Serviced Apartment Suites Awarded for Five Star Luxury

Sydney’s Fraser Suites recently received two big awards at the 2008 Hotel Motel and Accommodation Association Industry Awards for excellence. The luxury serviced apartment residence was recognized as the premier “Apartment 5-Star Luxury” and the “New Accommodation Development” for the year.

In addition to a luxurious standard of accommodation, the awards by the Hotel Motel and Accommodation Association Industry, recognize outstanding quality and attention to detail as well as services provided to discerning guests. Concept, design, and construction are also factors taken into consideration for the awards.

The luxury serviced apartment all-suite hotel is the first to open in Sydney’s Central Business District since the Olympics. The 42 level tower opened last year in Sydney and has become an inspiring city landmark. Designed by Foster and Partners, the property boasts Italian vein-cut travertine floors, silver leafed ceiling, suede paneling, and champagne metallic lined walls.

The property contains 201 luxurious studio, one and two bedroom suites and two spectacular duplex penthouse serviced apartments. A 200 square meter gymnasium is included with state of the art cardiovascular and resistance machines and a 20 meter heated pool overlooking the Regent Place shopping precinct

Fraser Suites Sydney luxury serviced apartment tower is conveniently located near the entertainment hub of George Street and the Pitt Street Mall which is center to the best of Sydney’s shopping. It is also within immediate reach of major corporate headquarters and twenty minutes from the Kingsford Smith Airport. Major attractions such as the Maritime Museum and Sydney Aquarium are situated nearby and the Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre are within easy walking convenience.

Sydney Fraser Suites has received continuous support from both the leisure and corporate markets since its launch last year due to consumer preference for serviced apartments. The 42 level tower is an all suites hotel that combines the benefits and functionality of an apartment with high quality hotel services.

Fraser’s mission is to become the premier global leader in the extended stay, serviced apartment market through their commitment to continuous innovation in answering the unique needs of every client.

New Serviced Office Provider in Adelaide Supports Small Businesses

Business Technology Partners, a small business services provider established by Microsoft specialists, will open the doors to its new serviced office facility in Adelaide on July 14. The new services start-up will focus on providing server and workstation support for small businesses.

Business Technology Partners will provide clients with serviced office workstation solutions that will mainly focus on organizations with three to twenty–five computers. Primarily serviced office driven and a partnering business as well, the primary focus is to eventually provide systems for up to 400 users but the majority will be below 25 users.

Business Technology Partners was established by Michael Jenkin, Microsoft small business server Most Valued Professional, and Sam Webster, a Microsoft small business specialist.


According to Jenkins and Webster, the customers are not really being serviced the way they want to be serviced and everywhere they have worked it has not quite felt right. The establishment of Business Technology Partners is a result of small businesses that have a national and international focus and are trying to start up in Adelaide. There are not enough people to service them so Business Technology Partners plans to assist with serviced office workstations with business support services.

The company also plans to provide support services to non-profits by providing them with cost effective Microsoft software and other cheap software through Cisco which will get the cost under the budget of small businesses to discover where the problems exist.

Business Technology Partners plans to expand the organization next year by adding a second Adelaide serviced office facility and also expanding into a Melbourne presence.

Prior to establishing Business Technology Partners serviced office workstation solutions, Jenkin worked for various retail, corporate and education firms. He was most recently the IT manager and team leader at Copyworld and runs his own community Web site which focuses on secondhand PCs into preschools and primary schools. Webster previous worked for NAB and Copyworld as a senior engineer

Quest Serviced Apartments to open in Ipswich

A brand new $11 million dollar serviced apartment complex will soon open its doors in Ipswich by July 28, 2008. The complex is being established by Quest who is Australia’s largest operator of serviced apartments. The Quest serviced apartment facility will be located next to the Ipswich City Center near the Showgrounds and Ellenborough Rail Station.

Quest Ipswich serviced apartments will have 64 apartments that will include a variety of studio and one to three bedroom units. Apartment amenities will include Internet access, LCD flat screen televisions, DVD player, stereos, reverse-cycle air conditioning, separate living and dining areas, a fully equipped kitchen, and laundry facilities. Guests will also have access to a heated pool, barbecue area, breakfast options, valet dry cleaning, pantry shopping, on-site parking and baby sitting services.

The new serviced apartment complex in Ipswich will also provide a conferencing facility that is capable of catering up to 60 delegates.

Quest chairman Paul Constantinou said the location of Quest in Ipswich was consistent with the group's philosophy of creating Quest properties where business demand dictated. The focus is on delivering value as well as a consistent product to the business sector. New serviced apartment locations are selected only on the basis of existing or strongly emerging corporate demand. The property locations are chosen for their close proximity to business centers, restaurants, nightlife and shopping. Feedback from regular corporate clients also dictates locations where Quest serviced apartments are needed.

According to Paul Constantinou, Quest feels that it is important that guests are close to where they need to be to conduct their business and near a location where they can also have lifestyle options.

Quest is steadily opening new serviced apartment locations in Australia and New Zealand. The Ispswich complex is part of Quest’s northern expansion to provide accommodations for the corporate sector.

Meriton Serviced Apartments to Open in the Gold Coast

Meriton Serviced Apartments is set to open a five star rated facility in the Gold Coast in September of 2008. The serviced apartment facility is located in Broadbeach only one block away from the surf beaches. Meriton Gold Coast is also located near the Gold Coast Convention Center, the Jupiter Casino, and the Pacific Fair Shopping Center.

