George Sell

Citadines opens Strasbourg property

France: Citadines Eurometropole Strasbourg has opened its doors in the Alsatian capital of Strasbourg.

Reside Worldwide strengthens EMEA team

UK: Reside Worldwide has appointed Jessica Sharpe as director of sales for the EMEA region.

The industry gathers once again at the 2021 Serviced Apartment Awards

UK: The winners of the sixth annual Serviced Apartment Awards celebrated in London last night, at a gala dinner presentation at the Chelsea Harbour Hotel.

Sandpiper adds Texas properties

US: Sandpiper Hospitality has been selected to manage four properties currently under development in Texas that will join the Wyndham Hotels & Resorts portfolio.

The Collective administration confirmed

UK: Coliving operator The Collective has appointed FTI Consulting as its administrators after failing to achieve a sale of the business.

Common signs five London properties

UK: US coliving operator has signed five London properties across a mix of coliving and BTR use classes.

Hilton teams up with pet care specialist for extended stay properties

US: Hilton and Mars Petcare, the world’s largest pet care company, are teaming up "to set a new standard for pet-friendly travel".

Charles Hope adds Kew apartments

UK: Charles Hope has added a new location in south-west London to its portfolio.

Construction starts at The Student Hotel in Glasgow

UK: The Student Hotel (TSH) has held a ground-breaking event at the site if its 500-key project at Candleriggs Square, Glasgow.

Barings acquires Manchester BTR scheme

UK: Barings has acquired The Trilogy, a BTR scheme in Manchester, for £53.5 million.

The Collective on verge of administration

UK: Coliving pioneer The Collective looks set to enter adminstration, after efforts to find a buyer for the company proved unsuccessful.

Mansley increases sustainability efforts

UK: Mansley Serviced Apartments says it is embracing the challenges of becoming a more sustainable and eco-friendly business.

Lamington sets zero carbon goal

UK: Lamington Group has set itself the goal of delivering whole life net zero carbon across the future development and operation of its room2 hometel properties.

Home2 Suites hits the 500 mark

US: Extended stay brand Home2 Suites by Hilton has opened its 500th property.

YAYS unveils rebranding

Netherlands: Aparthotel and serviced apartment operator YAYS has undergone a rebranding, with a revamped logo, new colour palette, renamed properties and more.

National appoints Sampson to leadership team

US: National Corporate Housing has appointed Tina Sampson to the role of senior VP of sales & marketing.

Unite secures £450 million credit facility

UK: Unite Students has signed a £450 million sustainability-linked unsecured revolving credit facility from HSBC, NatWest and Royal Bank of Canada.

Ascott Residence Trust acquires Texas PBSA asset

US: Ascott Residence Trust (ART) will acquire a freehold 1,005-bed student accommodation asset in Texas, USA for US$70.0 million, its third PBSA investment within seven months.

Ascott takes full ownership of Quest

Australia: The Ascott Ltd has secured full ownership of Quest Apartment Hotels after acquiring founder Paul Constantinou’s remaining 20 per cent stake for an undisclosed sum.

Brera selects IDeaS to optimise cluster revenue management approach

Germany: Serviced apartment provider Brera will implement IDeaS G3 RMS in six of its locations.

Leeds department store set for PBSA conversion

UK: Investment manager Orchard Street has received planning consent to convert the former Debenhams department store in Leeds into a PBSA-led mixed-use scheme.

Synergy appoints Land to bizdev role

UK: Synergy Global Housing has appointed Jessica Land as global business development manager for EMEA.

Blackstone acquires $5 billion smart access provider

US: The Chamberlain Group, a global provider of smart access solutions, has been acquired by private equity funds managed by Blackstone.

The Other House appoints Drake as GM

UK: London-based aparthotel brand The Other House has appointed seasoned hotelier Simon Drake as general manager.

SilverDoor parent buys The Apartment Service

UK: Habicus Group, the parent company of serviced apartment agent SilverDoor, has completed the acquisition of The Apartment Service for an undisclosed sum.

Gem Hotels buys £70 million central London serviced apartments

UK: Gem Hotels has acquired Wardrobe Court in central London from British Land in a sales process run exclusively by CBRE.

E&O opens London aparthotel

UK: Malaysian developer and hotelier Eastern and Oriental (E&O) has officially opened a 54-key aparthotel in London.

Staybridge Suites makes Welsh debut

UK: Staybridge Suites Cardiff, the extended stay flag's eighth property in the UK, has opened on the East Dock in the city’s Atlantic Wharf district.

Blackstone and KSL to fund edyn expansion

UK: edyn has secured a £195 million debt facility with Blackstone and KSL to fund five projects across Europe.

Choice to open Saudi extended stay hotels

KSA: Choice Hotels will open extended stay properties in Jeddah and Riyadh later this year.

Dublin coliving scheme secures planning consent

Ireland: A planning application for a 378-bed coliving scheme in Dublin, which was submitted before a ban on such projects was introduced, has been approved.

Hampshire aparthotel and wedding venue to reopen

UK: Coldeast Mansion in Sarisbury Green, Hampshire is to reopen after being bought out of administration.

edyn to convert hotel for first Cove property in mainland Europe

Netherlands: edyn has acquired a 118-unit hotel in The Hague, which it will convert in to a Cove-branded serviced apartment property.

Aparthotel plans submitted for Sheffield listed building

UK: Pinebridge Estates has submitted full planning and listed applications for two separate schemes for a Grade II listed building in Sheffield city centre.

Mapletree to buy UK PBSA assets

UK: Singaporean investor Mapletree Investments his set to purchase four Vita Student residences from Vita Group for more than £165 million.

Aimbridge and Three Wall bolster extended stay partnership

US: Management company Aimbridge Hospitality has added four extended stay properties owned by Three Wall Capital to its portfolio.

HSF provides construction loan for Colorado extended stay hotel

US: HALL Structured Finance (HSF) has provided a $55.6 million loan for the construction of the Marriott International SpringHill Suites Hotel and Element by Westin Hotel in downtown Colorado Springs.

Serviced Apartments Platform AG acquires Acomodeo

Switzerland/Germany: Zurich-based Serviced Apartments Platform AG, which has invested in Acomodeo since 2020, has completed the total acquisition of the online booking platform.

Limbert takes president role at Red Roof

US: Economy and extended stay hotel operator Red Roof has named George Limbert as president of the company effective immediately.

Bath mixed-use scheme gets the go ahead

UK: Watkin Jones has received resolution to grant planning permission for a 600-unit mixed-use BTR and PBSA scheme in Bath.

Detroit's Book Tower to feature extended stay hotel

US: The Book Tower, one of the most iconic buildings in Downtown Detroit is being redeveloped to include the city’s first extended stay hotel.

Liverpool aparthotel set for green light

UK: Liverpool City Council is expected to approve the conversion of 62 Duke Street into a 25-unit aparthotel.

The Residence adds west London apartments to its portfolio

UK: London serviced apartment operator The Residence has added The Residence @ Kensington to its portfolio.

Lloyds Bank aiming to become UK's biggest BTR player

UK: Lloyds Banking Group's new BTR division, Citra Living, has plans to become the biggest BTR landlord in the UK.

Sandpiper adds Texas and Colorado properties

US: Sandpiper Hospitality has continued its recent acquisition activity in the extended stay space with the addition of two new Savannah Suites hotels, one in Arvada, Colorado and one in Pleasanton, Texas.

The Gresham confirms restaurant operator

UK: The Gresham Aparthotel in Leicester, which is due to open later this year, has appointed the operator of its central bar and restaurant.

Homelike strengthens team to support growth

UK: Homelike, an online platform for mid- to long-stay accommodation, has expanded its team in response growing demand for mid-term rentals.

EMEA corporate travel doubles in three months

UK: The number of corporate travellers in EMEA has almost doubled quarter-on-quarter, according to the latest research from travel management company FCM.

Residence Inn to make Turkish debut next month

Turkey: Marriott will open its first Residence Inn extended hotel in Turkey next month with the debut of the Residence Inn by Marriott Istanbul Atasehir.

Greystar eyes Fizzy Living acquisition

UK: Private equity firm Greystar Real Estate Partners is in talks to buy London BTR specialist Fizzy Living, according to Bloomberg.

CAP Worldwide appoints Rurode to Americas team

US: CAP Worldwide Serviced Apartments has appointed Laura Rurode to the its global senior leadership team.

Chatham adds to board of trustees

US: Chatham Lodging Trust (CLT), a lodging real estate investment trust (REIT) in the extended stay space, has appointed Ethel Isaacs Williams and David J. Grissen to the company's board of trustees.

Corporate Keys acquires Southbank Apartments

Australia: Corporate Keys, one of Australia’s biggest provider of corporate furnished housing, has acquired the Southbank Apartments brand.

Staybridge Suites opens Dubai property

UAE: Staybridge Suites Dubai Internet City has opened on Sheikh Zayed Road.

Expo boosts Dubai serviced apartment rates

UAE: Serviced apartment rates in Dubai have risen sharply, driven by overseas visitors, expats and UAE residents ahead of Expo 2020.

KSL enters extended stay sector

US: Private equity firm KSL Capital Partners has launched Mission Hill Hospitality, a portfolio company created to acquire select service and extended stay hotels.

Red Roof unveils new HomeTowne Studios prototype

US: Red Roof unveiled a new prototype for its HomeTowne Studios (HTS) by Red Roof extended stay brand at the 2021 AAHOACON conference of hotel franchisees.

Chatham Lodging Trust acquires two Texas extended stay hotels

US: Chatham Lodging Trust has acquired two branded extended stay hotels comprising 269 rooms at the Domain mixed-use development in Austin, Texas.

DoubleTree-branded serviced apartments announced for Bahrain

Bahrain: Hilton's DoubleTree brand will make its debut in Bahrain with 113 serviced apartments.

Southern Grove plans east London PBSA project

UK: Southern Grove has revealed plans for a £55 million mixed-use student PBSA project in Hackney Wick.

Long Harbour to form £1.5 billion BTR JV

UK: Real estate investor and developer Long Harbour is to create a £1.5 billion BTR platform with JV partners PSP Investments and Cadillac Fairview.

Colombia's first Residence Inn opens for business

Colombia: The 131-key Residence Inn by Marriott Bogota is the extended stay brand's first property in the country.

Hyatt House to make African debut

South Africa: Hyatt House Johannesburg Sandton will be the first property for Hyatt’s extended stay brand in Africa.

Historic Glasgow buildings set for serviced apartment conversion

UK: Plans have been submitted for the conversion of the upper floors of three historic buildings in Glasgow city centre into 74 serviced apartments.

Goodstone secures Birmingham site for BTR debut

UK: Macquarie Asset Management’s BTR arm Goodstone Living has acquired a site in Birmingham to deliver 500 BTR homes.

Radisson adds Moroccan residences

Morocco: Radisson Hotel Group has opened four new hotels join Morocco, including a Radisson Blu Residences at Al Hoceima.

QIP completes fund raise for Chicago coliving project

US: Q Investment Partners (QIP), a Singapore-based private equity real estate firm, has completed an equity funding round for the development of a US$100 million coliving project in Chicago.

Oakwood signs partnership with Indian developer

India: Oakwood has signed a strategic partnership with Sensation Group to operate properties in Hyderabad and Bangalore.

Plans submitted for Manchester hotel and aparthotel

UK: Plans have been submitted for a 154-bedroom hotel and an 88-bedroom aparthotel on the edge of Pomona Island in Manchester.

Union Investment acquires €60 million London aparthotel

UK: German fund manager Union Investment has acquired a Wilde by Staycity aparthotel which is currently under construction on London's Commercial Road.

Gold Tree Hospitality sets ambitious global growth targets

UK: Gold Tree Hospitality (GTH) has announced plans to aims to open more than 10,000 aparthotel rooms and operate more than 3,000 serviced apartments.

Home2 Suites to add more than 10,000 keys

US: Hilton's extended-stay brand Home2 Suites has a pipeline of 70 properties across North America and APAC.

Ascott records 40 per cent year-on-year unit growth

Singapore: Ascott has signed more than 8,300 units across 30+ properties in the first seven months of 2021, achieving over 40 per cent year-on-year growth compared to the same period in 2020.

Mondrian Residences' Australian debut breaks sales records

Australia: Mondrian Residences Gold Coast, the first Mondrian Residences outside of North America, has broken sales records after developers Vitale Property Group sold more than AUD$231 million worth of apartments in six months.

Major London mixed-use scheme set to include aparthotel

UK: Developer Groveworld secured a resolution to grant planning permission from Camden Council to create new homes, office space and an aparthotel at 330 Gray’s Inn Road – the former home of the Royal Throat, Nose and Ear Hospital.

Former newspaper offices set for aparthotel conversion

UK: The former Plymouth city centre home of the Western Morning News and The Herald newspapers could become an aparthotel if a new panning application is successful.

Hull hotel seeks serviced apartment extension

UK: Plans have been lodged for a serviced apartment extension to the Cornmill Hotel in Hull.

The Residence Apartments partners with Laundryheap

UK: On-demand dry cleaning and laundry platform Laundryheap has launched a new partnership with London operator The Residence Apartments.

Citystay to operate and convert Cambridge hotel

UK: The Citystay Group will take over management of the Regent Hotel in Cambridge, and will convert it in to an aparthotel.

Optimism on the up among UK operators

UK: Optimism in the UK serviced apartment sector is at its highest since the Covid-19 pandemic broke out, according to the latest ASAP/Savills sentiment survey.

edyn acquires Canary Wharf apartments in £62 million deal

UK: edyn has agreed the acquisition of a 162-key serviced apartment asset in Landmark Pinnacle, Canary Wharf – the tallest residential building in Europe.

Work starts on Best Western hotel with extended stay element

Canada: Construction has started on a $20 million Best Western Plus in St. Stephen, New Brunswick.

White City mixed-use scheme gets the go ahead

UK: Work is set to start this month on a £150 million mixed-use scheme in west London.

Oakwood appoints Lindt to head up development in Europe

UK/Singapore: Oakwood has appointed Marcel Lindt as vice president of development, Oakwood, Europe.

Ascott launches single booking platform for all its brands

Singapore: The Ascott Limited has launched discoverasr.com, unifying its separate brand websites on a single global online travel booking platform.

Dorsett to debut aparthotel brand in London

UK/Hong Kong: Dorsett Hotels & resorts has launched an aparthotel brand called Dao by Dorsett.

John Lewis to build 10,000 rental homes

UK: Retailer John Lewis has announced plans to build 10,000 BTR homes over the next few years.

