Ascott Star Rewards celebrates 2nd anniversary with promotions

The Ascott Limited’s loyalty programme, Ascott Star Rewards (ASR), is celebrating its second anniversary with the Celebrate The Little Joys campaign, offering double bonus points and complimentary tier upgrades to reward and thank its members.

Membership in ASR has grown over 400% since its launch in 2019. ASR members contribute about 90% of Ascott’s direct bookings online and over 60% of ASR members are repeat guests. ASR members also spend 36% more with Ascott compared to non-members.

The Discover ASR mobile app was introduced in October 2020, and has received 130,000 downloads. To date, over 1.3 million fans and followers of ASR connect and engage across the Discover ASR social channels on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube.

Tan Bee Leng, Ascott’s MD for Brand & Marketing said: “We appreciate the strong support from our ASR members and are celebrating ASR’s second anniversary by providing our members with more rewards. Amid the challenging COVID-19 environment, we continue to stand by our ASR members and launched a series of initiatives to allow them to maximise their membership.

"These include offering members bonus ASR points if they had chosen to be refunded in ASR points* for their booking cancellations; ASR points purchase feature, ASR Elite Status Match and CapitaStar-ASR Points Exchange programmes which allowed ASR members to gain more perks or upgrade their membership tier. In December 2020, we launched Southeast Asia’s largest promotion with about S$13 million worth of goodies up for grabs on Shopee.”

“The launch of Discover ASR mobile app was also key to providing our members with contactless services along with the introduction of our Ascott Cares commitment to provide our guests with a safe home away from home. ASR members can look forward to more from us as we continue to improve our offerings to strengthen ASR’s position as one of the most rewarding global loyalty programmes in the serviced residence industry,” added Tan.

ASR’s anniversary deals run from 1-30 April 2021:

Double bonus points

ASR members who have booked and completed their stay from 1 April 2021 to 31 May 2021 can receive bonus points from their stay. ASR members who have booked their stay from 1-15 April 2021 will receive double bonus points from their stay, while members who have made their bookings from 16-30 April 2021, will receive 2,000 bonus points each night.

Today, ASR members can also purchase ASR points directly and use the points when they are ready to rediscover travel or towards their next staycation. From 1-30 April 2021, ASR members can purchase from as little as S$100 worth of ASR points to start earning bonus points, receiving up to 50% bonus points.

Complimentary tier upgrades

ASR members in the Classic tier will be further rewarded with a complimentary upgrade to the Silver tier for a year when they book their stay before 30 April 2021 and complete their stay during the promotional period of 1 April 2021 to 31 May 2021. Existing Silver, Gold and Platinum tier members will be rewarded with 5,000 ASR points when they book and complete their first stay within the same promotional period.

Details:

ASR members can book their stays at www.the-ascott.com or via the Discover ASR mobile app. ASR has no cap to points earned, no minimum points redemption and no blackout dates for redemption.

ASR membership is complimentary. Sign up.

*For stays booked before 20 April 2020.

The Ascott Limited launches its first lyf property in China

Source: The Ascott Limited. The lyf Wu Tong Island Shenzhen.

CapitaLand’s wholly-owned serviced residence business unit, The Ascott Limited (Ascott), has secured contracts to manage its first three properties under its latest brand, lyf, in its two key markets – China and Singapore. This marks the launch of Ascott’s new co-living concept in China.

All three lyf properties will provide conducive environments in which innovation and creativity can thrive. the 112-unit Lyf Wu Tong Island Shenzhen is in an innovation park named Wu Tong Island that has 24 office buildings leased to firms in the technology, design, media and tourism industries.
Lyf Wu Tong Island Shenzhen will open in H18.

Lyf DDA Dalian is in the Dalian Development Area (DDA), China’s first economic and technological development. The 120-unit lyf DDA Dalian is scheduled to open end-2018 while lyf Farrer Park Singapore, the biggest of the three lyf properties with 240 units, is slated to open in 2021.

