The 13th PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards (Singapore) programme begins call for entries in resilient market

BUYERS MAINTAIN A POSITIVE VIEW OF THE MARKET’S LONG-TERM OUTLOOK

SINGAPORE, May 8, 2023 – (ACN Newswire) – The PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards (Singapore) programme is now open for entries for its 13th edition in 2023.

Organisers of the 13th annual PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards (Singapore) now challenge the country’s leading and emerging development companies and design practices to compete for recognitions that showcase and provide an international platform for their exemplary, outstanding achievements.

Entry submissions are accepted online until 1 September 2023 via: asiapropertyawards.com/

The Singapore property market is off to a promising albeit slower start in 2023. The housing market remains resilient despite uncertain geopolitical and macroeconomic conditions, rising inflation, and increasing interest rates, according to the PropertyGuru Singapore Property Market Report Q1 2023.

Defying economic downside pressures, property prices climbed in 2022, partly due to tight supply, amid declining sales volumes across all property types. Despite the increased cost of acquiring homes, many buyers maintain a positive view of the market’s long-term outlook.

Jules Kay, general manager of PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards and Events, said: “Singapore developers continue to lead the way with designs and concepts that are not only deserving of international recognition, but also set a high standard for Southeast Asia. We are confident that this year’s entries will be just as exemplary, displaying Singaporean prowess in creating sustainable built environments and aspirational developments where people can live, work, and thrive.”

Kristin Thorsteins, chairperson of the PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards (Singapore) and head of partnership growth for APAC at IWG PLC (Singapore), said: “In recent years, Singapore developers have demonstrated remarkable resilience and flexibility, responding to changes by creating more sustainable spaces and integrating nature into their projects. As we look ahead, we anticipate witnessing further benchmark-setting innovations among our entries this year, as Singapore continues to adapt to post-pandemic societal changes and prepares to face any challenge with unwavering determination and vigour.

“With a robust infrastructure ecosystem and a commitment to green-building technologies, Singapore is at the forefront of sustainable development, leading the way in reducing energy and water consumption, as well as carbon emissions. We are confident that Singapore’s developers will continue to drive innovation in the real estate industry, creating spaces that are not only resilient, but also sustainable and in harmony with nature.”

The black-tie gala dinner and presentation ceremony of the 13th PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards (Singapore) will take place at The Ritz-Carlton, Millenia Singapore ballroom on Friday, 27 October 2023.

Key dates for the 2023 edition:
1 September 2023 – Entries Close
11-29 September – Site Inspections
3 October 2023 – Final Judging
27 October 2023 – Gala Dinner and Awards Ceremony in Singapore
8 December 2023 – Regional Grand Final Gala Presentation in Bangkok, Thailand

The public are encouraged to submit their nominations before the deadline of entries on 1 September 2023 here: asiapropertyawards.com/nominations

Led by Thorsteins, an independent panel of judges, comprising experts in diverse fields such as real estate consultancy, architecture and interior design, and sustainable development, will participate in a rigorous process selecting the award recipients.

The resulting shortlist of nominees will be able to showcase their companies and projects to a wide network of property seekers, real estate agents, banks and valuers, and other enterprises served by PropertyGuru Group (NYSE: PGRU), Southeast Asia’s leading property technology company.

Supervised by HLB, the global network of independent advisory and accounting firms, the awards programme makes full use of a professionally run and fully transparent judging system, with an established reputation for fairness, credibility, and integrity.

Excellent Asian companies

Main winners from the 2023 edition of the PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards (Singapore) will qualify to compete with other excellent companies across the region for the ‘Best in Asia’ honours at the 18th PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards Grand Final in Bangkok, Thailand on 8 December 2023.

Singapore companies scored several regional wins at the 17th PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards Grand Final 2022. GuocoLand was named Best Luxury Developer (Asia) and Best Sustainable Developer (Asia) while UOL Group Limited was named Best Hospitality Developer (Asia).

UOL Group Limited also won Best Hotel Development (Asia) for Pan Pacific Orchard. Park Nova by Shun Tak Holdings gained the Best Condo Architectural Design (Asia) title while Artyzen Singapore by Artyzen Hospitality Group won Best Hospitality Interior Design (Asia).

Established in 2005, the PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards continue to reward high-calibre work within the industry, encompassing property development, construction, architecture, interior design, and sustainable building practices. The series initially covered Southeast Asia and has expanded over the years to include the region’s dynamic property markets, including Australia, China, Greater Niseko in Japan, and India.

The 13th PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards (Singapore) are supported by official portal partner PropertyGuru.com.sg; official magazine Property Report by PropertyGuru; media partner d+a Magazine; and official supervisor HLB.

For more information, email awards@propertyguru.com or visit the official website: AsiaPropertyAwards.com.

ABOUT PROPERTYGURU ASIA PROPERTY AWARDS:

PropertyGuru’s Asia Property Awards, established in 2005, are the region’s most exclusive and prestigious real estate awards programme. The Asia Property Awards are recognised as the ultimate hallmark of excellence in the Asian property sector. Boasting an independent panel of industry experts and trusted supervisors, the Awards have an unparalleled reputation for being credible, ethical, fair and transparent.

In 2023, the Awards series is open to more than a dozen key property markets around the region. The exciting gala events welcome senior industry leaders and top media, as well as reach property agents and consumers via live streaming. Recognising excellence within each Asian market with a variety of categories, including green and sustainable development, each local awards programme will culminate in the PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards Grand Final, which takes place after the PropertyGuru Asia Real Estate Summit during ‘PropertyGuru Week’ in December 2023.

For more information, please visit AsiaPropertyAwards.com

ABOUT PROPERTYGURU GROUP:

PropertyGuru is Southeast Asia’s leading1 PropTech company, and the preferred destination for over 41 million property seekers2 to connect with more than 63,000 agents3 monthly to find their dream home. PropertyGuru empowers property seekers with more than 3.2 million real estate listings4, in-depth insights, and solutions that enable them to make confident property decisions across Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, and Vietnam.

PropertyGuru.com.sg was launched in Singapore in 2007 and since then PropertyGuru Group has made the property journey a transparent one for property seekers in Southeast Asia. In the last 15 years, PropertyGuru has grown into a high-growth PropTech company with a robust portfolio of leading property marketplaces across its core markets; award-winning mobile apps; mortgage marketplace, PropertyGuru Finance; and a host of enterprise solutions now under PropertyGuru For Business, including a high-quality developer sales enablement platform, FastKey, DataSense, ValueNet, Awards, events and publications across Asia.  

For more information, please visit: PropertyGuruGroup.com; PropertyGuru Group on LinkedIn.

1 Based on SimilarWeb data between July 2022 and December 2022
2 Based on Google Analytics data between July 2022 and December 2022
3 Based on data between July 2022 and December 2022
4 Based on SimilarWeb data between July 2022 and December 2022

PROPERTYGURU CONTACTS:

General Enquiries:
Richard Allan Aquino, Head of Brand & Marketing Services
M: +66 92 954 4154
E: allan@propertyguru.com

Media & Partnerships:
Nate Dacua, Media Relations & Marketing Services Manager
M: +66 92 701 2510
E: nate@propertyguru.com

Sponsorships:
Kanittha Srithongsuk, Regional Manager, Awards Sponsorship
M: +66 93 293 9794
E: kanittha@propertyguru.com

Sales & Nominations:
Alicia Loh, Awards Manager (Singapore)
M: +65 8382 0078
E: alicia@propertyguru.com.sg

NOTE: Use of the PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards logo is limited to the publication of this article only.



