A Travel Manager’s Guide to Corporate Housing

As a travel manager, you likely have your hands full. After all, you’re in charge of a lot. There’s handling and overseeing everyone’s travel arrangements via corporate housing. Then there’s managing your relationships with various vendors and other travel agencies. And on top of all that, you’re in charge of implementing policies for your employer. 

Sometimes it may seem you haven’t had a chance to come up for air! You may not be able to find a shortcut for everything. But there are ways to make your job and life more manageable. 

This article will provide some tips on how arranging corporate housing can go more smoothly. Corporate housing is likely a big part of your job, so it’s vital to get it right! 

Keep these suggestions in mind as you arrange temporary housing for your company. 

1. Get the Travel Dates and Details in Advance 

If possible, see if whoever gets you the details can get you everything you need to know about the trip early. 

For example, every year some employees in your company travel out of the country to work on a project. Since they’ll be traveling out of the country, the sooner you get the details, the better. 

Some traveling team members may be traveling within the United States. Even so, it’s still ideal for knowing everything about the trip as soon as possible. A few things you’ll need to know is the length of the trip and what type of housing to get. 

As the travel manager in your company, speak up and be assertive. Your boss will be impressed that you’re requesting information ahead of time. 

Getting their housing taken care of is one of the first steps you should take. After all, they need somewhere to stay during the project! 

2. Compare Different Housing Options 

There’s a lot that goes into corporate housing. And since it’s a huge undertaking, you may feel tempted to select the first apartment that looks good. However, before choosing the first corporate housing you come across, it’s wise to do some homework. 

Comparing different housing options is essential. You don’t want team members to fly across the country only to complain to your boss. They may not have the amenities promised, and the location is less than stellar! 

To ensure they live in the best housing available, look at all options available. Of course, you want the employees to be comfortable. And you want to show your boss that you took your time finding the best possible housing. 

3. Contact the Property Owner 

You may have found corporate housing that checks all the boxes. And, the apartment complex appears to have everything you need. It has the right appliances, big enough square footage, and it’s affordable. 

Yet, it’s a good idea to ensure you’re not missing anything. You may still have some questions before reserving the apartments. 

There’s a contact form, but It’s hard to have all your questions answered online. It’s often best to make a phone call instead of waiting to hear back from an email. 

While researching apartments, for instance, consider reaching out to the property manager. They’ll be able to answer any questions before you move forward with the housing. 

It’s likely easy to book housing online. But make it a priority to speak to the property owner before pulling the trigger. Talking to them will ensure all questions get answered before moving forward. 

4. Confirm Housing a Few Weeks Prior to Travel 

If a trip is coming up for specific team members, don’t forget to confirm all travel details before they leave. This includes making sure that corporate housing is all set. 

At the time of booking, everything was squared away. Unfortunately, though, mistakes do happen. For example, the apartment complex or house may not have all the information they need. 

Giving them a call and reconfirming everything is in order is vital. If someone didn’t follow through with something, your job could be on the line. So, taking a few extra minutes to call and make sure everything is a go will save everyone a lot of trouble. 

5. Consider Going with a Corporate Housing Partner 

Your hands may be full with managing vendor relationships and developing policies. And having to arrange corporate housing on top of everything else is pushing you over the edge. 

To speed up the process, consider working with a corporate housing partner. A partner can provide temporary housing solutions that fit your budget. Plus, they can stay on top of other details like making sure the house or apartment has the amenities you need. 

You’re already having to keep track of different groups that are traveling. So, naturally, it’s nice having their housing taken care of. Having a corporate housing partner will significantly lighten your load. 

Conclusion

Corporate housing is just one aspect of your job as a traveler manager. But arranging where employees will live during different projects can seem like a job all on its own! 

These tips should help you be more productive and hurry the process. Work hard to get corporate housing down to a science. Then, all your other job responsibilities will seem like a piece of cake!