UK: The British Hospitality Association (BHA) has launched a sector programme for serviced apartments and aparthotels.
The BHA says branded aparthotels and serviced apartments “will be at the forefront of new hospitality innovations and have already started to gain solid recognition as a core part of the hospitality industry”.
BHA CEO Ufi Ibrahim said: “Independent apartment-living with all the benefits of expert hospitality services are a popular and fast-growing trend, particularly for young people and business travellers. As well as dedicated new brands, many of our international member hotel brands are adding serviced apartment offers to their brand portfolios. That’s why it’s vital to have a dedicated representation within our membership.”
The BHA defines aparthotels and serviced apartments as “branded ‘cook-in’ plus sleeping accommodations with various degrees of hospitality services offered”
Marie Hickey of Savills said: “While the sector in the UK remains small compared to hotels accounting for only 3% of hotel bed supply, expansion has been picking up pace with almost 50 new site openings over the last two years as opposed to the five openings reported back in 2005 with 3,200 new units in the development pipeline through to end 2017.” Savills has identified the fastest growth markets for the aparthotel and serviced apartment sector as Birmingham, Aberdeen, Edinburgh, London, Manchester, Liverpool and Newcastle.
Max Thorne, CEO of CL Serviced Apartments and chairman of the BHA’s sector programme for aparthotels, said: “Aparthotels and serviced apartments are one of the fastest growing sectors of the hospitality and tourism industry, particularly in London and the UK’s leading regional cities, so it’s important that our group has a strong voice in shaping key issues. For our sector, this year we see these priorities as sector brand building, jobs and skills, the sharing economy and cutting tourism VAT.”
bha.org.uk
www.clservicedapartments.com</p
