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Anjali Prayag

A view of Stay&Work, a service apartment.

BANGALORE, May 20

THE IT boom and the consequent globalisation have spawned many new lifestyle trends. The city is now witnessing the growth of a new concept in the hospitality sector — the `service apartment'.

Currently six options are available in the city and more are in the offing. According to Mr Shrinivas Rao, Vice-President, Equiscorp, a corporate real estate services company, "It's the `BPO/call centre' boom that has pushed the hotel industry and residential developers across major metros to explore the concept of `service apartments'. This is a concept essentially borrowed from the US and South-East Asia.

"It's a cost-effective alternative to a hotel stay," says Ms N.S. Shetty, Chief Executive, Stay & Work @ Infantry.

At Stay & Work, currently six apartments (both single and two-beds) are operational and Ms Shetty hopes to add six more apartments, in addition to a health club and a business centre by the end of the year.

Homestead, promoted by the Brigade Group, offers 23 apartments with a choice of two and three bedroom accommodation along with a health club and two party areas.

Ms Shetty explains that most people got into the business earlier because they had a couple of apartments vacant after selling residential flats.

"We are trying to change that concept by making our services more professional. We have a laundry service, a room cleaning service, a food delivery service, etc."

In other words, these offerings are being made to lure the guests away from a hotel stay.

With tariffs ranging between Rs 1,500 for a single bedroom and Rs 3,000 plus per day for a three bed, these are considered better options for a longer stay in the city.

Though most `service apartment' owners are targeting corporate guests visiting Bangalore for more than two-three days, there are some families too who book these condominiums either for a wedding or during hospitalisation of a relative.

But there could be some factors that could hinder the growth of this industry. Primary among them is security.

According to Mr S.N. Nagendra, General Manager, HDFC, Bangalore, "If issues such as security, services offered and pricing are taken care of, then the concept would be better accepted among travellers," he feels.

Explains Mr Rao, "There's one difference in the way this business is growing in India. In the West, it's the hotels that are converting some of their suites into service apartments for their long staying guests. Here it's either builders or apartment owners that are venturing into the business."

But taking a cue from these early birds, he says, hotels in Bangalore too are putting together plans to offer this facility to guests.

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