While each lyf property will offer unique features reflective of the local culture, all will provide communal spaces to cater to Millennials’ preferences to connect, collaborate and bond as a community. These spaces can be easily converted into zones for social activities such as hackathons, innovation talks, music jamming sessions, cooking sessions, or workshops with artisans. lyf properties will be managed by Millennials who are community managers, city and food guides, and problem solvers all rolled into one.

Lee Chee Koon, Ascott’s CEO, said: “Since Ascott unveiled the lyf brand in Singapore last November, we have received very strong interest in this new co-living concept designed by Millennials for the growing wave of Millennial and Millennial-minded travellers, such as technopreneurs, startups and those in the creative industries. We are excited to be launching lyf in China with two properties and to have secured our first in Singapore. These trailblazing lyf properties not only enjoy prime locations with a ready catchment of business and leisure travellers, they also offer vibrant spaces for these change-makers to build new connections and co-create with the community therein.”

Lee added that Millennials already account for a quarter of Ascott’s customer base. "China is amongst Ascott’s top customers globally and has the world’s second largest millennial population*. As global fintech hubs, China and Singapore are also homes to start-ups raking in billion-dollar deals**. We are therefore expecting to see more lyf properties in gateway cities in China as well as another lyf in downtown Singapore. Ascott is also actively looking at other potential markets including Australia, France, Germany, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Thailand and the UK, as we work towards achieving our target of 10,000 units under the lyf brand globally by 2020.”

Ascott first unveiled the lyf brand in Singapore in November 2016, and it set up the serviced residence industry’s first-of-its-kind living lab to field test co-living concepts for lyf in February 2017. Working in partnership with the Singapore Management University, the lyf@SMU living lab will translate data into actionable insights so that upcoming lyf properties are tailormade for Ascott’s target customers.
 
With the addition of the three lyf properties offering more than 470 units, Ascott’s portfolio in Singapore will increase to over 1,200 units across nine properties, and that in China to over 17,600 units across 97 properties.

* Where are the Global Millennials? (July 2016), AT Kearney  
**A tale of 44 cities; Connecting Global FinTech: Interim Hub Review 2017 (April 2017), Deloitte

ERC launches multi-city co-working space in Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam

• Under the University Mentorship programme, lecturers will serve as mentors to provide guidance to the BIG Work community 
• Users can benefit from ERC's core competencies in their business domains, as well as consultations with incubator programme managers and resource management advisors 
• Guests of the BIG Hotel, which hosts international and startup business travellers, will be the first to be exposed to new products and services that are hospitality-related for research purposes

Entrepreneur Resource Centre Holdings (ERC) has launched BIG Work, the first co-working space that spans Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. Screens at the top left show live celebrations in the other two locations.

Entrepreneur Resource Centre Holdings (ERC) has launched BIG Work, the first co-working space that spans Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. BIG Work is conceptualised to springboard the ideas of students and aspiring entrepreneurs into the regional economies with guidance from established mentors, available resources and infrastructures under the purview of ERC.

BIG Work is a co-working space concept that is supported by ERC’s domain experts in the hospitality, education, entrepreneurship, and real estate sectors. The concept allows users to maximise their access to experts and resources in each domain in a timely and efficient manner in developing their products and services.

In addition to the hot desks that BIG Work offers, users are also able to gain access to the private offices, lockers, mailer services, rental of meeting and seminar rooms, free Wi-Fi, printing and photocopying services, and free flow of tea and coffee.

As part of the ERC ecosystem, members of BIG Work can take part in a University Mentorship programme. Lecturers from ERC’s partner universities, which include the University of Greenwich, University of Wolverhampton and Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, will serve as mentors to BIG Work’s community. Regular sharing sessions between academics, students, and BIG Work users will be scheduled for information and expertise exchanges to heighten the startup experience. 

Users of BIG Work can also benefit from ERC’s core competencies in their business domains, including expertise in the local and regional business landscape. Consultations with incubator programme managers and resource management advisors can be arranged to determine the feasibility and functionality of ideas.

Seven random facts about BIG Work.

