The first ever Quality Accreditation programme for the rapidly growing serviced apartment sector, pioneered by the UK’s Association for Serviced Apartment Providers (ASAP), will now go global, following a joint announcement today of ASAP’s partnership with the Corporate Housing Providers Association (CHPA) headquartered in the US.
ASAP’s MD James Foice comments:
“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. We are delighted that CHPA is supporting the global rollout of the programme – to be known as the ‘International Serviced Apartment Accreditation Programme’ (ISAAP) outside the UK – which will be offered to the entire membership of CHPA.”
ISAAP programme: global consumer confidence
TheISAAP programme is the natural expansion of the well-established ASAP Quality accreditation programme, originally developed by the ASAP for its serviced apartment operator members in the UK and Ireland. The ISAAPprogramme, which embraces guest opinion through internet reviews and detailed physical assessment, launches at a time when the serviced apartment industry is growing at 14% in the past year alone, with 750,000 apartments world-wide.
Foice continues: “The consumer globally really does want to have confidence that the serviced apartment they are staying in has been fully assessed by a professional independent body and to have confirmation that the operator they have booked with fully complies with key health & safety requirements, has robust business practices in place and adheres to an agreed industry code of conduct to ensure they can sleep safely at night.”
Consistent quality standards
CHPA Chief Executive Officer, Mary Ann Passi, CAE, comments: “Collaborating with the ASAP and their UK-based assessors to launch this programme ensures that quality standards are consistent. The global expansion of this programme is an opportunity for qualified companies to set themselves apart in a very competitive marketplace. CHPA’s partnership is a significant step forward for our sector, which connects the industry globally to ensure that clients and guests are best served.”
The global rollout of the Quality programme has groundbreaking potential for the advancement of the sector in every corner of the world. It will increase quality standards and give the consumer the confidence that wherever they choose to stay in a serviced apartment, they are booking a safe and secure apartment which meets the stringent standards set by the industry’s trade body, in particular in terms of duty of care and due diligence.
The introduction of the ASAP/ISAAP Quality programme has also been welcomed by the wider corporate travel community with a number of leading organisations prioritising quality accredited operators in their global travel programmes.
For more information about ASAP click here
For more information about CHPA click here