In recent years, travel behavior has shifted dramatically as the line between “work” and “mobility” becomes increasingly blurred. Travelers are no longer just looking for a place to rest for a few nights; they want to live, experience, and work in new destinations for longer periods. This is where work-from-roam and long-stay emerge as two prominent trends, unlocking numerous growth opportunities for hotels. If leveraged correctly, this customer segment can provide stable revenue, high return rates, and superior occupancy rates compared to traditional short-term lodging models. In this article, let Hotel Link explore why work-from-roam and long-stay are strong trends, how they impact the hotel industry, and what hotels should do to seize this opportunity.
Long-stay is a form of accommodation lasting 7 nights or more, most commonly 14–30 nights or longer. Once reserved for long-term business professionals, long-stay is becoming the choice for various customer groups:
Project implementation specialists
"Slow travel" enthusiasts
Freelancers, digital nomads, creators...
Young people seeking to experience life in places with reasonable costs
Individuals looking to change their work environment to recharge
The common need for this group: They require a comfortable living space, reasonable prices, full amenities, a kitchen, a dedicated workspace, and flexible, home-like services.
While "work-from-home" was the post-pandemic trend, work-from-roam is the upgraded version: Working from anywhere, as long as there is good Wi-Fi and an inspiring environment.
Travelers in this group often:
Stay longer than the average duration
Require dedicated work amenities (desk, ergonomic chair, standard lighting)
Prefer quietness and facilities like gyms, coffee shops, and coworking spaces
Are willing to spend more for comfort
Research from Booking.com Travel Predictions and the Slack Workforce Index 2024 shows:
65% of global travelers plan to combine work and travel in the next two years.
97% of employees desire flexible work arrangements.
Differences in living costs fuel the trend of "temporary living-working" in another country or city.
For hotels, this is an extremely potential customer segment:
Stable occupancy rate
Long duration of stay
High usage of auxiliary services
High return rate
Read more: Travel Trends 2026: The Quest for Highly Personalized Journeys
Following the pandemic, many global companies adopted remote or hybrid work policies. This allows employees to work from virtually anywhere, provided they have strong Internet and a quiet space.
According to a recent report, the number of people working remotely or from anywhere has increased significantly, driving demand for more flexible, comfortable, and well-equipped accommodation. Furthermore, many countries are relaxing long-term visa requirements for "digital nomads," allowing workers to comfortably work while they travel.
Many people no longer want to confine their trip to a short 2–3 day break. They seek to combine work, local experiences, and relaxation: a space that is equipped enough for work, comfortable enough for downtime, and flexible enough for exploration. The "workcation" trend, mixing work and leisure, has become more popular than ever.
Not only young people, but many business travelers, freelancers, and international workers are also willing to spend money on an extended stay if the hotel, where they stay, meets their working and resting needs.
Compared to guests who only book for a few nights, long-stay guests help hotels:
Reduce room turnover costs (continuous check-in/check-out), housekeeping, and logistics.
Increase "stable" revenue: room rates + ancillary services + daily F&B.
Forecast revenue better and manage more easily (compared to the high volatility of transient guests).
That is why many hotels, resorts, and serviced apartments are viewing long-stay and work-from-roam as a strategic segment for the future.
In many tourist destinations and service hotels, long-stay has become a choice for both leisure and remote work guests. In Vietnam, the long-term accommodation trend is increasingly favored due to reasonable costs, comfortable space, and convenient services.
Example: In areas like Phu Quoc and Phu Quy, many travelers choose to stay for weeks or months, working online while exploring the island, creating an attractive "work & relax" model.
Traditional hotels, serviced apartments, hostels, and homestays are gradually transforming to meet the new demand: not just a place to sleep, but a place to "live & work." Some hotels are innovating their services: strong Wi-Fi, dedicated desks, quiet spaces, and communal work lounges, rather than just catering to short-term leisure stays.
A recent report noted that the remote-work travel segment has increased significantly: within the overall travel market, the long-stay portion (several weeks/months) accounts for 61% of the total. This indicates that long-stay and work-from-hotel are no longer niche segments but are becoming decisive factors in restructuring the accommodation industry.
If you are a hotel owner, homestay operator, or serviced apartment manager, this is the golden moment to consider redesigning products and services to fully capitalize on the burgeoning Long-Stay and Work-From-Roam trends.
To attract long-stay and remote work guests, the focus is not just on a comfortable bed, but on the entire working environment and support amenities, transforming the room into a mobile office and a living space:
Advanced Network and Power Systems:
Providing strong, high-speed fiber optic Wi-Fi and ensuring its stability is the top priority. Ideally, a backup system or dedicated bandwidth should be allocated for work-friendly rooms to avoid online meeting interruptions.
Ensure sufficient power outlets, especially near the workspace, and integrate convenient USB/Type-C charging ports.
