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Home affair
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Serviced apartments, still in the nascent stage, are slowly making an entry, finds out SYEDA FARIDA
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LIFE IS beautiful, whistles Vishal Sharma, a young honcho, as he fixes some rice in the electric cooker to go with the ready-to-eat Palak paneer, before he plonks in front of the television to catch up on the soccer scene. Amply lit setting, comfortable and well-maintained--a small kitchenette, mini refrigerator, microwave, coffee maker, crockery, not forgetting a clean bathroom and a wardrobe stacked with fresh clothes, he couldn't have asked for more. A bachelor, he sends home rave reports on his living in a metro, thanks to the serviced apartment in twin cities that he opted for. "It is more homely when compared to a suite in a restaurant," he says. Similarly Pooja and Viraj Malhan from Atlanta say, "We are on an assignment here. We are familiar with the corporate apartments back home and found the serviced apartment concept here a better option than staying in a flat. The place gives you all that is required and is very comfortable."
Called corporate housing or long stay accommodation, the serviced apartments, single to multi-bedroom, offer overnight to extended stay options, with food, housekeeping, laundry, doctor on call and 24-hour security. Popular abroad as well as in Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore, Pune, Jaipur and Cochin, these are now making a foray into the twin cities though still in the nascent stage.
"We had surveyed Homestead in Bangalore and Renaissance, Mumbai, to design the 11 serviced apartments offering doorstep grocery delivery, butler on demand, pharmacy on call, day care and housekeeping. For security there is a locker in the two-room studio suite, along with a video phone for visitor identification," says Amar Ohri of Ohri's Banjara. Guest Inn Suite, a 24-flat guesthouse on Road No.12, Banjara Hills, is yet another case in point built on the lines of a serviced apartment.
"Each three bedroom flat is furnished, replete with housekeeping and serviced by a common kitchen," says Mohammed I. Hossain. With over 28 years of experience in global restaurant chains such as Hilton, Radisson and Sofitel and based in France, Hossain is shortly coming up with a 60-70 room serviced apartment block in the twin cities. "Need of the hour," he explains.
Priced between Rs. 2,000 for a single studio suite to about Rs. 6,000 for a three-bedroom apartment, per day on long stay basis, serviced apartments are preferred by young globe trotting professionals in the city.
"Youngsters do not want to do up a place, which will come later down the line, and that's where serviced apartments come in offering them a fully furnished place with housekeeping services and meals readily available," says Anita Reddy, Golden Star Services, a corporate housekeeping firm.
"It is like getting five-star hotel luxuries at a common man's price. Serviced apartments offer a decent option for living compared to the working men's hostels where about 4-5 people are crammed in one room. Also, house owners in town refuse to let out to their places to bachelors, as they would prefer a group or a family. So when you are earning reasonably well for yourself, you can easily afford a serviced apartment at the same rental with services on the house," argues Sailesh.
Serviced apartments are also preferred by overseas senior officials, especially when cost cutting is the buzzword.
"We generally house them at star hotels or in duplex houses in Whisper Valley or Jubilee Hills, which cost a fortune. Also, we have had to postpone their visits, for instance during CII Summit or Afro-Asian Games, on account of unavailability of accommodation at hotels in the twin cities. It is a definite yes for serviced apartments," says Ramesh P of Deloitte. The apartments also serve as short stay option for business and health travellers, backpack tourists and outstation filmmakers.
"With an expected growth in tourism, there is a need for serviced apartments. Today filmmakers from Bollywood are coming to the twin cities with the crew on one-month programme. They end up taking up an entire guesthouse in the absence of serviced apartments," says Atul Bhalla, Sales Manager, ITC Hotel Kakatiya Sheraton.
Today, promoters operating existing serviced apartments get many long-stay enquiries. And some plan to come up with a common laundry room, spa and gym as well.
"The concept is in its nascent stage but there is a lot of scope. We are contemplating on taking up serviced apartments on a larger scale," says Anita Reddy. With more players coming into the business it will not be long when the concept will become an accepted thing more so with the young pros looking for compact yet practical housing.
Photos: Satish. H
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Metro Plus
Bangalore
Chennai
Coimbatore
Delhi
Hyderabad
Kochi
Madurai
Thiruvananthapuram
Vijayawada
Visakhapatnam
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