What Corporations Need to Know about Intermediate Length Occupancy Housing Codes
Like many extended stay business travelers, you may find yourself staying in a serviced apartment, such as those offered by Synergy Global Housing. You’ll have everything you need for a long-term stay: furnishings, a full kitchen, housewares, linens, 24/7 guest service and more. However, there’s always room to make your business travels even more efficient, comfortable and productive.
We’ve rounded up numerous resources that digital nomads love, divided into categories, that business travelers like you can benefit from as well. Take advantage of them on your next trip.
Must-Bring Items
Vacuum bags
Need to pack a hefty coat or jacket, or even a puffer? Use vacuum storage bags to compress them so they don’t take up your whole suitcase. Most come with a small hand pump, perfect for travel.
Noise-canceling headphones
Just like at home, there’s never a guarantee that your workspace during travel will be quiet. Thankfully, you don’t have to don a clunky pair of bucket-style cans: today’s noise-canceling headphones are slim and sleek. Get yourself a pair of AirPods Pro, Bose QuietComfort® Earbuds, or any of these alternatives.
Laptop stand
A laptop doesn’t have to be on your lap, or even flat on a surface. Being able to elevate and adjust your laptop can vastly improve your ergonomics while on the road, and you can do so with a laptop stand. The one appearing most frequently on digital nomad blogs is the Roost V3, or any similar products by Roost.
Wireless mouse
Using a mouse can make all the difference when it comes to precision and dexterity on your laptop. Stay minimalist and go with a wireless one, for which you can’t beat Logitech. Your filthy touchpad will thank you.
Long charging cables
Most of us have a standard 1-meter charging cable for our smartphone, but savvy travelers know to pack a 2-meter or even a 3-meter cable as well. You never know where your nearest outlet is going to be, and we all love being able to use our phone in bed while charging it.
Getting Around
On an extended stay business trip, the travel doesn’t end when you reach your destination. Here are some great solutions for transportation and finding your way around during your stay.
Turo
Looking for an alternative to traditional rental car companies? Turo is like Airbnb for cars, in that you rent a car directly from the car’s owner. It’s available in major cities across the US, as well as Vancouver, Montreal, Toronto and London (all cities Synergy serves, by the way!).
Uber One / Lyft Pink
We all know Uber and Lyft, but did you know they each offer memberships? Uber One is $9.99/month and gets you 5% off Uber rides, 5% off Uber Eats orders and other perks. Lyft Pink is $19.99/month and gets you 15% off Lyft rides, priority airport pickups and more. Use the services enough and the membership will pay for itself.
Google Maps (with a hack)
You can’t beat Google Maps for directions, especially when it comes to public transit. And there’s a great hack for international travel or poor reception: find out how to use the app offline. It’ll save you on international data fees – and frustration.
Rome2rio
Sometimes you just need to figure out the best way to get from point A to point B, but your usual maps application isn’t cutting it. Rome2rio will help you plan a route to where you need to be, even if it involves multiple modes of transportation: car, bus, train, bike, walking, ferry or plane.
Work & Productivity
Put the “business” in business travel with the help of these resources for working on the go.
ExpressVPN
Using a virtual private network, or VPN, is a good idea no matter where you’re working from. When traveling for work and using unfamiliar WiFi networks, like in a hotel or coffee shop, it’s even more important.
ExpressVPN is a favorite among many, not just digital nomads. It costs as little as $8.32/month, and is a frequent advertiser on podcasts – listen in to your favorites and look out for a discount code. NordVPN also tops many lists.
Workfrom
A change of scenery from time to time is a great way to keep the creative juices flowing and break up your workday. When the need arises, use the search functionality offered by Workfrom, which allows you to find places to work nearby! You can filter by which establishments have power outlets, fast WiFi, late-night hours and more.
World Time Buddy
What time is it? What day is it? Business travel across time zones can be disorienting, and it’s important to know your local time and that of your colleagues.
World Time Buddy is a popular solution that allows you to see world times in a simple visual format, convert time zones and even schedule meetings. No more accidentally Slacking your coworker when it’s 2am where they are.
Google Workspace
Most of us are familiar with Google Docs, Sheets, Slides, etc. However, you’d be amazed by how many (free!) apps and tools Google Workspace offers, all cloud-based, including but not limited to:
- Google Drive – Cloud storage up to 1TB
- Google Flights – Search for flights across multiple airlines, all at once
- Google Calendar – Create shared calendars
- Google Meet – Video and voice calls
- Google Forms – Generate and distribute simple forms or surveys
- Google Keep – Maintain notes, lists, photos, audio, drawings and more
All of these apps can be accessed on desktop or mobile, for the ultimate on-the-go productivity.
Health & Wellness
Work-life balance still matters when you’re on business travel. Stay physically and mentally well while away from home with these resources.
Classpass
Although it’s evolved a bit over the years, Classpass is still going strong. Here’s how it works: first, choose a plan that allots you a number of credits per month, ranging from 6 to 80 credits. Then, use your credits to attend classes at local fitness establishments (yoga, spin, crossfit, etc.) or for open gym time.