The affiliated BIG Hotel can also act as a test bed. Hotel guests can be exposed to new hospitality-related products and services for beta research. 

“BIG Work is a unique concept of a co-working space that offers immediate access and resources to students, aspiring entrepreneurs, freelancers, designers, business travellers or anyone in between who are keen to kickstart their entrepreneurial journey. Our regional approach would allow users and the community to have immediate support in furthering their offerings within Southeast Asia,” said Yen Ong, Group Chief Marketing Officer of ERC Holdings. 

“We understand the importance of nurturing the startup ecosystem in Asia, and believe that entrepreneurs should be equipped with the necessary resources that help bring their ideas to life. As such, in the upcoming months, we are channelling our efforts into building BIG Work Resource Hub where users can leverage the available resources from all platforms that we own.”

All three co-working spaces are strategically located in the business districts of Singapore, Ho Chi Minh City, and Bangkok, boasting office spaces of 3,200 sq ft, 1,860 sq ft, and 3,500 sq ft respectively. BIG Work expects to expand to a total of 10 cities in Asia within the next three years.

Inspirational quotes at BIG Work Singapore.

Inspirational quotes at BIG Work Singapore.

Interested?

Prices range from S$9 for the day in Ho Chi Minh to S$500 a month in Singapore.

posted from Bloggeroid

Business district-based Collective Works is launched in Singapore

A common co-working space within Collective Works Capital Tower.

Singapore’s first CBD-based coworking space Collective Works has launched its second space, a joint venture with CapitaLand. The 22,000 sq ft, high performance ‘office of the future' occupies the entire level 12 of the 52-storey Capital Tower in Tanjong Pagar.

Collective Works has become known for its design aesthetic and superior attention to detail such as ergonomics, ambience, lighting and acoustic sound profiling. Technology infrastructure includes secure on-site server hosting, videoconferencing, IP telephony and redundant fibreoptic broadband.

Designed by interior architects Contrast Design, the office interior is based on the concept of unfolding space, with surprises around every corner. The office is divided into different zones, each tailored to boost productivity, facilitate connections and encourage collaboration.

Solutions for businesses range from hot desks, dedicated spaces as well as formal offices of different sizes. Quiet, secure meeting rooms, spaces for conference calls and brainstorm areas have all been built into Collective Works. There is also a studio for creation of media such as podcasts.

Jonathan O’Byrne, founder of Collective Works called co-working a "personal mission" that was born when he started his own business, but could not find "the right kind of workspace". "As a designer from a design background, I could create spaces and create solutions that could solve human problems," he said. "(It is about) improving the quality of work and improving the quality of workspace.

"Interest has been very strong and from a broad range of industries. We are in discussion with more than 60 companies looking to join Collective Works Capital Tower over the next few months. We are paying particular attention to mix of the community and Collective Works Capital Tower is proving to be diverse but consistently premium.”

Members in the new space include global venture capital firm 500 Startups as well as a number of marketing, computer programming and data analytics companies. There is interest from global financial, technology and law firms too.

O’Byrne added: “Across Asia we have witnessed an exponential surge in demand from entrepreneurs seeking more personal business solutions. Our new space and our premium community create a unique ecosystem for our clients within the prestigious Capital Tower.”

Wen Khai Meng, CEO of CapitaLand Singapore, said the two companies look forward to providing more exciting spaces to meet all business needs in future. He called the new Collective Works space a flexible, high quality working environment with opportunities to network, collaborate and share. “CapitaLand is a progressive and forward looking real estate developer and our coworking partnership with Collective Works exemplifies this," he said.

"This partnership leverages CapitaLand’s market leadership and extensive network. Besides reaching out to a vibrant new market, Collective Works Capital Tower will augment CapitaLand’s offerings to existing customers and corporate partners. To date we are excited to welcome a number of high profile members to Collective Works Capital Tower including 500 Startups who will undoubtedly bring new buzz to the Capital Tower community. Coworking is in line with CapitaLand’s ‘office of the future’ vision, where people work in hubs of collaboration, community and creativity. We will be watching this space keenly as it evolves.