Aparthotel plans lodged with Glasgow council

UK: Plans for an aparthotel on the site of the former Greaves store on Glasgow’s Sauchiehall Street have been lodged with councillors.

ISAAP acquired by GSA

UK: The International Serviced Accommodation Accreditation Process (ISAAP) has been acquired by Global Secure Accreditation (GSA).

Singapore serviced apartments placed on the market

Singapore: The Metropolitan YMCA Residences on Stevens Road are for sale for SGD$57 million (£30 million).

Cambridge aparthotel is city's first Curio Collection property

UK: The Fellows House Cambridge, a 131-room aparthotel, has opened for business.

Adagio launches coliving concept for larger groups

France: Aparthotel brand Adagio has launched a new concept designed to accommodate larger groups travelling together.

Aware Super and APG renew partnership for Spanish BTR venture

Spain: Aware Super has agreed to buy an interest close to 50 per cent in Spanish multifamily platform Vivenio Residencial Socimi for around €400 million.

Minor to bring Avani and Oaks brands to China via JV

China: Minor Hotels has formed a JV with Funyard Hotels & Resorts that will oversee development, operations, and sales and marketing of seven Minor Hotels brands in China.

ESA launches Premium Suites brand with 25 properties

US: Extended Stay America has assigned 25 "new or completely renovated" properties to its new higher price point brand.

edyn launches Cove serviced apartment brand

UK: edyn has launched the Cove serviced apartment brand, and will open the first Cove-branded property in Liverpool.

JV to develop PBSA scheme in Portugal

Portugal: Student and coliving group BigCity and Reditum Capital have agreed joint venture funding for the development of a PBSA project in Porto.

SMARTments selects IDeaS for revenue management software

Germany: SMARTments business, the aparthotel brand of developer GBI, has selected IDeaS G3 Revenue Management System (RMS) to deliver automated, dynamic pricing and forecasting across its growing portfolio.

Condor to sell off extended stay properties

US: Hotel-focused real estate investment trust Condor Hospitality Trust is looking to sell a portfolio of 15 select service and extended stay hotels.

ESA acquisition financed by mega-loan

US: Blackstone and Starwood Capital have part funded their acquisition of Extended Stay America with a $4.65 billion loan.

"Optimism has given way to action" over business travel says GBTA

Worldwide: More than 40 per cent of member companies surveyed this month by the Global Business Travel Association have restarted non-essential domestic business travel or have set a date for restarting.

Dublin aparthotel denied planning consent

Ireland: Developer Esprit Investments has been denied planning permission for a 124- key aparthotel in south Dublin.

The Collective appoints bank to explore sale options

UK: Coliving developer and operator The Collective is considering a full or partial sale of the business.

Council approves plans to transform South Shields listed building into aparthotel

UK: After a fire damaged historic Victoria Hall in South Shields in late May, plans have surfaced to transform the historic hall into an aparthotel.

New October date for Urban Living Festival

UK: International Hospitality Media has confirmed that the Urban Living Festival: stay • live • work – will now take place on October 26 – 27 2021 at Tobacco Dock in London, following the announcements from the UK government on Monday.

Hospitality leaders react to UK roadmap delay

UK: British Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced yesterday there will be a four week delay in England’s roadmap to recovery.

Wyndham rolls out dual branded concept

US: Wyndham says its new La Quinta and Hawthorn Suites extended-stay/dual-brand concept has seen "great growth momentum".

Extended Stay America sale gets the green light

US: Blackstone and Starwood Capital Group’s $6.3 billion acquisition of Extended Stay America has been approved by shareholders.

Accor signs first Mercure Living for Malaysia

Malaysia: Accor has signed the 299-key Mercure Living Putrajaya, marking a debut for the extended stay brand in Malaysia.

Common to take over Starcity's coliving portfolio

US: New York-based Common has reached an agreement with Starcity to take over management of the majority of Starcity’s portfolio.

Serviced Apartment Awards to honour industry heroes

UK: The 2021 Serviced Apartment Awards features a special category which honours industry heroes - those who have stepped up to the plate over the last 15 months, going beyond the call of duty to support their colleagues, their guests and the wider industry.

Staycity to operate Heidelberg aparthotel

Germany: Commerz Real has appointed Staycity Group to operate an aparthotel at Speyerer Strasse 9 in Heidelberg, which is part of the hausInvest portfolio.

Supercity signs York aparthotel

UK: Supercity Aparthotels has secured a new site in York which will open in 2023,

Ascott Residence Trust sells Shanghai serviced apartments

China: Singapore-listed Ascott Residence Trust (ART) has sold Somerset Xu Hui Shanghai to Shanghai-based fund manager Jiecheng Capital.

ESA suitors raise their offer ahead of shareholder vote

US: Blackstone Real Estate Partners and Starwood Capital Group have increased their offer to purchase Extended Stay America to $20.50 per share, $1 per share more than their initial offer.

Serviced Apartment Awards 2021 shortlist revealed

UK: The shortlisted entries for the 2021 Serviced Apartment Awards have been announced, in advance of the awards ceremony on June 24th in London.

Kitt raises £3.6 million in seed funding

UK: Workspace provider Kitt has raised $5 million (£3.6 million) in seed funding, taking its total amount raised to $7.5 million.

Oakwood adds Thai and Chinese properties

Singapore: Oakwood has signed a management agreement for a new property in Bangkok and opened a property outside Hangzhou.

SilverDoor strengthens business development team as APAC rebounds

Singapore: SilverDoor has appointed Gary Yen as business development manager for its APAC headquarters in Singapore.

WINK Aparthotels to manage Stellenbosch apartments

South Africa: WINK Aparthotels will take over management of Quivertree Stellenbosch on August 1st.

Birmingham aparthotel gets conditional planning consent

UK: Plans to convert vacant offices above the 02 Academy in Birmingham into an aparthotel have received planning consent.

The Ascott launches travel health and security services

Singapore: Ascott says it is the first hospitality company to offer its guests global access to a comprehensive suite of telehealth, telecounselling and travel security advisory services.

Drone fly-through shows progress on Leicester aparthotel

UK: Developer Aimrok Holdings has released a drone fly-through of its aparthotel project The Gresham in Leicester.

Ascott to add 6,000 units in MEA by 2025

UAE: Ascott plans to grow its Middle East, Africa and Turkey region by more than 1800 units by the end of 2022, and 6,000 units by 2025.

ESA director nominees go public against proposed $6 billion sale

US: Three directors who have been nominated to the board at Extended Stay America Inc by said on Tuesday that a proposed sale undervalues the company and they can help create value as board members if the company remains independent.

Accor signs first Novotel Living hotel in Eastern Europe

Romania: Accor has signed a management agreement with ASIC, a joint-venture between developer Ion Catutoiu, and Andrei Stanciu, CEO of construction company Somet Group, for a Novotel Living hotel.

edyn partners with SiteMinder

UK: edyn Group has partnered with SiteMinder to help fuel its pan-European growth plans.

Frasers to open seven Chinese properties over next four years

China: Frasers Hospitality is set to continue on its "steady growth course" in key Chinese gateway cities.

Delaware extended stay hotel changes hands

US: Savills has represented Bethany Boardwalk Group and Bethany Beach Ocean Inn, in the sale of the 112-room Bethany Beach Ocean Suites Residence Inn.

WeWork losses hit $2 billion in Q1

US: WeWork’s losses almost quadrupled to $2.1 billion in Q1 2021, as it continued to lose members and restructured its property portfolio.

Northwood and PLATFORM_ form BTR JV

UK: BTR developer and operator PLATFORM_ has formed a JV with Northwood Investors to deliver projects across the UK.

Quest signs lease for Collingwood aparthotel

Australia: Quest Apartment Hotels has signed an 83-room aparthotel in the Melbourne suburb of Collingwood, with construction scheduled to start in July 2021.

Hilco to sell Indiana Towneplace Suites property

US: Hilco Real Estate LLC announces the bid deadline of June 16 for a three-storey, 88-key TownePlace Suites by Marriott in Vincennes, Indiana.

Adina to open Geneva aparthotel

Switzerland: TFE Hotels will make its Swiss debut with a 140-key aparthotel within a major new mixed-use development in Geneva.

WINK Aparthotels acquired by Afrirent Holdings

South Africa: Cape Town-based WINK Aparthotels has been acquired by Afrirent Holdings (Pty) Ltd, a 100 per cent black, female-owned company, via its subsidiary Indalo Hotels and Leisure.

Globalia to build four aparthotels in Dominican Republic

Caribbean: The CEO and founder of Grupo Globalia, Juan José (Pepe) Hidalgo, has revealed plans to build four aparthotels in the Dominican Republic.

Fighting Talk

Official statements regarding financial matters from big hospitality companies, particularly US organisations, are usually dense and dry affairs, packed with more acronyms than an episode of Line of Duty and often impenetrable reams of figures.

x+why adds two London locations

UK: Flexible workspace provider x+why has added two London locations, in Bloomsbury and Spitalfields.

Apache Capital launches £1.6 billion single-family rental initiative

UK: Apache Capital has launched Present Made, described as the UK's first branded, purpose-built single-family build-to-rent platform.

Central London hotel with serviced apartment planning permission comes to market

UK: A Grade II listed vacant hotel in central London with planning consent for a change of use to residential or serviced apartments has been bought to market with a guide price of £29.5 million.

Adagio opens second Premium property in Dubai

UAE: Accor's aparthotel brand Adagio has opened its second Premium property in Dubai.

ESA comes out fighting against shareholder sale objections

US: Extended Stay America has written to shareholders, addressing what it calls "misleading and highly flawed arguments" against the sale of the company.

Vonder launches brace of Dubai coliving properties

UAE: Vonder is expanding its international portfolio with the launch of two new projects in Dubai.

SOL Properties launches Dubai serviced apartment offer

UAE: SOL Properties has launched its SOL Living dedicated short-term serviced apartment offer.

Glasgow serviced apartments get the go ahead

UK: Glasgow councillors have been recommended to approve plans to demolish a former pub in the city centre to build 18 serviced apartments.

Choice upbeat on extended stay performance

US: Choice Hotels has reported continued strong performance from its extended stay brands in its Q1 earnings report

Voting is open for the Industry Inspiration and Rising Star categories at the 2021 Serviced Apartment Awards

UK: Two of the prizes in the 2021 Serviced Apartment Awards will once again be decided by you, the Serviced Apartment News readers.

Hyatt House opens California property

US: A 118-key Hyatt House extended stay hotel has opened in Davis, California.

Brace of senior leadership appointments for Quest

Australia: Quest Apartment Hotels has appointed Dennis Tuan-Mu as general counsel and Kamal Atal as chief financial and commercial officer.

BTR resident sentiment improves despite pandemic

UK: A new report has found that overall ratings for BTR properties were slightly higher in 2020 than in 2019 despite the difficulties caused by Covid-19.

OakNorth funds Lancashire aparthotel

UK: OakNorth Bank has provided a £1.7 million loan to the HY Hotel in Lancashire.

The Collective appoints Koster as CEO

UK: Coliving developer and operator The Collective has appointed Simon Koster as CEO, with founder Reza merchant taking the role of chairman.

Chinese brand base launches four serviced apartment projects

China: Serviced apartment brand base has launched three new properties in Shanghai and its first location in Beijing.

Hines and Blue Noble expand Italian serviced apartment JV

Italy: Real estate investors Hines and Blue Noble have expanded their joint venture relationship in Italy with a €70 million investment in a Milan serviced apartment project.

Aparthotel brand to launch with two London properties

UK: The Other House will launch with London properties in South Kensington and Covent Garden.

ESA reveals Q1 results ahead of June vote

US: Extended Stay America has announced a 2.5 per cent year-on-yer decline in revenue in its consolidated results for Q1 2021.

Q Apartments adds three Soho properties

UK: Q Apartments has continued its expansion with the launch of three properties in London's West End.

Prime Hospitality to manage 10th of Ramadan City apartments

Egypt: Prime Hospitality Management Group (PHMG) has been appointed to operate new serviced units owned by Tredco El Sayad Company, an affiliate of El Sayad Group.

Location Ventures buys $20 million site for Miami project

US: Location ventures is planning a coliving and coworking development with a GDV of $56 million on a Miami site it has acquired for $20 million.

Riverstone eyes £500 million new schemes

UK: Senior living developer Riverstone is in talks to secure new projects worth £500 million.

Flying Butler appoints head of sales

UK: Flying Butler Apartments has appointed Daniel Ayers as head of sales.

Cycas opens two extended stay hotels in a day

Netherlands/Belgium: Cycas Hospitality has opened two extended stay properties in two neighbouring Benelux countries with two global hotel groups, on the same day.

Frasers partners with mental health campaign The Burnt Chef Project

UK: Frasers Hospitality and its boutique hotel brands Malmaison and Hotel du Vin are partnering with The Burnt Chef Project, a non-profit campaign committed to removing the stigma and raising awareness of mental health issues within the hospitality industry.

VISIONAPARTMENTS to open Basel property

Switzerland: VISIONAPARTMENTS has launched a development of 127 studios in Basel.

Unite and GIC extend JV term

UK: Unite Students has extended its joint venture with Singapore sovereign wealth fund GIC to September 2032.

Q Apartments adds London units

UK: Q Apartments has launched the latest addition to its UK apartment portfolio - Cambric by Q Apartments, in Aldgate, London.

Home2 Suites has largest US pipeline of any hotel flag

US: Hilton's extended stay brand Home2 Suites has 39,243 rooms in its US pipeline, the largest of any flag in the country.

Siemens and Acomodeo step up collaboration

Germany: Acomodeo and Siemens are rolling out their partnership on a global basis.

Historic Glasgow building with serviced apartment consent up for sale

UK: The Teachers Building on Glasgow's St Enoch Square is for sale with a guide Bruce of £1.35 million.

Cheval to extend Edinburgh property

UK: Cheval Collection is to add an extension to its Cheval Old Town Chambers property.

Homelike sees increasing demand for mid-term stays

UK: Rental platform HomeLike has reported increased demand for mid-term property rental as travel restrictions are lifted and temporary accommodation is sought for relocation and work purposes.

Serviced Apartment Awards entry period extended until May 10

UK: The entry period for the sixth annual Serviced Apartment Awards has been extended until May 10th.

CitySuites revamps website ahead of second Manchester opening

UK: CitySuites has launched a new website ahead of opening a second aparthotel in Manchester city centre this summer.

Plans submitted for Birmingham hotel and aparthotel

UK: Plans have been submitted for the proposed demolition of two office blocks in Digbeth to make way for a new hotel and aparthotel.

Cycas Hospitality appoints Pratap as managing director

Netherlands: Cycas Hospitality has appointed Apurva Pratap to the newly created role of managing director.