Here’s the best part: you can also use credits for beauty and wellness treatments, such as manicures, haircuts or massage! Participating establishments are located all over the world, so it’s great to use while traveling.
Teladoc
Ask your healthcare provider if they offer Teladoc, or a similar telehealth service. It’s a tremendous benefit during travel when you need to speak with your doctor, and you can usually secure an appointment on short notice – even same-day. If you need medication, your provider can prescribe you what you need via video call and have it sent to a local pharmacy.
Calm
Move over Headspace, hello Calm. This increasingly popular meditation app can help you get better sleep, reduce stress and anxiety, improve your focus and more. Plus, who wouldn’t want to drift off to a calming Sleep Story read by Matthew McConaughey? Try it free for seven days, after which a premium subscription is $14.99/month.
Food
Whether you prefer to go out, stay in or a little of both, these foodie and traveler-approved resources will keep you well-fed during extended stay business travel.
Eater
You may think Yelp is the go-to site for finding the best local restaurants, but real foodies know that’s not the case. Many Yelp reviews are written by tourists, not locals, and people are generally more likely to write about negative experiences than positive ones on review sites. Instead, see if the city you’re staying in has an Eater site. Eater has a pulse like no other on local restaurant scenes, from ethnic eateries to fine dining.
The Infatuation
The Infatuation is another great food site for honest reviews, guides and features on local restaurants. With coverage in nearly 50 cities, including international ones, there’s even more to love. Follow them on Instagram, too – they have an account for almost every city they cover!
Meal kit delivery services
Those staying in a serviced apartment or other extended-stay housing are fortunate to have access to a full kitchen. Being able to cook your own meals is a huge plus, and meal kit delivery services can make it a whole lot more convenient. The ingredients for each meal come in just the right amounts, so you’re not stuck buying a bundle of carrots when all you need is a single carrot. Travel blogger Cory Lee lists even more reasons it’s great for digital nomads and extended stay business travelers. There are too many options to name just one, so check out Bon Appétit’s top favorites.
Community
Creating a sense of community is worth the effort no matter where you are, and for how long. Use these tools to help you connect with others during your travels, either online or in-person.
Reddit is one of the best places on the internet for people from all over to discuss topics and share resources. Because it’s less commercialized, you’ll find some of the most honest and real insights. Topics are divided into what are called subreddits.
For instance, there’s a subreddit on business travel, one on travel hacks and one for digital nomads. You can also find subreddits for almost any country, city or neighborhood in the world. Just use Reddit’s search bar to find subreddits, or individual posts.
Meetup
Who says you can’t make friends during business travel? It’s important to socialize and meet new people outside of work, even in a city you’re only staying in temporarily. Meetup is where people go to do just that. Use the site or the app to find in-person meetups near you, or host your own!
Nextdoor
You may use Nextdoor at home, but why not use it away from home too? Download the app and find the neighborhood you’re staying in, then get to know your temporary neighbors and the community. Members use it to share information and resources, ask question.
Other
We couldn’t let you go without mentioning these resources, which can save you a lot of hassle.
Dark Sky
No one can perfectly predict the weather – but Dark Sky comes pretty close. The hyper-accurate, hyper-local weather app can tell you down to the minute when to expect rain, snow, sun, clouds, etc.
When you’re traveling and unfamiliar with the local climate, this level of accuracy is key. You can even enable push notifications to know just when to whip out your umbrella. Dark Sky is $3.99 to download, and only available on iOS.
CLEAR
You may have noticed lately that TSA PreCheck lines at airports are getting longer and less efficient. Due to its popularity, PreCheck’s benefit of shorter, smoother security lines is beginning to dwindle. It may be time to upgrade to CLEAR, which allows you to confirm your identity via biometrics rather than traditional ID documents. CLEAR operates in over 50 airports throughout the US, and its lines tend to be shorter than those for PreCheck. An annual membership is $189, a bit more than TSA PreCheck, but some credit card reward programs offer a complimentary or discounted membership.
New San Francisco Regulation Limits Number of Corporate Rentals Potentially Foreshadowing a Larger Shift Amongst Cities
San Francisco, home to many of the globe’s largest tech corporate headquarters such as Salesforce, Twitter, Square, Redditt, Lyft, Uber, Pinterest, and Dropbox, have called “last-call” on corporate rentals within the city limits.
In a move, the bill’s author, Supervisor Aaron Peskin, said, “engaged the interest of virtually every single registered lobbyist in San Francisco,” San Francisco became the first major city to attempt to curtail the use of residential rental units as ‘corporate hotel rooms.’
According to the San Francisco Business Times, the approved version of the regulation amends the San Francisco’s planning code to create a “new residential use characteristic.”
The City and County of San Francisco Board of Supervisors, Budget and Legislative Analyst Office published a report in late February 2020, defining intermediate length occupancy (ILO) as “furnished and serviced housing units that are available to rent on a temporary basis with rental contracts that are typically for more than 30 days and less than a year.”
Typically, corporate rentals fall under the use characteristic of an ILO.