Copyright 2023 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. http://www.acnnewswire.com

10th PropertyGuru Asia Awards Malaysia in partnership with iProperty marks a decade of excellence amid economic expansion

THE SEARCH FOR MALAYSIAN REAL ESTATE ACHIEVERS BEGINS ANEW

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, May 2, 2023 – (ACN Newswire) – Malaysia’s leading property portals have jointly launched the 10th Annual PropertyGuru Asia Awards Malaysia in partnership with iProperty—inviting the country’s finest property developers to receive and vie for sought-after hallmarks of excellence in real estate.

The 10th PropertyGuru Asia Awards Malaysia in partnership with iProperty is now accepting submissions until 30 June 2023.

Bringing two of the nation’s most respected awards programmes to set a new single benchmark for excellence in Malaysian real estate, the landmark 10th edition of the PropertyGuru Asia Awards Malaysia in partnership with iProperty is now accepting submissions until 30 June 2023 via: asiapropertyawards.com/nominations

Now in its 10th year of celebrating achievements in property development and design, the search for Malaysia’s finest real estate begins anew at an auspicious time as Malaysia’s economy shows impressive growth. The Malaysian economy expanded by 8.7% YoY in 2022—the highest annual growth recorded since the year 2000 (8.9% YoY). The economy is expected to expand by 4.0% to 5.0 % in 2023, supported by firm domestic demand and ongoing improvements in the labour market.

Although demand for homes is likely to be tempered in the first half of 2023 due to rising interest rates, the second half of the year is shaping up to be more promising as the Chinese economy opens, according to the PropertyGuru Malaysia Property Market Report Q1 2023. The relaxation of Covid-19 measures in China is set to boost the economy in the second half of the year through an increase in tourist arrivals and reduced supply chain disruptions.

Jules Kay, general manager of PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards and Events, said: “We are thrilled to celebrate the landmark 10th edition of the PropertyGuru Asia Awards Malaysia in partnership with iProperty. Built on two strong brands and guided by Malaysia’s most trusted property advisors, our awards programme leverages our combined expertise and network to further raise the benchmark of property development and design in the country. The Awards also serve as a quality benchmark for buyers looking to invest in Malaysia’s finest real estate.”

The black-tie gala celebration is scheduled to take place at The Majestic Hotel Kuala Lumpur, the official venue of the Awards, on Friday, 24 November 2023.

Key dates for the 2023 edition:
30 June 2023 – Entries Close
24-26 July 2023 – Live Judging Days
17-30 July 2023 – People’s Choice Awards voting period
24 November 2023 – Gala Dinner and Awards Ceremony in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
8 December 2023 – Regional Grand Final Gala Presentation in Bangkok, Thailand

The public are also encouraged to submit their nominations before the deadline of entries on 30 June 2023 here: asiapropertyawards.com/nominations

In addition, the People’s Choice Awards will allow consumers and residents in Malaysia to vote for their preferred and most trusted developers, honouring 10 companies that deliver the Best in Trust, Quality, and Value for Money.

Respected leaders, experts

A distinguished panel of judges, comprising 18 respected leaders and experts in real estate consultancy, architecture, interior design, finance, legal, and related fields, will discuss and deliberate over entries during the Live Judging Days in late July 2023.

Datuk Ar. Ezumi Harzani Ismail, president of the Malaysian Institute of Architects: 2020-2022, has been elected chairperson of the independent panel of judges in 2023. He succeeds Dato’ Sr Lau Wai Seang, president of the Royal Institution of Surveyors Malaysia (RISM): 2017-2018, who remains on the panel, to the chairpersonship.

Datuk Ar. Ezumi Harzani Ismail said: “I am so pleased to lead the independent panel of judges of the Awards in Malaysia as the programme recognises the finest real estate in the country for the 10th year running. Along with the independent panel of judges, I join Malaysia’s consumers in helping reward the achievements of the real estate sector and moving the recovering economy towards progress and prosperity. With this year’s entrants and competitors, we will raise the bar of design and development together in Malaysia.”

HLB, the official supervisor of Awards, will oversee the judging and make sure the process is fair, transparent, and credible. John Ler and Kelvin Chew, international contact partner and managing partner for HLB Ler Lum Chew – HLB Malaysia, respectively, will lead the third-party team of supervisors.

Qualifying as the Best in Asia

Main winners from the PropertyGuru Asia Awards Malaysia in partnership with iProperty will qualify to compete for regional accolades at the 18th PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards Grand Final in Bangkok, Thailand on 8 December.

Malaysia’s finest real estate won several ‘Best in Asia’ honours at the 17th PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards Grand Final 2022. KL Wellness City by KL Wellness City Sdn Bhd was named Best Mixed Use Development (Asia) while Infinity8 Reserve JBCC by Infinity Group won Best Co-Working Space (Asia).

Established in 2005, the PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards continue to reward high-calibre work within the industry, encompassing property development, construction, architecture, interior design, and sustainable building practices. The series initially covered Southeast Asia and has expanded over the years to include the region’s dynamic property markets, including Australia, China, Greater Niseko in Japan, and India.

Organised by PropertyGuru Group (NYSE: PGRU), Southeast Asia’s leading property technology company, the 10th PropertyGuru Asia Awards Malaysia in partnership with iProperty are supported by official portal partners PropertyGuru.com.my and iProperty.com.my; official venue The Majestic Hotel Kuala Lumpur; official magazine Property Report by PropertyGuru; and official supervisor HLB.

For more information, email awards@propertyguru.com or visit the official website: AsiaPropertyAwards.com.

ABOUT PROPERTYGURU ASIA PROPERTY AWARDS

PropertyGuru’s Asia Property Awards, established in 2005, are the region’s most exclusive and prestigious real estate awards programme. The Asia Property Awards are recognised as the ultimate hallmark of excellence in the Asian property sector. Boasting an independent panel of industry experts and trusted supervisors, the Awards have an unparalleled reputation for being credible, ethical, fair and transparent.

In 2023, the Awards series is open to more than a dozen key property markets around the region. The exciting gala events welcome senior industry leaders and top media, as well as reach property agents and consumers via live streaming. Recognising excellence within each Asian market with a variety of categories, including green and sustainable development, each local awards programme will culminate in the PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards Grand Final, which takes place after the PropertyGuru Asia Real Estate Summit during ‘PropertyGuru Week’ in December 2023.

For more information, please visit AsiaPropertyAwards.com

ABOUT PROPERTYGURU GROUP

PropertyGuru is Southeast Asia’s leading1 PropTech company, and the preferred destination for over 41 million property seekers2to connect with more than 63,000 agents3 monthly to find their dream home. PropertyGuru empowers property seekers with more than 3.2 million real estate listings4, in-depth insights, and solutions that enable them to make confident property decisions across Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, and Vietnam.

PropertyGuru.com.sg was launched in Singapore in 2007 and since then PropertyGuru Group has made the property journey a transparent one for property seekers in Southeast Asia. In the last 15 years, PropertyGuru has grown into a high-growth PropTech company with a robust portfolio of leading property marketplaces across its core markets; award-winning mobile apps; mortgage marketplace, PropertyGuru Finance; and a host of enterprise solutions now under PropertyGuru For Business, including a high-quality developer sales enablement platform, FastKey, DataSense, ValueNet, Awards, events and publications across Asia.  

For more information, please visit: PropertyGuruGroup.com;  PropertyGuru Group on LinkedIn.

1 Based on SimilarWeb data between July 2022 and December 2022
2 Based on Google Analytics data between July 2022 and December 2022
3 Based on data between July 2022 and December 2022
4 Based on SimilarWeb data between July 2022 and December 2022

PROPERTYGURU CONTACTS:

General Enquiries:
Richard Allan Aquino, Head of Brand & Marketing Services
M: +66 92 954 4154
E: allan@propertyguru.com

Media & Partnerships:
Nate Dacua, Media Relations & Marketing Services Manager
M: +66 92 701 2510
E: nate@propertyguru.com

Sponsorships:
Kanittha Srithongsuk, Regional Manager, Awards Sponsorship
M: +66 93 293 9794
E: kanittha@propertyguru.com

Sales & Nominations:
Samuel Poon, Asst. Manager (Malaysia & China) – Awards
M: +60 16 411 4361
E: samuel@propertyguru.com


NOTE:
Use of the PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards logo is limited to the publication of this article only.



