Serviced apartments are fully furnished units you can rent out for long or short stays. You can expect around 1-2 bedrooms, a bathroom, a living room, a kitchen and sometimes a laundry room. This accommodation is perfect for big groups or even when you're alone and the kicker is, it's much cheaper than luxury hotels.

But ever since the pandemic, there are certain things that have significantly impacted the service apartment industry, but not to worry, the changes applied aren't necessarily bad. If anything the pandemic pushed accommodations to be more innovative and efficient with their services.

So to give you an idea of how serviced apartments have changed ever since the pandemic, here's a rundown:

1 - Flexible cancellations

Due to the pandemic restrictions and abrupt uncertainties surrounding the pandemic, serviced apartments have adapted to being flexible with their cancellations. Yet some serviced apartments do not follow this new booking metric and still require a cancellation fee.

So if you happen to book with a serviced apartment that offers flexible cancellation, consider that as a green flag! That means they sympathize with their customers and know they understand when your plans have changed.

2 - Book now and pay later

Since the pandemic has made travelling pretty hard, most serviced apartments have adapted the “book now and pay later” metric. This is to not put any pressure on their customers and have to undergo a refund when pandemic conflicts arise.

3 - More mediums of contact

Because of the pandemic and the ‘no face-to-face contact', most serviced apartments have amped up their ways of contact. Today there are tons of ways to book with them, may it be through their hotline, through email, through their website, through their social media platforms, through booking applications and more.

4 - Health and safety protocols

Serviced apartments had to change quickly and strategically, putting strict health and safety measures in place to address the pandemic's extraordinary problems. These actions included a thorough redesign of their operational methods, improved cleaning and disinfection techniques, the smooth adoption of contactless check-in techniques, and the strict application of social distance laws.

They did this to comfort visitors as well as show their dedication to ensuring the safety of everyone who chooses to stay in their lodgings. This dedication included ongoing monitoring and adaptation to new regulations and scientific discoveries, guaranteeing that their visitors could remain safe and worry-free. 

5 - More long-term stays

A remarkable phenomenon in the serviced apartment sector arose in reaction to the first fall in short-term demand: an increase in enthusiasm for prolonged stays. People who had reduced their travel for work and pleasure started favouring serviced apartments as a preferred option for longer stays. The appeal of these lodgings resided in their capacity to offer, for a lengthy period of time, not only a safe and secure setting but also the comforts of home.  

Serviced apartment providers changed their marketing methods in response to this shift in customer behaviour, providing alluring incentives and adaptable packages that catered to the requirements of people looking for longer, home-away-from-home experiences.

As a result, some service providers discovered that they had a new audience that was ready to take advantage of the special benefits of serviced apartments for prolonged stays. These providers successfully diversified their business models to address the shifting market dynamics.

6 - Shift in guest demographic

During the epidemic, the kinds of visitors also altered. Instead of the conventional pleasure or business traveller, many travellers were critical employees, medical specialists, or those in need of a quarantine facility. And as remote work increased, some people started utilising serviced apartments as temporary workspaces, concealing the distinction between business and leisure travel.

7 - More special offers and discounts

Some providers of serviced apartments made adjustments by providing discounts for healthcare professionals or offering catering services for visitors who preferred not to eat out. To draw reservations, others started providing more lenient cancellation conditions.

Take away

It's crucial to remember that the effects of COVID-19 on serviced apartments vary based on the area, the intensity of the pandemic, and the particular market circumstances. Operators who responded quickly to changing conditions and put guests' safety first were better equipped to handle the difficulties the epidemic brought about.