New Regulations for ILO in San Francisco
Beyond the new residential use characteristic, the new San Francisco regulation does the following:
- Caps corporate rentals within the city limits at 1,000 (Corporate Housing Professionals of America (CHPA) estimates there are approximately 3,000 units used for corporate housing in S.F.)
- Requires annual reporting from an owner or operator
- Requires landlords or corporate rental operators to include a disclosure on tenant rights when advertising units as corporate rentals
- Permits corporate rentals in building with nine units or less as long as the corporate rentals take up no more than 25 percent of the building’s total units
- Prohibits corporate rentals in buildings with more than ten units unless they obtain conditional use authorization
According to Fred Brousseau, director of policy analysis for the Budget and Legislative Analyst’s Office and author of his office’s policy report, “ILOs have been around in San Francisco for many years.” He added, “…some of the companies that offer them have been in business for decades.”
Brousseau report goes on to note, the legacy providers serve not only corporations but various community members in need of temporary housing. The units were using marketed internally within the sector, and via word-of-mouth.
This method worked, until it didn’t, according to San Francisco Supervisor, Peskin.
The Budget and Legislative Analyst’s Office report attempts to outline the potential cause of the problem.
“…There are also a number of newer companies that have entered the marketplace. Many of these companies are distinguished from the older companies by master leasing an inventory of housing units from a building owner, furnishing them, and managing all aspects of marketing, leasing, and servicing them when they are occupied by tenants…
…Most of these newer companies have or are receiving financial support from venture capital as they get started.
“The arrival of VC backing as a permanent fixture in the alternative accommodation capital stack speaks volumes as to the future of the space,” [CEO of Global Corporate Housing Provider.]The City and County of San Francisco Board of Supervisors, Budget and Legislative Analyst Office ILO Report
The report further notes, the VC funding is beginning to catch the attention of landlords of rent-controlled units as they “convert vacated units to ILOs and therefore realize large increases in their earnings” (assuming the rent was the under-market rate before being vacated.) A major red-flag and problem for the city.
Is this a harbinger event or a flash in the pan for a unique city?
Housing issues are nothing new to San Francisco, nor Supervisor Peskin, the lead author of the San Francisco’s regulation that forced “home sharing” operators to register their rentals with the city or be dropped from their respective platforms.
“We believe Supervisor Peskin has the city’s best interest in mind with this new regulation,” said Jack Jensky, co-founder, Synergy Global Housing. “As one of the operators who has been servicing many of the city’s largest employers for over two decades, Synergy is working hard with our national representative body to ensure corporations have a place for their relocating and traveling employees. This, in addition to the countless residents who count on the valuable services we offer—all the while—minding the housing needs of this great city.”
The number of affected parties explains why there are so many interested parties vying for a voice in this new regulation.
The Many Faces of Corporate Housing Users:
Synergy, in conjunction with other legacy operators and CHPA, is working hard to balance what’s best for the city and the many corporations that call it home.
“Currently, it is all about education,” said Jensky. “First and foremost, we are educating ourselves on the new regulation, so we can, in turn, be a source of truth for our clients. But equally important, we want Supervisor Peskin and his team to understand the markets we serve, and the vital role our industry plays with not just corporations, but all the various community members, like traveling nurses, families of patients in long-term medical care, and construction workers that temporarily call San Francisco home.”
Further complicating the matter, a majority of business travelers who need corporate housing are permanently relocating to the city to live full-time. Corporate housing is merely a bridge solution for those relocating professionals, often with families in tow, to provide the necessary flexibility to settle in, find schooling, and get their families settled.
Solutions amidst regulation changes
Corporate housing, or as it is commonly referred to in other parts of the globe, serviced apartments or serviced accommodations, is not unique to San Francisco. Via a strategic multi-model inventory model, Synergy offers more than 110,000 units worldwide. Given the prevalence of serviced accommodations worldwide, corporations and lump-sum travelers should start to feel the ground tremble, as San Francisco has a history of leading out with regulation to curb disruptive housing and tourism models.
“San Francisco isn’t the only major city facing a housing crunch—take New York, Seattle, and L.A., for example,” Jensky said. “That said, if ‘home sharing’ regulations offer any guidance, each city will approach its specific situation differently and enact regulations to keep its housing fair and equitable for its populations.”
Jensky added, “…we are guiding our clients and helping them manage the potential disruption by identifying innovative solutions and partnerships within as well as outside of the city.”
For all San Francisco based corporations with traveling or relocating employees coming to and from the city, Synergy recommends/advises:
- Meet with your housing provider and plan for disruption
- Reliable forecasts will be the difference in fulfilling temporary housing need in San Francisco
- Alternative, adjacent areas will get more congested and price competitive
- Ask your housing provider about how housing data might better predict where relocating staff actually end up living
The Synergy approach to business solutions isn’t linear. It is dynamic, consultative, data driven, and partner orientated. Our business planning process accounts for disruption, with a strong investment in innovation. It is from this perspective we can turn problems on their head and consistently deliver superior results.
In times like these, you want a partner in the game fighting for your housing program’s interest.
