Serviced apartments at your service

Serviced apartments at your service
The TImes of India

Bangalore: The city has seen serviced apartments, and plenty of them in the past two years. Many local houseowners have made a killing converting their flats into such apartments.

But what’s on the anvil are in a different class altogether. Luxury serviced apartments — some of them are top international names in this segment like Oakwood, Hilton Residences and Shangri-La Hotels — are entering Bangalore to cater to the increasing number of long-staying business travellers. They offer the luxuries of a premium hotel, but at prices that are significantly lower (the longer the stay, higher the discount). They pamper you, especially your family, when you are away at work. And they make you feel you’ve never left home.

“Bangalore should be able to support several thousand serviced apartments in the three to five-star category. In my talks with companies in the US, I find Bangalore one of the most requested destinations in Asia for serviced apartments,” says Robert Philips, director (sales & marketing) in Oakwood Asia Pacific. The latter is setting up a 218-unit luxury serviced apartment complex in UB City with Prestige Estates.

Places like New York and Bangkok have 4,000-5,000 such apartments each. Mumbai has seen such apartment properties like Taj Wellington Mews, Grand Hyatt Residences and The Grand Residence, Intercontinental.

In Bangalore, Hilton International recently announced a tie-up with the Embassy Group to set up a 250-unit Hilton Residences, offering one, two and three bedroom options, next to KGA golf course. The project is to be completed by 2007.

Adarsh Group managing director B.M. Jayeshankar says his company, along with Hong Kong-based Shangri-La Hotels, is setting up a 200-unit Shangri-La Retreat on the Outer Ring Road near Marthahalli — to be completed in two-and-a-half years.

Several other leading local developers are also setting up premiumserviced apartments; some of them are in talks with global majors like Singapore-based Ascot to manage the properties.

Serviced apartment guests have a different set of needs compared to hotel ones. Given the long stay, the kitchen becomes a major focus. Since many come with families, activities are arranged for the spouse and children.

Help with schooling is provided, as is transport (the Oakwood property will even boast of a helipad). “Those staying for several months may like to rearrange their furniture, and we help with that too,” says Robert Philips.

AT A PREMIUM
Oakwood Premier Prestige: 218 units, UB City
Hilton Residences (with Embassy Group): 250 units, next to KGA
Shangri-La Retreat (with Adarsh Group): 200 units, Outer Ring Road
Sobha Group: 150 units, Sarjapur Road
Brigade Group (Homestead): 3 properties of 60-70 units each in Koramangala and Jayanagar
Vaswani Group: 150 units in Whitefield and 65 units in city centre