There are still many in India for whom accommodation means Hotel, and there are many who have not even heard of the Serviced apartment concept. Read my experience below and do try once and I am sure many would agree with me.

My Pain:

I often hear a statement “Oh the price is too high; I can stay in a Hotel for the same price”. I honestly hate to hear this comment. Let me explain why

My experience:

My Experience in a hotel:

When I was posted in Kolkata as Regional Service Manager of Whirlpool in 1999.

Before posting, I came to Kolkata in search of a house and the school for my son. I was accommodated in Hotel Kenilworth Shakespeare Sarani by my company.

I thought I would be able to complete my house hunting and School in a week’s time but then it took almost a month.

My initial few days stay in Kenilworth was excellent. The room was good but food was quite rich. Soon, I started eating street food on Russel street. My family also joined me after a week in the same room as the flat that we finalized opposite Calcutta Hospital, Alipore was still not furnished.

We visited our new rented flat almost daily to review work in progress and got friendly to a neighbor who then started dropping in at our hotel on weekends. We had a deal with them that you get us homely food and we will treat you with Hotel food.

Soon the room also started getting claustrophobic as my son wanted to watch TV and play, while my wife was busy calling and chatting with her friends and I had to work on my new assignment.

Conclusion we felt the space was limited for all 3 of us and the rich food was just not palatable and by the 3^rd week we all were desperate to move to our new home.

My experience in Serviced apartment:

My territory was region East and every month I used to visit Patna for a day or two.

My routine to Patna was I used to take an overnight train from Howrah Station. By 6 am I reach Patna railway station. I then used to head straight to Hotel Mayura, which was always booked in advance by my branch, located somewhere close to station in central market area.

Every time I entered the hotel, it would stink of damp carpet. Moment AC was turned on, the stink used to get dissolved somewhere. I would then start the day at 10 am visiting Dealers and partners. When I reached room in the evening as usual the team’s expectation was some drinks before we call off. Next day again finish the market visit and take a return night train back to Kolkata.

During the visits, I remember one of my Service partners requesting me to try and stay in the guest house where the RM of Sony also stayed. I used to turn him down politely as I was used to Hotel Mayura in spite of the Stink & average food. I don’t know why.

Once, I cannot remember the day and year, I landed up early morning at Hotel Mayura. To my surprise the reception said “Your booking is cancelled”. I got wild and started shouting till the manager said he is helpless as its Mr Lalu Prasad Yadav’s (then CM of Bihar) daughter wedding, all his relatives have barged in and occupied all the rooms. I was in a fix. I then remembered my service partner and he happily came over to the hotel and took me to his favorite guest house. I agreed reluctantly.

He took me in his car to a locality called Sri Krishna Puri. For the first time I was pleasantly surprised to know that Patna was such a beautiful city. My whole experience of the drive up to the bungalow was just WOW!. After my entry at the reception, I was taken to the terrace room. I was floored, no carpets, open windows and the whole room theme was wrought iron furniture. It was  love at first sight. The killer thing was yet to happen in Breakfast when I got excellent homely Puri Aaloo with chai.

Since that day and till I moved out to region North in 2001, I always stayed at that serviced apartment. I would plan my trip only if the room was available, else I used to tweak my journey date. Secret 😀

Cost Hotel vs Service Apartment:

The serviced apartment that I stayed in, was cheaper than the hotel in terms of room rent and food cost. However, there is still some misconception on the cost of stay in Service apartment vs Hotel. Here is my take

Manpower associated per guest in a Hotel is high. Because hotel offers many services like F&B, SPA, Massage, Saloon etc, recreational services like the swimming pool & Gymnasium and travel services. viz a viz serviced apartment which does not offer many of them. So, the cost of manpower in Hotel is high

Space used in a service apartment is higher than Hotel. Because a serviced apartment offers a complete home viz a viz just a room in a hotel. So if both options happen to be in the same upmarket area then the cost of space is higher in a serviced apartment

The concept of serviced apartment is a fully furnished accommodation 1/2/3 BHK. Wherein once a day housekeeping would be done, consumable replenished and rest is do it yourself.

But in India the serviced apartment started value add by offering a dedicated cook or a caretaker services for the kid etc.

During 2008’s recession, when the corporate wanted to reduce cost. They were ok if their employee stayed in a room without sharing but the adjacent room had some other guest. Then the serviced apartment was not operating as a serviced apartment any more. It was like a guest house but then the cost reduced which was acceptable to the corporate. This resulted in reduced price as the apartment was being shared and hence the perception that Serviced apartment is cheaper than a Hotel.

Today 90 percent of the serviced apartments operate like a guest house wherein just rooms are shared and all share a common living room.

My Conclusion:

I am not saying that all will undergo the same experience. I also know many of my friends who are more fascinated by the grand welcome given in the Hotel, large atrium and an elaborate buffet. But then there are some who preferred a homely stay with homely food. If you agree do put your comments below.