Singapore - CapitaLand's wholly owned lodging business unit, The Ascott Limited (Ascott), has clinched contracts to manage 14 properties with over 2,000 units across eight countries - China, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Thailand and Saudi Arabia. Three of the 14 new properties are under its coliving 'lyf' brand, strategically located in the vibrant cities of Fukuoka in Japan, Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia and Shanghai in China.

Under a partnership with Japanese real estate company, NTT Urban Development Corporation - a subsidiary of Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation, Ascott will manage lyf Fukuoka1 as well as jointly explore serviced residence opportunities in Japan. The 131-unit lyf property, nestled within Fukuoka's major retail and recreational centre, is targeted to open in 2020. Meanwhile, the 160-unit lyf Hongqiao Shanghai, strategically located in the Central Business District of Hongqiao, is set to open in 2022. lyf Raja Chulan Kuala Lumpur, which resides within Kuala Lumpur's Golden Triangle, the Malaysian capital city's commercial, shopping and entertainment hub, is scheduled to open in 2020.

Citadines Al Aziziyah Al Khobar— Photo by The Ascott LimitedCitadines Al Aziziyah Al Khobar— Photo by The Ascott Limited
Citadines Al Aziziyah Al Khobar— Photo by The Ascott Limited

Ascott's latest lyf properties in Fukuoka, Kuala Lumpur and Shanghai are set to enjoy a ready catchment of corporate and leisure travellers given their prime locations in the cities' major commercial and recreational hubs and proximity to tech unicorn companies. With these three new additions, Ascott has eight lyf properties with over 1,600 units under development in Singapore, China, Japan, Malaysia, Thailand and the Philippines. Ascott is also ramping up for the opening of its first lyf property, lyf Funan Singapore, in the heart of the city-state's Civic & Cultural District, in the fourth quarter this year.

Mr. Kevin Goh, Ascott's Chief Executive Officer, said: "Demand for our lyf-branded coliving properties is gaining ground. We are bringing lyf to Fukuoka, Kuala Lumpur and Shanghai as the buzzing start-up ecosystems in these cities have given rise to a popular culture of living and cocreating as a community among the millennials. Ascott's lyf properties, with their flexible communal spaces and social programmes, will cater to the lifestyle aspirations of creative professionals, technopreneurs, trendsetters and millennial travellers who seek collaborative and networking opportunities in the community."

Citadines Paras Square Gurugram— Photo by The Ascott LimitedCitadines Paras Square Gurugram— Photo by The Ascott Limited
Citadines Paras Square Gurugram— Photo by The Ascott Limited

"Millennials already account for a quarter of Ascott's customer base; and with our lyf brand, we can seize opportunities presented by the booming millennial generation, set to become the largest spending travel demographic in the near future. Besides Singapore, China, Japan, 

Malaysia, Thailand and the Philippines where we will be opening lyf properties, we are also looking to bring lyf to other potential markets including Australia, France, Germany, Indonesia, and the United Kingdom."

Lyf Fukuoka— Photo by The Ascott LimitedLyf Fukuoka— Photo by The Ascott Limited
Lyf Fukuoka— Photo by The Ascott Limited

The 14 new properties marked Ascott's first foray into Changchun, the second largest city in Northeast China, and deepened its presence in Foshan, Hong Kong, Shanghai and Shenzhen, China; Frankfurt, Germany; Fukuoka, Japan; Gurgaon, India; Jakarta and Semarang, Indonesia; Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; Pattaya, Thailand; and Al Khobar in Saudi Arabia.

Among the 14 new properties is the 100-unit Ascott Riverpark Tower Frankfurt, to be designed by the world-famous architect Ole Scheeren. This is the first time Ascott is bringing its premier Ascott The Residence brand to Germany. Taking on a Jenga-like structure, the serviced residence will offer panoramic city and river views when it opens in 2022.

