Meet Dr. Anke Bovermann, AltoVita’s Director of Client Partnerships for the DACH region. Since joining AltoVita in September 2025, Anke has been responsible for building and growing client relationships across Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, helping enterprise organisations navigate the region’s distinct corporate housing landscape.
When she’s not flying between Zurich, Vienna and her hometown Munich, you’ll find her hanging out with her husband and three kids or hiking in the Bavarian countryside with her dog Samy.
We recently sat down with her to explore what makes the DACH market so different from the rest of Europe, the gap between what mobility teams expect and what the market delivers, and the one thing she wishes every client knew before they started their search.
DACH combines some of Europe’s tightest housing markets with some of its strictest rules. Munich, Zurich, Geneva and Vienna have very little furnished supply, and housing, in general, is limited and expensive. Many cities also restrict short-term rental. Employees must register their address shortly after arrival (within two weeks in Germany, three days in Austria). Not every provider can supply the paperwork for that. The most common mistake is treating a 30-day stay like a long hotel booking: booked late, through expense reports, with no policy behind it. That leads to higher costs, compliance gaps and a poor start for the employee.
Employees now expect a home rather than a room. Hybrid work means they need a proper workspace and reliable Wi-Fi. More of them travel with partners, children or pets. They also expect a digital, transparent booking experience and quick answers when something goes wrong. Wellbeing and the neighbourhood matter as much as the price. Sustainability questions come up more and more, as well, especially from younger talent. And sometimes, the expectation is practically Neuschwanstein Castle in the centre of Munich!
It starts with a clear policy for stays of 14-90 days and a designated owner within Travel, Mobility or HR. Working with one partner and a centralised booking system helps consolidate spend and data. Consistent quality and safety standards across every city are critical. Local compliance should also be built into the process, including the documentation employees need for local registration. Employees need to have 24/7 support and a single point of contact. A clear, transparent process helps all stakeholders maintain visibility. And of course, regular reviews on data and employee feedback are necessary for continuous improvement.
Teams want flexibility, speed and consistency, but have no clear process in place. The DACH market is fragmented: many landlords want long minimum stays, quality varies widely, and booking confirmations can take days. Also, in some areas there are limited good quality accommodation options which pose an extra challenge. Visibility is the other gap. Most companies can’t tell you how much they spend on extended stays, because the cost is spread across expense reports, relocation budgets and hotel bookings.
Without data, extended stays stay invisible. The metrics I’d recommend tracking are:
Together these show where money is lost and where the employee experience breaks down.
The quality of the result depends on how well we work together. A partner can only be as good as the brief they get. Especially in tight markets like Munich, Zurich or Geneva, a few things make a big difference:
Involve us early: Even two extra weeks of lead time can mean more options and better rates. Also, involve us in your strategy and plans so that we can build a successful programme together.
Share a clear brief: That means dates, budget, preferred areas or commute times, and who is travelling (partner, children, pets). It also helps to separate must-haves from nice-to-haves.
Be open about flexibility: A few days either way on dates, or a slightly different neighbourhood, can open up much better options.
Name one decision-maker and give us quick feedback on the options we send. Good apartments in DACH rarely stay available for long.
Share your upcoming needs. If we know about upcoming projects, assignments or recurring hotspots, we can secure supply before it’s urgent.
So to summarise: Involve us early, share a clear brief with your must-haves and flexibility, and give quick feedback, because in tight DACH markets, a close partnership is the key to finding the right home for your employees.