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ABOUT ISAAP

INTERNATIONAL SERVICES ACCOMMODATION ACCREDITATION PROCESS

BACKGROUND

ISAAP is the leading global quality standard for the serviced accommodation, corporate housing and aparthotel sector of the hospitality industry, with the addition in April 2026 of validation schemes for the short-term accommodation (STA) operators.

 

Since its inception in 2015, ISAAP is gaining momentum as the recognised worldwide accreditation & certification standard for the industry.

 

Engaged as the preferred quality and safety assessment and accreditation body for the trade associations of the Corporate Housing Providers Association (CHPA) in North America and the Association of Serviced Apartment Providers (ASAP) in the UK and Europe, ISAAP continues to broaden its reach into new global markets through referrals and approaches from serviced accommodation organisations that are keen to establish their brand to be synonymous with a recognised accredited standard, and it is the ISAAP Accreditation seals, when achieved and displayed, which provide critical differentiation in the global market place.

WHO ARE WE?

As Director & CEO of ISAAP, Stephen Martin leads a team of highly industry-experienced and professionally qualified Quality & Compliance Assessment Consultants who work closely with accommodation providers engaging in the accreditation or certification process. Their professionalism and commitment is recognised and appreciated by those companies.

STEPHEN MARTIN

 

Director & CEO

Stephen Martin is a hospitality professional with over 40 years management experience to date.

 

With a formal higher education diploma in Hotel & Catering management, Stephen has spent his entire career within hospitality and customer service, encompassing airlines, industrial caterers, restaurants, logistics and serviced accommodation.

 

With valuable experience of conducting quality and food safety audits domestically and globally for British Airways, Stephen has been able to take up the challenge of developing and delivering a quality assessment and accreditation programme for ISAAP, which is now recognised as the leading global provider of assessment and accreditation services in the serviced accommodation sector. Sound commercial experience and large-scale catering product procurement management experience underpin Stephen’s professional competencies.

A TEAM OF PROFESSIONALS

Quality Assessment Consultants

Due to the need for ISAAP Quality Assessment Consultants to operate “under the radar” for some of their assignments, it is not possible to “blow their cover” here by showing evidence of their rugged and attractive good looks!

 

However, following here are their biographies in cryptic format:

 

More ISAAP Special Agents are currently undergoing rigorous training and should be receiving their assessment combat kit soon!

Special Agent 001

Agent 001 began his career in the hotel sector. After completing the professional HCIMA (now Institute of Hospitality) examinations, he successfully managed establishments in the South West of England, including the region’s leading conference hotel, hosting large-scale events for, among others, Adidas, Polygram, and Sony. He then spent several years as a Senior Assessor with Visit England (England’s National Tourist Board), carrying out quality assessments for a wide range of accommodation properties including 5-star hotels in London. Since 2013, Special Agent 001 has been involved with ISAAP, delivering assessments to Serviced Apartment and Corporate Housing Providers in the UK and throughout the world.

Special Agent 002

Special Agent 002 attended catering college in London, before working her way up through the ranks in most hotel departments for the next 10 years. This experience was mostly in 4 and 5 star rated hotels, ranging from small country hotels to 300 bedroom properties at Heathrow.

Later positions have seen Special Agent 002 managing a small 12 bedroom, 3 star hotel, an award winning organic bed and breakfast venue and, for a short period, working as a freelance hotel management consultant before joining the ISAAP Quality Assessment Consultant team.

Special Agent 003

Special Agent 003 gained her formal industry qualification of HND Catering and Hospitality at University and then began her career at a 5 Star rated hotel and then a student’s hall of residence in Scotland. The high seas came calling for Special Agent 003, culminating in the position of Maître D’ on the QE2. After five years at sea, she returned home with an initial posting as a Hotel Manager in the New Forest, renowned as an events and weddings hotspot. After a number of years gaining valuable, relevant experience as an Assessor, and then Senior Assessor, with Visit England, during which she carried out quality assessments for a wide range of accommodation properties including 5-star hotels, serviced apartments, B&Bs and self-catering operations, Special Agent 003 joined the ISAAP team in 2015, delivering assessments and accreditation outcomes to ASAP’s Serviced Apartment Provider Members in the UK and Ireland.

