Category: Real Estate

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

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.

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

“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.

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

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.

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.

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

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.

Hong Kong advantages in green buildings

  • RCEP market offers opportunities to build a sustainable future

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

RHTLaw Asia strengthens Real Estate Practice with appointment of new partner

Singapore-headquartered regional law firm RHTLaw Asia has appointed Mr Yeong Wai Cheong as partner in the firm’s Real Estate practice.

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

Prime Miami Bayfront Site Announced by Urban Core

  • Rare downtown opportunity offers potential for luxury residential development in a global destination

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

Ramadan 2023: OYO announces a special scheme to reward travelers in Malaysia

Global hospitality technology company OYO has announced a special scheme to encourage and reward travel during the holy month of Ramadan in Malaysia. As part of OYO’s commitment to supporting travel during this important time, it is offering gold bars to those staying in OYO properties from March 10 to April 20, 2023.

The program called “OYO Promo Ramadan” is designed to encourage individuals and families to travel during the month of Ramadan and experience the unique cultural and spiritual aspects of this time.

Travelers who book their stay with OYO Rooms will be automatically entered into a draw to win gold bars. A gold bar each will be given to the top two guests for booking their stay in OYO properties for 10 nights or more during the contest period.

To avail this discount, guests can download the OYO App, click on the red ‘Nearby’ icon to discover a valid participating hotel and complete the booking after applyign coupon code ‘OYORAMADAN’ and hitting the Book Now button. They can also resolve their queries quickly with OYO’s 24*7 chatbot – Yo! Chat.

Speaking on the special Ramadan scheme, Akshay Rathod, Country Head, OYO Malaysia said “Traveling during Ramadan can also offer a unique perspective on daily life as travelers may have the opportunity to experience a more relaxed pace of life. Many areas in Malaysia come alive with special events and festivals. There are often night markets and bazaars, where you can sample traditional foods and experience the local culture. We hope our Ramadan scheme will encourage guests to embark on a journey that is not only spiritually fulfilling but also potentially rewarding”.

There are more than 500 live and exclusive properties across 100 cities across Malaysia covered under this scheme. Major cities included in the scheme include Kuala Lumpur, Johor Bahru, Kota Kinabalu, Miri, Kuantan, Petaling Jaya, Ipoh and Klang.

OYO is also planning to support Malaysia’s ‘Visit Malaysia 2025’ program with such initiatives. With 2023 already looking to be a bumper year for tourism in Malaysia, the government is now planning for long-term growth. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim recently announced that 2025 will be the next official ‘Visit Malaysia Year’. With tourism back in full swing and international attention returning to Malaysia, the next few years leading up to Visit Malaysia 2025 are expected to open new destinations and experiences.

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

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

London-based Downtown International enters JV with ONERHT to expand Asia-Pacific presence

London-headquartered multinational real estate agency Downtown International has entered into a joint venture (JV) partnership with Singapore-based RHT AlDigi Financial Holdings, a member of ONERHT, as part of its expansion into Asia.

Downtown International is an award winning multinational real estate agency offering an extensive range of brokerage services for residential and commercial properties in downtown areas of major cities across the globe. With over 1000 agents and 150,000 real estate investors on its books, it has become a market leader in its field since its founding in 2011.

The JV partnership adds significant value and synergies to ONERHT’s ecosystem of multidisciplinary professional services, including members RHT Real Estate and SDAX. RHT Real Estate’s Singapore portfolio for its clients will now be complemented with Downtown’s portfolio of international properties.

The JV will look into tokenisation of real estate assets on SDAX. Supported by its strategic shareholders ESR, PSA and Straits Trading, SDAX is a Monetary Authority of Singapore licenced platform that serves institutional, accredited and retail investors, providing uniquely curated assets including tokenised real estate. Through the combined strengths of both partners in origination and distribution of real estate investments, the JV will be able to offer tokenised international real estate for clients.

Mr Martin Ashkuri, Group Chief Executive Officer of Downtown International, said, “This partnership represents a significant milestone as we expand our reach and capabilities in Asia with the addition of real estate tokenisation. Access to the ONERHT ecosystem of multidisciplinary firms will place Downtown International at the forefront of future real estate trends.”

“With a presence now firmly established in Asia, Downtown International will look to other major centres in the region to further develop its distribution channels. Beyond its regional headquarters in Singapore, Downtown has identified 7 additional centres in an ambitious 3-year expansion plan initiated by our Senior Management team,” he added.

The JV will capitalise on Asian Pacific investors’ sustained appetite for European real estate as well as the region’s relative optimism on growth.

Dr Han Bin, Managing Director of the JV, Downtown Realty Pte. Ltd., said, “We plan to leverage the emerging trend of cross- border capital flows and potential of tokenisation in the real estate market to create cutting edge investment solutions. We have been working closely with institutions and family offices across the region to realise initial deal flows. We believe in the potential of tokenisation to reach out to a larger pool of investors. Tokenisation will enhance the ability for diversification and risk management of portfolios and promote liquidity in the real estate sector.”

About ONERHT

ONERHT is an integrated multidisciplinary platform of professional services. Since 2011, RHTLaw Asia’s founding team aspired to develop a second engine of growth through ONERHT, an independent ecosystem of professional services, associated companies and networks, complementing RHTLaw’s full service legal offerings. Please visit www.onerht.com.

About Downtown International

Downtown International is an award winning multinational real estate agency offering an extensive range of brokerage services for residential and commercial properties within downtown areas across the globe. Downtown International specialises in the sale and marketing of off-plan residential developments and represents leading residential property developers showcasing an extensive portfolio of properties to our clients. For details, please visit www.downtowninternational.com.

About SDAX

SDAX is a regulated investment and trading platform providing multi asset securities and fund units. It fractionalises and tokenises institutional-grade real assets for trading on SDAX’s blockchain powered exchange. SDAX democratises access into the universe of securities – private funds, private equity, private credit across different industries – for the benefit of a wider investor base. For more details, please visit www.sdax.co

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