Space between hotels and serviced apartments blurs as Hong Kong operators seek to meet changing demands
Some hotels are now offering apartment-style accommodation with self-catering facilities, while some serviced apartment operators are offering patrons a range of hotel-like facilities
Savouring the cuisines of a different country is one of the joys of travelling, but not everyone wants to go out for every single meal. There are costs to consider: dining eats up more than 31 per cent of a business traveller’s daily spend, according to data from the United States.
Then there are the health aspects: eating and drinking, which go hand-in-hand with travel, regardless of whether you’re there for work or holidays, can stack on the weight. Frequent corporate travellers often prefer a quick bowl of cereal in the morning to a big buffet breakfast. Or they just want a light snack in the evening, following a business lunch.
Serviced apartments offer the option of preparing simple meals in your room, and with the well-stocked supermarkets now available all over Hong Kong, often a fridge and microwave are all you need. Most provide a gym to help burn the extra calories, and sometimes even organised exercise classes. But here’s the kicker: the majority of serviced apartments, governed by local law, have a minimum stay of one month. So if you’re only in town for a matter of days, only the few properties which do have a hotel licence can cater to those requirements.
Within the CHI-branded residences across Hong Kong, only one – CHI Residences in Yau Ma Tei (CHI 279) – can offer monthly or daily stays. The one-bedroom, family room or triple-room apartments give travellers their own fully-equipped kitchen, free Wi-fi, and use of self-service laundry facilities.
All suites in the luxury J Plus Hotel by YOO in Causeway Bay feature a kitchenette – complete with oven – and self-serve laundry facilities, along with a raft of home comforts including complimentary Wi-fi, and free use of a smartphone, including for making IDD calls to assigned countries. Its daily rate also includes a continental breakfast, afternoon cakes, and evening wine in the lobby, along with 24-hour coffee, tea, water, juices, and soft drinks.
The Eaton Residences, Wan Chai Gap Road in Wan Chai is also able to offer flexible short stays in suites with in-room with kitchen and laundry facilities. The property also has an outdoor terrace for guests to enjoy.
The demands of travellers have not so much changed – it’s more that there are other options available to them