Corporate Housing: Serving Business Travelers and Relocations

Corporate housing clients fall into several categories, each with different needs and booking patterns. Relocation companies place employees who are moving to a new city and need 30-90 days of furnished housing while they find permanent accommodation. Insurance companies need temporary housing for families displaced by fire, flood, or other disasters; these stays can run 60-180 days. Project-based companies (construction, consulting, healthcare staffing) need housing for teams deployed to specific locations for weeks or months. Understanding these segments helps you tailor your outreach and property setup.

Property standards for corporate housing are higher than for typical vacation rentals. Expect to provide hotel-quality linens, a fully stocked kitchen, reliable high-speed internet, in-unit laundry, a workspace, and a clean modern aesthetic. Corporate guests compare your property against extended stay hotels like Residence Inn and Homewood Suites, so your furnishing and cleanliness standards need to meet or exceed that benchmark. Standardize your setup across properties so you can promise a consistent experience regardless of which unit a corporate client books.

Getting your first corporate clients requires direct outreach. Start with local relocation companies: search for "[your city] relocation services" and reach out to introduce your portfolio. Contact insurance adjusters at regional offices of major insurers (State Farm, Allstate, USAA) who handle claims requiring temporary housing. Join your local chamber of commerce and attend networking events where HR managers and office administrators gather. The corporate housing industry runs on relationships, not OTA listings.

Pricing for corporate housing should be 10-25% above your standard monthly rate. Corporate clients value reliability and professionalism over finding the cheapest option, and their budgets reflect that. However, offer volume discounts for clients who book multiple units or commit to a certain number of booking nights per quarter. A corporate client who books 4 units for 60 days each is worth far more than the per-night discount you give them.

Invoicing and payment processes must meet corporate accounting standards. Companies need itemized invoices with property address, guest name, dates of stay, nightly rate, total charges, and applicable taxes, all on a professional document with your business information and tax ID. Most corporate clients pay on net-30 terms, meaning you receive payment 30 days after invoicing. Hostaway's invoicing tools let you generate professional invoices that meet these requirements and track payment status across accounts.

Build a corporate housing page on your direct booking website that speaks to business decision-makers, not individual travelers. Highlight your property count, locations, standard amenities, and the services you provide (dedicated account manager, 24/7 maintenance response, flexible lease terms). Include testimonials from corporate clients if possible. Make it easy for a relocation coordinator to request a quote for multiple properties and dates with a single form submission.

Mid-stay service quality determines whether a corporate client rebooks. Assign a dedicated point of contact for each corporate account. Respond to maintenance requests within 4 hours during business days. Schedule a biweekly cleaning for stays longer than 30 days; corporate guests expect this and their companies budget for it. Send a brief satisfaction check-in to both the guest and the corporate booker at the two-week mark. These touchpoints catch problems early and demonstrate the professional service level that corporate clients pay a premium for.

Retaining corporate accounts is far more valuable than acquiring new ones. After each completed stay, send a summary report to your corporate contact: dates of stay, total charges, and a brief note confirming a smooth experience. Ask for feedback and whether they have upcoming housing needs. Offer a loyalty rate for repeat accounts; even a 5% discount signals that you value the relationship. Over time, your best corporate clients will send you bookings proactively, creating a steady revenue stream that requires minimal marketing effort to maintain.