Global serviced apartment agent SilverDoor has released the first quarterly market update report for 2025. The report outlines key emerging trends shaping corporate travel demand and behaviours in the coming year, including growing demand for larger, more complex group bookings, increased expectations for broader content access and more efficient online booking tools from Gen Z. It also details rising interest in travel to Eastern locations across Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) and Asia-Pacific (APAC), alongside a decline in average daily rate (ADR).
Growth in group bookings
One notable trend emerging at the end of 2024, which looks set to continue into 2025, is increased demand for larger scale, events-based bookings particularly across sports and entertainment with reports that meetings and events professionals expect to increase their budgets this year. Across accommodation, this growth in budgets also looks set to influence growth in demand for serviced apartments.
Group bookings typically demand greater flexibility due to the volume of travellers and itineraries. As demand for apartment-based accommodation grows, so too will expectations for flexible booking and cancellation policies to accommodate last-minute changes.
Content is king for Gen Z
As Gen Z’s workforce presence grows, corporate travel is shifting to meet their expectations for seamless, consumer-like booking experiences. Demand for online booking platforms with integrated accommodation programs is rising, driving compliance, efficiency, and cost savings. In turn, corporate travel policies must adapt to reduce data leakage, improve compliance, and enhance reporting for better cost management.
Economic growth and corporate demand rising in the East
APAC and EMEA are home to fast-growing business destinations, with demand set to rise further in 2025. India’s key cities—Mumbai, Bangalore, and New Delhi—are seeing strong corporate interest, while Riyadh and Abu Dhabi are emerging as Middle Eastern hotspots due to infrastructure investment and business-friendly policies. SilverDoor reports growth in website traffic to browse accommodation is up 491% and 120% YOY respectively for both.
Significant infrastructure investment, high healthcare and safety standards and lower tax rates are all driving interest from corporates. Meanwhile, the Eastern European countries of Poland, Romania, Czech Republic, Hungary, Bulgaria and Croatia are gaining traction as cost-effective corporate hubs, with a 29% year-over-year rise in accommodation enquiries.
ADR down whilst ALOS and ALT remain steady
Average daily rate
Within APAC ADR (Nov 24-Jan 25) was $195.71: down 6.8% YoY
Americas ADR (Nov 24-Jan 25) was $187.40: down 4.8% YoY
EMEA ADR (Nov 24-Jan 25) was £136.80: down 5.5% YoY
Average length of stay
ALOS in APAC is 61 nights: 2 nights longer YoY
ALOS in the Americas is 65 nights: no change YoY
ALOS in EMEA is 58 nights: 2 nights shorter YoY
Lead times
Average lead time in APAC is 41 nights: 1 night shorter YoY
Average lead time in the Americas is 48 nights: 1 night shorter YoY
Average lead time in EMEA is 37 nights: 1 night longer YoY
Martin Klima, chief customer officer at SilverDoor said: “As many new governments get down to business following the host of worldwide elections last year, corporates are putting their travel priorities for the year ahead into action.
He added: “At a macro, senior level focus remains on emerging destinations and where opportunities for growth lie. At a more micro level, travel managers and travellers are prioritising how to effectively keep pace with new technology and supplier offers to realise policy, compliance and cost ambitions. For now, the good news is rates have declined, reassuring news for travel managers and business owners alike who are planning for growth in business and corporate travel plans.”
The full SilverDoor Market Update is now available to read here