Meriton Serviced Apartments are leading the way in affordable hotel-style accommodations with all the extra luxuries included heated pools, spa, sauna, fully equipped gymnasiums and outdoor entertainment areas. Meriton Gold Coast boasts 181 serviced apartments that include a kitchen, dining room, bedroom and laundry and are offered in studio, one, two or three bedroom units.

Each serviced apartment has been spaciously designed with quality furnishings and amenities such as LCD Television with DVD player, high-speed Internet connection and direct dial telephone. Also included is the availability of room service and undercover secure parking.
Meriton Gold Coast is situated above the Pegasus Shopping Plaza which provides guests with an onsite selection of retail outlets as well as a wide array of food and beverage options.

Each serviced apartment is owned and managed by Meriton to provide guests with consistency and quality living unlike other serviced apartment properties that are owned by one firm and managed by another.

A serviced apartment represents greater value for money and a better place to stay compared to traditional small hotel rooms. The accommodations have the feeling of a home away from home to enable guests to maintain the same standard of living while traveling.

Meriton Serviced Apartments sets a new standard in five star self-catering apartment style accommodations which will appeal to both corporate and leisure guests. A serviced apartment represents greater value for money and a better place to stay compared to traditional small hotel rooms.

Meriton Serviced Apartments will be offering an opening special for a limited amount of time. Guests will be able to reserve a fully appointed serviced apartment for as little as $99 per night. Accommodations will be available for both short-term and long-term visits.

Meriton is launching its serviced apartment accommodations in Queensland Gold Coast as a result of the success of its serviced apartment complex in Sydney. This will set a new standard in Gold Coast accommodations.

Quest Serviced Apartments Upgrades Performance Management with IBM Cognos Software.

Quest Serviced Apartments, a leading serviced apartment provider in Australia has announced its plans to select a new performance management platform. Quest Serviced Apartments has decided to reorganize its budgeting, reporting, forecasting, and planning system by utilizing IBM Cognos 8 Business Intelligence, IBM Cognos 8 Planning, and IBM Cognos 8 Controller.

Quest Serviced Apartments has built up a franchise over the past 20 years of spacious serviced apartment accommodations throughout Australia, New Zealand, and Fiji and currently adding up to 12 properties per year that provide state of the art long term stay accommodations to the business traveler.

The decision to streamline its performance management system with IBM Cognos Software is a result of substantial growth and expansion of the franchise which is a significant part of the growing popularity of the serviced apartment industry. The IBM Cognos Software is capable of providing Quest with a complete overview of its four business units in addition to meeting internal management reporting requirements within the four business units which include franchise management, new franchise establishment, property development and property investment.

The decision also comes as a result of Quest’s approval of IBM’s acquisition of Cognos and the level of contact with senior management during the four month selection process. Additionally, the capabilities of the IBM Cognos Software exceeded the expectations of Quest by providing business intelligence, financial consolidation, and financial planning that will significantly boost the performance management system as well as accurately forecast future business planning and growth.

As a result of the deal with Quest Serviced Apartments, Cognos will install a performance management system that employs separate reporting systems. The software will contain a dashboard providing an overview of the complete process for budgeting, consolidated reporting, tax management, and viewing financial performance.

The Cognos software will progressively be implemented over the next eighteen months with a complete Cognos support crew on site and throughout the post implementation phase. Once the project is fully deployed Quest Serviced Apartments will be able to easily access the overall financial performance of the company with less administrative requirements. This means more time to better plan the model for future business expansion of the serviced apartment franchise network.

With the implementation of a new and more efficient performance management system, Quest is confident that their track record of providing continuous improvement in the serviced apartment industry and franchising network will keep Quest in the leadership position that they have held for so many years. The agreement also highlights Cognos as a leading provider in business solutions for the serviced apartment industry.

Serviced Apartment Block under construction in Singleton

A brand new serviced apartment block which will provide short term accommodations is currently underway on Civic Avenue in Singleton. The serviced apartment complex is being built by GWH Construction and plans are to have the apartment block completed by April of 2009.

The project is one of many serviced apartment blocks that are booming in Australia as a result of the valued proposition of the serviced apartment industry and the increase in tourism. It is currently estimated that approximately 21% of the accommodation industry consists of serviced apartments. Developers predict that this will significantly increase as the convenience and flexibility of serviced apartments catches on in the business and tourism industry.

According to GWH Construction, the serviced apartment block on Civic Avenue will be available for tenancy three weeks after the construction is complete. The apartments will be available in two and three bedroom units with cooking facility, bathroom, lounge, laundry, and on site maintenance staff. It will also include room service for the serviced apartment tenants by partnering with the local restaurants for delivery service. Additionally, the complex will provide access to a gym facility located on the site.

The serviced apartment block will be considered the largest complex in Singleton which will serve the corporate industry as well as boost the tourism industry by freeing up existing accommodations that frequently experience an influx of reservations and booking.

According to the Quest Group, a leading serviced apartment provider in Australia, the hotel industry in Australia draws approximately 52% of its revenue from business travelers where the serviced apartment industry draws revenue of 82%. Travelers are becoming more aware of the benefits of serviced apartment accommodations and the convenience and flexibility that the service offers. This is a step forward for the serviced apartment industry in comparison with past year where the concept was not really fully understood.

A contributing factor to the serviced apartment industry is organizations that are transitioning to area serviced office facilities to further reduction in operating costs. The company workers who are assisting with the transition are in need of short term housing. In addition to convenience for the corporate traveler the trend is catching on in the tourism sector. Serviced apartment providers are finding that tourists enjoy the comforts that resemble their everyday home lifestyle.

The serviced apartment block on Civic Avenue is a $15 million dollar project. GWH Construction has stated that so far construction has been on schedule and weather permitting, the facility will be available in April of next year.