How to Arrange Accommodation for a Project Team Working Away From Home
When a project takes your team away from home, accommodation can quickly become one of the biggest logistical challenges.
Whether you’re managing a construction project, engineering contract, temporary assignment or a team working in another city, finding somewhere suitable involves much more than simply booking enough beds.
Your team needs somewhere comfortable to return to after a long working day, while your business needs accommodation that is practical, flexible and easy to manage.
Here are some of the key things to consider when arranging accommodation for a project team working away from home.
1. Start with the needs of your team
Before searching for accommodation, establish exactly what your project requires.
Consider:
How many people need accommodation?
How long is the project expected to last?
Will everyone arrive and leave at the same time?
Does everyone require their own bedroom?
Will the team need parking?
How far are they willing to travel to the project site?
Is the project likely to be extended?
Having these details from the beginning makes it much easier to find accommodation that works for both your team and your budget.
2. Think beyond individual hotel rooms
Hotels can be convenient for a night or two, but longer projects often require something different.
Serviced accommodation gives teams access to an entire property rather than just a bedroom.
That means your team can have comfortable bedrooms alongside shared living areas, dining space and a fully equipped kitchen.
After spending the day working together, having somewhere to cook, relax and enjoy some personal space can make a significant difference to the experience of working away from home.
3. Choose the location carefully
The cheapest accommodation isn’t always the most practical.
A property that requires a long commute to the project site can add unnecessary travel time and costs every day.
When comparing options, consider the distance to the workplace as well as access to supermarkets, restaurants, transport links and other everyday essentials.
A convenient location can make the entire project easier for your team.
4. Look for the comforts of home
For longer assignments, small conveniences become increasingly important.
A kitchen allows team members to prepare their own meals instead of relying on restaurants and takeaways every evening.
Living areas provide somewhere to unwind, while facilities such as Wi-Fi and laundry make longer stays much easier.
The goal should be to find somewhere your team can actually live comfortably — not simply somewhere to sleep.
5. Keep the team together where possible
Booking several separate hotel rooms can become complicated, particularly when you’re coordinating a larger team.
A multi-bedroom property can allow colleagues to stay under one roof while still having their own space.
It can also simplify the booking process for the person managing accommodation, with fewer individual reservations, check-ins and changes to coordinate.
6. Plan for the project to change
Projects don’t always follow the original schedule.
Completion dates move. Contracts are extended. Team sizes change. New colleagues arrive.
This is why flexibility should be an important consideration when choosing accommodation.
Before booking, ask what happens if you need to extend the stay, shorten it or accommodate additional team members.
Having an accommodation provider that understands the realities of project work can save a lot of time when plans change.
7. Consider the total cost, not just the nightly rate
When comparing accommodation, look beyond the headline price.
Multiple hotel rooms may initially appear straightforward, but additional costs can quickly accumulate, particularly when team members need to eat out every day.
With serviced accommodation, teams have access to their own kitchen and shared facilities, which can make managing the overall cost of a longer project easier.
Make working away feel a little more like home
At Step Inn, we understand that arranging accommodation for a project team isn’t simply about finding somewhere to sleep.
We provide fully equipped serviced accommodation for contractors, professionals, project teams and businesses requiring short or longer-term stays.
With properties across Oxford, Banbury, Bicester and Leicester, we can help you find accommodation that suits your team, project requirements and budget.
And when the project doesn’t quite finish when expected? We’ll work with you to make extending the stay as straightforward as possible.
Planning accommodation for an upcoming project?
Get in touch with Step Inn and tell us what your team needs.
STEP INN
Working away, made easier.
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