Somerset Zhongmao Changchun— Photo by The Ascott LimitedSomerset Zhongmao Changchun— Photo by The Ascott Limited
Somerset Zhongmao Changchun— Photo by The Ascott Limited

Meanwhile, the 118-unit Citadines Hongqiao Mixc Shanghai is secured under Ascott's strategic alliance with Nasdaq-listed Huazhu Hotels Group (Huazhu), one of China's leading hotel operators, and Huazhu's subsidiary CJIA Apartments Group. Citadines Hongqiao Mixc Shanghai is the fifth property under the alliance and is slated to open in 2019.

Under a strategic alliance with Ananda Development, one of Thailand's top listed developers, Ascott will be managing the 324-unit Somerset Blue Coast Pattaya. lyf Sukhumvit 8 Bangkok, set to open in 2020, is also one of the properties signed under this partnership.

Mr. Goh said: "We have continued to build on our strong growth momentum in the first quarter this year and accelerated Ascott's growth across Asia Pacific, Europe and the Middle East. Besides management contracts, Ascott's strategic alliances with market leaders such as NTT Urban Development Corporation in Japan, Huazhu Hotels Group in China and Ananda Development in Thailand continue to provide us with a strong pipeline of properties. In addition to the 14 new properties, we secured our first property in Australia under our recently launched Citadines Connect brand of select-service business hotels, extending our product offerings to owners and customers. With our serviced residences and apartments for corporate leasing targeting the long stay segment, to the middle-class business hotels under TAUZIA's brands and Citadines Connect select-service business hotels for shorter stays, we will fast-track Ascott's expansion to achieve our global target of 160,000 units by 2023."

Please refer to Annex A for the details of the new properties added to Ascott's portfolio and Annex B for more information on the lyf brand.

1 Tentative name.

About The Ascott Limited

Since pioneering Asia Pacific's first international-class serviced residence with the opening of The Ascott Singapore in 1984, Ascott has grown to be a trusted hospitality company with more than 940 properties globally. Headquartered in Singapore, Ascott's presence extends across more than 220 cities in over 40 countries in Asia Pacific, Central Asia, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and the USA.

Ascott's diversified accommodation offerings span serviced residences, co-living properties, hotels and independent senior living apartments, as well as student accommodation and rental housing. Its award-winning hospitality brands include Ascott, Citadines, lyf, Oakwood, Quest, Somerset, The Crest Collection, The Unlimited Collection, Preference, Fox, Harris, POP!, Vertu and Yello; and it has a brand partnership with Domitys. Through Ascott Star Rewards (ASR), Ascott's loyalty programme, members enjoy exclusive privileges and offers at participating properties.

A wholly owned business unit of CapitaLand Investment Limited, Ascott is a leading vertically-integrated lodging operator. Harnessing its extensive network of third-party owners and in-market expertise, Ascott grows fee-related earnings through its hospitality management and investment management capabilities. Ascott also expands its funds under management by growing its sponsored CapitaLand Ascott Trust and private funds.

For more information on Ascott's industry record of 40 years and its sustainability programme, please visit www.discoverasr.com/the-ascott-limited. Connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and LinkedIn.

About CapitaLand Investment Limited

Headquartered and listed in Singapore, CapitaLand Investment Limited (CLI) is a leading global real estate investment manager (REIM) with a strong Asia foothold. As at 30 September 2023, CLI had S$133 billion of real estate assets under management, and S$90 billion of real estate funds under management (FUM) held via six listed real estate investment trusts and business trusts, and more than 30 private vehicles across Asia Pacific, Europe and USA. Its diversified real estate asset classes cover retail, office, lodging, business parks, industrial, logistics and data centres.

CLI aims to scale its FUM and fee-related earnings through fund management, lodging management and its full stack of operating capabilities, and maintain effective capital management. As the investment management arm of CapitaLand Group, CLI has access to the development capabilities of and pipeline investment opportunities from CapitaLand's development arm.

As a responsible company, CLI places sustainability at the core of what it does and has committed to achieve Net Zero carbon emissions for scope 1 and 2 by 2050. CLI contributes to the environmental and social well-being of the communities where it operates, as it delivers long-term economic value to its stakeholders.

Visit http://www.capitalandinvest.com/ for more information.

Joan Tan
Assistant Vice President, Corporate Communications
+65 6713 2864
The Ascott Limited