Hotel suites differ from normal hotel rooms. Suite hotels offer larger units that normally add a living room area and fully equipped kitchen and may offer additional bedrooms. There may even be an office area and many businesspeople prefer suite hotels because there is more space in independence to hold small meeting and to entertain clients.
Suite hotels are often used by people who travel extensively, and may need extended-stay accommodation. The hotel suites provide more of the comforts of home than normal hotel rooms; they are intended to provide a home away from home, especially for travelling executives who need a fully serviced suite to work from. Hotel suites may offer different layouts: studios, one, two or three bedroom suites and notably more space than a hotel room would offer. In fact, a hotel suite is more akin to a luxury apartment than a hotel room.
Some suite hotels charge per suite, not per person. Some also provide a personal shopping service, whereby you can have your kitchen and refrigerator stocked with the food and beverages of your choice, even before you arrive at the hotel. Amenities like air conditioning, private access, BBQ facilities, a swimming pool, DSTV and an international direct-dial telephone are par for the course. The suites include an electronic safe that may even accommodate a laptop and there are usually suites available that cater for the physically disabled.
In addition to the pleasing hotel suites, other services are rendered, like a courtesy bar, boardroom facilities and a guest office with Internet access. Laundry services are provided as well, in the form of a 24-hour laundrette, or a same-day dry-cleaning and laundry service on weekdays. Full breakfasts are offered daily and some suite hotels may even offer in-suite dining by prior arrangement with some of the local restaurants.