With the buzz around the ‘staycation’ in 2009, this year has seen dire predictions and dropping figures in the tourism industry worldwide. Many industry insiders at the start of the year expressed concern that figures would go from bad to worse with rising unemployment figures and people struggled to make mortgage payments, not to mention the unfavourable exchange rates slowing down trips abroad. Several tourism companies folded as a result. Yet some companies are booming, bucking the downward trend and even growing during these tough times. Paris Hideaways, a vacation apartment rental agency, is one such company who has continued to grow throughout the past year, and has even added 14 new apartments to their Paris repertoire.
One reason for the success of Paris Hideaways is, as always, location location location. Paris is the world’s most visited city, and Paris has seen consistent tourism levels throughout the recession. The official Paris Convention and Tourism board has produced figures of 29 million visitors in 2008 despite the many negative factors affecting travel. With consistently high numbers of tourists and businesspeople flocking to the City of Lights, the market for accommodation is accordingly large, with countless hotel and vacation apartment rental options.
Katia Provencher, Director of Paris Hideaways and Charming Hideaways, Ltd, explains that, in some ways, “the recession has even had somewhat of a positive effect on the vacation apartment rental industry, as people are increasingly budget conscious - looking to pay less for accommodation without sacrificing the quality they have come to expect.” While it is certainly possible to rent a hotel for less than what the high end of vacation apartment rentals can run, a budget hotel means opting out of the style and fabulous amenities that come with even the most basic of vacation apartments such as a kitchen, free Wi-Fi, laundry facilities and what’s more, a living room in which one of you writes postcards and sips wine, while your travel companion grabs a peaceful nap in the bedroom. In addition to the extras inside the apartment, visitors who rent a vacation apartment benefit from a real immersion into Parisian life. You live in a neighbourhood with the locals, stop off at your local market to pick up food and drinks to prepare dinner in what becomes your own little French home. But wouldn’t people rather give up some of that luxury for a cheaper alternative, such as a hotel?
The actual cost of a vacation apartment can be much cheaper than a hotel for groups sharing a two bedroom apartment or for a family of 4, who can escape the hassle of having to rent that extra hotel room for the kids. Even for a couple on a romantic Paris holiday, “a hotel room with a balcony in the Latin Quarter will run you at least €200 per night,” estimates Katia. “We have fully-equipped studio apartments with 5 sq meter terraces for 520€ a week!”
Paris Hideaways clients come to Paris for a variety of reasons, as first-time tourists, regular visitors to Paris or on business to the City of Lights. They all share in common the understanding of the price and lifestyle benefits of renting a vacation apartment in Paris.
On the flipside, the satisfaction of apartment owners who choose to list their apartments with Paris Hideaways is consistently increasing as well, explains Katia, which has resulted in the 14 new apartments added to the agency’s website this spring.
Paris Hideaways obtains new apartments for the agency through word-of-mouth, direct referrals and are also approached by apartment owners who have realised the advantages of using an agency to rent their vacation apartments, while other owners change to Paris Hideaways because they are tired of dealing with some of the bigger, less personal agencies. “We take the time to visit the apartments, talk to the owners, we guide new owners through the process, making recommendations on amenities, insurance, management and payment facilities and owners who have been renting their vacation apartments through larger agencies, switch to Paris Hideaways for that level of personal service we provide.”
It is a delicate balance to be struck, keeping both vacation apartment owners happy by filling the apartments and of course being on hand 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for customers who have rented the apartments, in order to ensure that no matter the issue, the company can react quickly and effectively should any issues arise. Whatever the method of achieving the balance, it is obviously working, as Paris Hideaways has added 14 new apartments to the agency’s website.
The apartments are all located right in Central Paris in the most well-known areas, and are all located near major points of interest. In the Le Marias area, new additions include 2 new studios Heure Bleue and Cassis and a one-bedroom apartment Barcarolle, and in Montorgueil a new studio apartment Noisette and a one-bedroom apartment Pistache. In the area of St Germain de Pres, Paris Hideaways has added a one-bedroom vacation apartment called Rive Gauche, while the Latin Quarter area of the agency has expanded by 4 new apartments, including 2 studios Paname and Sonatine, a one-bedroom Vanille and a luxurious two-bedroom Vent du Sud. In the Eiffel Tower / Rue Cler area Paris Hideaways has added a one-bedroom Sylphide and a two-bedroom Arbutus. Near the Arc De Triomphe, Paris Hideaways has added a studio Gavroche and French Can Can, a one-bedroom vacation apartment near Bastille Oberkampf.
