Business Traveller (Asia-Pacific)
A look at the hot new serviced apartments around the Asia-Pacific region
Choosing a serviced apartment is not easy; here are our top picks from around the region
The Asia-Pacific hotel market continues to surge forward with new openings seemingly every week. Serviced apartments offering more residential-style accommodation for long-stay travellers have similarly enjoyed a boom of their own. With such a plethora of long-stay accommodation options now open to business travellers, determining the great from the mediocre can be a difficult task. Here are 11 brand-new serviced residences across the region that add to an already heady mix.
SHAMA HONGQIAO SHANGHAI
Shama Hongqiao Shanghai in the city’s Hongqiao central business district is just a few minutes’ drive from Hongqiao International Airport, the Shanghai National Exhibition and Convention Center, and Shanghai Hongqiao Railway Station. This conveniently located property has 132 apartments, from studios to two-bedroom suites. All residences are lent a more spacious feel with high ceilings, and some come with a private balcony.
Every unit has a fully equipped kitchenette, a “Shama Slumber” bed with an extra-soft feather topper, a good degree of storage space, an all-in-one washerdryer, an LED TV, wifi and office furniture.
Shama also offers a lifestyle programme called “No Boundaries”, which provides recommendations on dining, shopping, social, entertainment, leisure, spa and volunteering options around the city, so guests can familiarise themselves with their new city as soon as possible and live more like a local. cn.shama.com/hongqiao-shanghai
THE MIDDLE HOUSE RESIDENCES
Swire Hotels’ The Middle House Residences offers 102 serviced apartments. Located on West Nanjing Road near Dazhongli, one of Shanghai’s historic neighbourhoods, the property is just a short distance from Shanghai Metro lines 2, 12 and 13.
The apartments range from 55 to 110 sqm and have modern Chinese furniture. Rising above the lobby is a spiral staircase connecting to the Mi Xun Spa and the property’s two Chinese restaurants, Sui Tang Li and Sui Tang Shang. Of course, no House property would be complete without an iteration of Swire Hotels’ Café Gray Deluxe, developed in collaboration with New York-based chef Gray Kunz. Guests at The Middle House Residences can find the restaurant on the third floor, where breakfast, lunch, dinner and cocktails on the terrace are all served. themiddlehousehotel.com
MARRIOTT EXECUTIVE APARTMENTS HANGZHOU
Hangzhou has fast become one of the major hubs for technology innovation in China, and with a location in the heart of Hangzhou Future Sci-Tech City, the newly opened Marriott Executive Apartments Hangzhou immerses visitors in the city’s booming tech scene. The Alibaba Group’s headquarters and the Hengsheng Science and Technology Park are not far away.
Combining light wood colours with white marble and ample natural light, the property feels spacious and airy. The 142 deluxe apartments range from studios to three-bedroom suites between 40 and 132 sqm, each with fully equipped kitchens. Cooking is made even easier with the property’s grocery shopping and pick-up service, along with more traditional room service. Meeting rooms, a mini theatre, 24-hour gym, indoor swimming pool, sauna and on-site parking further add to the convenience. marriott.com
ASCOTT RAFFLES CITY HANGZHOU
Ascott made its Hangzhou debut late last year with a 180-unit serviced residence that forms part of its wider Raffles City Hangzhou complex. Situated in the heart of the city’s Qianjiang New Town CBD, Ascott Raffles City Hangzhou draws inspiration for its design from the Qiantang River with the layered curves of the building simulating water ripples.
The Ascott Raffles City Hangzhou offers apartments ranging from studios to three-bedroom suites, each with a living room, dining area, fully equipped kitchen and high-quality audiovisual systems. For travellers with young children, the property has themed rooms featuring popular characters such as Peppa Pig. Other facilities include a breakfast lounge, gym, swimming pool and children’s playroom. ascottchina.com
K11 ARTUS IN HONG KONG
The 14-storey, 287-unit K11 ARTUS is scheduled to open in summer 2019. Its location on Victoria Dockside, the new creative art and design landmark on the Tsim Sha Tsui waterfront, will give panoramic views of Victoria Harbour and the Hong Kong Island skyline.
The interior design is from design team AFSO led by Hong Kong’s André Fu. Medieval elements are integrated into a series of furniture specially created for the project, giving guests the feeling of a graceful contemporary house far away from the hustle and bustle where they can find contemplation. artus.com.hk
WINSLAND SERVICED SUITES BY LANSON PLACE IN SINGAPORE
Opened in March 2018, Winsland Serviced Suites by Lanson Place in Singapore is close to Somerset MRT station and Orchard Road, with its array of shopping, dining and leisure options. The property has 109 rooms and suites decorated in soothing natural tones, with sizes ranging from 21 to 128 sqm. Each has a full kitchen and free wifi access, while some suites have a private patio.
