SAN assistant editor Felicity Cousins talked to Fredrik Raastad, head of expansion for Forenom, about the extended stay sector in the Nordics and how the company has plans for other parts of Europe. They also discussed trends in the sector and how Forenom adapted and grew over the last two years.

Felicity Cousins, assistant editor of Serviced Apartment News, spoke to Bindu Bhatia, global head of business development for RoomIt by CWT. They talk about how corporate travel programmes are adapting to different business travel trends, which regions and sectors have bounced back, how RoomIt helps with compliance and helps the traveller make the best decisions, how serviced apartments can be seen as the sustainable choice and how WFH (working from hotels) is here to stay.

Felicity Cousins, assistant editor of SAN, spoke with Mimi Oliver, CEO of the US extended stay brand WaterWalk. Oliver, whose grandfather Jack DeBoer is widely recognised as being the inventor of the extended-stay concept, with Residence Inn launching in 1975, talks about the new generation offerings for the brand and how she believes “flexible lodging” is the way forward for the extended stay sector. Oliver explains how there are nine more properties under development and the company is open to franchise agreements and partners for growth of the brand across the US.

Felicity Cousins, assistant editor of SAN, speaks to Ben Harper, group managing director of Watergate Bay Hotel, Beach Retreats and Another Place hotels. Ben has years of experience in the serviced apartment sector, previously working for SACO (now edyn) and Go Native. The conversation covers how people travel, what the extended stay sector is doing and some exciting news about new extended stay developments by the beach.

Felicity Cousins, assistant editor at Serviced Apartment News, talks to Martin Biermann, chief product officer at HRS, about the Green Stay Initiative, which launched last year. During an in-depth chat about sustainability in the world of hotels and extended stay Biermann explains the framework of the initiative, how we are all at different stages of our sustainability journeys and how to decarbonise a hotel stay.

Felicity Cousins, assistant editor at Serviced Apartment News, talks to Matt Luscombe, CEO of Cycas Hospitality, about growth during the pandemic, the double decker hotel concept, why the extended stay sector is so popular among travellers today and the incredible bounce back for leisure travel.

Felicity Cousins, assistant editor at Serviced Apartment News, talks to Trine Oestergaard Stafford, managing director of House of Fisher, about what she has learnt from the last two years, how the sector is adapting and changing to new trends, how the GDS needs a shake up, how sustainability must be more than just a conversation, and gives a heads up about two new aparthotels in the pipeline.

Felicity Cousins, assistant editor at SAN, talks to Cheval Collection, director of development and acquisitions.

Felicity Cousins, assistant editor of Serviced Apartment News, talks to Kerry Douglas, head of programme at the Institute of Travel Management, about how serviced apartments fit into the corporate travel programme and if they will ever be at the top of a buyer’s accommodation list. Douglas talks about CSR and key travel trends, and shares how ITM helps its members in this challenging time for travel.

Felicity Cousins, assistant editor of Serviced Apartment News, talks to Winnie Chiu, president and executive director of Dorsett Hospitality International about the group’s aparthotel concept - Dao by Dorsett - which opens in London on July 1. Chiu discusses why now was the right time for an aparthotel brand, how the group reacted and helped communities during the pandemic, and how UK gateway cities will be seeing more of Dao by Dorsett.