IWG reports "unprecedented demand" for flexible workspace

UK: Workspace provider IWG recorded a double-digit drop in open centre revenue in the Q1 2021, but experienced “unprecedented demand” for its flexible work products.

Talking Business: Erskine Berry of City Relay and Steve Dow of res:harmonics

The commercial leaders of property manager City Relay and PMS provider res:harmonics, Erskine Berry and Steve Dow, talk to SAN about their new partnership bringing end-to-end automation to property management.

ESA shareholder vote set for June 8

US: Extended Stay America set June 8 as the date for a shareholder vote on its $6 billion acquisition by a 50/50 joint venture between Blackstone Real Estate Partners and Starwood Capital Group.

Grosvenor appoints edyn for former BridgeStreet apartments in Liverpool

UK: edyn has signed a lease for Grosvenor’s 60,000 square foot serviced apartment development at the 10-storey 39 Paradise Street building in Liverpool.

Serviced apartments to be built on fire-damaged hotel site

UK: A development of residential and serviced apartments could be built on the site of Weston-super-Mare’s former Royal Pier Hotel.

Montagnier appointed GM at The Gresham

UK: Eloic Montagnier has been appointed general manager of The Gresham Aparthotel in Leicester which is due to launch later this year.

Zoku Vienna to open in June

Austria: Zoku has announced the opening date of its latest property and launched a subscription service.

Bristol aparthotel plans scrapped in favour of social housing

UK: Plans to build an aparthotel as part of the redevelopment Bristol's historic Soapworks have been dropped for more affordable homes.

Homewood Suites gets a brand makeover

US: Hilton has unveiled a brand refresh for its Homewood Suites extended stay brand.

Vonder to open two more London properties

UK: Coliving brand Vonder will open properties in Earls Court and Paddington, in May and July respectively.

ADOOR promotes O'Connor to general manager

Ireland: Dublin serviced apartment operator ADOOR has promoted Edwina O’Connor to general manager.

AKA launches Access AKA club offer

US: AKA has launched a club for users of its three New York City properties.

Flying Butler launches Reading building following £800,000 refurbishment

UK: Flying Butler Apartments has launched its Reading Central apartment building in, following an extensive refurbishment project.

RESIDE partners with Homelike

US: RESIDE Worldwide has partnered with Homelike to add more than 70,000 units in Europe to its aggregator platform 3SIXTY.

Katten's Scott dies after illness battle

UK: Diane Scott, senior hotel consultant at law firm Katten Muchin Rosenman and founder of the Serviced Apartment Networking Group (SANG) has died after a lengthy battle with illness.

Residence Inn opens in Sedona

US: A 90-suite Residence Inn by Marriott hotel in Sedona, Arizona has opened for business.

Quick Q&A: Cyril Vaussard, Tulip Residences

SAN catches up with Cyril Vaussard, managing director of Louvre Hotels Group's new aparthotel brand Tulip Residences.

HoCoSo launches Hospitality Resilience Study

Worldwide: Hospitality leaders are invited to take part in an online study to understand the factors that contribute to personal resilience in the industry and identify key resilience indicators.

Cycas signs E&O's first European serviced apartments

UK: Cycas Hospitality has signed a deal with Eastern & Oriental (E&O) to manage the group’s inaugural European serviced apartment property; a 54-room property in London.

Oakwood to open four properties in China by year end

China: Oakwood has confirmed plans to open four new properties in China by December 2021 with more signings expected to be announced in the coming months.

Two ESA directors are against $ 6 billion sale to Starwood Capital and Blackstone

US: Two directors of Extended Stay America's real estate trust board are against the company's proposed sale, according to an SEC filing.

£2 billion investment boost for RVG

UK: Retirement Villages Group (RVG) has secured a £2 billion investment to drive the development of more than 40 new sites across the UK.

Moda strengthens team ahead of development push

UK: BTR developer and operator Moda Living has made 13 appointments in the last month to support its growth.

ASAP acquires Netherlands chapter

Netherlands: The Association of Serviced Apartment Providers (ASAP) has acquired ASAP NL.

SilverDoor partners with TRIPBAM

UK: SilverDoor has partnered with TRIPBAM, a provider of hotel benchmarking, analytics and contract auditing capabilities to the corporate travel market.

Chester aparthotel opens its doors

UK: Walker & Williams has opened Hotel Chester, a £4.6 million aparthotel redevelopment project designed by the Frank Whittle Partnership.

Flying Butler appoints finance director

UK: Flying Butler Apartments has appointed Kamran Ahmad as finance director.

Frasers Hospitality Trust appoints Eu as CEO

Singapore: Frasers Hospitality Trust (FHT) has appointed Eu Chin Fen as CEO, replacing Colin Low who will become the head of the Singapore Land Authority on 1 September.

Safestay to sell Edinburgh hostel to a&o

UK: Hostel operator Safestay has entered into conditional sale and purchase agreements to sell its Edinburgh Hostel to a&o Hotels and Hostels.

Former Gateshead police station with aparthotel consent up for sale

UK: The former Felling police station on Sunderland Road, Gateshead, is on the market with an asking price of £500,000.

stayAPT Suites to open Memphis property

US: Extended stay hotel operator stayAPT Suites has revealed plans for a three-storey property in Cordova, Memphis.

Charles Hope appoints Allain to revenue management role

UK: Serviced apartment provider Charles Hope Apartments has appointed Emilie Allain as revenue management director.

Radisson opens Amsterdam aparthotel

Netherlands: Radisson Hotel Group has opened its first serviced apartment property and eighth operating hotel in Amsterdam.

Leaders Romans Group launches BTR service

UK: Leaders Romans Group has launched Three Sixty Space, a consultation and management service for build-to-rent developers.

Adagio launches second London property

UK: Aparthotel Adagio London Stratford will open from the 12 April for key workers and essentials stays, with the property welcoming leisure guests from 17 May.

ASAP calls for clarity over reopening date

UK: The Association of Serviced providers (ASAP) has called on the UK government to clarify whether all professionally-run serviced apartments are able to reopen on April 12th.

Stay Angels boosts Sheffield portfolio

UK: Serviced apartment provider Stay Angels has added eight luxury studios to its portfolio in Sheffield.

Supply up and demand down in Phnom Penh

Cambodia: Phnom Penh’s serviced apartment market saw a surge in supply during H2 2020, in parallel with a Covid-induced decline in demand.

Bristol apartment provider partners with Voi scooters

UK: Serviced apartment provider Urban Creation has partnered with Voi scooters to enable guests to explore Bristol sustainably during their stay.

Quorum to manage Arizona extended stay hotel

US: Quorum Hotels & Resorts will open the Home2Suites by Hilton Mesa Longbow in Mesa, Arizona in May this year.

Marriott opens Doha serviced apartments

Qatar: The 254-key Marriott Executive Apartments City Center Doha has opened to guests.

Dream Apartments adds Teesside units

UK: Dream Apartments is adding 42 units on three floors of the Boho 6 building in Middlesbrough town centre to its portfolio.

Yays CEO Heule steps down, Schwartz takes the helm

Netherlands: Yays’ CEO and co-founder Peter Heule is stepping down from his role, to be replaced by former Cerberus Capital Management VP Zachary Schwartz.

A major arrival

Louvre Hotel Group's launch of an aparthotel brand marks the arrival not only of a new player in the extended stay space, but of a well financed operator with global ambition.

Walker & Williams submits revised plans for Chester aparthotel

UK: Aparthotel developer and operator Walker & Williams has resubmitted plans for an aparthotel with restaurant and rooftop infinity pool overlooking Chester Racecourse.

Choice grows Quality Hotels brand down under

Aus/NZ: Two serviced apartment properties – one in Australia and one in New Zealand – have been added to the Quality Hotels portfolio, as the Choice Hotels brand continues its growth.

Akara Living partners with Nazarian's ghost kitchen venture

US: Serviced residence operator Akara Living has partnered with C3 (Creating Culinary Communities), an F&B platform founded by sbe's Sam Nazarian.

Oakwood opens dual-branded Washington DC property

US: Oakwood has announced opened Oakwood Suites & Studios Dupont Circle Washington DC.

Planning application for £1 billion London scheme withdrawn

UK: Queensgate Investments has withdrawn its planning application for the £1 billion redevelopment of the Kensington Forum hotel, which included serviced apartments and residential units.

Miami Residence Inn property sold for $31 million

US: HHLP Coconut Grove Associates LLC, an affiliate of Philadelphia-based Hersha Hospitality Management, has sold the Residence Inn Miami Coconut Grove for $31 million.

Hmlet CEO Kamalski steps down

Singapore: Coliving operator Hmlet has confirmed that its CEO and co-founder Yoan Kamalski has stepped down after five years at the helm.

Newcastle building set for coliving conversion

UK: Cale Cross House in Newcastle has been bought for £5.35 million by developer Beech Holdings.

Quest Echuca reveals major refurbishment

Australia: Quest Echuca, an aparthotel in northern Victoria, has undergone a major refurbishment, with an investment just shy of AUD$1 million.

Louvre Hotels launches aparthotel brand

France: Louvre Hotels Group has announced the launch of its Tulip Residences aparthotel brand.

WeWork to go public via BowX merger

US: WeWork is set to list on the stock market via a purchase by the publicly traded BowX Acquisition Corp.

ASAP looks to offload accreditation arm

UK: The Association of Serviced Apartment Providers (ASAP) is “seeking expressions of interest” to turn accreditation body ISAAP into an independent organisation.

Homelike recruits to bizdev and tech roles

UK: Homelike, an online platform for mid- to long-stay accommodation, has appointed a business development manager and VP of product and technology.

Chatham Lodging Trust sells its Innkeepers JV interest

US: Chatham Lodging Trust REIT that invests in extended-stay and select-service hotels, has announced the sale of its 10.3 per cent interest in the Innkeepers joint venture with Colony Capital.

Aparthotel element considered for major Bristol mixed-use scheme

UK: A major mixed-use redevelopment proposal in Bristol has been recommended for approval subject to being referred to the secretary of state for housing, communities and local government for comment.

F&B and retail playing major role in London mixed-use schemes says report

UK: Consumer and location intelligence specialist CACI says its latest research has revealed the emergence of "a new mixed-use asset class in London".

Shareholder opposition to ESA sale grows

US: Several major shareholders in Extended Stay America have expressed their opposition to the proposed sale of the company to a Starwood Capital/Blackstone JV.

Meriton’s Canberra serviced apartments set to go ahead

Australia: Canberra’s first Meriton building looks set to proceed after a development application was lodged.

MGT buys Battersea Power Station BTR units

UK: MGT Investment Management has agreed to acquire 92 apartments within Battersea Power Station’s Electric Boulevard.

Former IHG director Khanna joins Unite Students

UK: Unite Students has appointed Karan Khanna as chief customer officer.

Sri Lankan serviced apartments to open in Q4

Sri Lanka: The Loft Mirissa, a development which offers 32 “resort style” serviced apartments, is on schedule to open in Q4 2021.

Aparthotel planned for Reading listed buildings

UK: Grade II-listed buildings in Reading’s town centre could be transformed into a market square and aparthotel.

First UAE Residence Inn opens its doors

UAE: Residence Inn by Marriott Al Jaddaf, the brand’s first property in the UAE, has opened in Dubai.

Nuveen to make all properties carbon neutral by 2040

US: Nuveen, which has $133 billion of real estate assets under management worldwide, has pledged to make all of its properties carbon neutral by 2040.

Coming of age

When we launched Serviced Apartment News back in 2013, it’s fair to say the extended stay sector was firmly placed in the “niche” bracket, with little consumer recognition outside the business travel community and a limited level of investor awareness.

Harrow aparthotel plans rejected

UK: Plans for a 129-room aparthotel on the site of a former car park have been rejected by councillors on the basis it would “dominate” the area’s skyline.

Cheyne Capital funds The Collective’s Westbourne Park site

UK: The Collective has acquired a site in London’s Westbourne Park, having secured £28.5 million of capital from Cheyne Capital.

Dublin aparthotel plans refused by council

Ireland: Dublin City Council has refused permission for an aparthotel development at 92 and 93 Francis Street in Dublin 8.

Dash Living partners with Ascott and Ovolo

HK: Serviced apartment and coliving operator Dash Living has announced a collaboration with The Ascott Limited in Hong Kong and Singapore.

Staycity is London’s fastest growing hospitality brand

UK: Staycity will add 887 units to its London portfolio over the next few years, making it the fastest growing brand in the capital.

Vonder secures Wembley site for coliving scheme

UK: Vonder has secured a site in Wembley, north-west London, for a 313-unit coliving scheme.

CallisonRTKL appoints London mixed-use specialist

UK: CallisonRTKL (CRTKL) has appointed Lydia Firminger as associate principal, to grow its London mixed-use and residential portfolio.

Blackstone and Starwood Capital JV to acquire Extended Stay America for $6 billion

US: A 50/50 joint venture between funds managed by Blackstone Real Estate Partners and Starwood Capital Group have signed a definitive agreement to acquire Extended Stay American for $19.50 per share in an all-cash transaction valued at $6 billion.

Lloyds set to become PRS landlord

UK: Lloyds Banking Group is planning to become a major private landlord, according to a report in the Financial Times.

South Wales serviced apartments recommended for planning approval

UK: Plans for a multimillion-pound mixed-use project in Llanelli featuring serviced apartments, retail and office accommodation alongside bar and restaurant space have been recommended for approval.

Manchester hospital redevelopment with aparthotel for patients set to go ahead

UK: The redevelopment of Wythenshawe Hospital in Manchester into a “health village” with affordable housing for nurses and an aparthotel for patients will be signed off by Manchester council’s executive this week.

Lord Mayor of Dublin calls for cap on new aparthotels

Ireland: Hazel Chu, the Green Party’s Lord Mayor of Dublin, has called for a cap on the number of hotels and aparthotels being built in the city.

Work starts on Ormskirk aparthotel

UK: Work is under way on the £3 million conversion of Ormskirk’s former court building into an aparthotel.

WFW strengthens APAC team

Australia: Law firm Watson Farley & Williams (WFW) has announced a major expansion of its Hotels & Hospitality practice in the Asia-Pacific region.

Extended stay pioneer Jack DeBoer dies at 90

US: Jack DeBoer, the extended stay pioneer who founded the Residence Inn, Summerfield Suites, Candlewood Suites, Value Place and WaterWalk, has died after a lengthy battle with cancer.

edyn announces 2021 Locke opening dates

UK: edyn has announced the opening dates for seven Locke aparthotels in 2021.

