BTIUKHogg Robinson has launched an apartment service to help its clients combat the shortage of hotel accommodation in key business locations.
It has been launched in conjunction with The Apartment Service, which specialises in apartment accommodation.
BTIUKHogg Robinson clients will be given a dedicated number which calls straight through to the The Apartment Service’s 20-strong reservations team based in Wimbledon.
Called BTIApartment Service, the multiple’s new initiative is aimed at companies who need long-term accommodation for their employees when they are on secondment or on assignments.
BTIUK Hogg Robinson claims apartments are generally a more cost-effective option than paying hotel rates.
Hogg Robinsonsales and marketing director Chris Fry said:”Accommodation accounts for a substantial amount of many clients’ travel budgets. The need to maximise those budgets, coupled with the fact that long term hotel accommodation is not always available, meant we needed to find alternative solutions.
“With predictions that, within the next five years, serviced apartment accommodationwill account for 30% of worldwide accommodation spend, it is right that BTIUKHogg Robinson should be at the forefront of developing this market.”
Steve Brenman, sales director for The Apartment Service, said:”This is a very young and evolutionary sector of the market, which is very fragmented and depends a lot on accumulated knowledge.”
The Apartment Service offers accommodation in the UKand overseas and has been established for eight years.
It is in discussions with other business travel agencies which are keen to move into this sector.