What’s the problem?
Many industries have been hit hard by extended lockdowns, with accommodation providers being hit especially hard. McKinsey & Company has suggested it might take until 2023 or later for the hotel industry to return to pre-COVID-19 levels, and because of this, many smaller hotels including the Ace Hotel in Shoreditch having closed.
Key workers retain the right to travel for work, but with many hosts keeping doors closed because of restrictions and health concerns, there is a significantly reduced supply of accommodation. Most notably in popular holiday destinations in the South West where accommodation is heavily orientated around tourism, contractor accommodation is scarce.
Rural infrastructure projects struggle with a finite accommodation supply
The same, however, is true in more isolated locations. With contractors in industries such as motorway construction and renewable energy often working in remote parts of the nation, the already finite supply of suitable accommodation is quickly snapped up.
With lockdown currently predicted to lift between March and April, the almost certain surge of travel that will come with it will drive prices up for travellers of both leisure and business.
How can we solve it?
Booking accommodation earlier
In construction projects, it’s common to get last minute confirmation of a contract that leaves a very short window to secure accomodation. However, with teams of contractors that number from tens to hundreds depending on scale, it can be very hard to find accomodate large teams in a rural location where suitable accomodation is hard to come by.
The faster you can identify the specifics of dates, location, and the size of the team, the easier it is going to be to find the right accommodation. However, even if you manage to get an exact number, booking at the right time is crucial when staying for an extended duration. You're also far more likely to end up with accommodation near the construction site.
With popular holidaying destinations such as Cornwall and Devon booming in the summertime, it is essential to book as early as possible to secure a fixed rate that extends into the spring and summer months. This means as a business or contractor, you'll be competing with self catering accommodation leisure makers.
Optimising bookings
With larger teams, cost per person per night can be lowered significantly with optimised layouts that reduces costs, which is why Comfy Workers works with flexible hosts who can save you money and keep your team together at the same time.
Projects often demand flexibility and adaptability to add contractors on a rolling basis, which is why contractor accommodation is more suitable than just booking the cheapest hotel. Adding another hotel room for one person can significantly increase the cost per person per night, whereas such an addition can often be accommodated by hosts of contractor accommodation.
By offering larger properties that offer self-catering facilities, substantial savings can be made by staying in contractor accommodation compared to hotels.
Negotiating the best price
When searching for accomodation, our minds jump to booking.com and Airbnb, but these accomodation giants aren’t best suited for teams who are staying for extended durations. Comfy Workers specialises in contractor accommodation and corporate housing, and with over a thousand hosts throughout the country, there’s access to a number of hosts that booking.com and Airbnb don’t list. These close relationships mean that Comfy Workers gets access to the best rates, and passes on those savings to clients.
