especially in light of the current economic situation – as well as several technological and other amenities.

In fact, gone are the days when only stationed businessmen occupied these rooms and suites. As Raed Rabie, general manager, The Boulevard Arjaan by Rotana, Amman, noted, due to the attractive offering of extended-stay properties, such as The Boulevard Arjaan by Rotana, Amman, families are also increasingly opting for such accommodation options.

“Our clientele has changed in recent years because we have become attractive to a wider spectrum of guests, such as families travelling during Eid or summer holidays, professionals conducting business and couples taking a romantic getaway.

Those seeking hotel apartments for both short and long periods want the versatility that we offer.

This is proven by the increase we have seen in the demand for hotel apartments at The Boulevard Arjaan by Rotana, and in the Middle East generally,” confirmed Rabie, suggesting that with family tourism booming across the region, hotel apartments are set to benefit from this trends with businessmen also continuing to flock into the these countries.

Hossein Garan, general manager, Marriott Executive Apartments Manama and Residence Inn by Marriott Manama Juffair, also deemed the family travel segment a strong driving force behind the growing popularity of hotel apartments.

“With the hotel industry becoming more and more consumer driven and the demand for comfort and convenience continually increasing, leisure travellers, especially those with families, are starting to prefer staying in a hotel apartment over a standard hotel room,” commented Garan, saying that this clientele includes not only long-staying guests but also weekend travellers.

As Nicolas explained, the majority of guests booking hotel apartments have a length of stay less than a year hence it is more practical and feasible for them to choose such options rather than signing an annual lease agreement.

As Mohammed Khoori, general manager, Golden Sands Hotel Apartments, Dubai, noted, the fluctuating real estate prices have also prompted people to look at different choices with new residents to the destination also considering serviced hotel apartments as a viable alternative.

Real estate in fact, can have a direct impact on hotel apartments’ business, with Abu Dhabi being a prime example of this, where, as Nicolas noted, due to the rising prices, it has become almost more affordable to stay in serviced apartment rather than in non-serviced units, when one takes into consideration all the perks offered by such accommodation options.

Another recent region-wide phenomenon is the proliferation of midmarket projects, which, however, as Arora pinpointed, only competes with hotel apartments in terms of pricing for guests booking a stay for the maximum of a week.

“Long-stay guests will still prefer a hotel apartment with fully-equipped features rather than staying in midmarket properties, especially now that hotel apartment prices are very competitive,” added Arora.

Garan agreed that due to the contrasting requirements of their respective clientele, the anticipated boom in the midmarket sector is unlikely to abate the development of the long-stay segment and given the growing economies and the projects shaping these countries’ future, demand for hotel apartments is set to remain strong.

Due to the lower operational costs, fewer facilities and lower payroll costs, global brands are increasingly venturing into the serviced apartment segment with the aim to grow profits and enhance their global visibility.

With major hospitality players entering the sector, the past years have seen the emergence of a high number of dual component properties, housing both a hotel as well as serviced residences.

Creating a convenient option for long-stay guests, branded residences allow them to enjoy comfort and privacy while also benefitting from access to the attached, or often just affiliated, hotel.

According to Colliers International’s report, in the future, duplexes and maid’s rooms are likely to gain popularity at serviced apartments in a bid to attract GCC families. A loft-inspired efficient room design is expected to take over, and grab-and-go food and beverage options, as well as connected retail options are also predicted to appear more and more.

All in all, industry stakeholders anticipate a bright future for hotel apartments with Khoori stating, “This segment will continue to grow at a steady pace.”