Ascott to increase profile in North American market through marketing partnership and appointment of sales representative
Singapore, 30 January 2013 - The Ascott Limited (Ascott), the world’s largest international serviced residence owner-operator, is further enhancing its profile in the North American market through the formation of a marketing partnership with AKA, a luxury brand of serviced residences. Ascott has also appointed the established Serviced Apartments Worldwide (SAW) as its sales representative in the United States (U.S.).
Under the marketing partnership, AKA, which provides luxury furnished suites in prime metropolitan locations in the U.S., will refer its customers to Ascott when they travel out of America. Similarly, Ascott will recommend its U.S. bound customers to stay at AKA’s properties. The partnership will widen Ascott’s global reach to about 80 cities across the U.S., Europe, Asia Pacific and the Gulf region.
In a recent report by the Global Business Travel Association (GBTA), U.S. business travel spending is expected to rise by about 5% year-on-year in 2013 to more than US$260 billion. For 2014, GBTA forecast total U.S. business travel spending to increase by over 7%.
"As more individuals are looking for flexible, long-stay living options, the demand for luxury serviced residences has increased worldwide. Partnering with Ascott was a natural fit for AKA since both brands have similar offerings and a deep understanding of the long-stay
Sir Richard Rowley, Owner of SAW, said: “We are delighted to partner with Ascott as their exclusive sales representative in North America to promote their global industry-leading serviced residences. We look forward to working closely with international mobility and corporate travel networks to provide the best lodging solution for relocation and business travel needs. With Ascott’s global network and three distinct brands of serviced residences, this partnership will offer our customers more choices in selecting their ideal home away from home wherever they travel to.”
Singapore-based Ascott pioneered Asia Pacific's first international-class serviced residence with the opening of The Ascott Singapore in 1984. It currently has more than 31,000 apartment units in over 200 serviced residences worldwide.
Ascott’s three brands of serviced residences cater to the different lifestyle needs of expatriates and