Extended stay hotels, the best solution for those looking for the flexibility and independence of a self-catered residence, but with hotel amenities to enjoy. For many corporate travelers, it’s a service they know well, but what’s the market looking like in 2021 and what should hoteliers and brands consider when building or renovating a space for the extended stay market? Here we share our experience designing for long stay service offerings.

What’s the market for extended stay hotels?

Well, according to many outlets reporting on the topic, extended-stay is another market that might have actually benefitted as a result of the pandemic. Travelers are looking for the same self-contained accommodation that you might expect from an Airbnb, but with the reassurance of regulation you’d find at a branded hotel.

We actually talk about this a bit in our trends for 2021 article (have a read of this here), but similar reports have come from Serviced Apartments News, Hospitality Net, and Boutique Hotel News articles, all citing the pandemic as the trigger for new emerging customer segments. Typically a corporate service offering, brands are now pivoting to appeal to leisure users, students, guests in the middle of a home-renovation or relocation – all now more likely to consider long stay as an option.

The uptake is actually something we’re seeing ourselves, having been approached to develop some designs for a new long-stay facility this year. With the emerging trend coming into focus, and a project like this already on the books for team Bell & Swift, we thought there’s no better time to share a little about our process to designing for extended stay hotels and apartments.

So, what should you consider when designing interiors for long stay?

First things first for any design is understanding the guest. If you know and understand the primary user of the space, you can make sure you’re designing for them. For leisure users, you want the room to feel as spacious as possible – a large bed, shower and TV for optimal comfort. For business users, a workspace and a comfortable chair are important – plus speedy wifi. The trend of having a large mahogany desk in the room is (thankfully) considered a bit more dated, but a table of sorts is useful – and can double up as a space to dine.

However, the lines around guest requirements are starting to blur here for a couple of reasons;

1. As we said, the industry is seeing a shift from corporate to leisure users – so long stay spaces need to appeal to both guest segments

2. Working habits are changing, the emergence of flexible vacations, where guests are combining trips with part work, part leisure, means the space needs to be multipurpose and offer opportunities to relax or work as guests require

Designing flexible, multipurpose spaces is really the key to designing for extended stay. Hotel apartments are often the same size as an ordinary hotel room, but you need to design to fit much more in the limited space. We try to create zones within the room, to make the guest feel like they have more space.

Rooms need to allow for space to sleep, work, dress, bathe, relax – even cook! So, the key is to consider multi-purpose options e.g. a dining table that can double as a desk, or a bed with storage underneath. If your guest is staying a while (average long-stay can be anything from 12 days to a couple of months), storage is really important, so it’s worthwhile building this into the design.

The key difference between long stay and a regular hotel?

The number one difference between the two is the kitchen. It might sound simple, but adding a kitchen into a standard size hotel room takes a lot of planning, that’s why collaborating with the rest of the project team is absolutely vital.

Our first step is to review the building plans and come up with some initial designs and recommendations on layout, however, it’s really important to work with the M&E engineer as more often than not the building will have limitations.

The current project we’re doing is an old office building, so there’s a lot to be done to build kitchens and bathrooms into the space. Clever use of ceiling bulkheads and service risers are essential to hide the kit necessary to create a comfortable environment from the guest.

That’s a really key part of the kitchen design – in most long stay rooms the kitchen is within the room itself, so it’s very in your face and you definitely want it to be attractive as possible. The best option is to design it as a feature, something that adds to the overall style of the space and creates a “lifestyle” feel.

But it’s not all form over function, guests need to feel at home but they also need to be able to use the space. We’re talking sink, hob, fridge, microwave – all these things are important to enhancing the guests’ experience and use of the space. For our current project, as none of the rooms have existing kitchens or bathroom fittings, we’re collaborating with the M&E engineer to get their input when designing the layout. It’s the best way to strike the balance between achieving the style and feel for the guest – but limiting unnecessary costs or timing delays for the client!

Home away from home

The number one thing to remember is that you’re designing a home away from home. You want your space to be attractive, welcoming, stylish, but also provide all the home comforts to make your guests feel at home.

Our team at Bell & Swift has extensive experience designing long stay concepts – Our very own Dawn Campbell and Craig McKie designed the first Residence Inn by Marriott in the UK and another in Aberdeen while in another role. Our associate Colin Carswell is also well versed in the Staybridge brand having worked as Design Manager with IHG.

Get in touch with our team today to find out more about how we can enhance your extended stay offering.