Copyright 2023 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. http://www.acnnewswire.com

Thousands of supporters join Habitat for Humanity’s 2023 youth campaign for decent, affordable homes in Asia-Pacific

MANILA, May 2, 2023 – (ACN Newswire) – "This is fun! It's something new and challenging," said Kimberly, a Filipino test product engineer who spent a day painting houses in Laguna, the Philippines. She is among the thousands of young leaders who joined the 2023 Habitat for Humanity Young Leaders Build, which will culminate tomorrow in a series of virtual and physical events in at least eight countries in the Asia-Pacific region.




Organized annually since 2012, the campaign brings together youth from across the region to support people and families in need of decent housing. This year, campaign participants are back volunteering in full force after a three-year hiatus on physical volunteering activities due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

"The effects of the global pandemic and disruptions of supply chains showed us the vulnerabilities that many young people face, including diminished economic prospects that could put them at risk of long-term inability to own an affordable home. Yet, we at Habitat for Humanity have also seen firsthand through the Young Leaders Build campaign that the youth can be part of the solution by being aware of the urgent need and ready to take action for decent, affordable housing in their communities. We are incredibly grateful that young volunteers and participants have stepped up to raise awareness, mobilize their own networks, and raise funds and other resources in support of our vision of a world where everyone has a decent place to live," said Luis Noda, Vice-President for Asia-Pacific, Habitat for Humanity International.

During the campaign culmination, more than 600 volunteers are expected to help repair and paint houses, build new homes and community facilities, and organize virtual and physical forums on housing market systems and volunteerism as well as leadership and sustainable communities, among others. Supporters will also raise their voices on social media by posting their photos with the campaign's flag and sharing their volunteering experience.

Since launching in December during International Volunteers' Day, the campaign has mobilized at least 500 volunteers from Cambodia, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Nepal, Philippines, and Vietnam. To date, they have helped raise over US$25,000 to help families build or repair the places they call home.

About Habitat for Humanity

Driven by the vision that everyone needs a decent place to live, Habitat for Humanity found its earliest inspirations as a grassroots movement on an interracial community farm in U.S.A. Since its founding in 1976, the housing organization has grown to become a leading global nonprofit working in more than 70 countries. In the Asia-Pacific region since 1983, Habitat for Humanity has supported millions of people to build or improve a place they can call home. Through financial support, volunteering or adding a voice to support affordable housing, everyone can help families achieve the strength, stability and self-reliance they need to build better lives for themselves. To learn more, donate or volunteer, visit habitat.org/asiapacific.

For further information, please contact:
Ms. Angeli Alba-Pascual, AAlba@habitat.org, +63 920 956 3376, or Ms. Michele Soh, MSoh@habitat.org, +65 9233 1544.

Copyright 2023 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. http://www.acnnewswire.com

The 6th PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards (Australia) will showcase the country’s finest to domestic, international property seekers

AN EXCLUSIVE GALA DINNER AND PRESENTATION CEREMONY WILL BE HOSTED IN MELBOURNE FOR THE 2023 EDITION

SYDNEY, AU, Apr 28, 2023 – (ACN Newswire) – The PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards (Australia) programme officially opened its sixth edition in 2023 as overseas property seekers return to the renowned investment destination.

CaptFrom L-R: Josh Chye, Partner, Tax Consulting, HLB Mann Judd, the awards official supervisor;
Lui Violanti, Chairperson of the PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards (Australia) and regional manager
for Western Australia at Inhabit Group; Jules Kay, General Manager of PropertyGuru Asia Property
Awards and Events; and Sally Picot, Group General Manager of Sales, Scape Australiaion

Australia’s finest developers and design practices may submit their entries to the 6th PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards (Australia), which will be presented for the first time ever in Australia during a black-tie gala dinner and ceremony in Melbourne in October.

Entry submissions are accepted online until 4 August 2023 via: asiapropertyawards.com

The launch of the Awards in Australia comes as residential real estate in the country strengthens its reputation as a long-term, stable-growth asset class for end use and investment. Australia during the pandemic emerged as a safe haven where residential property prices have since continued to grow, according to research by Property Report by PropertyGuru, the official magazine of the Awards. This has emboldened Asian buyers to look for second homes in the popular international education destination following eased border restrictions.

Jules Kay, general manager of PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards and Events, said: “The Awards in Australia have grown to be much more comprehensive in the post-pandemic era, expanding to cover more states and a wider range of developers. This reflects the needs of an increasingly diverse pool of domestic and international property seekers, including upgraders, seniors, international students and foreign investors. This year, we plan to celebrate the diversity and success of the Australian market in new, even more exciting ways.”

Lui Violanti, chairperson of the PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards (Australia) and regional manager for Western Australia at Inhabit Group, said: “With great excitement and pride, we open the 2023 edition of the Awards in Australia to worthy entries from all over the country. We challenge Australia’s finest developers and design practices to showcase their latest and greatest achievements to the rest of Asia Pacific as property seekers across the region eagerly search once more for the country’s best homes, aged-care environments, student accommodations, commercial spaces, mixed-use sites, and investment assets. The sixth edition of the Awards in Australia are truly something to look forward to this year.”

In a milestone occasion, the PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards (Australia) will be celebrated for the first time within the country at the Grand Hyatt Melbourne ballroom on Friday, 13 October.

Key dates for the 2023 edition:
4 August 2023 – Entries Close
28 August – 15 September 2023 – Site Inspections
19 September 2023 – Final Judging
13 October 2023 – Gala Dinner and Awards Ceremony in Melbourne, Australia
8 December 2023 – Regional Grand Final Gala Presentation in Bangkok, Thailand

The public are also encouraged to submit their nominations before the deadline of entries on 4 August 2023 here: asiapropertyawards.com/nominations

Jules Kay, General Manager of PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards and Events

Connecting with international property seekers

Jules Kay and Lui Violanti led the ‘Connect with Southeast Asia’ event at Pullman Quay Grand Sydney Harbour that officially launched the 2023 edition of PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards (Australia).

Sally Picot, group general manager of sales at Scape Australia, winner of the Best Student Accommodation Development award at the 5th PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards (Australia) 2022, attended the launch in Sydney. Also in attendance was Josh Chye, partner and head of tax at HLB Mann Judd, representing HLB, the official supervisor of the Awards.

HLB, the global network of independent advisory and accounting firms, is responsible for upholding the fairness, credibility, and integrity of the selection process. As the official supervisor of the Awards, HLB makes full use of a professionally run, fully transparent judging system.

The selection process, which includes rigorous site inspections and deliberations, involves an independent panel of judges. Led by Lui Violanti, the judging panel is composed of experts in a wide array of fields from architecture and design to real estate consultancy.

Top award recipients from Australia will be eligible to compete with their peers across the Asia-Pacific region at the 18th PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards Grand Final 2023 on 8 December in Bangkok, Thailand. Last year, Spacious Group won the Best Boutique Developer (Asia) title at the 17th PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards Grand Final. Paradiso Place by SPG Land clinched both the Best Smart Building Development (Asia) and Best Integrated Work From Home Development (Asia) awards while Zero Gipps by Dare Property Group and The Archwood Residences by Mayrin Group won the Best Eco Friendly Commercial Development (Asia) and Best Housing/Landed Architectural Design (Asia) awards, respectively.

