ASAP confident of significant growth in serviced apartment sector in 2015

Membership of the Association of Service Apartment Provider (ASAP) is set to double in size by the end of the year, reflecting a sector which is carving out an increasingly stronger presence in UK hospitality.

James Foice, managing director of ASAP, said that membership growth was mirrored by new serviced apartment units coming on stream. "To date we know of nearly 850 new apartments being opened during this year, a 6% increase on the current stock, but we expect that figure to rise substantially."

Occupancy of ASAP properties increased 2.1% year-on-year to 84.5% during 2014, while for the rest of the UK it was up 2.6% to 81.9%.

Foice said that the sector was increasingly looking to target leisure travellers, as well as the corporate sector. "ASAP's quality assessment programme has strong appeal to families visiting the UK, who, like business travellers, want to know that units have been properly assessed and they know what they're getting for their money," he explained.