VISIONAPARTMENTS acquires the former Ramada Bucharest Majestic Hotel

Romania: VISIONAPARTMENTS has acquired the former Ramada Bucharest Majestic Hotel, which will reopen as VISIONAPARTMENTS Bucharest in autumn 2021 after a refurbishment.

£300 million Manchester coliving scheme to get underway

UK: Developer Downing has signed a Section 106 agreement with Manchester City Council, signalling the start of work on its major cooling scheme in Manchester its centre.

Marriott boosts extended stay portfolios

US: Marriott Bonvoy's portfolio of longer stay brands – Element Hotels, Residence Inn by Marriott, and TownePlace Suites by Marriott – has announced a selection of new openings and offerings.

SilverDoor and Trees4Travel team up for carbon offsetting initiative

UK: Serviced apartment agent SilverDoor has launched an initiative to allow customers to offset their carbon foortrpint when booking accommodation.

TPG and Round Hill bolster German PBSA portfolio

Germany: TPG Real Estate Partners and Round Hill Capital have invested €68 million in German student accommodation.

Moda Living parters with Part W to encourage women in construction

UK: BTR developer and operator Moda Living has partnered with campaign group Part W to encourage young women to pursue careers in the property and construction sectors.

Liverpool aparthotel placed on the market

UK: Slater Street Apartments, an aparthotel in Liverpool city centre, has been brought to the market with an asking price of £1.5 million for the freehold going concern.

Hyatt House property opens in Tallahassee

US: The 120-key Hyatt House Tallahassee Capitol – University has opened in Tallahassee’s Railroad Square Art District.

STAY opts for Infor PMS

UK: Serviced apartment provider STAY has deployed Infor HMS property management system for its 169 apartment properties in Camden, London.

Tonic to create UK's first LGBT+ retirement community

UK: Tonic Housing is will open the UK's first LGBT+ retirement community in south London later this year.

Residence Inn to make Nordic debut with Copenhagen property

Denmark: Marriott International has signed an agreement with Danish hotel operator Core Hospitality to bring the first Residence Inn by Marriott to the Nordics.

UK student accommodation lettings down five per cent for 2021/22 academic year

UK: Figures from Students have revealed that student accommodation lettings for the 2021/22 academic year are down by five per cent year-on-year.

Modular construction contract awarded for Canary Wharf Locke aparthotel

UK: The 279-key Locke aparthotel in London's Canary Wharf will be built using modular construction techniques.

Radisson debuts Individuals brand in Africa with Accra serviced apartments

Ghana: Radisson Hotel Group has announced the signing of Earl Heights Suites Hotel in Accra, the first Radisson Individuals property in Africa.

Corporate Housing Factory teams up with concierge service

Netherlands: Corporate Housing Factory has partnered with Dutch Uncle to offer expat concierge and lifestyle services.

ABTA calls for government grants to help TMCs

UK: ABTA chief executive Mark Tanzer has called on the government to include travel management companies in its the £5 billion restart grant scheme announced over the weekend.

Oakwood adds Bangkok property

Thailand: Oakwood has announced the opening date of its seventh property in Thailand, and fourth in the Bangkok, Oakwood Hotel & Residence Bangkok.

Blaze to convert extended stay hotel to multifamily community

US: Blaze Partners, LLC has acquired a Homewood Suites property in Charlotte, North Carolina.

ESA reports $65.7 million net income for Q4 2020

US: Extended Stay America Inc. and ESH Hospitality Inc. reported net income of $65.7 million for Q3 2020, on total revenue of $259.3 million.

Serviced apartments to form part of major Blackpool mixed-use scheme

UK: Developers Nikal and Media Invest Entertainment will submit a planning application for the first phase of Blackpool Central development next month.

AKA forms JV to launch $500 million hotel fund

US: AKA has teamed up with multifamily investment firm Electra America to launch a $500 million hotel investment fund.

ESA launches Premier Suites brand

US: Extended Stay America has announced the launch of Extended Stay America Premier Suites, a new brand with a higher price point than its existing portfolio.

PM's roadmap prompts bookings boost for Staycity

UK: Aparthotel operator Staycity has seen UK bookings surge this week on the back of the Government’s recovery roadmap, which was announced on Monday.

ESA adds three conversion properties in Oklahoma

US: Extended Stay America has added three properties in Oklahoma through franchise conversions.

Tharaldson opens Michigan extended stay hotel

US: Tharaldson Hospitality Management has opened the 147-key Residence Inn Grand Rapids Downtown.

Planning granted for Dublin aparthotel

Ireland: An aparthotel in Dublin’s north inner city has been granted planning consent, with construction expected to start as soon as Covid restrictions allow.

Refinancing secured for Chicago extended stay hotel

US: Prime LaSalle/Madison Partners LLC (PLMP), the owner of the 381-key Residence Inn Chicago Downtown/Loop has closed on $141 million of new senior and mezzanine loan financing for the hotel.

CBRE takes majority share in US coworking company

US: CBRE has become the majority shareholder of New York coworking company Industrious, buying a 35 per cent stake in a $200 million (£142 million) deal.

Scape and APG team up for PBSA joint venture

UK: Student living firm Scape and investment group APG have agreed a £500 million joint venture that will develop and operate student accommodation schemes.

Staybridge Suites to open first Indian property

India: IHG Hotels and Resorts has announced the debut of Staybridge Suites in India with the signing of Staybridge Suites Bengaluru Thanisandra.

Accor's Novotel Living brand to make Estonian debut

Estonia: Accor has announced plans for a 124-key Novotel Living extended stay hotel in Tallinn.

£17 million department store aparthotel conversion to open in autumn

UK: A 133-bed aparthotel in the former Fenwick department store in Leicester is on schedule to open by early autumn.

IHM signs partners for online and live events

UK: International Hospitality Media (IHM), the publisher of Serviced Apartment News, is delighted to announce new sponsors for its online and live events.

Extended stay is bright spot for Choice Hotels

US: Choice Hotels has highlighted the strong performance of its extended stay portfolio in a recent earnings call.

Singapore serviced apartment building up for sale

Singapore: The 12 on Shan serviced apartment building has been put on the market with a guide price of S$93 million (£50 million).

flatfair partners with Spike Global for BTR tenants

UK: Payment technology firm flatfair has partnered with proptech company Spike Global to provide services for tenants of Apo, Ecoworld’s build-to-rent scheme.

House of Fisher launches flexible rentals offer

UK: Thames Valley serviced apartment company House of Fisher has launched hof Fisher Living, which it describes as "the new easy way of renting an apartment".

Berkshire aparthotel set for resi conversion

UK: The Flexistay Reading West Aparthotel could be converted in to 20 residential apartments, with a further 20 built alongside it if a recent planning application is successful.

Avanton launches £500 million war chest for London BTR sites

UK: Developer Avanton has launched a £500 million fund to acquire sites for BTR projects in London.

2021 Serviced Apartment Awards open for entries

UK: The entry period for the sixth annual Serviced Apartment Awards is now open and will run until April 30th.

Synergy adds London units with City Apartments partnership

UK: Synergy Global Housing has added a new property in The City of London to its inventory.

Adagio to add brace of French properties

France: Aparthotels Adagio has announced new French signings in Boulogne-Billancourt and Saint-Nazaire.

Residence Inn opens Delaware property

US: The 104-key Residence Inn Rehoboth Beach has opened for business in Delaware.

Freehand adds extended stay offer

US: Freehand Hotels, which has locations in Chicago, Miami, New York and Los Angeles, has launched a membership program and extended stay offer.

Dusit to enter Kuwaiti market with property aimed at oil and gas professionals

Kuwait: Thai hotel groups, Dusit International, has announced plans to enter Kuwait by 2023 with the Dusit Princess Mahboula Kuwait.

Geelong hotel to reopen as serviced apartments after 40 years lying empty

Australia: The former Belle-Vue Hotel in Geelong, originally built in 1854, has undergone a comprehensive renovation and will open to guests as The Ritz Hotel in March.

Zeevou launches online learning initiative

UK: PMS and channel manager Zeevou has launched the Zeevou Academy, which it describes as a learning platform for property managers.

Citadines opens Bali beach property

Indonesia: Ascott has opened Citadines Berawa Beach Bali in Canggu, a resort on the South coast of Bali.

Honey company secures site at Edinburgh aparthotel

UK: Kinross-based Webster Honey is to install four hives on the roof of Eden Locke in Edinburgh.

Ascott Residence Trust to sell Somerset Xu Hui Shanghai for £154 million

China: Ascott Residence Trust (ART) has agreed to sell Somerset Xu Hui Shanghai for 1.05 billion yuan (£154 million) to an unrelated third party.

£270 million Leeds mixed-use scheme to include aparthotel and PBSA

UK: DLA Architecture has been appointed to design a £270 million mixed-use development on the site of the former International Swimming Pool at Lisbon Street in Leeds city centre.

Liverpool aparthotel faces license review over "serious crime" link

UK: The Richmond Hotel, an aparthotel on Liverpool's Hatton garden, is facing a license review after police raided the premises during lockdown and found more than 200 people partying.

UK BTR sees surge in completed developments

UK: The number of completed build-to-rent homes was up 23 per cent in 2020, according to the latest British Property Federation (BPF) statistics.

SevenCapital submits plans for Birmingham aparthotel conversion

UK: Developer SevenCapital has submitted plans to Birmingham City Council for the conversion of the Royal Angus Hotel into a 174-key aparthotel.

Partners secure £80 million debt facility for Glasgow BTR scheme

UK: A JV between Apache Capital and Harrison Street has secured an £80 million debt facility from BentallGreenOak to fund construction of Moda Living's Holland Park BTR scheme in Glasgow.

Dwellworks to buy RAN from Cartus Corporation

US/UK: The Cartus Corporation has agreed to sell The Relocation Agent Network (RAN) to Dwellworks’ UK entity.

Flexibility is the key

It's clear that the businesses who will come out of the pandemic in the best shape are the those who are flexible enough to quickly adapt to meet customer needs.

JLL and GoSpace AI team up for workspace occupancy management software

US/UK: JLL and GoSpace AI, a provider of workplace and occupancy management artificial intelligence (AI) software, are joining forces "to transform how occupancy is supported in the post-pandemic, hybrid workplace".

DTZ forward funds The Collective's Battersea scheme

UK: DTZ Investors has forward-funded The Collective’s 260-unit coliving scheme on Chatfield Road in Battersea, south London.

Green light for Connecticut extended stay hotel

US: A four storey, 122-key extended stay hotel close to the Central Connecticut State University campus in Newington has been granted planning consent.

Luton PBSA schemes go in to administration

UK: Companies that own two PBSA schemes which were formerly valued at £35 million have been placed in to administration.

Extended stay takes bigger slice of US new inventory

US: Extended stay properties accounted for nearly 30 per cent of all new hotel projects opened in the US last year.

Mansfield takes Australia MD role at Ascott

Australia: Ascott has appointed former Quest COO David Mansfield as Ascott’s managing director for Australia.

Marriott opens first UK dual-branded property

UK: A dual-branded Residence Inn and Moxy hotel has opened in Slough town centre.

Ritchie joins CallisonRTKL to head hospitality practice

UK: Architecture practice CallisonRTKL (CRTKL) has appointed Ramsay Ritchie as associate principal and hospitality practice lead.

Dual-branded extended stay hotel set for Florida's Space coast

US: Construction will start next month on a dual-branded MainStay Suites and Sleep Inn property in Rockledge, Florida.

Synergy hires Muste to manage Americas supply chain

US: Synergy Global Housing has appointed Charley Muste as supply chain manager for its Americas region.

The Hut Group to add serviced apartments to Manchester boutique hotel

UK: The Hut Group (THG) has submitted plans to add serviced apartments, events spaces and a rooftop terrace to buildinsg adjacent to its King Street Townhouse Hotel.

Fizzy Living to offer deposit-free BTR units

UK: Build-to-rent operator Fizzy Living has partnered with payment technology provider flatfair to offer tenants deposit-free renting.

Yays enters residential rental market with six month stays

Netherlands: Yays has launched the Yays resident concept, which offers stays of up to six months via the Dutch rental platform Funda.

Meriton switches units to resi market after 40 per cent serviced apartment rate drop

Australia: Meriton boss Harry Triguboff is moving 1200 Sydney serviced apartments to the residential lettings market following a 40 per cent drop in rate and occupancy.

Ascott Residence Trust makes first US PBSA play

US: Singapore-listed Ascott Residence Trust has made its first foray into the US student housing market with the acquisition of an Atlanta property for $95 million.

AKA lowers minimum length of stay at West Hollywood property

US: AKA has launched seven-night minimum stays at AKA West Hollywood, down from the previous minus stay of 30 nights.

London boutique hotel to add serviced apartments

UK: 11 Cadogan Gardens, a boutique hotel in London;s Chelsea, will open six apartment suites in spring 2021.

Ascott sets 10,000 unit target for MEA and Turkey

Singapore: Ascott has set a target of an additional 6,000 units in the MEA and Turkey over the next five years, to reach a total of 10,000 units by 2025.

Hong Kong serviced apartment sector sees rates plummet

Hong Kong: Serviced apartment operators are cutting rates and offering incentives in a bid to boost pandemic-hit occupancy rates.

Adagio signs Stuttgart aparthotel

Germany: Aparthotels Adagio and developer Bülow AG have partnered for an aparthotel in Stuttgart's Neckarpark.

Kerbler Group acquires R.evo serviced apartment project from Vienna House

Germany: Vienna-based property investor Kerbler Group has acquired the 607-key R.evo serviced apartment project in Munich.

Commerz buys Vienna apartment block

Austria: Commerz Real Capital Management has invested a new-build apartment development in Vienna from S+B Gruppe and i Live Group.

STAY launches subscription model for London serviced apartments

UK: STAY, part of the LABS collective, has launched a corporate subscription programme, which it says is the first of its kind in the serviced apartment sector.

Barings makes move in to PBSA market

UK: Barings has made its first European PBSA investment in a £43.8 million deal to forward fund the development assets in London and Manchester.

UK government brings in national regulator for building materials

UK: Housing secretary Robert Jenrick says that a new regulator for construction products will have the power to remove any product from the market that presents a significant safety risk and prosecute companies who break safety rules.

Locke to open two Munich properties

Germany: edyn's Locke brand will open two properties in Munich in late spring 2021.

ReloQuest's Holloway elected president of Southeastern Regional Relocation Council

US: Paula Holloway, ReloQuest's global account manager, has been selected as the 2021 president of Southeastern Regional Relocation Council.

Gravity raises $1.4 million for coliving expansion

UK: London-based coliving start-up Gravity has raised $1.4 million to fund its growth plans.

