Spanish chain Room Mate Hotels has launched an online apartment rental concept called Bemate.com.
The new brand aims to provide private apartments with hotel services, such as a 24-hour concierge and a convenient location to leave luggage and pick up and deposit room keys.
Bemate.com also offers amenities that can be booked á la carte, from airport transfers to cleaners and cooks.
Since its creation in September, Bemate has acquired 2,500 apartments in ten cities including New York, Madrid, Amsterdam, Barcelona and Mexico City.
It is currently increasing its portfolio to include Paris, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Hong Kong, Istanbul, Lisbon and Seville.
The project is also opening up to allow other hoteliers to become Bemate.com ambassadors and will expand to cities including Paris, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Hong Kong, Istanbul, Lisbon and Seville. It aims to have up to 80,000 apartments in 150 cities by the end of next year.
And, there are plans to start up a loyalty programme by the end of November. The scheme will offer benefits in partnering and ambassador hotels.
Kike Sarasola, Room Mate's founder and president, said: "Our focus is on what the new traveller demands... Our guests will feel safe and comforted by the hotel service they will receive including 24-hour concierge, delivery and collection of keys, luggage storage and tourist information, whilst enjoying independence in an apartment-style accommodation."
Room Mate recently unveiled its Wi Mate initiative, by which travellers borrow a portable router that provides them with free wifi anywhere in the city.
Miriam Jones