ASCOTT TO FUTURE-READY LODGING OFFERINGS FOR CONTINUED GROWTH IN A POST COVID-19 LANDSCAPE

• Announces plans to redesign Ascott’s serviced residences to tap into new trends
• Launches ‘Ascott Cares’ to raise standards of cleanliness to continue to provide safe homes for guests
• Will introduce a new mobile app later this year, providing a one-stop, contactless service

Chennai, 1 June 2020 – CapitaLand’s wholly owned lodging business unit, The Ascott Limited (Ascott), will review the design of its lodging products and services to ensure they are future-ready for continued growth in a post COVID-19 landscape.

Leveraging the existing design strengths of Ascott’s serviced residences, it will redefine the guest experience to take advantage of emerging trends such as the increased popularity of working-from-home, deeper health and safety concerns, and a rapidly digitising world.

Mr Kevin Goh, Chief Executive Officer, Lodging, CapitaLand Group and Chief Executive Officer, The Ascott Limited, said: “Ascott’s serviced residences have remained resilient amid COVID-19. We continue to be the accommodation of choice by providing a safe haven for our guests who have placed their trust in Ascott. To cement Ascott’s position as a dominant lodging player and deliver more value for our guests and business partners, we are taking steps to ready Ascott for a post COVID-19 landscape. Ascott is reviewing every touchpoint within the living and workspaces of our apartments to tap on the work-from-home trend. We are also improving our digital solutions and looking at leveraging smarter technologies to provide value and safety to our guests.”

As global and domestic travel restrictions ease, the group has launched ‘Ascott Cares’ across our properties, to reassure guests and staff of the stringent cleanliness and hygiene measures in place, as we prepare to welcome new and returning guests home. 

Mr Vincent Miccolis, Ascott’s Regional General Manager for Middle East, Africa, Turkey and India, said: “As we all adapt to the ‘New Normal’ in the post-COVID era, our top priority is the safety and well-being of our guests and staff. We have implemented stringent hygiene and sanitisation practices across apartments, lobbies and public utilities in our operational properties in India. We have tailor-made robust training programmes for frontline and managerial staff focussing on protocols to be followed, updates on local regulations and swift and appropriate responses to adapt to the new norm. We are also expanding on the tech platform and digitizing our services in order to be future-ready and sustainable. Ascott has always been a trusted brand and we look forward to the same momentum, assuring our long and short stay guests of a care-free and safe haven when they come home to Ascott.”

Redesigning Ascott’s serviced residences to tap on new trends

Currently, Ascott’s spacious serviced apartments are already well-suited for guests who choose to stay indoors for extended periods of time. The separate living, working and dining areas offer ample space for guests to unwind, exercise, work or have their meals within the apartment.  Guests can also make use of the fully equipped kitchen and refrigerator within the apartment if they do not want to order meal delivery. With high-speed Wi-Fi, guests can stay in touch with their loved ones or attend and host online meetings with their colleagues.

To tap on the work-from-home trend, Ascott is looking at upgrading its design to create a more productive workspace within the serviced apartment. Improvements to the overall ergonomics of the workspace may include better task lighting, better use of space and appropriate wall features suited for videoconferencing or webcasting.

Digital solutions and technologies may also be further deployed to provide convenience, value and safety to guests. The use of sensors at Ascott properties can offer better safety through thermal scanning or to track footfall and crowds to facilitate better safe distancing measures, as well as smarter room energy and water management.

Ascott will increase adoption of mobile technology including the launch of a new mobile app later this year. A one-stop service, the app will offer guests contactless services such as contactless entry to their apartments, payments, check-in and check-out. It can also provide seamless in-room service and smart controls, management of Ascott Star Rewards loyalty points or redemption of special flash deals.

‘Ascott Cares’ – A commitment to cleanliness to reassure guests and staff

Ascott will deliver stringent hygiene and cleanliness standards as well as safe distancing through its newly launched ‘Ascott Cares’ commitment, to continue providing safe homes for its guests, and a safe working environment for its staff. ‘Ascott Cares’ covers nine commitments to enhance Ascott’s existing cleanliness protocols:

1.      Our Staff’s Work Environment 2.      Guest Safety 3.      Physical Distancing 4.      Housekeeping 5.      Apartments & Rooms

6.      Food & Beverage 7.      Shared Facilities 8.      Contactless & Paperless 9.      Our Vendors

The comprehensive protocols are in compliance with the World Health Organization standards and local regulations and will be rolled out progressively to our properties globally from June 2020. For more information on ‘Ascott Cares’, please refer to the Annex or visit www.the-ascott.com/ascottcares.

About The Ascott Limited

The Ascott Limited is a Singapore company that has grown to be one of the leading international lodging owner-operators. Ascott's portfolio spans more than 180 cities across over 30 countries in Asia Pacific, Central Asia, Europe, the Middle East, Africa and the USA.

Ascott has about 70,000 operating units and over 43,000 units under development, making a total of about 113,000 units in over 700 properties.

The company’s serviced residence and hotel brands include Ascott The Residence, The Crest Collection, Somerset, Quest, Citadines, lyf, Préférence, Vertu, Harris, Citadines Connect, Fox, Yello and POP!.

Ascott, a wholly owned subsidiary of CapitaLand Limited, pioneered Asia Pacific’s first international-class serviced residence with the opening of The Ascott Singapore in 1984. Today, the company boasts over 30 years of industry track record and award-winning brands that enjoy recognition worldwide.

Ascott’s achievements have been recognised internationally. Recent awards include DestinAsian Readers' Choice Awards 2020 for 'Best Serviced Residence Brand'; World Travel Awards 2019 for ‘Leading Serviced Apartment Brand’ in Asia, Europe and the Middle East; Business Traveller Asia-Pacific Awards 2019 for 'Best Serviced Residence Brand'; Business Traveller China Awards 2019 for 'Best Luxury Serviced Residence Brand'; and TTG China Travel Awards 2019 for ‘Best Serviced Residence Operator in China’.  For a full list of awards, please visit https://www.the-ascott.com/ascottlimited/awards.html.

In India, Ascott owns and operates the 187-unit Somerset Greenways Chennai and 269-unit Citadines OMR Chennai. The international brand will extend its portfolio in India with Ascott Ireo City Gurugram and Citadines Paras Square Gurugram that are slated to open later this year while Citadines Calangute Goa and Citadines Candolim Goa are set to open in 2021 and 2022 respectively. In total, Ascott has a portfolio of seven properties across four cities with more than 1,200 units, making it the leading international serviced residence owner-operator in the country.

About CapitaLand Limited

CapitaLand Limited (CapitaLand) is one of Asia’s largest diversified real estate groups. Headquartered and listed in Singapore, it owns and manages a global portfolio worth S$131.9 billion as at 31 December 2019. CapitaLand’s portfolio spans across diversified real estate classes which includes commercial, retail; business park, industrial and logistics; integrated development, urban development; as well as lodging and residential. With a presence across more than 200 cities in over 30 countries, the Group focuses on Singapore and China as its core markets, while it continues to expand in markets such as India, Vietnam, Australia, Europe and the USA.

CapitaLand has one of the largest real estate investment management businesses globally. It manages seven listed real estate investment trusts (REITs) and business trusts as well as over 20 private funds. Since it pioneered REITs in Singapore with the listing of CapitaLand Mall Trust in 2002, CapitaLand’s REITs and business trusts have expanded to include Ascendas Real Estate Investment Trust, CapitaLand Commercial Trust, Ascott Residence Trust, CapitaLand Retail China Trust, Ascendas India Trust and CapitaLand Malaysia Mall Trust.  

Visit www.capitaland.com for more information.