Morris SimSilverNeedle Hospitality Group today announces the acquisition of the internationally acclaimed new media marketing agency, Brand Karma, a pioneer in building brand experiences through social media, creative storytelling, digital marketing and immersive virtual reality. Together with SilverNeedle’s in-house architecture and design agency Virsa, SilverNeedle becomes highly-specialized in marketing and design, holistically maximizing ROI on real estate assets. The group also announces its hotel management division is now branded Next Hotels (formally SilverNeedle Hospitality). Together Next Hotels, Virsa and Brand Karma form Next Story Group. “The hospitality and real estate industries are experiencing unprecedented shifts, with new consumer expectations giving quick rise to disruptors,” explains Morris Sim, previously Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Brand Karma, now Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) for Next Story Group. “It is difficult for asset owners to ensure what they have today will be relevant and monetisable for tomorrow’s consumers. Being a part of Next Story Group means asset owners can count on us to differentiate and respond to market changes faster.”