Posted on Monday, February 24 2025
Executive suites, serviced apartments, corporate housing: It goes by many names, but temporary furnished accommodation has been around for decades (Premiere Suites, for example, is more than 25 years old!) but in North America, people still aren’t always familiar with what it is, what it’s used for, and why it’s such an important part of the housing landscape.
Here are the five questions we’re asked most often:
1. Is corporate housing the same thing as Airbnb?
No. Airbnb and other ‘shared’ accommodation models typically involve a private person who lists their apartment or house for rent on an online platform on a nightly basis. There isn’t much standardization when it comes to the quality you can expect, and in the event of problems you’re expected to ‘work it out’ with the property owner.
Corporate housing, on the other hand, offers a more professional, standardized experience, especially if you choose a corporate housing provider which is accredited by industry associations. Booking and billing is generally handled by an account representative, housekeeping is provided, and there are no ‘surprise’ fees at the end of the stay.
2. What’s the difference between corporate housing and ‘suite hotels’?
Generally speaking, corporate housing is designed to feel like a real home, with all the privacy, space and comfort that implies. Corporate housing usually comes with full kitchens, ensuite laundry, bedding and linens, private entries – everything you’d expect from your own home. Suite hotels, on the other hand, are typically just larger hotel rooms with small kitchenettes added to them.
Suite hotels can be a good solution for a shorter-term stay or single travelers, but when you need emergency housing for people in crisis, or an extended stay for a family navigating a relocation or construction delay, and a real ‘home’ is needed, corporate housing makes a better choice.
3. Why are there minimum and maxiumum stay lengths in Canadian corporate housing facilities?
In most locations in Canada, municipal regulations require a minimum stay of 30 nights (this is as little as 3 nights in some areas, or as much as 90 days in British Columbia) with a maximum of 365 nights.
The minimum stay bylaws have been implemented by cities who don’t want neighbourhoods disrupted by constant changes in occupants, while the maximum stay lengths are to distinguish temporary furnished housing from unfurnished leases which are governed by different landlord and tenant rules.
4. Is there daily housekeeping in corporate housing, like there is in hotels?
Generally speaking, no. Corporate housing accommodations do come with everything you need for a comfortable stay, like linens, towels, fully-equipped kitchens, laundry facilities and some basics to get you started like toilet paper and garbage bags. However, corporate housing is more of a ‘private home’ experience than a ‘hotel’ experience, so daily housekeeping isn’t included.
(In most corporate housing, including Premiere’s, there is a weekly or bi-weekly cleaning schedule, provided by a professional cleaning company. If you wish to increase your cleaning frequency, that can be arranged – you just have to request it.)
5. Can you bring pets to corporate housing?
While we can’t speak for all corporate housing providers, we can say that pets are welcome at more than 90% of our more than 1500 furnished suites, townhomes and homes across the country, so, yes, you can definitely bring your pet with you!
And now you know!
Now that you know more about corporate housing, let us help you find your perfect home away from home.