News

Ascott opens three new properties

27 Oct 2014

Ascott has opened its first serviced apartments in Hangzhou, China and Hamburg in Germany, as well as a second Ascott-branded property in Jakarta Indonesia.

It will also be launching its first property in Macau at the end of this year, while its second serviced residence offering in Dubai is slated to open in 2017.

The Capitaland-owned business has also spent HK$545 million (US$70 million) rebranding The Mercer as Citadines Mercer Hong Kong.

Citadines Intime City Hangzhou

Citadines Intime City Hangzhou is close to the city’s major business districts and attractions such as the Westlake Scenic Area, Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal, Hangzhou Xixi National Wetland Park and Hangzhou Botanical Gardens.

Other major cities in China are also easily accessible thanks to the Hangzhou Railway Station and Hangzhou East railway Station just a 30-minute drive away. Hangzhou Xiaoshan International airport is 60 minutes away by car.

The property provides 104 rooms for guests ranging from studios to two-bedroom apartments. It also offers amenities such as the gym, café, billiards room, self-service laundry, mini-cinema, children’s play area and breakfast lounge.  Free wifi service is available in all rooms.

Lee Chee Koon, chief executive of the group commented on the reasons for launching the property: “As a capital city of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou’s foreign direct investment grew by an average of more than nine percent annually in the last five years, and it also attracted more than 90 million business and leisure travellers in 2013. Having our first property in the city will enable us reach the demand and prepare to open Ascott Raffles City Hangzhou in 2017.”

Citadines Michel Hamburg

Citadines Michel Hamburg is situated in the heart of Hamburg’s business district, which is home to multinational companies such as aircraft manufacturer Airbus plus shipbuilder and engineering company Blohm and Voss. 

Excellent transport links include Hamburg airport a 30-minute drive away, a five-minute walk to the Rödingsmarkt metro station and close proximity to the city’s busy port located on the Elbe River. Major trade fair venue, Messe Hamburg, is also nearby.

The property has 127 rooms including studios and one- and two-bedroom apartments. The kitchen is equipped with modern appliances such as microwave oven, refrigerator and dishwasher. Each room also has complimentary internet access. Additional facilities range from breakfast lounge with free refreshments to a fitness room, business corner and meeting room.

Lee said: “Hamburg is a major trade and transport hub with around 20,000 multinational companies and many convention centres and tourist attractions. It is also Germany’s third most visited city and has established itself as a popular leisure destination with growing international appeal. Our first property in Hamburg will cater to the growing demand from business and leisure travellers for quality accommodation in a residence that they can call home.”

 Ascott Kuningan Jakarta

Ascott Kuningan Jakarta is located in the city’s central business district, and is a part of Ciputra World 1, a large integrated development consisting of an upscale Lotte Shopping Avenue, an Artpreneur Centre (a museum and art gallery cum theatre) and an office tower. It takes about 45 minutes to reach the property by car from the Soekama-Hatta International airport.

The 185 rooms are categorized into one, two and three bedrooms. There is a kitchen and separate living and dining area, LED TV, bathroom with bathtub and rain shower, and complimentary wifi service. Facilities offered include a swimming pool, tennis, basketball and badminton courts, gym, aerobics room, children’s playground, wading pool, garden terrace, café, resident’s lounge and meeting facilities.

Lee commented: “Indonesia’s foreign direct investment in the first half of 2014 grew nearly 14 percent over 2013. With the government’s plans to enhance the investment climate and accelerate infrastructure development, we expect the number of expatriates and business travellers to increase. We see tremendous potential to expand in the Indonesian capital.”

Citadines Mercer Hong Kong

Ascott purchased The Mercer for HK$545 million (US$70 million), and rebranded the serviced apartment as Citadines Mercer Hong Kong. The revamped property offers 55 rooms ranging from 37 sqm to 63 sqm (see story here).

Ascott Macau

The property will open at the end of this year. Situated in the heart of the metropolis, it is surrounded by Macau Tower and Convention Centre, and many local attractions such as Goddess of Mercy Ecumenical Centre and Dynasty Food and Entertainment District. It is just a few minutes away from the Macau Ferry Terminal, Macau International airport and Taipa Island.

There will be 110 rooms for guests, in studios and one-bedroom suites, ranging from 30 sqm to 75 sqm. The kitchens in each room will be equipped with a capsule coffee machine, electric kettle, cutlery, microwave oven and refrigerator.

There is also a gym, indoor heated and outdoor swimming pool, Jacuzzi, sauna room, resident’s lounge, and three restaurants serving Japanese, Chinese and Western cuisines. The property will have scheduled shuttle bus services to the Macau Ferry Terminal, and resident programmes for guests. 

Ascott Culture Village Dubai

The serviced apartment will open in 2017 within the Dubai Culture Village along the shoreline of Dubai Creek. The apartments will be near to retail and commercial developments including schools, art galleries, performing arts centres and restaurants. It will also be close to the city’s key business and leisure attractions including Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre, Dubai International Financial Centre, Business Bay, Dubai Festival City, Downtown Dubai and the Dubai Mall.

There will be 117 rooms in studios, one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments, with facilities such as a swimming pool, gym and restaurant.

Lee explained why the second property in the city is needed: “In Dubai, there is a growing demand for luxury serviced residences. As our first property in the city, Ascott Park Place, has been achieving occupancies of over 80 percent, having another premier Ascott-branded serviced residence will allow us to cater to the need for luxury serviced apartments and increase our presence in this cosmopolitan city.”

More Ascott properties are coming to Asia in the coming years, with key destinations including Kuala Lumpur, Suzhou, Wuhan (see here), Beijing, Taiyuan and Shanghai (see here).

For more information, visit the-ascott.com

Valerian Ho

 

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