Workspace Design (Work-Friendly Space):
Invest in comfortable desks, ergonomic chairs, and adequate task lighting.
Room design should prioritize quietness and privacy, with good soundproofing capabilities.
Utilize common areas to establish a professional Coworking Lounge where guests can socialize, collaborate, or change their environment.
Long-Term Living Amenities:
Offer auxiliary amenities such as a self-service laundry area or discounted laundry packages.
Rooms should include a kitchenette or at least a kitchen corner with a microwave, a large refrigerator, and basic utensils so guests can prepare their own meals.
Flexible rental periods: Clearly offer weekly and monthly rates with full support similar to serviced apartments.
Normal nightly rates cannot be applied to long-stay guests. These guests are highly cost-aware and seek a reasonable solution:
Competitive Discount Pricing: Create "Long-Stay Rates" or "Extended Stay Packages" with progressive discounts based on the length of stay (e.g., 20% off for 7 nights, 40% off for 30 nights). This price must be competitive with short-term serviced apartment rentals in the area.
Optimize Profit and Cost: Long-stay guests mean stable Revenue, reduced room turnover frequency, and decreased frequent cleaning/setup costs. Hotels can afford deeper discounts because the operating cost per night is optimized.
Value-Added Services: Instead of just discounting the room rate, add value-added services such as free Internet upgrades, F&B discounts, or free use of recreational facilities (gym, pool).
Long-stay requires the hotel to transition from a place providing sleep to a role managing community and providing a living experience:
Comprehensive Support Services: Ensure effective periodic room cleaning, and prompt technical support (IT/Maintenance). Long-stay guests need to feel supported immediately, just like at home.
Relaxation and Connection Spaces: Design communal areas like lounges, rooftops, and green spaces for guests to relax and socialize. The presence of a gym, café, or yoga/meditation area is a significant bonus.
Community Building: This is the key factor to combat the feeling of "boredom" during a long stay. Organize small weekly community-building activities (e.g., happy hour, local cooking classes, short discovery tours), helping digital nomads and remote workers connect with each other and the local culture.
The communication strategy must evolve to target not only leisure travelers but also the Work-From-Roam segment:
Identify Target Customers: Focus on digital nomads, remote workers, freelancers, long-stay friend groups, or professionals needing temporary accommodation.
Emphasize Work Amenities: Across all marketing channels (website, OTAs, social media, email marketing), strongly and prominently communicate work-support amenities: "Super-fast Wi-Fi," "Soundproof rooms," "Ergonomic workspace," "Long-Stay Discount."
Create Specialized Media Packages: Develop separate photo and video marketing packages detailing the workspace (desk, chair, lighting) and communal areas. Ensure keywords like "Work-friendly," "Remote Work," and "Long Stay" are optimized in room descriptions on all OTAs and your website.
Of course, the long-stay and work-from-roam model does not only bring benefits. There are several significant challenges that hotels need to carefully consider to operate effectively and maintain profitability:
This is the core challenge. When guests stay for an extended period, the frequency and type of services change significantly, leading to increased pressure on Operational Costs:
Increased Utility & Maintenance Costs: The demand for electricity, water, and internet usage by work-from-roam guests is much higher than that of short-stay guests because they spend most of their time in the room. This requires continuous maintenance of utility systems and leads to increased utility costs.
Adjusting Service Frequency: The need for room cleaning and laundry for long-stay guests cannot follow the usual daily schedule. Hotels need to establish periodic cleaning packages (e.g., 1-2 times a week) and offer flexible, packaged laundry services. Without a clear plan, labor and chemical costs can escalate.
Risk of Equipment Malfunction: Continuous 24/7 use of in-room equipment (such as air conditioning, refrigerator, TV) increases the risk of malfunction. Hotels need a quick-response technical team (IT Support, Maintenance) to assist; otherwise, it will severely affect the guest's stay and work experience.
A long-term rental room must be viewed as a multi-functional living and working space, not just a place to sleep.
Lack of Dedicated Work Amenities: Standard short-stay rooms often only have small desks and single chairs, which are insufficient for working 8 hours a day. Hotels need to upgrade with standard-sized desks, ergonomic chairs, ample power supply, and good natural/task lighting.
Privacy and Quietness: Work-from-roam guests need absolute quietness to participate in video calls. If the room's soundproofing is poor, or common areas are too noisy, guests will easily feel disrupted and lacking.
Storage and Cooking Needs: Long-stay guests typically have more luggage and a need to cook for themselves to save costs. Rooms need storage space (closets, shelves) and basic amenities like a kitchenette, microwave, and larger refrigerator to make them feel comfortable, just like at home.
Pricing for long-term stays requires careful consideration between ensuring occupancy and maintaining the profit margin:
Risk of Undercutting: If the hotel discounts the long-stay rate too deeply to attract guests, that discount might not cover the increased operational costs (higher utilities, equipment depreciation). This directly impacts the Net Profit.
