Dear WuBookers, among the recent forms of hospitality there is one that, for some years now, has been having particular success: the aparthotel. What is this new type of hospitality and how does it differ from the others? Most importantly, how to go about opening one? Let’s see it together.

Aparthotel: what it is and how it works

What is an aparthotel? The name comes from the combination of the English terms “apartment” and “hotel” and indicates a property that combines the features of an apartment with the services of a hotel.  

Aparthotel guests stay, in accommodations (studios or larger rooms) that are complete, i.e., also equipped with a kitchen or kitchenette where meals can be prepared independently. Moreover, this is supplemented by the typical comforts of hotel properties such as housekeeping, towel and linen changes, and Reception services. 

Usually aparthotels also offer a number of additional extras, either free or for a fee, which vary depending on the property. Some services include, for example:

• private parking spots;
• the swimming pool, which tends to be in shared use;
• The spa, gym or wellness center (also offered in hybrid form, with some treatments free and others for a fee);
• Outdoor spaces that are exclusive or open to all, such as gardens or terraces; 
• Dedicated areas to relax, socialize or work;

Moreover, in many cases, the possibility of accommodating pets is also provided.

The aparthotel is thus a solution that offers quite a few advantages to travelers, especially in terms of flexibility and cost.

The main benefits for guests

As mentioned above, the first difference between a classic hotel room and aparthotel is the presence of a kitchen: an extra opportunity for guests who prefer to manage their meals by themselves (also avoiding the fixed hours of the hotel restaurant) and save money on eating out.  

Also, in most cases, check-in and check-out of aparthotels have less strict schedules than hotels. The window of time for arrival at the property is usually between 2:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. and departure by 12:00 p.m., unlike the hotel where one usually has to leave the room around 10:00 a.m. to allow all rooms to be cleaned for the arrival of new guests.

Lastly, the price of an aparthotel stay tends to be lower than in a hotel. If in hotels (or other properties that offer breakfast, half-board, or full-board) the rate is calculated per person, aparthotel costs are flat-rate with respect to days of stay for a maximum number of guests.

In short, these are versatile accommodations that combine the convenience of luxury hotel realities with the advantages of non-hotel ones. And which, because of this, attract different types of travelers.  

What is the typical clientele of aparthotels?

Because of its flexible nature, aparthotel is an ideal accommodation for targets such as families and groups of friends, but it is also an excellent compromise in the case of people traveling for business.

Families can count on lodging that has all the benefits of home, even on vacation. In fact, the aparthotel replicates the home environment, with separate rooms providing privacy and shared spaces for communal moments. The fully equipped kitchen allows for autonomy for all meals, which is especially useful when there are children, who may have specific dietary needs or different schedules than adults.

Just like families, groups of friends may appreciate a solution with private spaces and shared rooms in which to spend time all together. The aparthotel offers all this, but without the need for guests to do the cleaning and tidying up. 

Finally, people who travel for business often need accommodation where they can work, hold a meeting, or connect via video conference. The aparthotel property is perfect for meeting these needs as well.

What is the difference between aparthotel, residence and hotel?

Having come this far, a question may arise: what is the difference between aparthotel and residence? And between hotel and residence? Let’s go over it together.

The hotel offers different types of rooms with rates that include, or do not include, additional services such as breakfast or spa access and the like (usually offered as upsells).

Residences, on the other hand, include accommodations such as apartments, cottages or bungalows set within a resort. In this case, cleaning – and sometimes meals – are the responsibility of the client; any swimming pools, playgrounds, restaurants, and gyms, however, are shared and may or may not be included in the rate.

 The aparthotel is more similar to a vacation home in terms of type of accommodation but offers exclusive access to certain areas and provides some typical hotel services, such as housekeeping or a welcome kit. It can be located indiscriminately within city centers or in more suburban areas.

How to open an aparthotel: the steps and tools needed

We have talked about the features and benefits for guests of an aparthotel. All that remains at this point is to understand what steps are required to open one and what bureaucratic requirements must be fulfilled. 

First of all, it is necessary to locate a building suitable for the purpose, check its condition and understand, based on the regulations in place, what work needs to be done in order for everything to be in compliance with regard to usability, safety and hygiene. After passing the checks of the competent authorities, if everything is in order you will get the clearances to be able to start the activity.

Therefore, in order to open an aparthotel, it is necessary to: 

• register for a VAT number;
• subscribe to the Companies Registry;
• Report the start of the activity;
• Provide employment contracts for future employees.

Moreover, it is essential to think of a marketing strategy to promote the property and organize a business plan to properly plan income and expenses. Moreover, for this activity to become effectively profitable, it is necessary to have the right management and control tools.

Zak, the PMS for aparthotel management 

As anticipated, on the hotelier side the aparthotel functions in every way like a traditional hotel and involves similar requirements and procedures. These include reservations, inventory and rate management, personalization of the offer, and distribution on channels such as OTAs and metasearch.

All essential aspects that can be governed in a compact and automated way through property management software (PMS) such as Zak, the all-in-one software by WuBook.

Thanks to the integration of specific modules and functionalities designed for the hotel industry, Zak allows you to control accommodation availability, registration and communication with customers, housekeeping management, sales on online portals, verifying data and performance over time. All from a single panel equipped with simple interfaces that can be customized according to different needs.

A necessary tool for anyone who is about to open a new accommodation business or wants to improve the management of their existing one, aparthotels included.