Established in 2005, the PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards continue to reward high-calibre work within the industry, encompassing property development, construction, architecture, interior design, and sustainable building practices. The series initially covered Southeast Asia and has expanded over the years to include the region’s dynamic property markets, including Australia, China, Greater Niseko in Japan, and India.

Organised by PropertyGuru Group (NYSE: PGRU), Southeast Asia’s leading property technology company, the 6th PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards (Australia) are supported by official magazine Property Report by PropertyGuru; official publicity partner Good Talent Media; media partners Australian Property Journal, The Property Tribune, and Your Investment Property Magazine; and official supervisor HLB.

For more information, email awards@propertyguru.com or visit the official website: AsiaPropertyAwards.com.

ABOUT PROPERTYGURU ASIA PROPERTY AWARDS

PropertyGuru’s Asia Property Awards, established in 2005, are the region’s most exclusive and prestigious real estate awards programme. The Asia Property Awards are recognised as the ultimate hallmark of excellence in the Asian property sector. Boasting an independent panel of industry experts and trusted supervisors, the Awards have an unparalleled reputation for being credible, ethical, fair and transparent.

In 2023, the Awards series is open to more than a dozen key property markets around the region. The exciting gala events welcome senior industry leaders and top media, as well as reach property agents and consumers via live streaming. Recognising excellence within each Asian market with a variety of categories, including green and sustainable development, each local awards programme will culminate in the PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards Grand Final, which takes place after the PropertyGuru Asia Real Estate Summit during ‘PropertyGuru Week’ in December 2023.

For more information, please visit AsiaPropertyAwards.com

PROPERTYGURU CONTACTS:

General Enquiries:
Richard Allan Aquino, Head of Brand & Marketing Services
M: +66 92 954 4154
E: allan@propertyguru.com

Media & Partnerships:
Nate Dacua, Media Relations & Marketing Services Manager
M: +66 92 701 2510
E: nate@propertyguru.com

Sponsorships:
Kanittha Srithongsuk, Regional Manager, Awards Sponsorship
M: +66 93 293 9794
E: kanittha@propertyguru.com

Sales & Nominations:

Watcharaphon Chaisuk (Jeff), Solutions Manager

M: +66 95 797 0595

E: jeff@propertyguru.com



NOTE: Use of the PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards logo is limited to the publication of this article only.



Copyright 2023 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. http://www.acnnewswire.com

Hong Kong advantages in green buildings

HONG KONG, Apr 27, 2023 – (ACN Newswire) – The Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) and Link Asset Management Limited (Link) released a survey study, "Hong Kong Green Capabilities in Real Estate Development and Property Management: RCEP Opportunities", which highlights seven distinct advantages of Hong Kong in the field of green buildings.


Irina Fan, Director of HKTDC Research (L) and George Hongchoy, Executive Director and Chief Executive
Officer of Link (R)


The report also underscores green building challenges across the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) countries, with which Hong Kong can strengthen collaboration in four major areas to expand Hong Kong's and regional green building capacities to create a greener and sustainable future: climate risk assessment and design consulting; green financing; construction and facility management digitalisation; and green material certification and sourcing.

Mr George Hongchoy, Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of Link Asset Management Limited, said: "We are delighted to learn that Hong Kong's real estate sector is in a leading position in terms of green competences among the major RCEP markets being examined. As a real estate asset manager and investor based in Hong Kong, sustainability is at the heart of Link's operation. We have been incorporating sustainability consideration in almost every part of our business, pioneering many sustainability applications in our daily operations, and striving to achieve net zero carbon emission by 2035. We are keen to work with other industrial practitioners to further advance sustainability initiatives in Hong Kong and showcase the city's green capabilities in RCEP markets to capture new opportunities in the region."

Ms Irina Fan, Director of HKTDC Research, said: "Green real estate development and property management are a key element in achieving net zero by 2050, particularly in the case of Hong Kong, where 50,000 private and government buildings generate 60% of the city's carbon emissions. The progress made towards green buildings in Hong Kong in recent years is encouraging, thanks to the joint efforts of industry stakeholders. At the same time, demand for green real estate and property management services in RCEP economies is also growing. Hong Kong practitioners are well placed to take advantage of the momentum to seize business opportunities in RCEP countries, establish Hong Kong's leading position in green buildings in the global marketplace and create stronger synergies."

Hong Kong's seven green building advantages

The survey has been compiled through a three-pronged approach: (1) Desktop research on Mainland China, Hong Kong and other RCEP countries of interest to understand and compare green buildings trends; (2) In-depth interviews with more than 70 stakeholders in the real estate and property management sectors in RCEP countries and Hong Kong between July and November 2022 to assess the green capabilities of Hong Kong's real estate and property management industries; (3) Questionnaire survey via phone and online of 300 practitioners from Australia, Japan, Mainland China, Singapore and South Korea with the aim of gaining a better understanding of the green capabilities of the real estate and property management sectors across the RCEP bloc, while exploring collaboration opportunities for Hong Kong practitioners. All survey respondents are manager level or above and have been involved in green construction, property development or facility management projects for more than four years.

The report identifies seven advantages of Hong Kong in the green building field, including:

1. Green finance: Hong Kong is Asia's leading green finance hub with a deep capital pool capable of meeting the diverse financing needs of the real estate sector;

2. Green building products and embodied carbon reduction: Local manufacturers of construction materials have made use of waste materials in their production processes to reduce embodied carbon emissions;

3. Industry coherence: Hong Kong's well-established testing, inspection and certification (TIC) industry plays a pivotal role in certifying green building products and projects;

4. Innovative construction methods: The application of new construction approaches with higher efficiency and lower production costs, like digitalisation and prefabrication, has been pioneered by Hong Kong's real estate developers;

5. Facility management: World-renowned for its skyline of supertall skyscrapers, Hong Kong is now turning up the dial on high-rise sustainable development and management;

6. Alternative and renewable energy and sustainable lifestyle: Hong Kong's power suppliers have been promoting a sustainable lifestyle and energy efficiency through measures like renewable energy development, energy management, digitalisation and retrofitting; and

7. Sustainable community development: Hong Kong's industry practitioners have built features, such as common social facilities and shared climate-resilient infrastructure into the design of real estate developments, to create sustainable, well-connected communities.

Challenges for RCEP members

Our survey results show that reducing energy consumption, encouraging sustainable business practices and lowering greenhouse gas emissions are the top three reasons for adopting green building practices, as indicated by 43%, 41% and 35% of the respondents, respectively. In terms of specific green building approaches, site planning and construction management (85%) is ranked highest, followed by sustainable architectural design and construction techniques (83%), and energy and waste management (81%).

The aspects that are considered the most challenging by respondents are efficient use and reduction of construction materials (18%), air quality monitoring and air purification (18%), monitoring and reducing energy consumption (17%) and use of recycled or eco-friendly construction materials (17%). Passive design (2%), BIM modelling (4%) and Daylighting designs (6%) are considered the least challenging in the region, perhaps reflecting Asia's strong expertise in architectural design.

While sustainability has gone mainstream, challenges for green building activities vary across countries. Japan, South Korea and Singapore face high initial costs, with 46%-56% of respondents citing costs as the top challenge for increasing green building activities. Mainland China is faced with a lack of experienced talent (44%), while Japan is struggling with securing financial resources (40%). The low availability of certified green building products and services is another area of concern among the South Korean (32%) and mainland Chinese (33%) respondents.

Hong Kong can meet the needs of the RCEP market in four major areas

The views of the survey respondents together with the in-depth stakeholder interviews carried out in Hong Kong and the five selected RCEP markets summarise four major areas, for which Hong Kong's green building capabilities can best meet the needs of RCEP markets. They are: climate risk assessment and design consulting services; green financing; construction and facility management digitalisation; and green building product certification and sourcing.

