Serviced apartment trade body teams with VisitEngland to launch new industry ‘ring of confidence’ standard

VisitEngland and the national tourist organisations of Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales have worked with the Association of Serviced Apartment Providers (ASAP) and other industry leaders, to provide a ‘ring of confidence’ as the sector works towards reopening.

The ‘We’re Good To Go’ industry standard has been developed alongside a range of other tourism bodies including UKHospitality, the Association of Leading Visitor Attractions, the British Holiday & Home Parks Association and the British Beer and Pub Association.

Businesses applying to carry the marque must demonstrate adherence to official public health guidance, including the UK Government’s regularly spot-checked ‘Working Safely during COVID-19: Visitor Economy’, and by carrying out intensive COVID-19 risk assessments.

James Foice, ASAP CEO, sees only positives in the industry working together to reassure the public as the country moves towards recovery. He said: “Right from the outset, we knew guests were going to need an additional layer of confidence that those operating hospitality accommodation are responding to COVID-19.

“Our own members already carry independently assessed Accreditation, and hygiene plays an important part of that. But we added a new protocol to cover enhanced deep-cleaning and the sanitisation of properties, the ASAP ‘Stay with Confidence Promise’, that covers every element of a guest stay from before they arrive to after they’ve checked out.

“By their nature, serviced apartments which have kitchens, laundry facilities and plenty of space, offer more than most other types of accommodation to those keen to avoid contact with others. Now those carrying our own Accreditation and the ‘Stay with Confidence Promise’ can add this latest Visit England ‘We’re Good To Go’ standard, as well as last week’s AA COVID Confident Accreditation which we also support.

“The more confident travellers are, that their accommodation is professionally-managed, independently-assessed and COVID-ready, the quicker the whole UK hospitality industry will recover.”