Serviced apartment booking agency CAP Worldwide has launched
a partner programme that aims to ensure that all partners, no matter how big or
small, whether they are global or local, diverse, entrepreneurial or minority
owned have an equal opportunity to be a CAP brand partner or supplier.
CAP CEO Jo Layton said, “In these challenging times we have
recognised the best and most sustainable supply chains are achieved through the
welcoming of great and diverse brand partners – this has become apparent even
more so during the pandemic.
“CAPTURE, our digital eco-system, recognises and
records the availability of diverse partners and can provide spend data to
support our client’s diversity initiatives. This ensures that we are measured
on our actions in this equity arena, not just our words”.
The ‘At CAP, you’re welcome’ programme is managed
internally by Clare Ace, CAP’s global supply and brand partner director.
Ace said, "We want to ensure that all providers, no
matter their size, their ethnicity or the gender of their ownership have the
opportunity to work with us. Once at the CAP table, all partners will be taken
through an initial assessment (if they are not already accredited officially),
on their product and company’s ‘safe, secure, Covid-19 clean and legal’ status.
"It remains important to remember, that whether the provider has one unit in a
tertiary location or 90,000 units across the globe, all providers are expected
to provide the best, safest and highest level of service and product in their
respective market”.
The company has also announced it has been awarded Women
Owned certified status .
Layton said, “CAP Worldwide is proud to be part of the
formal WEConnect International women’s business enterprise accreditation
programme, an association that provides support to majority women owned
businesses and helps global corporate companies to connect with formally assessed
and certified women owned suppliers.”
Maggie Berry OBE, the executive director for Europe at
WEConnect International, said, “We are delighted to welcome Jo, her leadership
team and her connections to the WBE community.
"Jo’s energy and drive to ‘pay it
forward’ and to ensure equity and inclusivity in her own business and across
her supply chain is refreshing and exciting – we are looking forward to working
together over the coming months in this fast-moving space”.
Last month, the company launched a serviced apartment portal with the UK's Business Travel Association.