The United States are seeing rapid growth in business travel, with the U.S. alone projected at $395.4 billion in business travel spend according to a 2025 GBTA forecast.
That’s why it’s imperative we understand and outline the differences in booking accommodation in the US, compared to the UK – so you know exactly what to expect when booking your business travel.
SilverDoor has offices and people in both offices, and we’ve called on them to share their insights. We’ve also teamed up with our colleagues over at Synergy Global Housing, to assist us in diving deeper into what exactly the key differences are. Combined, SilverDoor and Synergy are perfectly placed to make a detailed comparison of both markets, while highlighting the benefits and drawbacks each has to offer.
Read on to discover the key differences between the UK and US corporate housing markets…
Why is booking accommodation in corporate housing different between the US and the UK?
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“The difference between booking in the US and UK generally comes down to two reasons, traveller preferences and market landscape. Guests in the US are generally accustomed to lots of amenities, space, in-unit washer and dryer, air conditioning, and more. While the majority of these features/amenities are less common or available in the UK. With regards to the market landscape, the UK does have some varying legislation pending location, but things like VAT remain the same regardless. In the US you do have federal legislation to which property providers must adhere, but each state and each city have varying requirements (i.e. minimum length of stay, tax law [on what length of stay and at what %], leases, limitations on occupancy, background checks). For our SilverDoor Americas team, consistency in process is harder to maintain across the entire US market compared to the UK market”. Stephen Homsey, Vice President – North America |
Now let’s dive deeper into the key differences…
1. Leases
US:
The Americas corporate housing market typically involves long leases, with bookers frequently having to sign for six months to a year at a time. However, it’s important to remember that constraints on lease terms are based on local state, city ordinances and varies significantly per jurisdiction.
UK:
Corporate housing providers often quote a minimum stay, commonly 7 nights or more. Bookings are usually quite flexible beyond that, with prorated rates for longer stays.
Hear from Synergy’s Vice President of Global Client Partnerships, Robert Wyatt, on the US approach to leases...
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"The US approach to leases are ever changing and remains fluid – but one constant is the ongoing ability to book short term corporate housing without the standard 30+ night requirement". Robert Wyatt, Vice President, Global Client Partnerships. |
DID YOU KNOW?
When SilverDoor opened their first Americas office in Denver, they struggled to find options for bookings of less than 30 days and clients couldn’t commit to the lengthy leases or inflexible terms involved in longer bookings.
Since then, SilverDoor has onboarded 2,577 properties with sub-30-day minimum stays and flexible in-house cancellation terms.
2. Cancellation Policies & Booking Terms
US:
Cancellation policies tend to be a lot stricter in the US compared to other regions around the world. Once the lease has been signed, you're generally liable for the entire stay.
UK:
In the UK, it’s a different story, it is generally a lot more relaxed and flexible. With sufficient notice, many agreements allow for early termination without the tenant being liable for the full remaining term. Refunds or reduced charges are often possible if the property can be re-let.
Cara Lingle, Vice President of Global Supply Chain and Sales at Synergy, shares how US cancellation policies are becoming more flexible and how Synergy by SilverDoor offers clients greater flexibility through accommodating terms...
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“Nowadays cancellation policies in the US are becoming much more flexible, to cater to a different demographic of traveller. These policies vary per jurisdiction but are certainly becoming more accommodating. With Synergy by SilverDoor, we are able to provide greater flexibility to our client base e.g providing more flexible terms. Providers that offer shorter term inventory options tend to align their cancelation policies more with hotels 24-72 hours to be competitive in both environments and maximize their revenue potentials”. Cara Lingle, Vice President, Global Supply Chain and Sales |
SilverDoor Tip:
Plans can change and sometimes last-minute cancellations are unavoidable, so SilverDoor will always work with the property provider and client to mitigate any potential charges. Bookers are advised to inform their account manager of any booking amendments as early as possible to avoid any cancellation fees.
