Ascott Opens First Citadines Serviced Residences In Indonesia And Malaysia

CapitaLand's wholly-owned serviced residence business unit, The Ascott Limited (Ascott), has expanded its international network of Citadines-branded serviced residences with the opening of the first Citadines properties in Indonesia and Malaysia. With the 153-unit Citadines Rasuna in Jakarta and 215-unit Citadines Uplands in Kuching, Ascott has a total of 59 Citadines properties in operation across 31 cities in Asia Pacific and Europe.

Mr Chong Kee Hiong, Ascott's Chief Executive Officer, said: "Ascott acquired the Citadines chain of apart'hotels in Europe in 2002 and brought the brand to Asia Pacific in 2006. We have increasingly been getting requests from property owners for the brand, due to its popularity amongst savvy independent travellers. These travellers value urban living in prime locations and the flexibility to choose the services they require to personalise their stay experience. To cater to the demand, we will be opening 13 more Citadines in China, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines and Germany by 2015."

Mr Alfred Ong, Ascott's Managing Director for Southeast Asia and Australia, said: "Citadines Rasuna Jakarta and Citadines Uplands Kuching complement our existing Ascott and Somerset serviced residences in Indonesia and Malaysia, allowing us to reach out to a wider segment of customers. They also reinforce Ascott's position as the largest international serviced residence owner-operator with 10 properties in each of these countries. This positions us for stronger growth in Indonesia and Malaysia, where demand for serviced residences continue to rise on the back of strong economic fundamentals and high foreign direct investments."

Citadines Rasuna Jakarta

Catering to expatriates, business and medical travellers, Citadines Rasuna Jakarta is strategically located in the city's central business district, next to the Metropolitan Medical Centre. Within walking distance are embassies and office towers housing multinational companies such as PricewaterhouseCoopers, Rabobank and Petrochina. The serviced residence is also near retail and entertainment centres including Plaza Festival, Rasuna Epicentrum, Kota Kasablanka and Kuningan City Mall, offering residents a host of conveniences.

Citadines Rasuna Jakarta is part of a stylish 30-storey integrated development known as The H Tower that comprises offices, specialist clinics and premier medical care facilities. Residents can enjoy privacy as the serviced residence maintains its own distinct lobby and facilities.

Each of the studio, one- and two-bedroom apartments in Citadines Rasuna Jakarta provides a comfortable and homely environment with a fully-equipped kitchen, separate dining and living areas as well as modern amenities such as complimentary Internet access, home entertainment system with DVD player and flat-screen television with cable channels. The apartments are also designed to reflect a local touch, with artworks, carpets and fabrics influenced by traditional Indonesian batik designs.

Residents of Citadines Rasuna Jakarta can workout at the fitness corner or swim at the pool while overlooking the Jakarta skyline from the 21st floor of the property. Other facilities include a jacuzzi and sauna room, business corner, launderette, café and restaurant serving French and Indonesian cuisines. The serviced residence also offers 24-hour reception and security, housekeeping and business centre services as well as residents' programmes to help guests settle comfortably into their new home.

Citadines Uplands Kuching

Citadines Uplands Kuching enjoys a prime location in Jalan Simpang Tiga – a hub for education and local federal government administration. The property is a 15-minute drive from the Kuching International Airport, Borneo Convention Centre and Samajaya Free Industrial Zone housing many multinational and local companies. It is also opposite one of the largest shopping malls in East Malaysia, The Spring Shopping Centre. Furthermore, Citadines Uplands Kuching is part of an integrated development known as ST3, which encompasses a shopping mall that will have over 200 retail outlets.

Citadines Uplands Kuching caters to the city's growing Meetings, Incentives, Conventions and Exhibitions groups, executives on project assignments from the nearby companies and government offices, as well as student groups and visiting professors from universities located around the property.

The serviced residence offers a range of studios to two-bedroom units. Residents have ample space to live, work and entertain as each apartment comes with a fully-equipped kitchen, separate dining and living areas complete with home entertainment system and Internet access. The property also offers a suite of facilities including a swimming pool, children's wading pool, gymnasium, residents' lounge, launderette and meeting room.

Besides round-the-clock reception and security, housekeeping service and residents' programmes, residents can personalise their stay at Citadines Uplands Kuching with the flexible menu of optional services including courier, babysitting, laundry and dry cleaning.

New Properties To Open In Indonesia And Malaysia

In Indonesia, besides Citadines Rasuna Jakarta, Ascott will open Ascott Kuningan Jakarta later this year, Ascott Waterplace Surabaya and Somerset Kencana Jakarta in 2014 as well as Citadines Marvell Surabaya in 2015. Ascott currently manages Ascott Jakarta, Somerset Berlian Jakarta, Somerset Grand Citra Jakarta, Somerset Surabaya Hotel & Serviced Residence and Countrywoods Residences in Jakarta.

In Malaysia, besides Citadines Uplands Kuching, Ascott will open Ascott Sentral Kuala Lumpur this year, Citadines D'Pulze Cyberjaya and Somerset Puteri Harbour Iskandar in 2014, Somerset Medini Iskandar in 2015 and Somerset Damansara Uptown Petaling Jaya in 2016. Ascott currently operates Ascott Kuala Lumpur, Somerset Ampang Kuala Lumpur, Seri Bukit Ceylon Residences and Marc Service Suites in Kuala Lumpur.

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.