Corporate stays are work trips that last several weeks or months: a project in another city, a new office opening, a training programme, a construction site or a team travelling for an event. They are not a two-night business trip; for the people who travel, they are a period of their life spent somewhere else.
That is why accommodation is not just another logistics detail. It determines how much the stay costs, how well people rest and how the team works. In this article we look at the benefits of corporate stays and why corporate apartments are the best way to make the most of them.
What are corporate stays? A corporate stay is temporary accommodation that a company arranges and pays for while its employees work away from home, usually for one or two weeks or more. It is typically managed through a single provider, with one contract and one invoice for the company, in homes designed for living: a kitchen, Wi-Fi, and space to work and rest.
Benefits of corporate stays for companies Projects move faster. Having the team on the ground, close to the client, the site or the office, avoids constant back-and-forth travel and speeds up decisions.More predictable costs. Long stays work with monthly or tiered rates rather than a nightly price. According to the AEGVE Business Travel Monitor , hotel accommodation accounts for around a quarter of the travel budget, and 77% of companies already using non-hotel accommodation say it has helped them reduce costs.Less admin. One point of contact for every booking, with one contract and one invoice, instead of dealing with dozens of hotels or landlords.Easy to extend. If the project runs longer, the stay can be extended without starting from scratch.Benefits for the people who travel A stay of several weeks can be a burden or a great experience. The difference lies in being able to live a normal life: sleeping well, eating as you would at home, having space of your own and keeping routines such as exercise or a specific diet. When that happens, people perform better and come back keen to go again.
Why corporate apartments make corporate stays better 1. The team lives together Housing the team in the same building or in nearby apartments changes the dynamics of a project. It is easier to coordinate, share journeys and sort out questions without waiting for the next day's meeting. And outside working hours, the conversations and trust that do not always fit into office life have room to grow. For many companies, especially now that remote work is widespread, a corporate stay is one of the few times the team truly spends time together.
2. A more authentic experience of the destination Hotels are often in tourist areas, cut off from everyday city life. An apartment is part of a neighbourhood: you shop at the local market, have coffee at the café on the corner and learn how the place works. That immersion helps people understand the local market, clients and colleagues at the destination office, and makes the stay feel less like a trip and more like living there for a while.
3. Room to work and to switch off A separate living room, kitchen and bedroom mean you can take a video call without working from bed and change scenery at the end of the day. Many apartments have a desk, and on group stays, shared areas are useful for planning or simply spending time together.
4. Home routines A fully equipped kitchen, washing machine and fast Wi-Fi make it easy to keep your usual habits. Cooking instead of eating out every day means a healthier diet and lower per diem costs.
5. Savings on medium and long stays The longer the stay, the more a monthly apartment rate pays off compared with a hotel's nightly rate . In our comparison of London, Paris, Munich and Madrid , estimated savings ranged from 27% to 38%.
6. Close to where the work is Corporate apartments are available in business districts and residential areas, not only in city centres. That makes it possible to house the team near the office, the site or the client and cut daily commuting time.
How to organise a successful corporate stay Start early , especially if the stay coincides with events or high season at the destination.Choose the area based on the workplace , not just the city centre.Decide whether the team will stay together : in the same building or in nearby apartments.Check what is included : cleaning, Wi-Fi, a workspace and support during the stay.Plan for changes Centralise management with a provider that handles contracts, billing and support.Corporate stays with Apartool At Apartool we organise corporate stays in furnished apartments in more than 85 countries and in all kinds of destinations , for individuals and for entire teams . One point of contact, one contract and one invoice for every booking, and support throughout the stay. Tell us your dates, number of people and workplace , and we will send you options.
Frequently asked questions about corporate stays What is a corporate stay? It is temporary accommodation that a company arranges for its employees while they work away from home, usually for weeks or months, with a contract and billing designed for businesses.
How long does a corporate stay last? Usually from one or two weeks, and it can last several months. From that length onwards, an apartment usually pays off compared with a hotel.
Is a corporate apartment cheaper than a hotel? For medium and long stays, usually yes, because you pay a monthly or tiered rate instead of a nightly price. In our comparison of four European capitals, estimated savings ranged from 27% to 38%.
Can a whole team stay in the same building? Yes, subject to availability. Grouping the team in the same building or in nearby apartments makes coordination and day-to-day life together easier.
What does a corporate apartment include? It is fully furnished and equipped: kitchen, bed linen and towels, Wi-Fi and utilities already set up. Many include regular cleaning and support during the stay.