Confined to Quarters

• Following the demise of BridgeStreet, one of the biggest names in the serviced apartment sector, late last year, now it is the turn of one of the highest profile companies in the coliving space to run in to trouble.

Starting the new year with a bang

We're just two weeks in to the new year and despite the obvious short-term difficulties we are all facing, the strength of our industry has been amply demonstrated by two major UK deals which have made the news this week.

Cendyn and Avvio partner to Roomzzz loyalty programme

UK: Hospitality software provider Cendyn and AI booking platform Avvio have integrated their products to drive Roomzzz' loyalty programme.

Quarters, the "WeWork of coliving", files for US bankruptcy

US: Several properties and companies linked to Quarters, the coliving brand of Berlin-based Medici Living Group, have filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy.

Scholar opens extended stay hotel by Penn State

US: Scholar Hotel Group has opened a property in State College, Pennsylvania, a block from the Pennsylvania State University.

Marriott opens brace of California extended stay hotels

US: Marriott has opened a Residence Inn and a Springhill Suites in California, adding 212 units to its extended stay portfolio in the state.

Croydon aparthotel takes in coronavirus patients

UK: The Best Western Plus London Croydon Aparthotel in Thornton Heath has been accommodating coronavirus patients to ease pressure on a nearby hospital.

Cain provides £74 million development loan for Locke aparthotel at Canary Wharf

UK: Real estate investment firm Cain International has agreed to a £74 million development loan with Canary Wharf Group and edyn to finance the development of a 279-key Locke aparthotel in London.

Ascott signs second Qatar property

Qatar: Ascott has entered into an agreement with Al Majed Hotel Management for the Somerset Al Mansoura Doha, set to open in Qatar’s capital in Q4 2021.

Ascott Residence Trust secures green loan from DBS Bank

Singapore: Ascott Residence Trust (ART) has obtained a S$50 million five-year green loan from DBS Bank, making ART the first hospitality trust in Singapore to secure a green loan.

Aberdeen and room2 sign sale and leaseback deal for Southampton hometel

UK: room2 has completed the sale and leaseback of its flagship Southampton property, to a fund managed by Aberdeen Standard Investments (ASI), the UK’s largest active asset manager.

Adagio opens aparthotel in Dubai's Deira neighbourhood

UAE: The Aparthotel Adagio Dubai Deira features 189 furnished units, ranging from studios to two-bedroom apartments.

Planning granted for Preston aparthotel conversion

UK: The Grade II Listed former Unicorn Hotel in Preston is to be retained to front a 126-unit aparthotel development.

Ascott sees record year with 14,200 units added during Covid-hit 2020

Singapore: Ascott has signed more than 14,200 units across 71 properties globally for 2020, exceeding its 2019 total and recording four consecutive years of record growth.

Cheval adds Kensington apartments

UK: Cheval Collection is adding 30 serviced apartments in London's South Kensington to its portfolio from Spring this year.

New Bristol aparthotel forecasts 65 per cent occupancy for Q1 2021

UK: A new aparthotel in Bristol’s Clifton neighbourhood is offering a contactless guest experience and expects to be two-thirds full for the first quarter of this year.

Talking business: Rahim Amidi, TENTEN

Rahim Amidi, co-founder of US brand TENTEN, talks to SAN about providing all-inclusive properties that cater to new ways of living and working.

Birch scraps plans for Liverpool aparthotel

UK: Developer Duncan Birch, who had secured planning consent for an aparthotel project in Liverpool's Baltic Triangle, is scrapping the proposals in favour of an office building with rooftop bar.

IHG to open dual-branded Nottingham property on major mixed-use site

UK: Developer Conygar has submitted detailed plans for a dual-branded Staybridge Suites and Hotel Indigo property at Nottingham’s Island Quarter development.

Q Apartments adds Reading units to kick off UK expansion

UK: Q Apartments has announced the addition of design-led apartments developed in partnership with Irish design studio House + Garden.

Jurny partners with Clockwork Group for first London location

UK: Hospitality tech company Jurny has announced its expansion into the European serviced apartment and aparthotel market with its first location in London.

Dublin coliving scheme gets green light ahead of ban

Ireland: An Bord Pleanála has granted permission for a seven-storey coliving complex with 378 beds and communal facilities.

Dream launches "Stay-Test-Go" offer to halve essential travellers' quarantine time

UK: Dream Luxury Serviced Apartments has partnered with BioGrad Laboratories to be the first serviced apartment company in the UK to launch a Covid-19 testing facility.

Choice grows MainStay extended stay portfolio by 35 per cent with franchise deal

US: Choice Hotels International has awarded franchise agreements to Gulf Coast Hotel Management to convert 15 properties to the MainStay Suites brand.

National Corporate Housing acquires V-Suites

US: National Corporate Housing has announced the acquisition of the assets of V-Suites, a corporate housing entity with apartment inventory primarily in Michigan, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Illinois, and Minnesota.

BridgeStreet owed creditors nearly $90 million when filing for US bankruptcy

US: HCB (2020) LLC, which was formerly known as BridgeStreet, owed nearly $90 million, before it filed for US bankruptcy late last year.

Singapore mixed-use scheme to feature coliving units

Singapore: Real estate management services group LHN is planning to launch a mixed-use development on Singapore's Keppel Road next month.

Citystay brings brands under group umbrella and strengthens team

UK: Citystay UK has brought together its collection of brands under the Citystay Group.

Bath student accommodation to get aparthotel repurposing

UK: A 330-bed Bath student development could become the latest PBSA building to convert some of its rooms to an aparthotel.

Nicholls awarded OBE in New Year Honours list

UK: UKHospitality chief executive Kate Nicholls has been awarded the Order of the British Empire in the New Year Honours list.

Frasers opens Chengdu apartments

China: Fraser Residence Chengdu has opened its doors, in the city’s Forte Financial Island Complex.

Naas hotel to add 70 aparthotel units

Ireland: The Maudlins House Hotel in Naas, Co. Kildare, has been granted planning consent for a multi-floor extension.

Sonder reveals Scottish expansion plans

UK: Sonder has signed its first Glasgow property and plans to further grow its presence in Scotland.

London student building set for aparthotel switch

UK: The iQ Bankside student accommodation in Ewer Street could operate half of its units as an aparthotel in the first half of 2021.

Adagio unveils latest design concept

France: Aparthotels Adagio has revealed its new design concept for all future aparthotels worldwide.

JSM Group buys Liverpool apartments from Signature Living

UK: Signature Living's Bling Bling building in Liverpool has been sold to JSM Group, owner of the Prestige Stay aparthotel brand.

The Address to open beachfront serviced apartments

UAE: Address Beach Resort is set to open its doors today, and will feature 217 guest rooms, 443 serviced apartments and 478 unfinished residential apartments.

RESIDE strengthens teams in EMEA and APAC

RESIDE Worldwide has expanded its global account and supply chain support footprint with appointments in both the EMEA and APAC regions.

Supercity's Roger Walters on new investment and doubling the company's portfolio

UK: Supercity Aparthotels founder and chairman Roger Walters spoke to SAN about how a recent £10 million investment in the company will help it to double its portfolio by 2025.

Warrington aparthotel conversion gets planning consent

UK: A listed former bank building in Warrington town centre is to be converted into an aparthotel.

Supercity secures investment to grow portfolio

UK: Supercity Aparthotels has secured £10 million equity to grow its portfolio of serviced apartment hotels.

Element opening reflects growing appetite for serviced apartments in Dubai

UAE: Marriott's Element Hotels brand has opened a 269-key property in Dubai's Al Jaddaf neighbourhood.

Minnesota extended stay hotel gets green light

US: An 87-key Candlewood Suites in Duluth has been granted approval.

Major hotel and serviced apartment redevelopment for Penang property

Malaysia: Ivory Properties Group Bhd has agreed to acquire the Copthorne Orchid Hotel & Resort Penang for RM75 million in cash.

Sentiment boost for UK operators

UK: Sentiment in the serviced apartment sector has improved considerably since June 2020, according to the latest survey by Savills and ASAP.

Romania's biggest real estate project to include aparthotel

Romania: Developer SDC Imobiliare, along with overseas investment funds, have launched what they claim to be the biggest real estate project in Romania, a €700 million mixed-use project named Transilvania Smart City.

Aparthotel and BTR units planned for Cambridge site

UK: Plans for an aparthotel and BTR apartments in Cambridge have been put forward for public consultation.

First Residence Inn in Mexico opens its doors

Mexico: Marriott has opened the first Residence Inn brand in Mexico, in Merida.

Study Inn adds 288 rooms in Nottingham

UK: PBSA developer and operator Study Inn Group has opened a 288-room, £37 million property on Nottingham's Talbot Street.

Quarters opens latest Brooklyn coliving scheme

US: Coliving operator QUARTERS has opened a new property in the Williamsburg district of Brooklyn, its fourth location in the city.

edyn to open Dublin Locke property

Ireland: edyn Group will expand its lifestyle aparthotel brand Locke outside of the UK for the first time in December with the opening of Zanzibar Locke in Dublin.

National's Tom Atchison on the BridgeStreet deal and further acquisitions

National Corporate Housing CEO Tom Atchison talks to SAN about the recently completed acquisition of BridgeStreet's EMEA and APAC agency business, future deals and positioning the company for the future.

Residence Inn opens in Colorado ski resort

US: Operator Remington Hotels has opened the Residence Inn Steamboat Springs in Steamboat Springs, Colorado.

Crosstree makes first PBSA move

UK: Crosstree Real Estate has made its first move into the student accommodation sector with the £55 million purchase of an asset in north-east London.

Quest opens second Ballarat property

Australia: Quest Ballarat Station, the company's second property in the city, has opened its doors.

Bangkok Hyatt hotel offers one-year stays in bid to attract business travellers

Thailand: Hyatt Regency Bangkok Sukhumvit Hotel launched a one-million-baht package for a one-year stay to attract business clients.

Starcity to acquire rival Ollie

US: San Francisco-based coliving company Starcity has agreed to acquire Ollie, a New York-based competitor.

Week2Week strengthens sales team with Inglis appointment

UK: Week2Week Serviced Apartments has appointed Julie Inglis as corporate sales executive, to grow its corporate lettings business in the north-east of England.

Southern grove enters coliving and BTR markets

UK: Developer Southern Grove has launched two new brands, for the coliving and BTR sectors respectively.

London office building with "urban forest" granted planing consent

UK: Roots In The Sky, a redevelopment of the former Blackfriars Crown Court, has been given planning consent.

BridgeStreet's agency business acquired by National Corporate Housing

US: National Corporate Housing has acquired BridgeStreet’s agency business in the EMEA and APAC regions.

BridgeStreet's operations arm goes in to UK administration

UK: Sarah Rayment and Mark Shaw of BDO have been appointed joint administrators of BridgeStreet Accommodations London Limited, which has ceased trading, leaving guests urgently seeking alternative accommodation.

Sonesta completes IHG switch and launches Simply Suites brand

US: Service Properties Trust (SVC) has completed the transition of branding and management for 99 hotels to subsidiaries of Sonesta International Hotels Corporation.

Accor to bring Movenpick Living brand to Europe

France: Accor has signed two European properties under its Movenpick Living extended stay brand, and launched a new Apartments & Villas website.

The Collective gets green light for Walthamstow scheme

UK: Coliving brand The Collective has received a resolution to grant planning permission for a 300-room scheme in Walthamstow, north-east London.

Klima appointed to SilverDoor board

UK: Serviced apartment agent SilverDoor has appointment Martin Klima to its board of directors as chief customer officer

edyn to open Locke aparthotel in Dalston next month

UK: The 14-key Kingsland Locke will open in London's Dalston neighbourhood, in January 2021.

Work starts on Limerick mixed-use project

Ireland: Demolition work has started on the €200 million Project Opera development in Limerick Opera Site.

Worcester building gets aparthotel conversion

UK: Phoenix House in Broad Street, Worcester, has been converted into a 17-key aparthotel across four floors.

Housemates launches 'hotel-like' student accommodation booking platform

UK: Housemates, a new ‘hotel-like’ booking system allows operators to manage multiple booking at scale on one SaaS platform.

Radisson to double EMEA serviced apartment portfolio

US: Radisson Hotel Group plans to more than double its EMEA serviced apartment portfolio within the next five years.

TownSq to roll out coworking business

UK: Coworking business TownSq has marked its third anniversary with an acquisition, senior appointments, and a number of multi-million-pound contracts.

Oakwood appoints Ahrens to North America sales role

US: Oakwood has appointed Ryan Ahrens as vice president, sales – North America.

Serviced apartment and extended stay industry trends for 2021

SAN editor George Sell looks at some of the key trends that will shape the global serviced apartment and aparthotel sector in 2020.

GBTA launches campaign to promote business travel

US: The Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) has launched a global campaign to promote the business travel sector.

Maslow and M&G team up for UK development loans

UK: Maslow Capital and M&G Investments have announced a funding agreement that will provide loans to UK real estate developers.

Residence Inn opens at Columbus airport

US: First Hospitality has opened the 122-key Residence Inn by Marriott Columbus Airport.

Olive by Embassy launches asset light management business

India: Olive by Embassy, the coliving and student housing brand by the Embassy Group, has launched Olive Residences, its asset light management business.

Cheval and Cycas make best employers list

UK: Cheval Collection and Cycas Hospitality have both been listed in The Caterer’s 30 Best Places to Work in Hospitality for 2020.

Fernbrook acquires Milton Keynes aparthotel project

UK: Developer Fernbrook has acquired a 44-unit aparthotel project from Fiera Real Estate (FRE UK).

MetroResidences launches long-stay leases

Singapore: MetroResidences today announced the launch of Residential Rentals - a new category of property inventory for long-term leases in Singapore and Japan.

Quick Q&A: Simon McGrath, Accor Pacific

Simon McGrath, CEO of Accor Pacific, tells SAN about the company's The Sebel serviced apartment brand.

ESA sells California property

US: Extended Stay America has sold an extended stay hotel in Milpitas, California, for $65 million.

Oakwood launches the Unlimited Collection soft brand

Singapore: Oakwood has launched The Unlimited Collection, a new brand which it says allows for a curation of independent properties that retain their unique positioning yet leverage Oakwood’s hospitality management expertise and distribution network.

Native to open Edinburgh aparthotel on December 1st

UK: Native is taking over management of Kintore House in Edinburgh's New Town, which currently trades under BridgeStreet's Mode brand.

Unite acquires £150 million London site

UK: Student accommodation provider Unite Students has acquired an 800-bed development site in London's Paddington neighbourhood.

