Pearson New International Edition International pcl tp indd 1

FRONT OFFICE SEMANTICS
Extended-stay hotel:
Mid-price limited-service hotel marketing to guests desiring accommodations for
extended time periods (generally a week or longer).
All-suite hotel:
Lodging property in which all guestrooms are suites.
Suite:
Hotel guestroom in which the living area is separated from the sleeping area.
A typical extended-stay hotel consists of 80 to 100 medium to very large suites.
Many offer a fitness center and a swimming pool or spa. The guestrooms are usu-
ally 350 (or more) square feet in size and typically include a living area, recliner-type
chair, coffee table, television with remote control and cable, voice mail with free local
calls, and a computer data port. Foodservice amenities include a separate kitchen
with a coffeemaker, refrigerator, microwave, cooking and dining utensils, a stove, and
a dining table with chairs. The sleeping area generally has a king- or queen-size bed
and a dresser; also, there may be an additional pull-out sleeper sofa in the suite.
The objective of an extended-stay facility is to make guests feel as at home as
possible during their (extended) stay. This is accomplished by the exterior and inte-
rior architecture of the hotel facility itself, by the design of guestrooms and suites, and
by the service levels provided by the hotel’s staff.
The advantages of staying in an extended-stay hotel instead of, for example, an
apartment include regular housekeeping services, complimentary breakfasts (in many
properties), and free use of amenities such as a swimming pool and exercise facilities.
In addition, an extended-stay hotel guest does not incur the cost of utility deposits
(e.g., telephone, electricity, gas, water, and cable) normally incurred by an apartment
dweller. Extended-stay guests, especially those who are not sure how long they will
be in the community, appreciate the lack of long-term leases. For many guests, then,
advantages of staying in a hotel outweigh a cost per night that may be somewhat
higher than the costs of an apartment.
Why might a guest need or want to stay at a hotel for a long period of time?
Consider, for instance, a family whose home has been damaged by a fire. The family
probably did not intend to become long-term guests, but it is likely to be several
weeks (or more) before the family home is repaired. Consider a retired couple who
stays for several months in the same hotel to enjoy recreational activities, restaurants,
and shopping. Other typical guests may be privately employed subcontractors,
corporate employees on extended assignments, people relocating or building or
remodeling a home, and travelers on long-term vacations. Whether they stay because