Harbourside apartment could help firms save on accommodation

Bosses in Bristol’s fast-expanding business district are being advised to invest in property at Harbourside as an alternative to paying hotel bills for overnighting staff and managers.

With the city’s growing reputation as a crossroads for business fuelling demand for versatile overnight accommodation, developer Crest Nicholson is recommending corporate managers look at alternatives when picking up the tab for staff staying in hotels overnight.

Susan Young, sales and marketing director for Harbourside, said a smart apartment within walking distance of the city’s commercial heartland made an ideal alternative to putting up business visitors in hotels offering equivalent standards.

Susan said: “As well as being a wise long term business investment, owning an apartment at Harbourside gives big companies like Lloyds, HBoS and Hargreaves Lansdown the ability to accommodate visiting staff at short notice overnight or longer without racking up enormous hotel bills.

“Canny business leaders looking to cut down on their expenses and corporate accommodation bills will be looking closely at the savings owning their own apartment can offer.”

And with an ever growing array of multinationals taking up prime office space within a stone’s throw of the prestigious Harbourside development, it would seem a prudent investment for companies watching the bottom line.

One of the latest organisations moving in to the area are solicitors CMS Cameron McKenna LLP, which has taken up one of the largest pre-lets in Bristol over the last 36 months at the £300-million mixed-use College Square scheme.

Susan added: “The ever increasing roster of national companies moving to Harbourside will clearly increase demand for versatile accommodation as companies host business meetings and conferences and need to accommodate staff or visitors from other centres at short notice.

“An apartment just a short distance from the office gives companies the flexibility to organise accommodation without time-consuming and costly hotel bookings.”

With average room rates for Bristol hotels up from £64.84 in 2010 to £67.49 in 2011, bigger companies putting up dozens or even hundreds of staff per month could make a considerable saving using their own apartments for overnight accommodation.

Comprising one million sq ft of redevelopment land around Bristol’s historic floating harbour, Harbourside is one of Europe’s largest regeneration projects.

Susan added: “Harbourside has already become one of the most desirable locations to work in Bristol with all the new shops, bars and restaurants in close proximity. The fact companies can buy their own apartment minutes from their headquarters will undoubtedly attract interest from business managers who need to keep staff on hand and happy.”

Prices currently start from £249,950.

For further information, visit harbourside.co.uk. The marketing suite on Cathedral Walk is open daily from 10 am to 5pm.