8:30am Monday 9th November 2009
By Telegraph & Argus
The recession – and the need to keep accommodation costs down when families take a city break – could be boosting demand for short stays in town and city-centre flats, says a leading provider of serviced apartments.
In its last accounts, SACO reported a 33 per cent increase in overall bookings, also boosted by the rise of people not going abroad for a holiday in order to save money.
Many SACO blocks have staff on-call for 24 hours a day. Initially, about 90 per cent of customers were on business, but that dropped to 60 per cent as more leisure travellers checked in.
It is launching a Christmas campaign (from December 18-30), covering 13 towns and cities across the UK, with one-bedroom apartments (sleeping two) in Bristol costing £69 per night, against an original £130.
Bath sees a fall too, from £149 per night for a two-bedroom flat, to £87. Camberley, at £99, is down £69, while Derby’s two-bedroom apartments sleeping four cost a total £99, saving £32.
“More and more people are reaping the benefits of staying in an apartment rather than a hotel, particularly in the current market,” says SACO marketing director Jo Redman.
“For the same price as a hotel of an equivalent standard, guests get a lot more space and privacy, plus a fully-equipped kitchen, home entertainment and housekeeping services.”
SACO – short for Serviced Apartments Company – has more than 5,000 apartments in more than a hundred locations in towns and cities across Britain, five of them in London.
They offer the facilities you might expect in a hotel room, including wi-fi and wide choice of TV channels, with “a lot more space and privacy”.
In Bath, SACO acquired a terrace of Georgian houses, repaired the facade and created 21st-century flats inside. In Bristol, it converted West India House, a period building dating to 1750, into luxury apartments.
In Manchester and Birmingham, SACO apartments are new-build.
“As travellers make economies, the idea of buying a convenience meal in M&S to eat in your apartment is an obvious way to save money,” says marketing manager Matt Edwards.
SACO says bookings are available for every night of the Christmas-New Year period, with no premium charged, although bookings should be made as early as possible to secure a room.
INFORMATION: SACO reservations (0845 1220405 and sacoapartments.co.uk).
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