3. NTV: Notice To Vacates
US:
Not to be confused with the cancellation policy, the Notice to Vacates (NTV) is a US centric policy. Many of our US corporate housing partners require a notice to vacate. Meaning the client/guest must give a 14- or 30-days’ notice (typical lengths) that they will be either vacating the apartment they're in, or they will be extending. However, in most states, 30 days is the minimum time required for a landlord to end or modify a month-to-month lease.
UK:
The concept of a formal Notice to Vacate is far less common in the serviced apartment and corporate housing sector. Instead, arrangements are typically governed by the agreed cancellation or amendment policy at the time of booking. Extensions are usually accommodated based on availability, and departures can often be adjusted with much shorter notice.
“NTV’s are becoming less strict, especially when based on the different traveller demographics and jurisdictions. In fact, we are seeing a trend of 7-14 days NTV vs the historical 30 days.
There are options that can be considered, such as form bookings with a start and end date, that don’t require NTV policies, however the downside of this is, if an extension is required, it will be solely based on availability”.
Robert Wyatt, Vice President, Global Client Partnerships.
SilverDoor’s Head Account Manager, Americas – Robert Carrick, relocated from the UK to the US over 6 years ago, giving him first-hand experience in both markets.
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“When booking through SilverDoor, we recommend that our clients establish a firm vacate date. This way, we don’t run the risk of them not giving the required notice to the property, meaning the lease automatically renews, causing the guest to be liable for a 30-day extension”. Robert Carrick, Head Account Manager, Americas |
4. Variation in amenities
US:
In the UK, serviced apartments often feature amenities such as co-working spaces, on-site gyms, and communal lounges, catering to both professional and lifestyle needs.
UK:
In the US, it’s common to find outdoor swimming pools, air conditioning, and larger leisure areas, features less frequently available in the UK. Depending on individual preferences, these differences can play an important role in the accommodation choice.
"A common difference in the product in the US is that majority of corporate housing is situated in multifamily developments or offer a combination of mixed use (short term and long term residential), these developments are primarily built for long term unfurnished tenants which provide a vast variety of amenities”.
Robert Wyatt, Vice President, Global Client Partnerships
5. Difference between serviced apartments and corporate housing
US:
A serviced apartment is self-contained, fully furnished temporary accommodation, offering all the comforts of a home. Typically, bookable on a night-by-night basis, with one or more bedrooms, a fully equipped kitchen, living area and an array of on-site facilities.
UK:
Corporate housing is more commonly used within the US and consists of furnished apartments, condominiums or single-family homes for people to use on a temporary basis. It is typically arranged for longer than 30 days but less than one year, with utilities and services included, and is most often used by relocating employees or those on extended business assignments.
Hear from Fernando Knapp, Partner Account Manager at SilverDoor, and Cara Lingle, Vice President of Global Supply Chain and Sales at Synergy, as they each share their perspectives on the differences in booking accommodation across the two regions...
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“Booking corporate accommodation works a bit differently in the US and the UK. In the US, stays are usually arranged on a 30+ day range in larger, furnished apartments that feel more residential and include utilities and require the signing of a lease. In the UK, they’re often referred to as serviced apartments, booked more like hotels on a nightly basis, with weekly housekeeping and VAT to factor in for shorter stays. Overall, the US setup is geared toward a more home-like experience for longer assignments, while the UK approach offers hotel-style flexibility for both short and extended visits”. Fernando Knapp, Partner Account Manager. |
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“In the US, we benefit from the flexibility to work with providers offering turnkey inventory, like what is available in the UK, that is resold to us as an agency provider. At the same time, we also have the option to engage directly with property management companies and individual property owners to customize apartments for longer-term stays, typically ranging from 90 days to 6 months. This is in addition to our established Synergy by SilverDoor core inventory”. Cara Lingle, Vice President, Global Supply Chain and Sales. |
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As we’ve seen, the U.S. tends to take a stricter approach, while the UK allows for slightly more flexibility. The benefit of booking with SilverDoor is that we’ll help ensure you’re fully prepared for these differences and, in many cases, help you avoid unnecessary rigidity altogether.
Now that you’re clued up on the key differences between booking in the U.S. and the UK, it’s time to put that knowledge into action. Book your next business trip with SilverDoor today.
