When a company starts a project away from its usual base, accommodation can quickly become an important part of the planning.
Employees may need somewhere to stay for several weeks or months, project dates may change and different members of the team may arrive or leave at different times.
Choosing suitable project accommodation can make the experience easier for both the company organising the stay and the employees involved.
What Is Project Accommodation?
Project accommodation is temporary accommodation provided to employees or professionals who are working on a specific assignment away from home.
The requirement can arise in almost any industry.
Guests may include:
- Project managers
- Consultants
- Engineers
- Technical specialists
- IT professionals
- Managers
- Visiting executives
- Professional contractors
- Employees supporting a temporary assignment
Depending on the project, accommodation may be required for anything from a few nights to several months.
Why Longer Projects Need More Than a Hotel Room
Hotels can work extremely well for short business trips.
However, a project lasting several weeks is a different experience.
Employees need somewhere to sleep, but they also need somewhere to live.
A serviced apartment allows guests to prepare food, wash clothes, relax in a living room and enjoy considerably more space than they would usually have in a hotel bedroom.
These practical benefits become increasingly important as a project continues.
Accommodation for Colleagues Working Together
For some projects, two colleagues may need accommodation at the same time.
A two-bedroom serviced apartment can provide an effective solution.
Each colleague has their own bedroom while sharing the kitchen and living areas.
Ideally, accommodation intended for professional colleagues should also provide sufficient bathroom facilities.
St Andrews Apartments offers two-bedroom, two-bathroom apartments, providing greater privacy for guests sharing during a business assignment.
Location and Transport
Project teams may not necessarily work in one fixed location.
Employees could need to travel around Maidstone or elsewhere in Kent during the course of an assignment.
For this reason, road access and parking can be important considerations when selecting project accommodation.
Allocated parking provides guests with the convenience of knowing they have somewhere to leave their vehicle at the end of each day.
Wi-Fi and Working From the Apartment
Project work does not always finish when employees leave the workplace.
Guests may need to check emails, join online meetings, prepare reports or communicate with colleagues elsewhere.
Reliable Wi-Fi is therefore important for modern business accommodation.
Having a separate living or dining space can also make occasional remote working more comfortable than trying to work from a hotel bed or small desk.
Flexibility When Project Dates Change
One of the challenges of arranging accommodation for project staff is that project dates can change.
Assignments may be extended, delayed or completed earlier than originally expected.
For longer stays, communicating directly with the accommodation provider can make it easier to discuss availability and potential extensions.
It can also be useful to establish whether additional accommodation may be available if another team member needs to join the project.
Creating a Better Experience for Employees
Accommodation affects the employee experience of working away from home.
Providing somewhere spacious and comfortable can make an extended assignment considerably more pleasant.
Employees have room to relax in the evening, prepare their own meals and maintain a more normal daily routine.
For companies sending valued employees or senior professionals away for extended periods, the quality of accommodation is therefore worth considering carefully.
Project Team Accommodation at St Andrews Apartments
St Andrews Apartments provides serviced accommodation in Maidstone for project staff, business travellers and professionals working away from home.
Our apartments include:
- Two bedrooms
- Two bathrooms
- Fully equipped kitchens
- Separate living areas
- Wi-Fi
- Laundry facilities
- Allocated parking
- Options suitable for longer stays
If you are arranging accommodation for a project manager, employee, consultant or colleague, visit our Corporate Accommodation Maidstone page for more information.
For longer projects, please contact us directly with the number of guests, required dates and expected duration.
We may have additional availability that is not displayed through our online booking channels.