City Focus-Madrid
As soon as you enter Madrid, you notice that the city has a kind of regal appearance. The buildings are grand, the streets are wide and it is in all sense of the word a true Capital. From the bustling Gran Via with all its large shops and designer brands to the majestic Plaza Mayor, where you can sit and drink "cafe con leche" in the sunshine, whilst the world passes you by.
It has not always been like this. There is no mention of Madrid in the chronicles until the late 10th Century, when there was mention of a Moorish castle on a site called Mayrit (source of water). The Moors ruled the town until late 11th Century. In centuries to follow Madrid has been in many wars not least with Napoleon.
The Royal Palace (Zarzuela Palace) was built on the site of the Moorish Castle and was completed in 1760. The city is steeped in history and has a number of worthwhile locations to visit, such as the Palace, Parque Retiro, The Prado Museum and many more.
The Apartment Service offers a large number of serviced apartments in Madrid. For more information please visit our website.
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To ALL our apartment managers: If you want your apartments to feature in one of the next issues of our news letter, please email Bard Vos to discuss the terms and conditions.
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For more information and availability on any apartments please call reservations +44 (0)20 8944 1444 or visit our website.
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News in February:
EUROPE
* The Apartment Service is exhibiting at the Business Travel Show, which will be held in London´s Earls Court Exhibition Centre from the 5th-7th February. We look forward to welcoming you at stand 540!
* Merchant Living in Liverpool has signed the management contract to operate 24 serviced apartments, situated above the Malmaison Hotel in Princes Dock.
* Bridgestreet Worldwide has been awarded the management contract for Atellier Apartments. This newly constructed development of 24 studios, one - and two bedroom apartments is located in London´s jewellery quarter in Hatton Gardens.
* "A Space in the City" offers 15% discount on all its two and three bedroom apartments in Swansea and Cardiff, throughout February. For more information or to book, please contact The Apartment Service, on +44-(0)20-8944 1444 , or send an email to res@apartment.co.uk
MIDDLE/FAR EAST
* The Grosvenor House - Dubai has been named the "World´s Leading Hotel Serviced Apartments"
Grosvenor House Dubai has 217 rooms and suites and 205 luxurious and well appointed, fully furnished apartment suites. The one, two and three-bedroom apartment suites are available on a short or long term lease and feature the same tasteful, understated décor and facilities of the hotel in a more permanent setting. For additional privacy, residents benefit from their own separate entrance and luxurious lobby featuring full reception and concierge service. 24 hour room service is merely a phone call away and the world-class restaurants and bars of Grosvenor House Dubai just steps from their door
* Jin Jiang Hotels has signed a management contract with Shanghai Expo for 900 serviced apartments in Shanghai Expo Village. The apartments will be ready by the middle of 2009, in time for Shanghai Expo 2010.
* InterContinental Hotel Group (IHG) and Aldar Properties have signed an agreement to develop a number of IHG branded properties in Abu Dhabi. At the moment a Crowne Plaza with 430 rooms and apartments and a Staybridge Suite hotel with 165 apartments are planned, with more to follow.
* The Serviced Apartments Association in Singapore has proposed to lift the minimum stay requirement of 7 nights. "Singapore has 37000 hotel rooms and 3500 serviced apartments and the customers should have the choice to stay in a serviced apartment also for one night, if they wish", according to Alfred Ong, the president of the association.
* The Ascott Group is moving the Citadines brand into Australia. They are investing AUD136m in the Citadines Melbourne on Bourke, a 398 unit property which will be ready in 2010.
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ARTICLE OF THE MONTH
Travel searchers are becoming more brand fickle: study
20 million people in the UK utilised search engines for travel information in the first quarter of 2007, according to a study about online consumer behaviour in the travel sector. (1/11/2008)
The study, by Google UK and comScore, Inc., indicated that consumers are using search engines in more sophisticated ways to research and purchase travel in the UK.
Google UK's Robin Frewer, Industry Leader, Travel said that the research proves travel searchers are becoming more brand fickle -- spending a large amount of time researching their desired purchase, and considering offers from competing brands.
"The fact that users are using more generic search queries gives ample opportunity for brands to attract new customers -- and brands that are not present during these searches are missing out on sales," said Frewer.
