In the last few years, the property landscape has gone through quite a few changes. Trends, like the Zoom Boom, have come about from changes in the way people want to live and thus, where they want to live.
The aparthotel trend is a growing concept in the hospitality industry that combines elements of traditional hotels and apartment living. Aparthotels, also known as serviced apartments or extended stay hotels, offer guests the convenience and amenities of a hotel while providing them with more space, flexibility, and a homier feel typically associated with apartments.
This trend is being driven by the youth who want to live differently. It’s also stemmed from a growing number of remote workers who can travel, live and work wherever they want.
Think lock up and go, corporate crash pad, or work and play lifestyle.
The aparthotel trend has gained popularity in recent years as travellers increasingly seek alternatives to traditional hotels, and as more people recognize the benefits of having extra space and flexibility while maintaining access to hotel services. This trend has been particularly prominent in urban areas and business hubs, but it is expanding to various destinations worldwide.
Aparthotel living appeals to a wide demographic including students, young professionals, singles, seniors, weekend commuters and tourists.
“It’s all about well-designed smaller, personal spaces with big amenities and faclilities where they can live their social lives,” says Jonathan Liebmann, co-founder of BlackBrick. “This reduces their costs and gives them the lock-up-and-go flexibility they need to be mobile and feel free.” Jonathan has redeveloped over 100 buildings in the last 16 years and has experienced the full range of mixed-use property, which has resulted in deep insights into the next generation of human-centric real estate.
Jonathan is now one of the driving forces of BlackBrick, which is building a global network of culture led apartment hotels transforming the guest experience through technology, programming and design for independent thinkers to stay, work and move freely between cities.
“The aparthotel trend is causing people to look at property that places greater importance on prime location, accessibility and utility rather than the older model of standard suburban housing,” says Liebmann.
BlackBrick’s latest property, BlackBrick Bedford, is situated in Bedfordview Johannesburg; as central as it gets. Embodying the aparthotel theme, residents can pop into the restaurant, take a stroll in the botanical gardens or catch a game of padel – all on their doorstep.