1. Climate risk assessment and design consulting services

Hong Kong has a well-established TIC industry and is seen as an experienced player in handling a volatile climate. With 72% of respondents saying that they believe Hong Kong excels in design concepts and construction techniques, the city's experience in handling volatile climates and constructing high rises could be valuable in RCEP markets. According to the survey, biophilic design / landscaping with greenery (42%) and climate risk assessment (34%) will be the most and the fifth most popular green building approach, respectively, for the next 12 months. Hong Kong is well placed to ride on its experience to provide these services to Australia, Mainland China, Singapore, and South Korea.

2. Green financing

Hong Kong is a leading financial centre that actively participates in sustainable finance development and can play a key role in providing green financing and carbon trading services to Japan, Mainland China and South Korea. According to the survey, 84% of the respondents showed an interest in increasing the use of green finance products and services in the coming 24 months, to enhance public recognition of (cited by 72%), public engagement with (cited by 65%) and transparency (cited by 60%) of their sustainability strategies.

3. Construction and facility management digitalisation

Hong Kong is experienced in the adoption of BIM, MiC and DfMa, while city practitioners are also good at implementing digitalisation in facility management and retrofitting existing buildings. Hong Kong can transfer knowledge of installing indoor air monitoring and control systems and smart waste management systems to RCEP. According to the survey, AI to improve energy efficiency (41%) and the construction process (37%) will be the second and the third most popular green building approaches, respectively, for the next 12 months.

4. Green building products certification and sourcing

As the world's sixth largest trading entity in merchandise trade, Hong Kong has a well-established assessment and certification protocol for green construction materials that can facilitate the sourcing of eco-friendly materials, and Japan, Mainland China and South Korea will be the focus markets. According to the survey, even though 40% of the respondents have already adopted recycled or eco-friendly construction materials in their projects, they still find the sourcing and application of eco-friendly materials a challenge due to the lack of standardisation and certification. Hong Kong can work with the RCEP market to develop a standardised assessment and certification protocol for green construction materials and set up a comprehensive regional database and platform of eco-friendly materials and suppliers.

References
– HKTDC Research Portal: http://research.hktdc.com/
– Hong Kong Green Capabilities in Real Estate Development and Property Management: RCEP Opportunities https://research.hktdc.com/en/article/MTM2MTk3MTk5Nw
– Photo download: https://bit.ly/40KTqQl

About HKTDC

The Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) is a statutory body established in 1966 to promote, assist and develop Hong Kong's trade. With 50 offices globally, including 13 in Mainland China, the HKTDC promotes Hong Kong as a two-way global investment and business hub. The HKTDC organises international exhibitions, conferences and business missions to create business opportunities for companies, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), in the mainland and international markets. The HKTDC also provides up-to-date market insights and product information via research reports and digital news channels. For more information, please visit: www.hktdc.com/aboutus. Follow us on Twitter @hktdc and LinkedIn.

About Link

Link Real Estate Investment Trust (Hong Kong stock code: 823) is the largest REIT in Asia by market capitalisation. It is managed by Link Asset Management Limited, a leading real estate investor and asset manager in the world. Since its listing in 2005 as the first REIT in Hong Kong, Link REIT has been 100% held by public and institutional investors. It is a constituent of the Hong Kong securities market benchmark Hang Seng Index, as well as a component of the Dow Jones Sustainability Asia Pacific Index, the FTSE4Good Index Series and the Hang Seng Corporate Sustainability Index. From its home in Hong Kong, Link Asset Management Limited owns and manages a diversified portfolio including retail facilities, car parks, offices and logistics assets spanning from China's Beijing, Greater Bay Area (Hong Kong, Guangzhou and Shenzhen), and Yangtze River Delta centred around Shanghai, to Singapore, Australia's Sydney and Melbourne and the UK's London. Link Asset Management Limited seeks to extend its portfolio growth trajectory and grasp expansion opportunities in different markets in pursuit of sustainable growth. For details, please visit https://www.linkreit.com

Media enquiries
For enquiries please contact:
HKTDC
Corporate Communication & Marketing Department
Frankie Leung, Tel: +852 2584 4298, Email: frankie.cy.leung@hktdc.org
Eric Wong, Tel: +852 2584 4575, Email: eric.ks.wong@hktdc.org

Link Asset Management Limited
Kelvin Tam, Tel: +852 2175 1870, Email: kevin.hf.tam@linkreit.com
Krista Chan, Tel: +852 2175 1344, Email: krista.hl.chan@linkreit.com

Copyright 2023 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. http://www.acnnewswire.com

RHTLaw Asia strengthens Real Estate Practice with appointment of new partner

SINGAPORE, Apr 5, 2023 – (ACN Newswire) – Singapore-headquartered regional law firm RHTLaw Asia has appointed Mr Yeong Wai Cheong as partner in the firm's Real Estate practice.


Mr Yeong Wai Cheong, Partner at RHTLaw Asia and Mr Azman Jaafar, Managing Partner at RHTLaw Asia [L-R]


Wai Cheong brings extensive experience in real estate, banking and finance, representing Singapore-listed companies and banks, purchasers and vendors, developers, landlords and tenants across a range of domestic and cross-border financing and real estate matters.

He has been consistently ranked as a "Recommended Lawyer" for Real Estate in the Legal 500 Asia Pacific for seven consecutive years. Dual-qualified in Singapore and Hong Kong, Wai Cheong has represented parties for the sale and purchase and financing of industrial, commercial and residential properties in Singapore and Hong Kong.

In addition to his prior stint at RHTLaw Asia, Wai Cheong was also previously the General Counsel for Asia for an European bank and the Head of Legal for Singapore for two European banks.

RHTLaw Asia Managing Partner, Mr Azman Jaafar, said, "Real Estate will continue to be an important sector for us given Singapore's position as a global financial centre. We will continue to strengthen our practice with the addition of new talent to support our clients. Mr Yeong is a welcome addition to our team as we roll out our new ONERHT Client UX strategy together with our core multidisciplinary capabilities."

About RHTLaw Asia LLP

RHTLaw Asia LLP is a leading regional law firm headquartered in Singapore with a network of offices in 15 jurisdictions in Asia, Oceania, Middle East and Africa under the ASEAN Plus Group (APG) comprising over 2,000 lawyers. We help clients understand the local challenges, navigate the regional complexity to deliver the competitive advantage for their businesses in Asia. We are also the Singapore member of the Interlex Group, a global network of leading law firms.

RHTLaw Asia collaborates with ONERHT, an integrated network of multidisciplinary professional services, through entities which are not affiliates, branches, or subsidiaries of RHTLaw Asia LLP. For more details, please visit www.rhtlawasia.com

For Mr Yeong Wai Cheong's profile, please visit:
https://www.rhtlawasia.com/people/yeong-wai-cheong/

About ONERHT

ONERHT is an integrated multidisciplinary platform of professional and specialist services. Since 2011, RHTLaw Asia's founding team has developed a second engine of growth through ONERHT, an independent ecosystem of professional and specialist services, and networks, complementing RHTLaw's full service legal offerings. For more details, please visit www.onerht.com

For media queries, please contact:
Elliot Siow / elliot.siow@rhtgoc.com / +65 8375 0417

Copyright 2023 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. http://www.acnnewswire.com

Champion REIT and Langham Place Mall organise “1+1 LP CLUB Bonus Points Donation” campaign

HONG KONG, Apr 3, 2023 – (ACN Newswire) – Champion Real Estate Investment Trust ("Champion REIT" or "Trust") (Stock Code: 2778), owner of Three Garden Road and Langham Place, announced that Langham Place Mall ("the Mall") has cooperated with two local non-profit organizations, namely Food Angel and HK Saving Cat and Dog Association ("HKSCDA"), in organizing the "1+1 LP CLUB Bonus Points Donation" charity event for creating shared values and contribute to society.