Sandpiper to manage North Carolina extended stayhotel

US: Sandpiper Hospitality has signed a third party management contract with Liberty Investment Properties, Inc. for WoodSpring Suites Charlotte – University Research Park.

Ireland to ban new coliving developments

Ireland: Minister for Housing Darragh O’Brien will today issue a de facto ban on new coliving developments.

ESA adds seven properties through TWC deal

US: Extended Stay America has added seven properties to its portfolio through conversions, bringing the total number of hotels in its system to 647.

Join SAN's 2021 trends webinar

UK: Serviced Apartment News will be hosting a webinar on December 1st, looking at trends which will affect the serviced apartment and extended stay sectors over the next 12 months.

Chan joins Labtech as marketing director

UK: Labtech has appointed Rosalind Chan as marketing director for its flexible workspace brand LABS and serviced apartment arm STAY.

Brace of openings for My Place

US: My Place Hotels of America has opened properties in Green Bay, Wisconsin, and Vancouver, Washington State.

Saxbury secures Staycity for London aparthotel

UK: Staycity is to operate the Middlesex Street Aparthotel in east London, under its Wilde brand.

Moda Living and Samsung partner for smart appliances in BTR developments

UK: BTR developer Moda Living has partnered with Samsung to rollout technology across its £2.5 billion portfolio, installing up to 60,000 appliances.

Citystay launches InnClusive extended stay rental platform

UK: CityStay Group has launched InnClusive, a rental platform targeting clients who "fall in the gap between short lets and assured shorthold tenancies".

Irish state fund to take stake in Staycity as part of refinancing plan

Ireland: The Ireland Strategic Investment Fund (ISIF) is to take a stake in Staycity as a part of €70 million refinancing package.

Quest partners with Sony Foundation for young cancer patient support

Australia: Quest Apartment Hotels has partnered with the Sony Foundation to launch You Can Stay - an initiative aimed to support young Australians aged 15 to 25 who are diagnosed with cancer.

Legal & General launches suburban family BTR arm

UK: Legal & General is launching a build-to-rent arm which will focus on the development of large suburban single family rental developments.

Your Apartment hires Thorne as independent director

UK: Bristol serviced apartment company appoints Your Apartment has named MRP Group’s Max Thorne as senior independent director.

Carparelli joins CAP Worldwide

UK: CAP Worldwide Serviced Apartments (CAP) has appointed Sabrina Carparelli to its senior business development and sales support team - with immediate effect.

LifeX secures €6 million funding round

Denmark: Danish coliving operator LifeX has announced a new funding round of €6 million.

Four Seasons launches extended stay offer

Global: Four Seasons has launched an extended stay offer in response to the rise in remote working during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Topping out celebrated at Manchester Staycity building

UK: Topping out has been celebrated at 3 St Peter’s Square, a £50 million building in Manchester which will include a Wilde by Staycity and a Motel One.

Serviced apartments are preferred option for European hospitality investors

UK: Serviced apartments have overtaken hotels to become the most attractive hospitality asset class to European investors for 2021, driven by positive demand fundamentals and leaner costs, according to a report from Deloitte.

US extended stay continues to outperform wider hotel sector

US: The extended stay hotel sector has reported a bigger growth in occupancy than the hotel sector as a whole, with economy extended stay occupancy for Q3 2020 down just 0.8 per cent compared to the same period in 2019.

Fountain Court to close serviced apartment business

UK: Edinburgh-based Fountain Court Apartments is switching its operations from serviced apartments to long-term residential lettings.

RESIDE partners with Virdee for touchless check-in

US: RESIDE Worldwide has partnered with Virdee to provide touches check-in technology at two if its managed buildings.

My Place opens Texas extended stay hotel to cater for oil and gas industry

US: My Place Hotels of America has welcomed its 59th property, My Place Hotel-Midland, TX.

Synergy launches health and safety tracking software

US: Synergy Global Housing has launched an automated sanitisation tracking web-based platform developed to streamline the tracking and measurement of its supplier health and safety protocols.

Dream adds Manchester apartments

UK: Belfast-based provider Dream Luxury Serviced Apartments has added 120 units in Manchester to its portfolio, creating 40 jobs.

IHG to debut new extended stay brand in Miami

US: The first property under IHG's Atwell Suites brand will open in Miami next summer.

Siegel Group buys former HomeTowne Studios property

US: The Siegel Group, a real estate investment and management company, has acquired the former HomeTowne Studios Baton Rouge extended-stay hotel.

SilverDoor appoints Houston to business development role

UK: SilverDoor has appointed global corporate travel management specialist Pauline Houston as Vice president of business development.

Radisson plans to make US extended stay debut in Florida

US: A proposed Park Inn Residences property in Port Charlotte, Florida, will be Radisson's first extended stay property in the US if approved.

Plans lodged for $900 million Sydney mixed-use project

Australia: The Waterloo Metro Quarter project in Sydney will feature apartments, student accommodation and office space.

Hyatt expands Work From Hyatt extended stay programme

US: Hyatt is expanding its launched Work From Hyatt extended-stay programme to nearly 90 hotels across North America and the Caribbean.

Biden presidency could benefit extended stay and wider travel markets

US: As Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden looks a strong favourite to win the race for the White House, industry experts have assessed what a Biden presidency could mean for the extended stay and wider travel industries.

Contractor pulls out of Cambridge aparthotel project

UK: The demolition of a car park to make way for a Wilde by Staycity aparthotel in Cambridge has been delayed by the withdrawal from the project of contractor Sir Robert McAlpine.

Houston dual-branded Hyatt to feature extended stay hotel

US: Local developer Satya is building a dual-branded hotel project near Houston's Texas Medical Center.

SITU partners with SiteMinder and STAAH

UK: SITU has partnered with guest acquisition platform Siteminder and hospitality tech provider STAAH.

Senior Living provider hires former easyHotel CFO

UK: Audley Group has appointed former easyHotel chief financial officer Gary Burton as its CFO.

CAP Worldwide secures Women Owned status and launches brand partner management programme

UK: CAP Worldwide Serviced Apartments (CAP) has been awarded Women Owned certified status and launched its brand partner management programme ‘At CAP, you’re welcome’.

Oakwood opens Yokohama property

Japan: Oakwood has opened Oakwood Suites Yokohama, the company's 12th property in the country.

Oakwood appoints Ashton to European development role

UK: Oakwood has appointed Maria Ashton as vice president, development - Europe.

Tharaldson opens Homewood Suites in California wine country

US: Tharaldson Hospitality Management (THM) has opened a 104-key Homewood Suites extended stay hotel in Livermore, California.

Investors expected to ramp up allocation to real estate assets

Global: Research from Aviva Investors shows that global institutional investors plan to increase their allocation to real assets, and particularly real estate assets.

Moda Living and Apache Capital appoint Smith to management role

UK: Moda Living and Apache have appointed Richard Smith as managing director of Moda Life Management, the operational arm of the JV’s £2.5 billion BTR portfolio.

Ascott to make Austrian debut in Vienna

Austria: Ascott has signed a management contract with SIGNA Real Estate and ARE Austrian Real Estate for its first property in Austria.

CHF launches revamped website

Netherlands: Corporate Housing Factory has launched its new website, corporatehousingfactory.com, which serves as a booking engine and guide for its six properties in the Amsterdam, The Hague, Rotterdam and Eindhoven.

UK development finance search engine launched

UK: Brickflow, the first online search engine for UK real estate development finance has been launched by property finance professional Ian Humphreys and software developer Robert Lange.

Focus on branded residences with Chris Graham

Chris Graham, managing director of Graham Associates and author of Branded Residences: An Overview, tells SAN about this evolving asset class.

Brookfield raises £1 billion European property war chest

UK: Brookfield has raised £1 billion (€1.14 billion) for its latest property fund, which will buy assets across Europe’s biggest markets.

Fletcher takes the helm at Fresh

UK: BTR and PBSA developer Watkin Jones has appointed Jeremy Fletcher as CEO of its property management business Fresh Property group.

Trio of openings planned for The Sebel

Australia: The Sebel will open its latest serviced apartment property, in the Victorian town of Yarrawonga, next month, with two further properties to follow in 2021.

Average rates fall to five-year low in HCMC

Vietnam: The average rent for serviced apartments in Ho Chi Minh City has fallen to a five-year low, according to data from Savills.

Rooftop extension for Nottingham apartments gets the go ahead

UK: Approval has been granted to add a rooftop extension to a Nottingham building to add an extra seven serviced apartments.

No time for complacency

Awareness of serviced apartments and aparthotels has come on so far over the last 10 years from all quarters - consumer, investor and developer - that it's easy to become complacent and take it for granted that everyone knows exactly what the industry does and how it works.

A vital age

I find it astonishing that the planners at Elmbridge council in Surrey have turned down an application for a for a senior living development in Walton-on-Thames on the grounds that elderly people do not bring “vitality” to town centres.

Don't let coliving become the next timeshare

The perception of coliving is becoming something of an issue for those who are advocating the model as not only an alternative form of temporary accommodation but also an innovative way to help address the housing shortage in the UK and beyond.

Unite appoints Huntingford as chairman

UK: Student accommodation developer Unite has appointed Richard Huntingford as chairman.

Residents help defeat Dublin aparthotel plans

Ireland: Plans for an aparthotel in Dublin's Phibsborough neighbourhood have been successfully opposed by local residents who claimed such a development was unsuitable for the area.

Birchgrove acquires Surrey site

UK: Senior living developer Birchgrove has acquired Banstead Place in Surrey.

Belfast aparthotel gets planning consent

UK: A 132-key aparthotel on Belfast's Bedford Street will bringing hundreds of jobs to the area according to the scheme's architect.

Clarendon puts London apartments up for sale

UK: Clarendon Apartments has appointed Savills to sell 140 Minories, a 14-key serviced apartment freehold property in the City of London.

The Stay Company expands in to Nottingham

UK: The Stay Company, which owns four properties in Derby, has opened its first Nottingham property in West Bridgford.

Starwood Capital to refinance extended stay portfolio

US: Starwood Capital is accessing the commercial mortgage-backed securities market to refinance debt on a portfolio of 58 extended-stay hotels, as well as the construction costs of several recently built hotel properties.

Liverpool serviced apartments given planning consent

UK: A serviced apartment project at the Coopers Building on Liverpool’s Church Street has been given the green light by planners.

SMARTments business partners with apaleo and hotelbird

Germany: Serviced apartment brand SMARTments business is collaborating with open software platform apaleo.

Scottish government urged to reconsider licensing plans for serviced apartments

UK: The Scottish government is being lobbied to give serviced apartments and aparthotels exemption from its new licensing plans for short-term lets.

CAP Worldwide signs partnership with BTA

UK: CAP Worldwide has signed a strategic partnership with the Business Travel Association (BTA).

Green light for Kingston coliving scheme

UK: Developer Viewranks Estates has been granted planning permission to build a £60 million coliiving schemeon the site of two retail units in Kingston, south-west London.

WeWork co-founder Neumann invests $30 million in Alfred

US: WeWork co-founder Adam Neumann has invested $30 million in Alfred Club Inc., a startup that provides apartment buildings with services including concierge staff and software.

Staybridge Suites makes Dubai debut

UAE: IHG has opened Staybridge Suites Dubai Al-Maktoum Dubai Airport, the brand’s first property in the emirate.

Hull hospital building set for aparthotel conversion

UK: A plan to convert the former Victoria Hospital for Sick Children on Hull’s Park Street has been given conditional approval.

Tech-driven Bristol aparthotel to open in December

UK: Bristol serviced apartment provider Your Apartment is set to open Merchants House, a converted former student accommodation building in December.

Planners accused of discrimination over Surrey senior living proposals

UK: Planning officers from Elmbridge Borough Council have recommended that a planning application for a senior living development in Walton-on-Thames be refused on the grounds that elderly people do not bring “vitality” to town centres.

Ascott adds 2,100 units in China

China: Ascott has signed more than 2,100 new units across 12 properties in China in the last three months.

IHM hosts first Urban Living Lite event in London

UK: International Hospitality Media, the publisher of Serviced Apartment News, has hosted the first in a series of limited capacity business networking events.

Supercity opens Brighton aparthotel

UK: Supercity Aparthotels has opened Q Square in Brighton, its second property outside London.

Major Quest franchisee ceases trading

Australia: CEM Group of Companies, one of the largest franchises of Quest Apartment Hotels properties has ceased trading, resulting in the closure of at least three properties.

Aimbridge takes over management of 16 ESA properties

US: Aimbridge Hospitality has added 16 Extended Stay America properties to its portfolio, and now manages 36 properties for the brand, with more in the pipeline.

SITU launches global serviced apartment booking platform

UK: Serviced apartment agency SITU has launched SITU Live: Global Network, which allows serviced accommodation operators worldwide to connect their inventory, availability and pricing to SITU.

Red Lion Hotels launches extended stay brand

US: Red Lion Hotels has relaunched its GuestHouse International brand as GuestHouse Extended Stay, an upper-economy flag suitable for conversions.

Grand Heights Hotel Apartments opens in Dubai

UAE: Grand Heights Hotel Apartments has officially opened in Dubai’s Barsha Heights district.

Kasa Living raises $30 million in Series B round

US: Kasa Living has raised $30 million in Series B funding led by Ribbit Capital.

European Commission approves aid scheme for Brussels hotels and aparthotels

Belgium: The European Commission has approved a €15.8 million Belgian scheme to support hotels and aparthotels in the Brussels-Capital Region.

Nuveen to invest $400 million in residential rental platfom Sparrow

US: Nuveen Real Estate will invest up to $400 million through Sparrow, a newly launched vertically-integrated single-family home rental platform.

Synergy and STAY partner for London apartments

UK: STAY from LABS Collective has announced a partnership with serviced apartment and corporate housing provider Synergy Global Housing.

Hyatt House opens in Louisville

US: A 127-key Hyatt House extended stay hotel has opened in Louisville, Kentucky.

San Francisco coliving platform HubHaus closes down

US: San Francisco-based coliving platform HubHaus has ceased trading, citing a lack of funds.

Ascott streamlines operations with RMS Enterprise

Singapore: Ascott has completed its migration to a cloud-based PMS from RMS Cloud.

SITU boosts supply network with Hanson appointment

UK: SITU has appointed Seth Hanson as senior supplier account manager.

SVC cancels Marriott agreement and boosts Sonesta extended stay portfolio

US: Following a similar situation with IHG in August, Service Properties Trust (also known as SVC) has severed its management agreements with Marriott International across 122 properties.

