Ascott, a leading service residence owner-operator, is ramping up its expansion with a target to double its portfolio to 160,000 units globally by 2023.

Hot on the heels of its recent signing of nine management contracts in China, Ascott has clinched contracts to manage another four properties with 1,200 units in new cities such as Malacca in Malaysia and Davao in the Philippines while deepening its presence in Guangzhou in China and Cebu in the Philippines. 

Kevin Goh, Ascott’s chief executive officer, said: “With the global economic upswing and international travel arrivals hitting a new high, we are confident of exceeding 80,000 units this year. We see immense potential to scale up to 160,000 units worldwide in the next five years. Besides accelerating our growth through management contracts, which currently make up 60 per cent of our portfolio, we will continue to seek opportunities for strategic investments in strong operating businesses that will widen our customer reach and give us a competitive edge. We will also grow our franchise business, particularly through our Citadines and Quest brands, and form strategic alliances with leading companies that have a pipeline of properties for us to manage.”

Goh added: “We will focus on key gateway cities in our two biggest markets, China and Southeast Asia, as well as existing and emerging markets, including across the Middle East. Expanding our global network will allow us to leverage greater economies of scale and strengthen our earnings. To position Ascott for the future, we will harness digital innovation and technology to enhance customer experience. For instance, our coliving brand, lyf, targeted at the millennials will provide guests with a complete digital experience.”

With its latest deals, Ascott has entered new attractive investment destinations Malacca and Davao. Its Somerset property in Malacca, Ascott’s largest property to date, will benefit from an upcoming free economic zone and sea port. Meanwhile, its foray into Davao will anchor Ascott in the Philippines’ third fastest-growing economy which also serves as the economic and tourism hub of Southern Philippines. Ascott’s fifth property under its lyf brand will be in Cebu, the top investment destination in the Philippines outside Metro Manila. With Ascott also increasing its presence in Guangzhou, it has reinforced its leading position as one of the largest serviced residence operators in China. 

Goh said: “The Chinese are our top customers at our properties globally and continues to be the fastest growing segment in 2017, growing at 33 per cent year-on-year. Besides opening more properties in China, we have stepped up our online marketing efforts tailored for the China market to better capture the Chinese travellers’ demand for properties both in and outside of China. For instance, Ascott has one of the largest serviced apartment listings on Fliggy, which has more than 200 million users. Our properties on Fliggy cover over 50 cities most popular amongst Chinese travellers, such as Singapore, Bangkok, Tokyo, Paris and London.”

Goh added: “Almost half of our units under development worldwide are concentrated in Southeast Asia. The region has some of the world’s fastest expanding economies such as Vietnam and the Philippines. Southeast Asia’s booming working-age population, large-scale infrastructure projects, rising affluence, and favourable investment policies are attracting businesses, creating strong demand for quality accommodation. The ASEAN Economic Community will also generate more trade and employment opportunities, presenting huge growth potential for the hospitality industry.”

With these new additions, Ascott currently has more than 160 properties with about 30,000 units under development worldwide. About 35 of these properties with more than 6,500 units are scheduled to open this year, half of which are in China, and a quarter in Southeast Asia. The rest are in countries such as Australia, France, India, Saudi Arabia, and the United Kingdom, including Ascott’s first property in Africa.

The new management contracts have increased Ascott’s portfolio in Southeast Asia to about 23,000 units in 111 properties across 34 cities. Its newly secured properties in Guangzhou has also strengthened Ascott’s foothold in China with over 20,000 units in about 110 properties across 31 cities. - TradeArabia News Service