1+1 LP CLUB Bonus Points Donation


Every donation of 5,000 bonus points by LP CLUB members of Langham Place Mall will be converted into a HK$20 donation to support Food Angel or HKSCDA in providing meal boxes to people in need or in helping stray cats and dogs. To double the effect, Champion REIT will donate the same amount to charitable organisations to achieve the "1+1" impact.

The event has received enthusiastic response since its launch in March this year. In view of this, the Trust has increased the quota of the "1+1 LP CLUB Bonus Points Donation" programme. Total donation received for the overall event is already enough for the organisations to prepare about 5,000 meal boxes for the needy and two-month portion of food for 200 stray cats and dogs.

The Mall has also participated in "Food Smart Buddy", the smart food donation programme of Food Angel, and has set up a smart food donation machine at Level B1 of the Mall for visitors to donate surplus food. The food collected will support Food Angel in preparing meals for the underprivileged in society. As one of the pet-friendly malls in Hong Kong, the Mall has co-hosted a Dog Adoption Day with the Hong Kong Rescue Cats and Dogs Association to encourage the public to "adopt instead of shop" and to extend their unconditional love.

Ms Christina Hau, Chief Executive Officer of Champion REIT, said, "We are honoured to be able to work with two non-profit organisations at the same time. While committed to giving back to society and promoting sustainability, we have been paying particular attention to issues such as food waste, encouraging the public to adopt pets and promoting pet inclusivity in recent years. Through this meaningful event, we wish to capitalise on the Trust's business and resources to raise public awareness of cherishing food and to convey the 'adopt instead of shop' message so as to make a concerted effort to contribute to the society."

About Champion REIT (Stock Code: 2778)
Champion Real Estate Investment Trust is a trust formed to own and invest in income producing office and retail properties. The Trust focuses on Grade A commercial properties in prime locations. It currently offers investors direct exposure to nearly 3 million sq. ft. of prime office and retail floor area. These include two Hong Kong landmark properties, Three Garden Road and Langham Place, as well as joint venture stake in 66 Shoe Lane in Central London. Since 2015, the Trust has been included in the Constituent of Hang Seng Corporate Sustainability Benchmark Index of Hang Seng Indexes.

Website: https://www.championreit.com/

About LP CLUB
LP CLUB is a membership rewards program launched by Langham Place, offers customers a diverse range of exciting shopping, dining, and lifestyle perks, as well as unique cultural experiences and themed events. Members can enjoy unexpected surprises beyond just shopping.

To become an LP CLUB member, customers simply need to download the Langham Place app and complete a simple registration process. Members can stay up-to-date with the latest shopping promotions and marketing events at Langham Place, and can earn points by making purchases that can be exchanged for exclusive member privileges.

About "Food Angel"
"Food Angel" is a food rescue and food assistance programme launched in 2011, striving to rescue surplus food that is still safe for consumption in Hong Kong. Following strict safety inspection procedures, the food is subsequently cooked in our central kitchens into nutritious meals or prepared as food packs, and then distributed by the logistic team to those in need in society free of charge.

About "HK Saving Cat and Dog Association"
HK Saving Cat and Dog Association ("HKSCDA") is a non-profit organisation established in Hong Kong on 1 April 2007. It has been committed to providing stray cats and dogs with food, medical care, sterilisation and adoption services. In addition to rescuing injured cats and dogs on the street, HKSCDA also takes care of small animals abandoned by the public and tries their best to find a dependable owner and a forever home for them.


Copyright 2023 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. http://www.acnnewswire.com

Prime Miami Bayfront Site Announced by Urban Core

MIAMI, FL, Mar 26, 2023 – (ACN Newswire) – The Urban Core Division, led by Mika Mattingly and Cecilia Estevez, proudly announces the availability of a prime Miami bayfront development site. Located at 400 Biscayne Blvd., in the heart of Downtown Miami, the site currently holds an 11,600 sq. ft. state-of-the-art sales center sitting on an 18,062 sq. ft. lot that claims over 157 ft. of frontage with unimpeded views of Biscayne Bay.


400 Biscayne Blvd Location
– bayfront view development site located at 400 Biscayne Blvd, in the heart of Downtown Miami.


Mika Mattingly, Executive Vice President, states, "This is a rare opportunity to acquire a prime bayfront development site in the heart of Downtown Miami. The site is zoned T6-80-O, Miami's most intense zoning code, allowing up to 80 stories and 1,000 units per acre by right, with opportunities to increase both height and density through Miami21 Bonus programs."

The property has proposed plans by architect Sieger Suarez for a 74-story luxury condominium building consisting of 408 units. The site's liberal T6-80- O zoning code allows for 415 units by right and includes an additional 82 units transferred from the adjacent Elser development, bringing the total buildable units to 497.

Downtown Miami is rapidly becoming a global destination, attracting affluent individuals and some of the most prominent financial and tech-based companies in the world. The site is conveniently located near Miami's most prominent attractions and developments, including Miami Worldcenter and The Waldorf Astoria Residences.

The location is a tourist hotspot, attracting over 4 million tourists annually within a 1/2 mile radius. 400 Biscayne is strategically situated near the largest cruise port in the US and Miami's Brightline train station – a high-speed rail station that connects to Aventura, Boca, Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach, and Orlando.

This prime development site offers a unique opportunity for investors and developers to capitalize on the continued growth of Downtown Miami. Its close proximity to major attractions, transportation hubs, and a burgeoning financial and tech scene make it an attractive prospect for luxury residential development.

With its unparalleled location and zoning potential, the 400 Biscayne site is poised to become an iconic addition to the Miami skyline, further solidifying Downtown Miami's status as a global destination for affluent residents and tourists alike.

For more information about this rare development opportunity, visit 400biscayne-blvd.com or contact Mika Mattingly and Cecilia Estevez at the Urban Core Division.

About The Urban Core Division

With a distinct focus on South Florida's dense urban markets, the Urban Core Division is a full-service commercial real estate brokerage providing sales and advisory services to owners, investors, and developers. Driven by powerful local neighborhood data and unrivaled industry connections, the team leverages its far-reaching network of professionals to position commercial properties for maximum market exposure. For additional information, visit 400biscayne-blvd.com.

Contact Information
Mika Mattingly
Commercial Real Estate Broker
mika@urbancoredivision.com
(786) 486-4391

SOURCE: Urban Core

Copyright 2023 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. http://www.acnnewswire.com

Revenue of Yuexiu REIT in 2022 Up 4.2%

HONG KONG, Mar 10, 2023 – (ACN Newswire) – Yuexiu Real Estate Investment Trust ("Yuexiu REIT" or the "REIT"; stock code: 00405) announced today its 2022 annual results for the year ended 31 December 2022.


Mr. LIN Deliang, Chairman, Chief Executive Officer & Executive Director


2022 Annual Results Highlights:
Overall operation remained stable, with 100% distribution rate for the 17th consecutive year:
— Revenue for 2022 was RMB1,873 million, representing a 4.2% growth over last year.
— Declared final distribution of approximately RMB0.0399 per unit, equals to approximately HK$0.0453. Distribution per Unit for the Reporting Year is approximately RMB0.1133, equal to approximately HK$0.1306. Distribution yield was approximately 6.63%.
— For 17 years since it was listed in 2005, the REIT has distributed 100% of its distributable income to Unitholders.