Roomzzz launches member benefits programme

UK: Aparthotel brand Roomzzz has launched Perkzzz, its loyalty and rewards scheme.

Quick Q&A: Natalia Schrey, Noli Studios

Natalia Schrey, chief commercial officer at Finnish operator Noli Studios, talks to SAN about customer-centricity and becoming a regional thought leader.

New York State hotel transitions to extended stay

US: The Pavilion Grand Hotel in Sarasota Springs is being rebranded as the Pavilion Grand Executive Apartments.

My Place makes Ohio debut

US: My Place Hotels of America has opened its 58th extended stay property, and its first in Ohio, in the town of Marion.

Talking business: Ravi Sharma, Respublica

Ravi Sharma, CEO and co-founder of coliving operator Respublica talks to SAN about rolling out the brand and how the pandemic has made us demand more from our homes.

South African investment company launches aparthotel brand

South Africa: Flyt Property Investment has launched the WINK Aparthotels brand.

US economy extended stay demand grows for second month

US: Economy extended-stay hotels reported a 1.9 per cent increase in demand in August 2020.

Ascott launches mobile app

Singapore: Ascott has launched its Discover ASR mobile app for members of its loyalty programme, Ascott Star Rewards (ASR).

Urban Living Lite launches as festival postponed until July 2021

UK: International Hospitality Media (IHM), the publisher of SAN, has announced it will be postponing the inaugural Urban Living Festival until July next year, and is launching a series of Urban Living Lite online and offline events following a recent announcement from UK prime minister Boris Johnson.

COLIV forward funds The Collective's Earlsfield scheme

UK: DTZ Investors' London coliving fund COLIV has forward funded a £70 million scheme in south-west London.

Quintain rebrands BTR arm and hires COO

UK: Quintain has rebranded its Tipi BTR arm as Quintain Living and hired Danielle Bayless as COO to head the division.

Confusion surrounds future of Leeds aparthotel project

UK: The future of a proposed 126-key aparthotel on Leeds’ George Street is in doubt as talk take place between the city council and developer Town Centre Securities.

Thomas takes product management role at SITU

UK: SITU has appointed Katie Thomas as senior global product manager.

Accor signs KSA extended stay hotel

KSA: Accor has signed a management agreement for the first the Swissôtel Living in Saudi Arabia.

Aparthotel planned for fabled Dublin pub site

Ireland: Plans for the site of the Embankment pub on Dublin's Blessington Road include three aparthotel buildings and a 129-room hotel.

Cycas makes French debut with dual branded Hyatt property

France: Cycas has opened a dual branded Hyatt House and Hyatt Place property in Paris, the first of 10 openings planned for the next six months.

Quest Ballarat put on the market

Australia: The leasehold for Quest Ballarat has been put up for sale, with an asking price of AUD$2,580,000.

Planning 'reluctantly' granted for Manchester coliving schemes

UK: Major coliving schemes by Vita and Downing have been given the green light by Manchester's planning committee.

APLBC enters sales partnership with Oakwood

UK: About Partners - Luxury Brands Collection (APBLC) has been appointed as a global sales partner to represent Oakwood’s global property portfolio of serviced apartments.

CitySpace opens Bermondsey property

UK: CitySpace, an operator offering workspace with accommodation and dining options, has opened its second London property, in Bermondsey.

Limestone Capital launches European hospitality fund

Switzerland: Limestone Capital has launched a fund to capitalise on opportunities in the European real estate and hospitality sectors.

Plans lodged for Kennington room2 aparthotel

UK: Developer Espalier Property Ventures has submitted plans for a 142-key, five-storey aparthotel on Clapham Road in Kennington, south London.

Jumeirah Group opens landmark Dubai serviced apartments

UAE: Jumeirah Group has opened its landmark serviced residence, Jumeirah Living Marina Gate, at Dubai Marina.

M&G chooses partners for US multifamily venture

US: London-based asset manager M&G investments has teamed up with Elandis, a Florida-based subsidiary of the Libra Group to launch a multifamily platform.

My Place adds North Carolina property

US: My Place Hotels of America has added its 57th extended stay hotel, in the Charlotte suburb of Huntersville.

Common raises $50 million in series D funding

US: Apartment rental and coliving company Common has raised $50 million in series D funding to expand its residential management division.

TownePlace Suites opens Ohio property

US: TownePlace Suites by Marriott has opened its latest extended stay hotel, in Columbus, Ohio.

Melbourne residential project switches to serviced apartments

Australia: A serviced apartment complex will be developed on Melbourne’s Punt Road after developers switched away from a planned residential apartment block and applied for a hotel permit.

Rezoning request lodged for Minnesota extended stay hotel

US: Duluth-based Detroit Lender LLC is seeking a rezoning of a property in Oakwood to enable it to develop a five-storey, 87-key Candlewood Suites.

CSC Coliving acquires Philadelphia's International House

US: CSC Coliving has acquired the International House Philadelphia dormitory and culture centre tower in University City.

Sigma and EQT partner for £1 billion London BTR push

UK: Sigma Capital has launched a £1 billion-plus JV with Swedish investment manager EQT Real Estate to development BTR units in and around London.

L&G secures site for second Hampshire senior living community

UK: Inspired Villages, Legal & General’s senior living arm, has acquired a 10-acre site in Hampshire to build a £100 million retirement community.

Green light for Staffordshire coliving plans

UK: Plans to convert a former Staffordshire Moorlands mill and antiques shop into 21 coliving units have been approved.

Yays opens for bookings in The Hague

Netherlands: Yays has opened a 53-key aparthotel on Koninginnegracht in The Hague.

Walker & Williams submits plans for Chester aparthotel

UK: Developer and operator Walker & Williams has submitted plans for a 52-key luxury aparthotel overlooking Chester racecourse.

Quay Apartments' fifth location set to open in Salford

UK: Quay Apartments will open Clipper Quay in Salford, its fifth location, on October 1st.

LHN buys property for coliving conversion

Singapore: LHN Limited, through its subsidiary Coliwoo Balestier, is set to acquire a property in the Balestier neighbourhood for S$18.1 million, which it intends to operate as a coliving space.

DoveVivo completes €15 million funding raise

Italy: Coliving operator DoveVivo, which has a portfolio of 8,000 rooms across 11 Italian cities, has completed a €15 million capital increase.

AXA completes acquisition of Dolphin Square

UK: AXA Investment Managers - Real Assets has completed the acquisition of Dolphin Square in London from vendor Westbrook Partners.

City ID bags €500 million war chest in APG and Aware Super deal

Netherlands: APG and Aware Super will fund the growth of Amsterdam-based aparthotel operator City ID to the tune of €500 million over the next four years.

Element opens extended stay hotel in New York State

US: The 87-key Element Spring Valley has opened its doors for business in Rockland County, New York.

Cheval to reopen the Register Club

UK: From 1 October, The Register Club will reopen as part of Cheval Collection, located on the fourth floor of Cheval The Edinburgh Grand.

Sandpiper continues to see strong growth in 2020

US: Extended stay management specialist Sandpiper Hospitality has seen high occupancy levels across its 42 hotels and is on the verge of announcing several new signings.

RMS appoints Valli to sales and marketing role

UK: PMS provider RMS Cloud has appointed Zen Valli as senior vice president of sales & marketing for the UK and EU.

Curlew Capital strengthens PBSA team

UK: Curlew Capital has made four hires to its UK Purpose Built Student Accommodation (PBSA) team.

Further consolidation in Boston coliving market

US: SplitSpot, a Boston-based coliving platform has acquired substantial assets from PlaceMe.

Quest focused on European expansion

UK: Quest Apartment Hotels says it remains focused on its European expansion plans despite the Covid pandemic, with backing from majority shareholder Ascott.

Clarkson appointed CFO at Extended Stay America

US: Extended Stay America has appointed David Clarkson as chief financial officer.

Prime Hospitality founder featured in Forbes Middle East's 30 under 30

Egypt: Khaled El Sayyad, the founder of Egyptian serviced apartment operator Prime Hospitality, has been featured in an article on "young innovators working to change the region".

First stayAPT Suites property set for October opening

US: The first stayAPT Suites extended stay hotel will open in early October, in Alexandria, Virginia.

Dublin developer seeks meeting with minister to address coliving 'misinformation'

Ireland: Developer Bartra Capital is seeking a meeting with housing minister Darragh O’Brien as he undertakes a review on coliving schemes.

IHM hosts Dine and Learn at new Bermonds Locke property

UK: International Hospitality Media, the publisher of Serviced Apartment News, held its first face-to-face event since March in London yesterday.

Rebrand and expansion push for Dream Apartments

UK: Belfast-based serviced apartment provider, Dream Apartments has unveiled a corporate rebrand and plans to expand into a further 10 European cities by 2022.

Ascott opens London Citadines property

UK: Ascott has opened Citadines Islington London, the newest addition to its aparthotel portfolio in Europe.

Sherry takes CEO role at Flying Butler

UK: Dominic Sherry has joined Flying Butler Apartments in the newly created role of CEO.

71-key Quest aparthotel set for Sydney suburb

Australia: Quest is set to open a 71-room aparthotel in the Woolooware Bay Town Centre development.

Does Covid signal the end for the hospitality brand assembly line?

SAN spoke to a hotel owner, an operator and a branding expert to get their perspectives on what the future might hold for hospitality brand launches.

Blomjous joins SITU as Benelux region country manager

UK: Corporate accommodation agency SITU hired Yolanda Blomjous to a newly created role.

Ascott boosts loyalty programme benefits

Singapore: Ascott Limited has added a raft of enhancements to its Ascott Star Rewards (ASR) programme, including a points exchange initiative with CapitaStar, Singapore’s leading lifestyle and shopping rewards programme.

SLS Dubai to feature 321 serviced apartments

UAE: The five-star SLS Dubai Hotel & Residences, which will open in Q4 2020, will feature 321 serviced apartments.

AAM 15 Management opens New Hampshire Residence Inn

US: The 123-key Residence Inn by Marriott Manchester Downtown has opened in Manchester, New Hampshire.

Warrington aparthotel plans get the go ahead

UK: Plans for a £1.8 million renovation of the former post office in Warrington's Palmyra Square have received planning consent.

Ascott sees increased focus on extended stay in MEA region

MEA: Ascott says it is seeing increased interest in serviced apartments as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Dwellworks launches new corporate housing brand

US: Dwellworks has launched its Dwellworks Living brand, to offer "distinctive service and solutions for the global corporate housing marketplace, ensuring customers feel".

Spencer takes the helm at BizSpace

UK: Former Regus CEO John Spencer has been appointed chief executive at flexible workspace provider BizSpace

First MEA Swissôtel hotel and serviced apartments to open in Qatar

Qatar: Accor is set to open the Middle East’s first Swissôtel combined hotel, serviced apartment and branded residential project.

Stoneweg acquires Dublin site for coliving project

Ireland: Real estate investment advisor and asset manager Stoneweg has acquired seven vacant buildings on Cork Street, Dublin 8 in an off-market transaction.

BizSpace reports rise in demand for regional office space

UK: BizSpace, the UK’s largest provider of regional flexible workspace, has reported increasing demand from companies looking to base their staff in outside major city-centre locations.

Brisbane aparthotel opens after million-dollar refurb

Australia: The 96-key Adina Apartment Hotel Brisbane Anzac Square has completed a million-dollar makeover.

Element extended stay hotel in Atlanta set for November opening

US: A 164-key, six-storey Element hotel is set to open in Atlanta's Buckhead neighbourhood.

Thumbs down for Manchester coliving schemes

UK: Manchester city council has refused planning for two city centre coliving schemes but both are likely to return to committee next month.

Apple Hospitality REIT buys newly opened Hyatt dual-branded project

US: Apple Hospitality REIT has announced the opening and acquisition of the 105-key Hyatt House and 154-key Hyatt Place in Tempe, Arizona.

InTown Suites unveils redesigned room types

US: Starwood Capital's extended stay brand InTown Suites has unveiled its redesigned suites.

Investor consortium targets UK student accommodation sector

UK: VELO Fund, a global consortium of global investors, has announced plans to enter the UK purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) sector.

Radisson signs Pakistan's first internationally branded serviced apartments

Pakistan: Radisson Hotel Group has signed a contract for the Radisson Blu Serviced Apartments, Islamabad.

More than 100 IHG properties to get Sonesta rebrand

US: 103 IHG properties in the US, Canada and Puerto Rico are to be reflagged under the Sonesta brand.

Denver's first independent extended stay hotel tops out

US: Sage Hospitality Group and its partners topped out at the Catbird, an extended stay hotel development in Denver’s River North Art District (RiNo).

Entrepreneurs launch Indian coliving startup COVIE

India: Real estate entrepreneurs Swapnali Bhosale Kadam and Abhishek Kumar have launched COVIE, described as “a new age co-living startup” with 3,000+ beds in Pune, Bengaluru and Mumbai.

Flying Butler adds Chelsea and Marylebone apartments

UK: Flying Butler Apartments has added The Apartments portfolio of 33 luxury units in Chelsea and Marylebone Village.

Urban Creation offers remote work spaces at its serviced apartments

UK: Urban Creation, a property developer based in Bristol, is set to transform some of its serviced and student apartments into remote working spaces.

NexGen to break ground on its first Home2 Suites property

US: Hotel development and management company NexGen Hotels will break ground on its first Home2 Suites by Hilton this April.

Student housing change of use trend continues

UK: A third block of student accommodation in Cardiff has applied for a change of use to serviced apartments.

Birmingham's Royal Angus set for aparthotel conversion

UK: SevenCapital has bought the 186-bedroom Royal Angus hotel in Birmingham's St Chads Queensway for an undisclosed fee, and will convert it in to an aparthotel.

Homesave to transition from aparthotel model

UK: Arbuthnot Latham Commercial has provided a commercial loan of £2.2 million for Homesave UK Limited, helping the company to transition its business model from aparthotels to residential lettings.

Roomzzz Newcastle reopens after refurb and extension

UK: Roomzzz has completed a multi-million-pound redevelopment and extension of its six-storey aparthotel in Clavering Place, Newcastle.

Sandpiper acquires two SC extended stay hotels

US: Sandpiper Lodging Trust (SLT) has acquired two Candlewood Suites hotels located in North Charleston and Bluffton, South Carolina.

E&O calls time on Kuala Lumpur serviced apartments

Malaysia: Developer Eastern & Oriental Berhad (E&O) will cease operations of the 200-key E&O Residences Kuala Lumpur (EOR KL) next month.