Special Agent 004

Special Agent 004 joined the ISAAP team in 2014. He holds a Diploma in Hotel Management and qualified for HCIMA membership at the same time. His lifelong career has always been within the hospitality industry and he has held senior roles with Hilton, Forte Hotels and the catering divisions of Bass and Courage. He has always had a strong affinity with quality and acted on many forums and in various management groups for the furtherance of quality of service and of product within these companies. In 2001 he moved over to join Quality in Tourism acting for Visit England as a quality assessor and then area manager where he continued to focus on quality and customer service. Moderation and training roles followed with direct responsibility to Visit England for the quality, accuracy and relevance of the work done by the assessment team. His main role within ISAAP is carrying out quality assessments for our serviced accommodation providers in the UK and worldwide. Special Agent 004 is, together with the ISAAP team, involved in shaping the future policy and strategy of our organisation both in the UK and abroad.

Special Agent 005

Special Agent 005 gained her formal industry qualification in residential social care before beginning to gain many relevant experiences in a varying CV building mission! She can cite thorough experience from Northumbria Police through Pharmaceutical and Medical sales, Spanish property sales, Shipping Brokerage and into hotel general management in the Lake District. Recently, our Special Agent 005 has been gaining a reputation within the accommodation industry sector as a relief manager and business consultant, helping hospitality businesses to survive and thrive in difficult economic times. Our newest recruit, Special Agent 005 joined the ISAAP team in 2021 and will be delivering assessments, accreditation and certification outcomes to ISAAP clients, both UK and overseas.

MAKE AN INFORMED, SAFE ACCOMMODATION SELECTION

ISAAP CORPORATE

  • Compliance Accreditation
  • Building Accreditation
  • Quality & Comfort Certification
  • Euro Certification for Quality, Safety & Security
  • North American Corporate Housing Certification
  • Secure Serviced Accommodation Accreditation

ISAAP.Verify

  • Accommodation Registration
  • Professional Validation
  • Premium Validation
  • Community Responsibility Validation
  • Responsible Company Validation

  • 'We’ve been proud accredited and certified ISAAP members and our partnership with Stephen and the entire ISAAP team has been nothing short of outstanding. As a European serviced apartment provider with a global offering, the value of this accreditation cannot be overstated. ISAAP plays a critical role in reinforcing the safety, credibility, comfort, and consistency of our entire apartment fleet. In an increasingly competitive and quality-conscious market, being ISAAP accredited gives our clients confidence and peace of mind – no matter where they stay with us. It has become a fundamental part of our operational standards and brand promise. The support and professionalism of the ISAAP team have always been exceptional, and we truly value the relationship we’ve built over the years. We look forward to continuing this collaboration well into the future.'

    Arielle Dupont - COO & Head of CSR - Cityus

  • 'House of Fisher has now been ISAAP accredited for 10 years and is about to start our 11th submission; we highly believe in the value it gives us and our customers, and it continues to be a large USP for us. It audits our own procedures and standards on a continuous basis, making us 100% compliant and a trustworthy brand. This makes us stand out against non-compliant and non-regulated accommodation providers. Further to this, ISAAP and Steve are a great sounding board for changes in H&S/fire regulations when these pop, and are always there to give added support.'

    Trine Oestergaard Stafford - Managing Director - House of Fisher

  • We launched Craftstay Corporate Housing in 2016 and had the privilege of collaborating with seasoned industry professionals. Drawing on their insights, we've continuously refined our offerings based on direct experience and client feedback. Our collaboration with ISAAP marked a significant turning point, rapidly elevating our standards. Our recommendation to similar businesses is clear: Engage with ISAAP sooner rather than later.

