"Extended stay" hotels are becoming popular with business travelers

ATLANTA (CNN) -- The cost of a hotel isn't so bad for short stays -- but when that stay lasts more than a week, the price can go through the roof.

To soften the blow, so-called "extended stay" hotels are becoming popular with business travelers. They offer suites with more amenities -- like a full kitchen and grocery shopping services -- than the average hotel room. (And, despite the moniker "extended," there is no minimum stay required.)

Tim Sheldon of Marriott's Residence Inn & TownPlace Suites says the suites work well for business travelers who are relocating, or on a project assignment or training that keeps them in an area for long periods of time.

Last year, the number of extended stay hotels doubled. Guests like the extra space.

"It's not like you're in one room," says one such traveler. "You have a couch where you can relax on -- you're not just stuck in one bed, one chair, which makes a lot of difference."

Suites at the Residence Inn, a leader in the market for more than 20 years, cost between $75 and $95 dollars a night.

Summerfield Suites offers one-bedroom units for about $125 a night, or two-bedroom suites for about $140 a night.

"Our two-bedroom suite consists of two separate hotel rooms, each with its own bath, and it's joined by a common living room and kitchen," says Summerfield's Tina Gunderson. "Therefore, a company can have two people staying for either short or long term. They can enjoy privacy, and the company gets great value."

Many who have tried the extended stay hotels agree.

"You're staying in a suite that has amenities that you wouldn't be able to find for, in some cases, twice the price of a traditional full service hotel," says Jason Adder of Bear, Sterns & Co., "and I think at the end of the day, that's what's most appealing to customers."

And as the costs of traditional hotels go up, extended stay hotels are offering a more cost-effective way for travelers to get the comforts of home.

Based on a report from CNN's Business and Travel and Beyond. The segment appears weekdays on Early Edition at 7 AM (ET) and on Morning News at 10 AM (ET).

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Related story:

• Continental, Marriott come out on top in frequent travel program polls - February 3, 1998

Related sites:

• Marriott Residence Inn
• TownPlace Suites by Marriott
• Summerfield Suites (under construction)

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