UK serviced apartment accreditation scheme goes global
Pioneered in the UK by the Association for Serviced Apartment Providers (ASAP), the scheme aims to build consumer confidence in an industry which has grown 14 per cent in the past year - with 750,000 apartments now operating globally.
The new International Serviced Apartment Accreditation Programme (ISAAP) will embrace customer opinion through online reviews and aim to reassure guests of the safety and security of their bookings.
The announcement comes as a result of a partnership between ASAP and the US-based Corporate Housing Providers Association (CHPA).
ASAP's managing director James Foice said: "This really is a breakthrough moment for our sector. We have rigorously tested the ASAP Quality programme over the last 12 months in the USA, Canada and also Europe to ensure it meets the demands of the international marketplace. "
CHPA chief executive officer Mary Ann Passi explained that the collaboration would ensure that quality standards remained ‘consistent’ worldwide.
“The global expansion of this programme is an opportunity for qualified companies to set themselves apart in a very competitive marketplace,” she said.
“CHPA’s partnership is a significant step forward for our sector.”
ASAP has 127 members with over 25,000 properties in the UK, Ireland, Europe, the USA and Canada, generating annual revenues of £600m.
The trade body said in February that it expects its membership to double in size by the end of the year as the serviced apartment sector continues to grow.