Other facilities include a 24-hour gym, laundrette, and a specially designed Cookhouse@9 communal kitchen where guests can cook and eat meals with family and friends. There is also a tree-filled courtyard where guests can relax. The rooftop has a swimming pool, Jacuzzi and private bar and BBQ pit, which can be used for private parties. winsland.lansonplace.com
THE SEBEL WEST PERTH AIRE APARTMENTS
This joint venture between the Singapore-based real-estate and asset manager ZACD Group and Accorhotels opened in July 2018. Occupying the first four levels of the 22-storey Aire Apartments in West Perth, it has 64 one-bedroom suites. Positioned near the central business district of West Perth, it also has easy access to nearby tourist attractions like Perth Stadium and Kings Park, and it’s only 15 minutes’ drive from Perth Airport.
Despite its smaller scale, the residence is as fully equipped as a resort. Major amenities include a 24-hour gym, heated pool, fitness centre, sauna and outdoor BBQ pit. Free wifi, meeting rooms and car parking are also available. accorhotels.com
MERITON SUITES SYDNEY
Opening in January 2019, the Meriton Suites Carter Street is situated near some of Sydney’s most popular sporting landmarks, being only a short distance from the ANZStadium; Qudos Bank Arena; the Olympic Park Convention Centre and showgrounds; swimming, tennis and hockey centre and Sydney Olympic Park train station.
The property has large open-plan style suites, many offering the best views of Olympic Park and out to the Sydney Skyline. All suites also feature a fullylocated equipped kitchen, internal laundry, spacious bedrooms and living areas as well as Kevin Murphy bathroom ameneties.
The property has 153, one-, two-, three- and four-bedroom suites. The fourbedroom suites span two f loors and have access to large private rooftop terraces. All suites besides the one-bedroom have two bathrooms.
FRASER PLACE TIANJIN BINHAI
This is Frasers Hospitality’s second property in Tianjin after Fraser Place Tianjin, which opened in 2016. It is in the residential development of Beacon Hill in the Tianjin Economic-Technological Development Area (TEDA), close to TEDA MSD shopping centre, and has direct access to Tianjin’s financial district.
The property has 224 serviced apartments, from studios to two-bedroom apartments. Facilities include free highspeed wifi, 24/7 room service, an all-day dining restaurant, a lobby bar, a swimming pool and a gym. For business travellers, meeting facilities and function rooms are “readily available in many configurations”. The property also offers a free shuttle for all guests to allow them to have easy access to the property. tianjin-binhai.frasershospitality.com/en
NOVOTEL AMBASSADOR SEOUL DONGDAEMUN HOTELS & RESIDENCES IN SEOUL
Situated next to Dongdaemun Design Plaza and Dongdaemun Market, Novotel Ambassador Seoul Dongdaemun Hotels & Residences Hotel opened in July 2018. There are 331 guestrooms and 192 residences, split between studios and onebedroom suites, with a mobile concierge service platform and free smartphones for guests to use during their stay. Guests
can download the app iStay on their own devices and scan a QR code in their room to take control of the facilities remotely and request services. There is also an electric car recharging station.
Guests get high-speed wifi access, a 55-inch TV and one-touch temperature control. Restaurants and bars in the hotel include the All Day Dining Restaurant and Social 21 Roof Top Bar. Other amenities include an indoor swimming pool, fitness centre, Children’s Club and meeting rooms. accorhotels.com
OAKWOOD PREMIER PHNOM PENH AND OAKWOOD HOTEL & RESIDENCE PHNOM PENH
Oakwood is opening two properties in Phnom Penh in mid-2019. Oakwood Premier Phnom Penh and Oakwood Hotel & Residence Phnom Penh will have 220 units and 168 units, respectively. Rooms include studio, one-bedroom, twobedroom and three-bedroom apartments, as well as penthouses. Both properties are situated in One Park, a mixed-use development comprising office and retail space, medical center, international school and residential towers. Both properites have their own lounges for residents.
WATERFRONT EAST
Lanson Place is opening its second serviced apartments in Hong Kong’s Sai Wan Ho neighbourhood in February 2019. This more than 700 room property, situated on the city’s Eastern waterfront, will be five-minutes walk from Sai Wan Ho MTR station and a ten-minute walk from Quarry Bay, a major business area. Rooms range from a 408 sq ft studio to a 1,364 sq ft 3-bedroom penthouse with pool.
Services include kitchenette with Siemens applicances, Apple TV and Bose bluetooth soundlink, as well as a Nespresso coffee machine. Select apartments also have a wine cellar.
Additional fee services include hiring a personal trainer, taking wellness classes or hiring a limousine.