Posted on Wednesday, September 17 2025
To choose the right corporate housing provider, assess your specific coverage and service needs first, then evaluate candidates on location range, accreditations, verified reviews, property quality, administrative process, and ideally a test stay – before signing any agreement.
Define your needs before you start searching
The right provider for one organization may be entirely wrong for another. Before evaluating options, create a clear list of must-haves and nice-to-haves. Do you need multiple suites in a single city for a project team? National coverage across Canada? A 24-hour support line for insurance clients who need urgent placement? Getting specific about your requirements upfront makes it far easier to filter out providers who can’t actually serve you.
Map your locations - past and future
Some corporate housing companies specialize in narrow geographic areas, which works well if your needs are similarly concentrated. But if your organization has placed employees across multiple cities or provinces, you need a provider with genuine national reach. Review the locations where you’ve needed corporate housing over the past three or more years – and consider where that need it likely to arise next.
Check reviews and ask for references
Just as you would read reviews before booking a rental property for yourself, check what other organizations and guests say about the provider’s suites, service, and pricing. Online reviews are a useful starting point, but don’t stop there – ask the provider directly for references from comparable organizations that have worked with them and can speak to the experience from a corporate buyer’s perspective.
Verify accreditations and industry certifications
One of the key advantages of using an established corporate housing company over Airbnb or other short-term rental platforms is accountability. Reputable providers are inspected and certified by recognized industry bodies – a meaningful signal that they meet consistent standards for safety, quality, and reliability.
CHPA - Corporate Housing Providers Association
ISAAP - International Serviced Accommodation Accreditation
CERC - Canadian Employee Relocation Council
Request tours of multiple properties – not just the showpiece
Any provider can maintain one immaculate showcase suite. Ask to see multiple properties across different locations to get a realistic picture of what your employees or clients will actually experience. Where in-person visits aren’t possible, request detailed video tours that show the inside of closets, kitchen appliances, and other practical details that photographs often omit.
Consider arranging a test stay
Travel agents often spend time at a resort before recommending it to clients, the same principle applies here. If part of your role involves placing senior executives or high-profile clients, a brief personal stay at the provider’s property is one of the most reliable ways to verify that the experience matches expectations before staking your reputation on it.
Don’t overlook the administrative and billing process
The booking, management, and billing experience is often the last thing organizations evaluate – and frequently the thing that causes the most friction over time. Before committing, develop a detailed service level agreement (SLA) that clearly sets out expectations for: responsiveness to requests, placement speed once a booking is made, account management for housekeeping and repairs, and billing and payment terms and processes.
What is the difference between a corporate housing provider and Airbnb for business travel?
Corporate housing providers are accredited companies with a brand reputation to protect, consistent quality standards across their properties, dedicated account management, and defined service processes. Airbnb and similar platforms are marketplaces of individually managed properties with no unified quality standard — making outcomes less predictable for organizations placing employees or clients.
What accreditations should a corporate housing provider have in Canada?
Key industry accreditations to look for include CHPA (Corporate Housing Providers Association), ISAAP (International Serviced Accommodation Accreditation Process), and CERC (Canadian Employee Relocation Council). These indicate the provider has been assessed against recognized standards for safety, reliability, and service quality.
What should an SLA with a corporate housing provider include?
A well-structured service level agreement should cover: how quickly the provider responds to booking requests, how fast a guest can be placed once a request is submitted, how ongoing needs like housekeeping and maintenance are handled, and the full details of billing, invoicing, and payment terms.
How do I evaluate a corporate housing provider if I can't visit properties in person?
Request detailed video tours that go beyond marketing photography — specifically asking to see inside closets, kitchen appliances, workspaces, and bathrooms. You can also ask for references from other corporate clients, check third-party reviews, and request a test stay if your role involves placing executives or clients.
As Canada’s largest corporate housing provider, Premiere Suites works with global mobility specialists, HR teams, relocation managers, and insurance professionals across thousands of organizations worldwide. With more than 1,500 furnished suites, homes, and townhomes – plus a network of over 10,000 properties across Canada – we have the coverage, accreditations, and service infrastructure to be a partner you can count on. Get in touch with our team to start the conversation.