The Association of Serviced Apartment Providers (ASAP) will help
frontline NHS staff in the UK find accommodation near hospitals during the Covid-19
outbreak following an appeal from Crystal Palace footballer Wilfried Zaha and
his business partner Obi Williams.
The pair reportedly reached out to the association through the
London Evening Standard newspaper after hearing from an NHS anaesthetist who
was recovering from the virus in one of its properties about the difficulties
in finding accommodation for doctors and nurses on call close to hospitals.
Zaha and Williams offered the NHS 50 apartments owned by their
business accommodation company ZoProperties, which they said were filled
immediately.
Now Zaha is calling on other serviced apartment providers and
operators to open the doors to unfilled and empty apartments to house frontline
staff battling the Covid-19 crisis, saying: “We need properties now.”
James Foice, CEO of the ASAP, has agreed to Zaha’s plea,
commenting: “We are were already in discussions with the NHS about how our
members could support the amazing work their staff are providing by offering
accommodation in many locations close to hospitals.”
Foice pointed out that Roomzzz Aparthotels is currently offering
apartments at ten of its locations across the UK.
“We are a growing part of the hospitality sector, and absolutely
nothing is more important to ASAP members than the welfare and safety of their
guests – at any time, but especially during the current crisis. Whether it’s accommodating
NHS or other key workers, or anyone displaced across the country who is forced
to make apartments their temporary, primary residence, ASAP members and the
serviced apartment sector are set up, poised and ready to accept this
challenge. We’re here to help.”