Ground Zero at Ovolo Hotels ' Mojo Nomad concept in Hong Kong
A luxury offering from Hyatt Hotels Corp .' s residential rental brand , Oasis
market saturation , says Lisa Holladay , global brand leader for Ritz-Carlton . “ Yachts are essentially floating , re-deployable resorts .”
With all the market upheavals , hotels are scrambling to expand their brands and spur growth . Others are diversifying into co-working , co-living businesses , excursions and more education-related concepts . Will all the moves into adjacent spaces stick ? “ The next downturn will reveal the weak links and shake them out ,” says Suzanne Mellen , senior managing director for HVS in San Francisco . — J . C .
The digital nomads , a new breed of roaming traveler and gig economy worker who views the world as their oyster , is generating a new opportunity for developers — hotel hybrids with co-living and co-working spaces available for short- and long-term stays . Expect more developers and brands to join the fray . Among the innovators is Ovolo Hotels , whose
Mojo Nomad concept in Hong Kong opened late last year in a refurbished conventional hotel property and offers beds for as little as US $ 30 a night . Guests can buy a drink at the bar and cook a meal in the communal kitchen . Most important , they can set up in the co-working space and mingle with peers .
“ We saw a gap in the market — a need for accommodations that blended affordability , functionality and design ,’’ says Tim Alpe , COO of Hong Kong-based Ovolo . “ People say they had their best time in college . There ’ s no reason that has to finish .” The company plans to launch a second Hong Kong location this year and is eyeing development in Australia , Southeast Asia and China .
Singpore-based serviced-apartment operator Ascott is launching its co-living , co-working format , Lyf . It secured five properties
SERVINGnomads
in China , Singapore and the Philippines and plans to open its first Lyf hotel in Shenzhen , China , this year . Ascott is planning 50 Lyf properties with 10,000 rooms by 2020 , and is eyeing European markets such as France and the U . K ., according to Mindy Teo , vice president for brand and marketing and digital innovation .
Each property will include communal spaces that can be used for workshops or social gatherings . Laundromats and kitchens are expected to become social hubs . A survey of Ascott ’ s millennial targets showed that although guests are willing to share social spaces such as the kitchen , they prefer private bathrooms — so all the apartment units are designed with ensuite bathroom .
In Austria , Vienna House is introducing Vienna House Revo , which brings together guest rooms , studios , friends and family rooms with modern design and laid-back common areas . The first project will open in Munich , followed by Bangkok and Hamburg . Construction is scheduled to begin this year with an aim to conclude up to three projects a year .
The on-site Revo team coordinates deliveries and helps guests stock their fridge cooperating with local suppliers and offers e-bikes , e-car sharing and vehicle charging stations .
And in New York City , The Assemblage provides co-working , co-living and social spaces for individuals seeking connections . Two of the three city locations are open , with a co-working space set to open on Park Avenue South . The Assemblage was founded by Rodrigo Niño , CEO of Prodigy Network , which has raised US $ 165 million via crowdfunding .— J . W .
June 2018 hotelsmag . com 25