Productivity and well-being: what you cannot see also matters The environment also impacts efficiency. Long stays in hotels can reduce the quality of rest and professional performance . And lost productivity ultimately means lost money for the company.
Some disadvantages of hotels for long-stay workers include:
Lack of privacy. Rigid schedules. Absence of comfortable workspaces. Frequent interruptions. Corporate apartments, on the other hand, offer a home-like environment with greater comfort, autonomy, and better focus.
Save costs with corporate accommodation Apartool is the platform that allows companies and agencies to manage medium- and long-term stays quickly, centrally, and without surprises. In addition, using corporate apartments can help you cut costs on your trips.
Operational advantages for companies and travel managers By working with Apartool, your company will benefit from:
Full service with cleaning, 24/7 assistance, and local support.Access to more than 300,000 apartments in 85 countries (and we can find more if needed).Unified management and invoicing , simplifying accounting.All of this comes with a dedicated Account Manager , serving as a single point of contact to organise tailor-made corporate accommodation.
In short, corporate apartments not only represent tangible savings but also improve the quality of your employees’ stay .
Up to 40% lower costs. No extras or surprises. More autonomy, comfort, and productivity. Easier management for the travel manager. Including apartments among the accommodation options available to teams can result in significant savings for the company and a better experience for the traveller .
Frequently asked questions about corporate apartments vs. hotels How do corporate apartments compare to hotels in cost for business travel? For stays of a week or longer, corporate apartments are typically 20-40% cheaper than hotels once nightly rates, taxes, resort fees, and dining costs are factored in, especially for longer assignments.
What hidden costs do hotels add that corporate apartments avoid? Hotels often add resort fees, parking, minibar and room service markups, and daily housekeeping charges. Corporate apartments usually bundle utilities, Wi-Fi, and cleaning into one transparent rate.
Are corporate apartments as comfortable as hotels for business trips? Yes — most corporate apartments include a full kitchen, separate living and sleeping areas, laundry, and workspace, offering more comfort and privacy than a standard hotel room for stays of any length.
When does it make more sense to book a hotel instead of a corporate apartment? Hotels can be more practical for very short one- or two-night stays, or when daily housekeeping and on-site restaurants and events are a priority for the traveler.
How much can a company save by switching to corporate apartments for business trips? Companies that shift frequent or long-stay travelers into corporate apartments commonly report meaningful savings on accommodation and meal budgets, since the apartment's kitchen replaces daily restaurant spending.