"Online research and more specifically search has become a critical first step for consumers considering purchases," said Bob Ivins, EVP of European Markets for ComScore. "By studying the entire online purchase path from first search to actual transaction we are able to quantify the importance of that first search and subsequent searches, and help marketers impact purchase decision. We are delighted to have had the opportunity to leverage ComScore's global Internet usage and e-commerce tracking systems to help Google better understand how customers behave during the purchase cycle."
Key findings include:
-- On average, consumers take nearly a month to go from their first search to a purchase
On average, customers make 12 travel related searches, visit 22 websites and take 29 days from the first time they search until they make a purchase. 45% of transactions occur four weeks or more after the first search. The time spent online is lengthy, representing a prolonged opportunity for advertisers to reach and influence consumers while they search for information.
-- On average travelers visit the purchase website 2.5 times
Most shoppers visit the site they eventually purchase from more than once, averaging 2.5 visits. For tour operators this was significantly higher at 3.9. Just 10% of the transactions take place on the first search referral to a given site, and 38% of transactions happen at four weeks or more after the first visit. Travel companies face a growing challenge to retain the online consumer as the proliferation of competition encourages travel customers to shop around.
-- Generic search terms play a significant role in the consumer journey to purchase
Many travel businesses could be missing out on the opportunity for additional bookings and branding opportunities by overlooking the value of advertising against generic search terms.
54% of online travel buyers started the shopping process with a generic product or destination search term, and 10% did not use branded terms at all during their online travel shopping experience. Importantly, over a third of travel buyers use a generic term as the last search before they purchase, giving advertisers a key window to influence their purchase right up until the last minute.
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Executive Roomspace/Roomspace Serviced Apartments Availability Update:
The newest locations for Roomspace Serviced Apartments..........
Watling Street, London EC4
A newly refurbished development with one - and two bedroom apartments, in a great location with shops and restaurants just a stone´s throw away. The nearest underground station is Mansion House, 2 minutes walk for the Circle and District Lines, or Bank to gain access to the Central Line.
These apartments are available now. Rates start from £880 per week.
Also available as from now:
Sterling House
A selection of one bedroom apartments in Holborn, close to Chancery Lane underground station, on the edge of the West end and the City of London. Fantastically located and at a great price: £950 per apartment per week
All apartments are fully furnished and equipped to the highest standards with all modern conveniences. The rate quoted includes all utility bills, apart from telephone calls. A once a week cleaning service is included.
To enquire about these, or any of the other apartments offered by The Apartment Service, please phone our reservations team on 020-89441444 , or send us an email. Or you can visit our website.
Roomspace Serviced Apartments, minimum stay: 7 nights, offers the following locations for your accommodation needs: Birmingham, Brighton, Croydon, Epsom, Farnborough, Guildford, Leatherhead, London City, London Docklands, Southampton, Wimbledon.
We have special February availability in the following locations:
Groveland House - The City (London): studio apartments from £790 per week and one bedroom apartments from £880 per week
Executive Roomspace, with minimum stays of 1 month is available in a wide selection of locations. For February we do have availability in Minster Court in Reading (One bedroom apartments from £575 per week and two bedroom apartments from £675 per week). More information on them can be found on our website www.roomspace.com.
Special and rare availability also in Howard House (Marylebone-London) with minimum stay of 90 days in one bedroom apartments (£875 per week), two bedroom apartments (from £1060 per week) and three bedroom apartments (£1195 per week)
All rates quoted are per apartment per week and inclusive of all bills (excluding telephone and VAT) and a weekly service clean. And of course, all our apartments are fully furnished and equipped to the highest standard.
Please call +44 (0) 20 8944 1444 for more information or send an email to Tracy Barlow, Reservations Manager.
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Feedback:
We hope you enjoy this newsletter. Please send your feedback to tasnews@apartment.co.uk
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Contact:
Bard Vos - Marketing
The Apartment Service,
5-6 Francis Grove,
London, SW19 4DT
Tel. +44 (0)20 8947 3003 (Marketing)
Tel. +44 (0)20 8944 1444 Fax.+44 (0) 208 944 6744 (Reservations)
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