Latest News
HomeHotels & LodgingAscott sets sights on coliving sector in Australia as demand for its coliving brand lyf gains momentum
Hospitality

Ascott sets sights on coliving sector in Australia as demand for its coliving brand lyf gains momentum

  • David Mansfield, Managing Director, Ascott Australia, shared about the growing footprint of lyf in Australia.
  • lyf one-north Singapore
  • lyf Sukhumvit 8 Bangkok
  • lyf Tenjin Fukuoka

Following the opening of lyf Collingwood Melbourne in 2022 and lyf Bondi Junction Sydney next year, further expansion plans expected across Adelaide, Brisbane, Hobart and Perth.

MELBOURNE – The Ascott Limited (Ascott), an international lodging business unit wholly owned by CapitaLand Investment, celebrated the burgeoning footprint of its coliving brand, lyf, at an event held at lyf Collingwood Melbourne on Tuesday, 28 March 2023.

lyf (pronounced ‘life’) or ‘live your freedom’ is an accommodation concept specially designed by Ascott for the next-generation guests. The apartments, social spaces and experiential programmes at lyf properties are designed for guests to forge connections and nurture a strong sense of community.

Mr David Mansfield, Managing Director for Ascott Australia, hosted a dinner event which featured renowned Australian chef Scott Pickett, and was attended by over 100 guests comprising key partners, corporate clients and media guests. Scott’s bold personality and deep understanding of seasonality and respect for Australian growers as well as producers, parallel the energy and local connected experiences that the lyf brand stands for.

Tapping the Coliving Segment in Australia

As the largest serviced residence provider in Australia with brands such as Quest, Citadines and Oakwood, Ascott is set to grow its coliving brand, lyf, in Australia.

Mr Mansfield described how the lyf brand answers to the accommodation need in Australia: “The growing demand for novel living solutions that address the challenges of housing affordability and fixed leasing tenures, is evident. Capitalising on this demand, our coliving brand, lyf, plays to the call for a sharing economy within the Australia market.”

“Addressing the rise of global mobility where we see an increasing trend of digital nomads and self-starters preferring to work remotely, lyf also offers guests the opportunity to live their independent style of travel while immersing in the local culture through social connections and experiential programmes. When guests check in to a lyf property, they check in to a community. Following the opening of lyf Collingwood Melbourne in May last year, we saw an amazing ramp up in occupancy within months of opening. With the traction that we have seen at our first lyf property in Australia, we are optimistic about the potential for the growth of lyf here and look forward to our second opening next year – lyf Bondi Junction Sydney. Further expansion plans are expected across Adelaide, Brisbane, Hobart, Melbourne and Perth,” added Mr Mansfield.

Continued Growth

Since the opening of the first lyf property in Singapore in 2019, lyf has expanded to 22 properties in 18 cities globally. Eight lyf properties are now operational in key gateway cities including Melbourne, Australia; Bangkok, Thailand; Fukuoka, Japan; Hangzhou and Shanghai, China; and Singapore. Ascott expects another 13 lyf properties to open in the next few years, including seven this year in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; Xi’an, China; Tokyo, Japan; Bangkok, Thailand; Cebu and Manila in The Philippines; and Vienna, Austria. The brand will also debut in Paris, France in 2024.

Ms Tan Bee Leng, Managing Director for Brand and Marketing, The Ascott Limited, shared: “lyf is a unique lodging product that combines the best of serviced residences, hotels and coliving apartments. The diversity, flexibility and cost efficiency of the lyf brand, alongside rising consumer interest have provided a compelling option for owners and investors looking at the coliving sector. Our first lyf property in Singapore achieved an 80% occupancy rate within three months of opening in 2019. This in itself, is testament to the strong foothold the lyf brand has, amongst the next-generation guests.”

“We have seen great momentum and believe we are well-positioned to continue expanding the lyf portfolio via our twin engines of growth. In particular, our investment management engine that is anchored by the listed CapitaLand Ascott Trust (CLAS) and private lodging funds, as well as the lodging management engine through which it powers our portfolio growth by added management contracts. Harnessing the strength of the lyf brand, our product design and local expertise, Ascott remains optimistic with our ambition to grow the lyf portfolio to a strength of 150 properties by 2030,” added Ms Tan.

Co-Founder & Managing Director - Travel Media Applications | + Articles

Theodore is the Co-Founder and Managing Editor of TravelDailyNews Media Network; his responsibilities include business development and planning for TravelDailyNews long-term opportunities.

28/03/2024
27/03/2024
26/03/2024
25/03/2024
22/03/2024
21/03/2024