"We will take care of your every need. Just sign up, and focus on your work," he said.

A living wall greets visitors at the reception area.

One of the many offices within Collective Works. All offices come with glass walls and similar furniture but are of different sizes to accommodate different business requirements.

The office has been designed with discussion areas in nooks and corners to stimulate creativity and collaboration.

Many of the common working areas have impressive views of the city.

Tables marked with the 'CO' sticker - for co-working - are meant for common use.

The Standing Room, so named because it is meant for discussions to take place among people who are standing, was conceived to change the dynamics of decision-making. 

Each meeting room has a touch panel outside showing when it has been booked.

Lockers for Collective Works members come in different sizes. Each locker has a combination lock of four digits instead of the standard three for extra security, and a slot at the top for mail.

Sound-proof phone booths for conference calls.

Coffee quality may seem like a small detail for a co-working space, but Collective Works came up with Custom Blend B from Colombian Arabica and Ethiopian Sidamo Cherry Red coffee varieties. The beans are blended and roasted by a boutique roaster in Singapore, processed in batches of only 20kg batches a month for freshness. Three blends were originally developed but Blend B was the favourite.

posted from Bloggeroid

DAMAC launches Maison Cour Jardin in downtown Dubai

Luxury real estate developer DAMAC Properties has opened its third luxury serviced hotel apartments in the Burj Area of Dubai in late December 2014. A stone's throw from the Dubai Mall and the Dubai Fountain, DAMAC Maison Cour Jardin follows the opening of DAMAC's Maison Dubai Mall Street and DAMAC Maison Canal Views. 

Source: DAMAC Properties.

“DAMAC Properties is extending our hospitality offering in term of quantity and quality for the visitors of Dubai,” said Niall McLoughlin, Senior Vice President, DAMAC Properties. “DAMAC Maison Cour Jardin, as with all DAMAC Maison projects, will offer various first-class options to clients searching for the best experience in town, be it for leisure or business.”

With 19 floors and more than 350 apartments, DAMAC Maison Cour Jardin offers a choice of one, two and three bedroom suites. Segafredo Italian Café is located at the ground floor and offers the perfect setup for casual meetings, while the first-floor terrace has a total area of more than 4,300 sq ft and presents a venue for large functions and poolside events. 

DAMAC Properties announces three new serviced hotels in Dubai

Luxury real estate developer DAMAC Properties has further expanded its hospitality offering with three new serviced hotels in the Burj Area of Dubai. 

Cour Jardin and Capital Bay will open their doors in the next couple of months, and Canal Views is already welcoming guests from all over the world, the company revealed. DAMAC Properties aims to become the region’s largest serviced hotel provider in the Middle East by 2018. Its first serviced living offering was DAMAC Maison – Dubai Mall Street just under a year ago, followed by the NAIA Jebel Ali.

Ziad El Chaar, Managing Director at DAMAC Properties said: “Our expansion in the hospitality sector falls within DAMAC’s strategy to be at the forefront of the hospitality sector in Dubai and the Middle East. We currently have more than 10,000 serviced hotel apartments in development, all of which will be delivered by 2018. This will position the company as one of the largest hotel apartment operators and developers in the region.

"Cour Jardin and Capital Bay, along with the previously completed projects such as DAMAC Maison-Dubai Mall Street, Canal Views and NAIA Jebel Ali are all located in the busiest areas of Dubai, be it the Burj and Business Bay areas or Jebel Ali where the increasing number of business visitors and travellers recorded every day are reaching new peaks with the development of Dubai World Central and Al Maktoum International airport.”

El Chaar noted that DAMAC’s hotels and hotel apartment projects offer a practical and comfortable solution for business travellers to Dubai. “We offer bespoke services to our residents and customers across all projects, setting new standards in the hospitality sector and driven by our aim for excellence, not only through the regular day-to-day services, but on various levels, including design, functionality and know-how,” said El Chaar.