    Alexander Shakaryan – Founder and President - CraftStay Corporate Housing, CA, USA

  • Recently achieving our first accreditation through ISAAP will be a transformative milestone for Be London and our high-end serviced apartment offering. The process was thorough, robust and professional. Furthermore, It will help us elevate our standards and operations to assist with our goal of continuous improvement. Earning ISAAP accreditation gives us real credibility in the eyes of booking agencies and provides guests with the assurance that they are choosing a trusted, high-quality provider.

    Andrew Thompson - General Manager - Be London

  • We recently underwent the ISAAP accreditation process, and it was an incredibly positive experience for our organization. The process was thorough and well-structured, providing us with clear guidelines and guidance throughout. The ISAAP team was professional, knowledgeable, and always available to answer our questions, ensuring we understood the requirements and how to meet them. Achieving ISAAP accreditation has significantly boosted our credibility and demonstrated our commitment to maintaining the highest standards. It has also provided us with valuable insights and opportunities for continuous improvement. We highly recommend the ISAAP accreditation process to any organization looking to elevate their practices and gain recognition for their dedication to excellence."

    Tracy Hayes - Founder and President - CWS Corporate Housing

  • We chose to pursue ISAAP certification because we saw a clear need for a formal, internationally recognized standard for corporate housing—something that has long been absent in our region. ISAAP has provided us with a rigorous and measurable framework that reinforces excellence in safety, service delivery, and accommodation quality. This certification not only validates our commitment to best practices but also supports our mission to raise the bar for the entire industry. We deeply value our ongoing partnership with ISAAP and look forward to continuing our collaboration—helping to elevate global standards while establishing a stronger, more consistent benchmark for corporate housing here in the United States.

    Jennifer Breen, CCHP - President - Suite Home Corporate Housing

  • ASAP has been proactively promoting the importance of accreditation to the Serviced Apartment industry for the last 10 years. Its partner, ISAAP, has developed a comprehensive, relevant and credible suite of accreditation and certification options which are professionally and consistently delivered globally and provide those accredited organisations with the best possible business differentiation advantage in these very competitively challenging times.”

    JAMES FOICE – CEO – ASSOCIATION OF SERVICED ACCOMMODATION PROVIDERS (ASAP) – United Kingdom

  • PREMIER SUITES have been ISAAP accredited for the last 11 years. The ISAAP process is extremely important and informative for our business. Having used other accreditation bodies previously we found that ISAAP was tailored perfectly for the Serviced Accommodation product and sector. For the last 4 years all of our properties across the UK and Europe have achieved ISAAP Building Accreditation, which is a much more targeted inspection and verification process in which quality, health, safety, hygiene and security are assessed. Not only does knowing all our PREMIER SUITES properties have achieved the ISAAP Building Accreditation give me the confidence and assurance that our guests are receiving the highest standards of service , but also that our business operates with high standards of Health & Safety and COVID safe procedures. The assessors are extremely knowledgeable and helpful during the accreditation process and all our teams find the process a positive and informative experience.”

    EVELYN HARAN - Chief Operating Officer (UK) and Brand Standards Manager Europe - PREMIER SUITES - Europe

  • ISAAP provides us with the peace of mind that all conscientious serviced apartment providers desire. The assessment and accreditation process is rigorous but delivered with patient and attentive guidance. ISAAP assessors have significant experience in the hospitality and compliance industry, and this have always helped us improve year on year. After 12 years in the industry we believe this is the most detailed assessment on the circuit, providing us the opportunity to keep abreast of the latest compliance reforms and upgrades. Knowing that we are protecting our guests and our business diligently gives peace of mind and the ability to focus confidently on R&D and running the company.

    ALISON WATTS – Owner/Director – 20 THE BARONS LUXURY SERVICED APARTMENTS - London