Guangzhou International Finance Center (GZIFC) office rental business was developing steadily. Average occupancy rate and room rate of The Ascott Serviced Apartments increased steadily:
— Operating revenue of GZIFC was RMB880.2million, accounting for 47.0% of the total revenue of the REIT.
— Overall performance of the Hotel and serviced apartment remained as market benchmarks. The Ascott Serviced Apartments recorded increase in both average occupancy rate and average room rate. Long-term leasing business was stable, short-term rental business recorded a 10.7% increase in revenue year-on-year.

Actively managed due borrowings, effectively lowering financing cost:
— The Manager secured 3-year term syndicated loan of HK$3.8 billion in 2022 to refinance mature loans, thereby ensure effective monitoring and control of liquidity risk.
— Seized the favorable window in the RMB interest rate market, the Manager completed the onshore financing of approximately RMB1,284 million in July 2022, effectively reducing the financing cost.

Wuhan Yuexiu Fortune Center obtained LEED O+M platinum certification for the first time whereas Yuexiu REIT continues to build up ESG capability:
— Wuhan Yuexiu Fortune Center obtained LEED O+M platinum certification for the first time, which is the third property under the REIT to be LEED O+M platinum certified. Currently, the REIT has three LEED Platinum certified properties, constituting up to 68% of the property area it owns.
— The REIT also sealed its first sustainability-linked loan of total amount HK$3.8 billion, effectively raising the proportion of green buildings under it, as well as that of green and sustainable financing.

Its revenue for 2022 full year amounted to RMB1,872.86 million, representing a 4.2% increase when compared with the same period last year. Net Property Income amounted to RMB1,355.87 million, representing a 4.4% increase compared with the same period last year.

Yuexiu REIT Asset Management Limited (the "Manager") has declared a final distribution of approximately RMB0.0399 per unit, equivalent to approximately HK$0.0453. Distribution per Unit ("DPU") for the Reporting Year is approximately RMB0.1133, equivalent to approximately HK$0.1306, based on the closing price of HK$1.97 per Unit as at 31 December 2022, representing a yield of approximately 6.63%. The REIT has been distributing no less than 100% of its Total Distributable Income for 17 consecutive years since listing in 2005.

Mr. Lin Deliang, Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director of Yuexiu REIT, said, "In 2022, Yuexiu REIT adopted a prudent approach in operation and realized steady increase in revenue. Its aim is to provide Unitholders with stable returns. Since 2005, for 17 years in a row, we have distributed all of our distributable income. The REIT has also started to extend its reach to cover overseas properties. It acquired its first overseas properties, which are the 17th and 23rd floor of Yue Xiu Building in Hong Kong, to create additional growth potential. The international environment will still be complex in 2023 with the risk of global economic stagflation rising. However, with the Chinese government having optimized and adjusted her anti-epidemic policies, the mainland economy has picked up steadily, and the financing environment has been improved. Yuexiu REIT will seize favorable opportunities, make progress in firm strides and present satisfactory returns to Unitholders. "

Guangzhou International Finance Center (GZIFC)
GZIFC is committed to optimizing its customer structure and enhancing service quality. It grasped the opportunity to rent out sizeable high-quality units, as well as optimize its long-term customer structure through bringing in quality customers and expanding its customer base, and eventually, reshaped its image as a landmark project. Insisting on adopting high international operation and management standards, GZIFC passed relevant revaluations at the end of 2022 and obtained BOMA CHINA COE renewal certifications, with 15 items well above international standards.

GZIFC Mall took the initiative to adjust and renovate, completed the re-positioning of B1 floor as "Landmark Parlor", resulting in optimized asset positioning. Moreover, via resource integration and multi-channel tenant recruitment, it was able to sign leases with new tenants taking up spaces of more than 3,000 sq.m. during the year, further enhancing the awareness of brands and enriching its brand portfolio. Combined with the scenario-based marketing supported by its brands, it was able to enhance overall customer experience and increased support to tenants' operations.

Four Seasons Hotel actively participated in live events and major promotions on leading media platforms to boost its exposure and seize high net worth leisure travelers, and thus increase the overall revenue of its hotels. For the eighth consecutive year, the hotel has earned the "Forbes Travel Guide 2022 Five-Star Award" for its consistently excellent services. As for Ascott Serviced Apartments, its long-term rental business remained stable, while short-term rental business recorded a year-on-year increase of 10.7%, giving an effective pull to the overall operational performance of the project. In 2022, its average occupancy rate rose by 1.3 percentage points year-on-year. The average room rate increased by 1.5% year-on-year. RevPAR was RMB874, representing an increase of 3.1% year-on-year. Thanks to the stabilizing effect of the long-term rental business, the annual RevPAR competitive index of Ascott Serviced Apartments reached 156.3, a historical high. The project has for seven years from 2016 topped all Ascott China projects in terms of operating revenue and GOP.

Yuexiu Financial Tower
Yuexiu Financial Tower negotiated with key tenants in advance for lease renewal, while fortifying relationship with customers via multiple channels and proactively exploring customers' potential need to lease bigger spaces. For the year, it renewed leases with key tenants, such as isuwang.com and Easylink Payment Co. Ltd., with total area leased out reaching 15,000 sq.m., laying a solid foundation for the stable operation of Yuexiu Financial Tower. Key customers such as Kaiyue Hotel Consulting Service (Guangzhou) Co., Ltd. and CR Assets, leased bigger spaces during the year, with the new contracted area reaching 18,000 sq.m.

White Horse Building
White House Building had to close three times amid the pandemic. Its operation team, while working hard to stabilize and retain merchants, also pushed to innovate and change in the face of market competition. The team actively explored high-quality external customers, comprehensively engaged leading brand customers in major competitive markets in Guangzhou. As such, it signed leases with two top fast fashion brands, has engaged a total of 702 potential customers and introduced in 104 high-quality customers. It also actively facilitated breakthrough in tenant portfolio and drove innovation of business model. For example, it introduced a number of well-known catering brands to the atrium on the first floor, which boosted market traffic significantly. On the second floor, in the standalone area of passage 25, it adopted an innovative joint operation leasing model, allowing it to introduce a good number of high-quality designer brand customers from Guangzhou and Shenzhen. Furthermore, it continued to carry out marketing activities to attract customers for tenants and facilitate transactions.

Fortune Plaza and City Development Plaza
Fortune Plaza adjusted the business positioning of its podium building. By letting parts of the area with lease expired to introduce a number of stable customers and having the Fortune 500 company COSCO Logistics to expand its lease area to the entire floor, the proportion of high-quality customers of the project has kept increasing. As for City Development Plaza, it actively eliminated the risk of lease termination by swiftly introducing high-quality customers such as WUYIGE Certified Public Accountants LLP, and at the same time vigorously promoted product upgrade to optimize the layout of rental units and user experience.

Victory Plaza
With at the impact of the resurging epidemic, Victory Plaza continued to experience early lease termination by struggling tenants. In response, the operation team took the initiative to adjust the project's positioning and brand and terminated timely leases with high-risk customers, and seamlessly introduced the popular Cantonese cuisine brand Xiao Li Yuan and the well-known hair care brand Hairology as tenants. Furthermore, through pooling internal and external resources, a number of impressive large-scale events were organized, empowering well-rounded tenants and project operations. In 2022, Victory Plaza earned the titles "Top 10 Fashion Shops in Flower City" and "Caring Charity Unit", reflective of it being fully recognized by the industry.

Shanghai Yue Xiu Tower
Shanghai Yuexiu Tower has unique lease renewal plans drawn up for its high-quality customers, with the primary goal of retaining customers with all efforts. By enriching its range of office ancillary products and offering flexible leasing terms and conditions, plus various value-added services, it achieved an annual renewal rate exceeding 78% for the year, hitting a new high in the last three years. It kept its eye on the quality of new tenant companies, introduced five target customers during the year, resulting in a more reasonable tenant structure and improved risk resistance. Taking into account market demand, some long vacant units were renovated and reconstructed, and most of them with refined d?cor were leased out quickly. The sell-through rate of renovated units reached 91%.

