Serviced apartments get dedicated real-time booking platform

Featuring a global portfolio of 550,000 properties, the platform puts forward the sheer volume of a growing sector​​ consumers are sometimes still unaware of.

Using a GDS system, the portal provides real-time availability information to customers, as well as instant reservation confirmation. It also aims to offer better rates than the ones found on general online travel agencies (OTAs), with savings of up to 45 per cent on traditional hotel rates.

“We offer a huge saving compared to the likes of hotelbooking.com, and we’re trying to push the serviced accommodation sector and show that they’re worth looking at not only from a savings point of view but also from a product point of view. If you’re travelling for a long period of time it is a more affordable and more comfortable option,” said Samantha Darlaston of VisitRentals.com.

David Nicholson, founder and CEO of VisitRentals.com, added: “We identified a gap in the market and developed VisitRentals.com to bring convenience and transparency to the ApartHotel sector. No one in the industry can currently offer what VisitRentals.com does – the vast property portfolio and the sheer number of room rates available are unmatched.

“From conception we aimed to dispel two myths: that serviced accommodation is costly and that booking is longwinded and difficult. VisitRentals.com offers the best rates in the business and excellent savings. The portal’s real time availability means hassle free booking and instant confirmation so we feel confident that the next 12 months will see great things for the brand.”

Profile​

Although serviced apartments are more and more present on traditional booking platforms, the dedicated portal will serve to raise awareness on the sector’s offering, and its global reach means customers having had a good experience in one location can look for similar properties in others.

Joyce Cawthorpe, marketing and PR consultant at the Association of Serviced Apartment Providers, welcomed the initiative. “Because serviced apartments usually get longer stays, it’s a more complex online sale than just one room for one night, so it’s fantastic for the profile of the sector to have is real-time online booking,” she told BigHospitality.

“It should extend the reach to new leisure markets by being fast and immediately bookable. It’s really positive to have a new entrant in the market, which proves that there is that volume globally.”

Competitive fees​

In terms of fees, VisitRentals charges take a 10 per cent cut from each booking, a lower rate than most OTAs (which usually charge around 15-17 per cent).

Properties are selected based upon location and facilities, with a focus on safety, and the site offers payment security to ensure financial peace of mind for its customers – business and leisure travellers alike.

“We use the Travelport GDS system so accommodation providers loaded onto there will be listed, but we also have offline options and offer contract for properties so it’s a mixture of both,” added Darlaston.

Customer-friendly​

The platform has been made user-friendly by featuring top properties and locations on its homepage, as well as a live chat option.

In support of the online function, VisitRentals.com also has a dedicated account management team on hand, which offer a personalised approach throughout the search and booking process. The team has access to a large number of offline properties, which can be accessed to meet clients’ needs.