Is Your UK Business Wasting Money on Short-Term Hotels?
When employees travel for work, accommodation is often one of the biggest line items on the corporate travel budget. For many UK businesses, the default choice is still the hotel; familiar, straightforward, and easy to book. But familiar doesn’t always mean cost-effective, and for trips lasting more than a night or two, the hotel model can quietly drain resources in ways that aren’t always obvious.
If your business books short-term hotel stays regularly, it’s worth asking whether you’re getting real value, or simply paying a premium out of habit. Read ahead to find out what you could be doing differently.
The True Cost of Hotel Stays for Business Travel
Hotels charge for convenience. That’s fine for a one-night stopover, but for stays of several days or weeks, those daily rates add up fast. Add in restaurant meals (because there’s usually no kitchen in a hotel room), laundry costs, and limited workspace, and the total spend per trip climbs higher than the room rate alone suggests.
For businesses managing multiple employees on the road at once, this becomes a serious budget concern. Travel managers and HR teams are often surprised when they calculate the full cost of hotel-based travel programmes. Not just the nightly rate, but everything that surrounds it.
What Serviced Accommodation Offers Instead
Serviced accommodation is designed with longer stays in mind, and they bring a range of practical advantages that hotels simply don’t match. For example, a well-equipped serviced apartment will typically include a fully furnished kitchen, laundry facilities, separate living and working areas, and reliable Wi-Fi, all included in the price.
That means employees can cook their own meals, do their own laundry, and work comfortably without paying extra for every amenity. For a stay of five nights or more, the savings compared to a hotel can be substantial. Businesses that book serviced apartments at Situ gain access to a carefully managed global partner network, with properties suited to everything from short business trips to extended corporate assignments.
The Three Main Types of Serviced Accommodation
Not every trip calls for the same type of property, and that’s where serviced accommodation has a clear advantage over the standard hotel model. There are three main options to consider.
-
Serviced Apartments
Apartments are the go-to choice for most business travel. They offer a fully equipped kitchen, free Wi-Fi, laundry facilities, and separate living and dining areas, making them well suited to both short and extended stays.
-
Serviced Houses
Serviced houses are particularly useful for remote project locations or when a team needs to stay together. Their suitability for harder-to-reach areas makes them a practical option for contractors and construction teams working outside major cities.
-
Aparthotels
Aparthotels are a popular choice for individual business travellers who want a balance between the independence of an apartment and the services of a hotel. They’re versatile, comfortable, and well suited to shorter stays.
The Bottom Line
Hotels have their place, but for UK businesses running regular or extended travel programmes, they’re often not the most comfortable, productive or cost-effective option available. Serviced accommodation offers more space, more facilities, and more value, and it doesn’t require a complicated procurement process to access.
The businesses that will see the greatest savings are those willing to reassess their current approach and make decisions based on total cost and employee experience, rather than booking out of habit. With the right accommodation partner, making the switch is simpler than it might seem.
When Families Fall Out: What the Beckham Headlines Can Teach Us About Repair and Mediation
When Families Fall Out explores what the recent Beckham headlines can teach us about family rupture, repair and the role mediation can play when relationships feel strained. With insight from JMW Solicitors’ family law team and child anxiety therapist Saskia Joss, it looks at why disconnection happens, how to name it, and what practical support can help families move forward with more understanding and kindness.
When Parents Split, Schools Feel It Too: The Hidden Impact on Children
Relationship expert Sally Land highlights the hidden toll that high-conflict separations can take on children — and how often schools end up caught in the crossfire. Citing research from The Parents Promise, she notes that teachers are regularly seeing the fallout in real time: slipping grades, increased absence, withdrawal, behavioural issues and worsening mental health.
Building a Brand as a Working Parent: The Bit Nobody Talks About (The Loneliness)
Building a brand as a working parent looks great on paper — flexible hours, doing something you love, creating a life that fits around family. But the reality is often messier. You’re juggling school runs and deadlines, client work and packed lunches, confidence wobbles and cash flow worries… and somehow you’re expected to show up online like you’ve got it all under control.
The Balance of Play
I hate admitting that because I value play so deeply, especially in those precious early years. It’s how our children learn, explore, imagine and build confidence. But as a mum trying to keep a household running and a business growing, it’s not always easy to appreciate those moments.
Part Time Working Mummy Interview: Rachaele Hambleton & Josh Marshall
Rachaele Hambleton, aka Part Time Working Mummy, is an inspirational mum of six. The incredible 43-year-old is a Sunday Times Bestselling Author—four times over—founder of The Patchwork House, a support and guidance service for vulnerable individuals and families, and she’s also a successful entrepreneur, which includes her own clothing brand REBL.
Introducing Amanda Marks
We’re thrilled to welcome our new columnist Amanda Marks. Amanda is a Renowned Breastfeeding, Food & Sleep Consultant
With over 40 years of experience supporting families, Amanda Marks is a highly respected breastfeeding, food, and sleep consultant. Based in prestigious locations including 10 Harley Street, London, and Alderley Edge, Cheshire, Amanda has worked with families from diverse backgrounds, including media personalities and royalty, maintaining the highest standards of confidentiality.
An Interview with English Professional Boxer Chris Billam-Smith
At BROOD, we’re always drawn to stories that celebrate not just professional triumphs, but the heart and humanity behind them. Someone who embodies this spirit perfectly is Chris Billam-Smith—a world-class athlete
whose grit in the ring is matched only by his devotion to his family.
Why Family Gardening Is Having a Quiet Comeback
There’s a noticeable shift happening in how families spend their time. It isn’t loud or trend-led, and it’s rarely documented with before-and-after shots. Instead, it’s quieter and slower, rooted in small routines and shared moments. Family gardening is part of that change.
From Parliament to the Premier League: Campaigning for survivors of domestic abuse during this #16DaysOfActivism
Our Head of Social Causes and Sub-Editor Teresa Parker was joined by BROOD Editor-in Chief Lolo Stubbs at an event in Parliament on the 2nd December 2025 to mark ten years of coercive control legislation. Teresa organised the event through her consultancy Teresa Parker Media, in partnership with Hawkins, Laxton & Co, which is run by her former colleagues Clare and Sian.
WHY PARENTS NEED A WILL (Even If You Don’t Think You Do)
A lot of people still think wills are only for the wealthy or the elderly. I hear this all the time. In reality, wills are about far more than dividing up money.