Wuhan Properties
The operation team of Wuhan Yuexiu Fortune Center stepped up efforts to recruit tenants, mounting activities targeting different industry circles to attract customers and restructuring products according to market demand, as such, achieving new contracted lease area of approximately 16,000 sq.m. At the same time, it carried out lease renewal negotiations in advance to build up reserve of potential customers. In 2022, Yuexiu Fortune Center won the "Model Property of Wuhan" title. With the Manager taking building ESG capability as a strategic priority, Fortune Center received its first LEED O+M Platinum certification and became the third property under the Trust to obtain the accreditation.

Starry Victoria Shopping Centre saw a decline in sales and many tenants terminating their lease. In response, the operation team strived to expand various channels in building up tenant reserve and raising contract conversion rate. During the year, it signed contracts with brand customers including "Chow Tai Fook", "Luckin Coffee" and "Pizza Hut" which helped foster overall retail sentiment and attracted more family customers. In 2022, Starry Victoria Shopping Centre offered two rounds of rental concessions to tenants affected by the pandemic and, with a "specific tactic for specific shop" support mechanism established, it effectively stabilized tenants' operation.

Hangzhou Victory
Hangzhou Victory proactively exited high-risk customers and engaged potential customers in advance to shorten the vacancy period. It secured a number of quality enterprises including the Fortune 500 company China Railway 15th Bureau, and powerful state-owned enterprises with strong renting ability, such as Shanxi Road & Bridge and Yuexiu Financial Leasing expanding their lease areas, as such vacant units were quickly leased out. As at the end of 2022, Hangzhou Victory boasted a 100% occupancy rate.

Sustainable Development
The Manager sees building up ESG capability as a strategic priority, regarding it as an important leverage to enhance the REIT's core competitiveness. Thus, with guidance from the Board, it has devoted full effort to helping the REIT achieve its sustainable development goals. On top of having its annual MSCI ESG rating raised to "BB", the REIT's Global Real Estate Sustainability Benchmark (GRESB) rating was raised to the green "Four Star", and it also scored the highest "A" rating for public disclosure for the second consecutive year. Its sustainalytics ESG risk rating improved to "low risk", and S&P Global ESG score also increased, by 13.3%, against last year.

Prospects
Regarding the economic trend in 2023, the global environment remains complex and challenging, and the risk of global stagflation is rising. However, the Chinese economy has been steadily recovering since the country optimized and adjusted her anti-pandemic policies. Against this backdrop, the Manager, staying true to its original aspiration of maximizing asset value, will implement leasing strategies actively yet with prudence, grasp potential investment opportunities quickly and carefully and expand financing opportunities in the capital market to effectively reduce financing costs, thereby continuously generate stable returns to Unitholders.

Taking into account situations such as interest rate hikes overseas, RMB exchange rate fluctuation and market development expectations, the Manager will continue to review and make reasonable adjustments to the REIT's financing structure, looking into such as introducing low-cost RMB capital through onshore bond issuance or cross-border financing, so as to enjoy more favorable financing costs and mitigate interest rate and exchange risks.

The Manager will take to greater depth the REIT's energy saving and carbon reduction plan. It will push to deepen development in the areas of green building, green and sustainable finance, and ESG rating. At the same time, the Manager will seize opportunities brought by the country's high-quality development, consolidate its sustainable development mechanism and enhance ESG management capabilities, and collaborate with all stakeholders to generate greater economic and social benefits.

About Yuexiu REIT
Yuexiu Real Estate Investment Trust ("Yuexiu REIT", HKEX stock code: 00405) was listed on The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited on 21 December 2005. It is the first listed real estate investment trust in the world that invests in properties on the mainland of the People's Republic of China. Its property portfolio consists of ten high-quality properties namely Guangzhou International Finance Center, White Horse Building, Fortune Plaza, City Development Plaza, Victory Plaza, Yuexiu Financial Tower, Shanghai Yue Xiu Tower, Wuhan Properties (including Yuexiu Fortune Centre and Starry Victoria Shopping Centre) and Hangzhou Victory, with total area owned spanning approximately 1,184,000 square meters.


Copyright 2023 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. http://www.acnnewswire.com

AssetWise PCL (SET: ASW) strengthens ties with Takara Leben, launches B1.35bn development in Atmoz Flow Minburi

BANGKOK, Mar 1, 2023 – (ACN Newswire) – Thailand's leading life-style real estate developer AssetWise PCL (ASW) has strengthened its partnership with Japanese real estate giant Takara Leben to launch a BHT 1.35 billion condominium in Bangkok's Minburi neighbourhood. Atmoz Flow Minburi represents the third joint venture project in a two-year time frame between the two companies in a move that serves to underscore the viability they see in the ideally located development.





Atmoz Flow Minburi is situated near the Pink Line MRT mass transit system and is easily accessible by the Minburi Market Station. It forms the first phase of the ASW's WISEPARK community development that caters to life-styles of all generations and at same time reflects the company's 'We Build Happiness' philosophy. Atmoz Flow Minburi is expected to be up and running in the fourth quarter of this year and starting to recognise revenue by then.

According to ASW Chief Executive Officer Kromchet Vipanpong, ASW holds a 51% share in Atmoz Flow Minburi venture with Takara Leben taking a 49% share. It follows on the heels of two earlier condominium projects collaborations between the Thai and Japanese firms – Atmoz Tropicana Bangna and Kave Seed Kaset Campus near Kasetsart University.

Takara Leben's extended partnership with ASW this time around speaks volumes about their confidence in ASW and the potential of the Atmoz Flow Minburi on the location which is poised to become a new central business district with a centre of employment in the eastern Bangkok area."The three ASW-Takara Leben joint venture projects are worth more than five billion baht and both sides are likely to take their partnership into future projects," Kromchet said.

Atmoz Flow Minburi consists of 8-storey, 3 buildings with 739 units in total and is only 300 metres away from the Min Buri Market Station of the Pink Line MRT which is expected to be officially operational within this year.

Atmoz Flow Minburi comes with a complete common facility to meet the life-styles of residents of all generations for living together perfectly. It is the first project that embraces the 'All Gen' concept of room design that answers to the living needs of all ages. In addition, Atmoz Flow Minburi is also the first phase of WISEPARK's development on a large plot of land that will evolve into a larger community.

Kazuichi Shimada, CEO of Takara Leben, said the company is looking for joint venture opportunities in real estate developments in Thailand, stemming from the experience of being a partner with ASW. "We have strong confidence in ASW whose management has committed to running good business while sharing the same business philosophy as ours, meaning adopting the design for living happily."

Furthermore, the location of Atmoz Flow Minburi close to the Pink Line, and being surrounded by sources of employment and facilities such as industrial estates and hospitals constitute compelling reasons for Takara Leben to partner with ASW again.

Takara Leben (3492.T) is listed on the Japanese Stock Exchange and has engaged in more than 500 property development projects under the brands of The Leben, Nebel and Leben Platz. The company also has power plant and hotel businesses in Japan and expands investment in real estate to the ASEAN region such as Thailand and Vietnam.

ASW has developed more than 47 condominium and housing projects with all-encompassing life-styles under the brands of KAVE, ATMOZ, MODIZ, ESTA, and THE HONOR worth over BHT 49.9 billion with value of backlog stands at more than BHT 11.4 billion.

Visit https://assetwise.co.th [SET: ASW][SET: ASW/F][SET: ASW-R].

Released for AssetWise PCL by MT Multimedia Co Ltd
Pipop Kongwong (Top), T: +66 (0) 81 929 8864, E: pipop.k@mtmultimedia.com

Copyright 2023 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. http://www.acnnewswire.com