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Jumeirah Living’s World Trade Centre Residence offers 377 “contemporary residences.

As the summer months approach and the demand for top-end apartments rockets, LTN provides some hints and tips on suitable properties to offer.

As the summer season kicks in, travel agents will be inundated with holiday booking requests and sometimes will be hard-pushed to find the appropriate accommodation.

And it's not only hotel rooms that will be in demand as travellers increasingly look for more versatile accommodation comprising more than one-bedroom, as well as a kitchen and all the facilities they would find at home, including an office and a gym.

Fortunately the demand for serviced apartments and residences has finally been realised and hotel developers are building one-stop-shop style properties for all budgets that offer travellers flexibility and at the top end of the scale, provide home comforts combined with butler and concierge services.

LTN runs through some of the options available in the Middle East and internationally.

Green lakes

Emirates Hotels & Resorts, the hospitality division of the Emirates Group, has realised the potential of the serviced apartment market and having already opened The Harbour Hotel & Residence at Dubai Marina earlier this year, recently unveiled its second Dubai property - Green Lakes Serviced Apartments - comprising 141 one-bedroom, 129 two-bedroom and 11 three-bedroom luxury apartments.

The company's senior vice president resorts and projects, Tony Williams, notes that demand for serviced apartments is "going nuts".

"At the recent Arabian Hotel Investment Conference (AHIC) it was predicted that the serviced apartment market would be the largest growth area [of the hotel industry] over the next five years in terms of customer demand," he says.

"Offering the comforts of a glamorous home with the services of a luxury hotel, serviced apartments are an increasingly popular alternative to traditional hotel stays."

According to Dubai's Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM), serviced apartment guest numbers increased 11% in 2007 with average stays hitting the 4.29 days mark.

Dubai's deluxe serviced apartments boasted an average occupancy of 81% the same year, with 200,000 European Union visitors opting to stay in luxury serviced apartments, led by UK visitors who accounted for nearly half of these visitors.

"Serviced apartments are growing in popularity worldwide as their convenience, comfort and cost benefits are realised, particularly amongst those requiring longer-term stays," explains Williams.

He notes that in Dubai, regular business travellers, family groups and many corporate consultants and contractors are taking accommodation for up to three months, sometimes longer.

But even short-term leisure travellers will make cost savings, he says, highlighting that agents selling breaks to Dubai this summer - particularly for events such as Dubai Summer Surprises (DSS) - would do well to offer their clients the serviced apartment option as a value-for-money alternative to a hotel stay.

Summer prices lead in at AED 790 (US $215) per night including taxes for a one-bedroom apartment and AED 1140 ($310) for a two-bedder.

"When you compare this to a standard room at a five-star hotel you are looking at around $345 per night as an average room rate," says Williams.

"Also, when you look at the size of a standard hotel room, it's around 45m² or 50m², so if you want something bigger - the same size as our apartments - you are looking at a suite, which is even more expensive."

All accommodation at Green Lakes Serviced Apartments boasts bespoke fixtures, fittings and furniture and is "designed for comfort and convenience".

Each apartment has "generously-sized" bedrooms, fully-fitted kitchens and open-plan living and dining areas. Some apartments have dedicated rooms for domestic aids and each one is equipped with flat-screen LCD satellite TVs, DVD/CD players, iPod docking stations, as well as broadband internet.

Services include daily housekeeping, full reception, concierge, guest relations, security, maintenance and valet parking while facilities span a health club, pool and a New York deli-style restaurant, bakery and coffee bar - Counter Culture - a concept that has already opened at The Harbour Hotel & Residence.

The Green Lakes outlet will open next month (July) where guests can also buy a range of organic and homemade products in keeping with the restaurant's ‘farm-to-fork' philosophy.

Guests also have access to the Timeless Spa facilities at the Harbour hotel & Residence.

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