Risk of Overpricing: If the long-term rental price is not competitive enough compared to serviced apartments or other competitors, customers will easily switch to other options.
Establishing a Service Package Structure: Hotels need to thoroughly survey the market to offer a neutral package: a reasonable base rate + minimal services + optional add-on services (e.g., premium high-speed internet upgrade, daily cleaning) to optimize revenue while keeping the listed price competitive.
Long-stay guests have different living and working habits than short-stay tourists, demanding flexibility in operations:
Non-Traditional Service Hours: Work-from-roam guests may work according to foreign time zones. This means they might need room service, technical support, or meals during non-peak hours (e.g., midnight). Hotels need to flexibly adjust staff shifts.
Personalization Requirements: After an extended stay, guests often expect a higher degree of personalization (e.g., preferred type of drink, specific cleaning requests). Recording and addressing these details is key to long-term customer retention.
The Difference Between "Guest" and "Resident": Hotels must find ways to make long-stay guests feel comfortable as if they were home (Resident Mentality) rather than just temporary visitors, by providing access to communal areas, organizing small community activities (if possible), and allowing them to personalize the room space to a certain extent.
The trend of remote work combined with travel is no longer a short-term craze but has become a sustainable and rapidly growing market segment globally, offering great opportunities for the hotel industry.
Market Leadership: According to an in-depth market study by Market Intelo (2024), the majority of the "remote-work travel market" currently belongs to the long-stay segment, accounting for up to 61% of total demand. This proves that customers prioritize stability and convenience for a significant period (from weeks to months), rather than just short trips.
Increased Spending Value: Long-stay guests, while they may receive a discounted room rate compared to the nightly rate (ADR), contribute to a higher Total Transaction Value. They spend steadily on ancillary services (F&B, laundry, utilities) throughout their stay, providing hotels with a predictable revenue stream and optimizing the Occupancy Rate.
Attractive Destinations: In Vietnam, the long-stay trend is clearly evident, especially in areas with a high quality of life and an ideal working environment. Many travelers and tech professionals have chosen to stay in destinations like Phu Quoc, Phu Quy, Da Nang, or Hoi An for weeks to months to combine work and leisure.
Impact on Spending: This shift significantly increases the Average Spend Per Guest and raises the Average Length of Stay (ALOS) for the market. Instead of revenue from 3-4 nights, a hotel can receive stable revenue from 14-30 nights from just one booking. This effectively helps reduce Customer Acquisition Cost (CAC).
Redesigning Space and Services: According to Hotel Management Network and other industry reports, many large international hotel chains have recognized the high demand and started to re-design their facilities and services to suit the remote-worker demographic.
Essential Elements: These changes include installing dedicated workspaces, upgrading to high-speed, stable broadband Wi-Fi systems, creating quiet Coworking Lounges, and establishing long-stay policies with essential amenities like kitchenettes or self-service laundry areas.
Typical Examples: Several brands have launched distinct programs like "Work from Hotel" or "extended-stay brands" models with apartment-like amenities, proving that this model has been integrated into the long-term development strategy of the global hotel industry.
Based on the trends and realities, here are some specific strategies hotels can consider:
| Strategy | Description |
| "Work & Stay" / "Long-Stay Package" | Preferred rates for guests booking $\ge$ 7, 14, 30 nights, including periodic cleaning/laundry service, excellent Internet, and complimentary coworking access. |
| Workspace & Coworking Space | Convert lounges, rooftops, or ground floors into professional coworking spaces with A/C, Internet, and desks, suitable for remote workers. |
| Work-Designed Rooms | Equip rooms with standard desks, ergonomic chairs, good lighting, and storage, transforming the room into a working studio. |
| Long-Term Support Services | Periodic housekeeping, laundry, technical support, helping long-stay guests feel comfortable like at home. |
| Flexible Add-on Packages | Rent out printers/faxes, meeting rooms, arrange shuttle/short-term scooter rental services, suitable for extended-stay guests. |
| Group & Family Deals – Combining Work + Leisure | Mini-apartments, family-suites, connecting rooms: suitable for friend groups or families on extended stays. |
| Clear Communication & Marketing | Prominently feature information about long-stay, work-friendly amenities, coworking, and long-term rates on the website, OTAs, and social media. |
Long-stay and work-from-roam are not fleeting trends but a major shift in travel behavior. This is a huge opportunity for hotels to build a stable customer base, increase ancillary revenue, and create a sustainable competitive advantage. By optimizing space, designing reasonable rate packages, and communicating correctly, hotels can effectively capitalize on this rapidly growing customer segment in 2025–2026.
Are you ready to grow with extended stays? Let Hotel Link’s solutions help you attract the right guests at the right time. Contact us today!