cab1088

As a Hospitality specialist I am trying to find out more information regarding relocations to New York City and Boston. I am currently working with a new partner in the States and I wanted to find out more from Expats who have done the move or might be in the process of doing it. Where did you stay? Why did you move? Who organised your accommodation? What was important to you when moving? Any information you can give me would be really helpful in order to help my partnership take off. I am hoping to aim the partnership at a worldwide audience for anyone needing accommodation (Minimum of 30 nights in New York or Boston). I am a specialist in Serviced Apartments so if you used them in either city I would love to hear from you in particular. Thank you.

Bob

Can't help for NY, but Boston, well there's a world of difference between staying in Cambridge, Jamaica Plain, Back Bay, North Shore etc.

A 1 bed apartment can range from $1-4.5K a month depending on location and features....but it's all there depending on what you want.

And most people probably organised it themselves, but then again it depends how they got here. Company transfer might get more help, high tech company might pay a realtor to find you a place. Doctor or student, probably not.

jmood

I had a "relocation agency" help me get settled in every way when I first moved to NY. That is NY NY. I also had a relocation agency help me settle when I first moved to London, UK many years ago. So I am familiar with such agencies.

I think the priority for setting up shop is that you need someone on the ground in the city. I don't think it can be done remotely.

Not sure what you are asking. Ask specifically and I will answer.

jmood

OK, so these were the questions:

I moved because of the job.

In the first 2 moves, I stayed in a hotel (about a month or two) until I found housing (via the relocation agency). And in the third move I stayed in a serviced studio apartment in a great location in NYC for 3 months untill I found housing.

What was important to me? Knowing and seeing all my housing options. Not getting the feeling that the relocation agent was just trying to tie-up my situation asap and that I could get the best possible deal for my wants and needs. Also, the last agent felt like she was pushing me into choices, choices she was calling "strategizing" (as opposed to conducting searches based on what I asked her) which was annoying.

In NYC, the agent also helped me set up a bank account and a proper contracted mobile phone - since coming here new = no credit history and no SSN but still there are ways to do things that such agents can arrange. She also helped me set up my utilities, again for same reasons.

sir_eccles

What is this, a sales pitch? Research?

cab1088

Thanks for your response.

Basically my company has teamed up with a Serviced Apartment Provider in New York and Boston. They specialise in relocations and projects with a long stay requirement. What I am asking is if anyone has experience with Serviced Apartments in either city. If so, what was the experience like? Is it a popular concept in the USA to use Serviced Apartments? I am trying to gather feedback in order to make the service we provide avoid any pitfalls etc.

Because my company wants to boost its profile stateside we are looking at our options. We operate our own stock as well as act as an Agent so our new partnership is a test drive to infiltrate the US market. We work with companies here to provide expats with accommodation across the world.

I guess more than anything, all I want, is to learn more about the market in NYC and Boston. Costings of apartments, how prevalent is the Serviced Apartment Market, how can we build links with companies to grow our business in the US.

If I can get a few sales too then that's a bonus. Haha!

cab1088

It is a little of both to be honest.

It is a new partnership my company have set up so I am doing research into the local markets and if I happen to benefit from a few sales great.

But more than anything, I would like to know if anyone has done the move and how they did it? Using relocation agents? Did anyone use Serviced apartments? And how they found the experience etc.

cab1088

Thank you so much for the response and the feedback. Did your company organise the accommodation for you then when you initially moved? Does this company have links with Serviced Apartments then and use them regularly for relocations etc.?

Bob

In Boston, of course they are used and of course they are more expensive. You also get them in the burbs.

Companies in Boston use them because it can be difficult for people to find a place if they move middle of the school year as a lot of leases aren't available till September, certainly for family homes.

People also want time to search for a place and figure out commutes and budgets and feel more settled in a place like this than a hotel, closer to work while getting used to the area.

Budget is going to depend on sector. High tech, science research and finance, well probably have a budget. Academic/medical, less so, but then they'll probably get temporary accommodation on campus.

sir_eccles

*cough* site rules *cough*

jmood

The relocation agency arranged the serviced apartment. The company just handed everything over to the agent. The apartment was ready when I got off the plane and I went straight there. So I suppose yes, the Agency has links and uses them regularly.

Noorah101

This site is not meant to be used for sales pitches nor research. Unless you are actually the one relocating to the USA, I suggest you discontinue posting.

Please read the Site Rules, specifically numbers 9 and 10: http://britishexpats.com/site-rules/

Please use the "Contact" feature to get permission from the Site Administrator prior to posting anything similar to this one.

This thread is closed.

Thank you,
Rene
Moderator