|
In 2008 and 2009, many people cut back on their travel budgets in order to save cash. But this year, people are expected to take to the road, seas and skies once more.
According to American Express, spending on business travel has already shown a marked improvement in 2010 over 2009. The credit card company reported $4.1 billion in corporate travel sales in the first quarter of this year, up from $3.4 billion over the same period last year, reports the Economist.
Plus, business travel tends to spur more business travel - meeting prospective clients face to face becomes necessary to maintain a competitive edge. Kevin Mitchell of the Business Travel Coalition told Top Tech News that the stabilizing economy means executives "can't sit back like [they] were able to comfortably do through most of 2009" with the knowledge that competitors were scaling back on travel, too.
Daniel Henry, American Express' CFO, anticipates that people will dramatically increase their travel budgets this year, as things are "definitely" looking up. He told the Economist, "travel sales are strong, both business travel and customer travel."
With this in mind, travelers may be interested in taking advantage of corporate housing locator services. These services can save travelers time, effort and money so that they can focus on what brought them to a new destination rather worry about where to stay.
Visitors exploring the Unites States and Canada may benefit from the services of Interim Housing Solutions. President Jeffrey Smith explains that the company makes it easy for guests to find accommodations through national, regional and local housing companies - large and small.
Any guests planning stays in the U.S. or Canada for at least 30 days can contact Interim Housing through phone or email, and the company takes care of the rest. Smith says, "we gather all their requirements and quickly submit them for bid among our network of housing providers."
Interim Housing Solutions offers travelers what Smith calls "a one-stop shop approach." Plus, the company can get clients competitive prices on their affiliates' fully furnished, short-term rentals. Smith says corporate apartments are more cost-efficient, in general, than hotels.
In addition to the convenience and cost savings that come with using corporate housing locator services, Smith explains that many guests choose these accommodations because they provide "more of a true lifestyle" than hotel stays afford travelers. "You can cook your own meals, entertain guests in the confines of your furnished apartment, and enjoy an array of amenities" from fitness centers to swimming pools. In essence, corporate housing makes guests feel more at home in a new destination.
Smith says his customers come from a variety of backgrounds. Many are corporate consultants traveling on business, but he says other common customers include government or military travelers on temporary assignments, professional sports players undergoing recruitment and touring artists. Interim Housing Solutions has also worked with patients who are temporarily relocating for treatments.
The average length of stay for these travelers is around three months, but some stay for just thirty days. On the other hand, Interim Housing Solutions also works with some clients who have leased furnished rentals for more than five years.
While Interim Housing Solutions offers access to corporate housing in almost every primary - and secondary - city in the U.S. and Canada, Smith says some of its most popular locations are Atlanta, Washington, D.C., Tampa, Dallas, Denver, Toronto, San Francisco and Seattle.
Just as travel is on the rise this decade, Smith says corporate housing locater services are experiencing an uptick, as well. He reports that Interim Housing Solutions is over 2009's revenue by more than 80 percent already, and he foresees increases continuing through the rest of 2010.
Travelers can take advantage of this housing locater service trend to find temporary housing hassle-free this year. After all, no matter the reason for travel, everyone deserves the chance for a relaxing getaway. 
|
Extended Stay News