Hyatt House property under construction in Tallahassee

US: Mountain Shore Properties (MSP), a South Carolina-based developer, is planning to open a new Hyatt House hotel in Tallahassee's Railroad Square Art District.

res:harmonics appoints Dow as CCO

UK: Serviced apartment and coliving management system res:harmonics has appointed Steven Dow as its chief commercial officer.

Starcity partners with Greystar

US: Coliving developer and operator Starcity is partnering with Greystar to offer the company its experience platform.

Cycas announces further appointments

Netherlands: Cycas Hospitality has announced a further round off appointments at properties across Europe.

"The worst is over" says Brookfield as it prepares for spending spree

Canada: Brookfield Asset Management raised a record US$23 billion during the second quarter and expects to accelerate the pace of investments after the disruption caused by Covid-19.

$1 billion injection for WeWork as membership declines

US: SoftBank is injecting a further $1.1 billion into WeWork as it battles declining membership amid the pandemic.

Marriott offers Caribbean "workation" stays

US: Marriott is offering guests extended stays and the necessary facilities to work from their hotel rooms in the Caribbean.

WaterWalk buys $2 million Arizona site

US: Extended stay developer and operator WaterWalk has acquired a 4.5 acre development site in Phoenix’s Deer Valley neighbourhood for $2.14 million.

Developer withdraws plans for Belfast aparthotel

UK: Kilmona Property has withdrawn plans for a £23 million aparthotel near Boucher Road in Belfast after it was recommended for rejection by the council.

Green light expected for Cardiff aparthotel

UK: Proposals to build a serviced apartment building in Cardiff have been recommended for approval by the local council.

Oakwood teams up with Country Garden to launch Beluxs brand

Singapore: Oakwood has partnered with Country Garden Commercial and Culture Tourism Group to codevelop a new brand, Oakwood Beluxs.

Ascott launches Work in Residence programme

Singapore: Ascott has launched its Work in Residence initiative at participating properties worldwide, transforming selected apartments into work suites.

Turnover-based rents - a lifeline for hospitality?

In the wake of the Covid crisis and its devastating impact on the nation's high streets, many UK landlords in the retail and restaurant spaces have moved from offering fixed leases to turnover-based rents, in order to allow struggling tenants to continue trading. Could the hospitality sector follow suit?

SPT delays sale of Sonesta extended stay portfolio

US: Service Properties Trust has delayed the sale of 39 extended stay properties managed and branded under its sister company Sonesta.

TownePlace Suites opens New Mexico property

US: The Marriott TownePlace Suites Albuquerque Old Town has opened its doors, close to the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center.

Sinn Féin aims to ban coliving in Ireland

Ireland: Sinn Féin, the largest opposition party in the Irish parliament, has published a bill that aims to ban coliving developments across the Republic.

Aparthotel opens in Montreal's Griffintown neighbourhood

Canada: The Griffintown Hotel, which offers 114 apartments for short-, medium- and long-term stays, has opened its doors.

Messages with meaning

• Getting the tone of your brand messaging right during tumultuous times is not an easy thing to do, but it has to be said, some of the recent attempts I have seen relating to the pandemic and the Black Lives Matter campaign have been nothing short of awful.

Britain is "behind the curve" getting back to work warns Savills boss

UK: Savills group chief executive Mark Ridley has warned that British cities are “behind the curve” when compared to European and Asian counterparts.

September opening for third London Locke property

UK: edyn Group will open Bermonds Locke, its third property in the UK capital, next month.

Latest Home2 Suites property opens in Michigan

US: A 95-key Home2 Suites by Hilton Brands extended stay hotel has opened in Battle Creek, Michigan.

ASAP names Haran as incoming chair

UK: The Association of Serviced Apartment Providers (ASAP) has named Evelyn Haran, chief operating officer at PREM Group,as its incoming chair

Cheval survey reveals attitudes of frequent travellers to accommodation and flying

UK: The Cheval Collection has revealed the findings of a survey of frequent international travellers.

Extended Stay America encourages voter registration

US: Extended Stay America has joined the STAY Counted campaign, an initiative to encourage voter registration and participation in the November US presidential election

Supercity offering free breaks to NHS workers

UK: Supercity Aparthotels is offering free two night stays for NHS staff this summer.

Starwood Capital highlights performance of extended stay sector

US: Starwood Property Trust CEO Barry Sternlicht says the company's chain of extended stay hotels has been running at 85 per cent average occupancy rates during the coronavirus crisis.

Frasers opens Tokyo CBD property

Japan: Frasers Hospitality has opened the 224-unit Fraser Suites Akasaka in Tokyo.

Planning decision on major Manchester coliving scheme deferred

UK: A planning decision on a four-tower coliving development in Manchester city centre has been deferred for a site visit.

Phnom Penh serviced apartment rates and occupancy decline

Cambodia: Phnom Penh serviced apartment rates declined in Q2 2020, due to the pandemic and new hotel supply, according to CBRE Cambodia.

Crown Group appoints sales director for Skye Suites

Australia: The Crown Group has appointed Ari Foo as director of sales for its Skye Suites serviced apartment portfolio.

UK senior living sector to grow 10 per cent by 2025

UK: Research from Knight Frank says the UK’s senior living sector is expected to grow 10 per cent over the next five years.

Avani on track to open new apartment properties

Thailand: Avani Hotels & Resorts says it is on track to open more than ten new properties, including two serviced apartment projects.

Residence Inn forms last part of office park transformation

US: A 111-key Residence Inn is the last element of the transformation from an office park to hotel park at Hamilton Court in Farmington Hills, Michigan.

Swiss Central City Real Estate Fund buys Lucerne Vision Apartments building

Switzerland: Following the opening of Vision Apartments Lucerne in January 2020, the property has been purchased by the Swiss Central City Real Estate Fund for CHF 18.2 million (£14.99 million).

Perth identified as possible coliving hotspot

Australia: Research from Savills has identified Perth as an ideal location for coliving developments.

Dubai launches push for fractional ownership of serviced apartments

UAE: The Dubai Land Department (DLD) is launching a fractional title deed concept in a bid to attract small investors to the hotel apartment segment.

Jurny announces domestic and international expansion

US: Apartment provider Jurny has announced its expansion in the US, as well as the addition of units in London and Tel Aviv.

House of Fisher launches revamped website

UK: Home Counties serviced apartment provider House of Fisher is launching its new website this week.

ABP to install individual offices at London property

UK: Chinese developer ABP is to install up to 2,000 individual “cube” offices at its Royal Albert Dock scheme in London.

Maven Capital acquires Edinburgh site for PBSA project

UK: Maven Capital Partners has bought a site in Edinburgh for the development of a 120-bed student accommodation project.

Ascott signs six properties for lyf coliving brand

Singapore: Ascott has signed six lyf properties in Australia, China and the Philippines.

A-1 takes over management of Texas Homewood Suites

US: The 90-key Homewood Suites by Hilton in New Braunfels, Texas, is now managed by A-1 Hospitality Group.

IHG signs Vietnam serviced apartments

Vietnam: IHG has signed an InterContinental resort and residences in Halong Bay, in Vietnam’s Quang Ninh province.

ART sells Guangzhou and Paris properties

Singapore: Ascott Residence Trust has entered into two conditional agreements to divest Ascott Guangzhou and Citadines Didot Montparnasse Paris.

Quest reaches profit share agreement in new rent deals

Australia: Quest Apartment Hotels has reached rental agreements with the “overwhelming majority” of its landlords.

Cycas to operate first all-suite Radisson property in Western Europe

Netherlands: Cycas Hospitality has signed a lease agreement with ECHO Partners to operate its first Radisson-branded property, the Radisson Hotel & Suites Amsterdam South.

Residence Inn opens Tennessee property

US: The 118-suite Residence Inn by Marriott hotel in Franklin, Tennessee is open for business.

Quest to open latest NZ aparthotel in August

New Zealand: Quest Apartment Hotels is to open a property in Palmerston North on New Zealand's North Island next month.

Nuveen acquires Copenhagen PBSA project

Denmark: Nuveen Real Estate's €2 billion European Cities fund has made a €100 million forward commitment to acquire a student accommodation development in Copenhagen.

Investec to fund Brixton flexible workspace redevelopment

UK: Investec Structured Finance has provided a 30-month senior loan for the acquisition and restoration of Shakespeare Business Centre in Brixton, south London

Kerten opens Jordan mixed-use project

Jordan: Specialist mixed-use operator Kerten Hospitality has opened the Cloud7 Residence Ayla Aqaba.

Belfast student units to become aparthotel for three years

UK: The top floors of an 11-storey student accommodation block in Belfast is set to open as an aparthotel.

Ponsford takes guest services role at The Stay Company

UK: Serviced accommodation provider The Stay Company has appointed Beth Ponsford as guest services executive.

GMG seeks forward funding partner for London mixed-use scheme

UK: GMG Real Estate is offering a forward funding opportunity on a fully consented hotel, office and residential development in Farringdon with a GDV of £93.5 million.

UK conferences and exhibitions to go ahead from October 1st

UK: Prime minister Boris Johnson has confirmed that conferences and exhibitions will be permitted to go ahead from 1 October 2020.

Council launches judicial review in to Dublin apartments

Ireland: Dublin City Council has taken judicial review proceedings for a second time against An Bord Pleanála’s approval of plans for a 13-storey apartment building in Dublin’s north docklands.

Haag appointed managing director at SACO

UK: edyn has appointed Steven Haag as managing director of its SACO extended stay accommodation business.

ISA introduces Workabode units

Singapore: International Service Apartments (ISA) has launched the Workabode concept, designed foe guests who need workspace in their apartments.

room2's Robert Godwin - the budget space is a huge opportunity for us

Robert Godwin, managing director of Lamington Group and room2, talks to SAN about his plans to enter the budget hotel space by taking over Travelodge properties across the UK.

Workspace sees surge in demand

UK: Workspace Group has reported a significant increase in customer demand, receiving 765 enquiries in June compared with 272 in April.

Sydney Hmlet property on the market for AUS$10 million

Australia: A western Sydney property currently leased to coliving provider Hmlet is up for sale with a guide price of $10 million.

Liverpool warehouse with aparthotel consent up for sale

UK: The Imperial Warehouses building on Davies Street in Liverpool, is being sold after its owner Mantra Homes was placed into receivership in January.

Room2 poised to take over up to 40 Travelodge properties

UK: The landlords of up to 40 Travelodge hotels are planning to replace the flag with Lamington Group's room2 brand, according to a report in the Daily Telegraph.

Initial plans for Harrow aparthotel revealed

UK: Initial plans for an aparthotel and rooftop restaurant on the site of a former car park have been put before Harrow Council.

Partners form Opco/Propco SPV for Indian apartment and coliving projects

India: Hyderabad-based Sensation Group and Gurugram-based Woke Life Co-living have formed Sensation Woke Hospitality.

SilverDoor integrates with Conferma Pay

UK: Serviced apartment agency SilverDoor has integrated with virtual payment platform Conferma Pay.

ENGAGE webinar: Travel buyers v travel sellers, who wins?

The first in a fortnightly series of ENGAGE webinars for travel buyers and suppliers of accommodation to corporate travellers was hosted today, by Mark Harris of the Travel Intelligence Network.

Zolostays closes $56 million funding round

India: Bengaluru-based coliving startup Zolostays has raised US$56 million in Series C funding round led by Investcorp, Nexus Ventures Partners, Mirae Assets, Trifecta Capital and others.

JFK Residence Inn nears completion

US: A Residence Inn by Marriott in Queens, designed by Gene Kaufman Architect, is close to completing construction.

UK indie coworking spaces urged to join together to lobby government

UK: The UK Coworking Assembly has launched the campaign #SaveOurLocalCoworking, to secure economic relief for independent coworking operators.

Canberra mixed-use scheme could include serviced apartments

Australia: Developer Doma Group is planning a four-building development on a Canberra site purchased for $12.5 million from the ACT Government.

Frasers reopens global portfolio

Singapore: Frasers Hospitality is reopening its worldwide property portfolio with a series of new measures designed to ensure the health, safety and well-being of guests and staff.

Common partners with City Pads for Chicago apartments

US: Common has partnered with City Pads to open a 223-bed coliving apartment building in Chicago's Little Italy that aims to provide affordable and quality housing to Illinois Medical District workers.

World's first coliving fund secures extra capital

UK: COLIV, an independent fund managed by DTZ Investors, now has £170 million of capital to invest, following a recently confirmed commitment from Merseyside Pension Fund, the Liverpool-based local authority pension fund.

Marriott opens Element all-suite hotel in Toronto

Canada: The 144-key Element Toronto Airport Hotel has opened for business.

Oakwood launches Clean360 program

Singapore: Oakwood has launched Clean360, a global program that "details the brand’s commitment to meeting the health and safety challenges of COVID-19".

Former Native COO Brunner joins coworking operator Clockwise

UK: Former Native chief operating officer Alexandra Brunner has joined coworking operator Clockwise as it prepares for expansion.

Schroders buys Hong Kong asset manager Pamfleet

UK: Asset manager Schroders has has bought control of Hong Kong real estate investment manager Pamfleet, which has serviced apartments and hotels in its portfolio, for an undisclosed sum.

GBI and Fraport team up for Frankfurt serviced apartments

Germany: A joint venture between Fraport Casa Commercial GmbH and developer GBI is planning a mixed-use property directly at Frankfurt Airport in the Gateway Gardens quarter.

Siegel to grow Siegel Select brand with Alabama additions

US: The Siegel Group Nevada has acquired two former Budgetel extended stay hotels in Birmingham, Alabama for conversion to its Siegel Select brand.

Nuveen appoints Common to manage residential units

US: Nuveen Real Estate has contracted coliving company Common to manage a 575-unit portfolio of multifamily assets.

Cheval strengthens Edinburgh portfolio

UK: Cheval Collection is adding the Abbey Strand Apartments at Holyrood into its portfolio.

IHM launches ENGAGE corporate travel webinar series

UK: International Hospitality Media (IHM) is launching a series of webinars in the run up to the third ENGAGE corporate travel buyer forum.

Planning granted for Staycity's fourth Manchester property

UK: Staycity's fourth property in Manchester, a 21-story tower in the city’s Deansgate area, has been granted planning consent.

Urban Living webinar: “Workspitality”

In the latest Urban Living webinar, IHM CEO Piers Brown hosted a discussion on how the world of work is converging with a new age of hospitality.

AXA IM in advanced talks to buy Dolphin Square

UK: AXA Investment Managers - Real Assets is in advanced talks to buy the one million square Dolphin Square apartment block in London for around £850 million.

GBI's Nittka highlights resilience of the German serviced apartment sector

Germany: Reiner Nittka, CEO of Germany's largest hotel real estate developer GBI AG, says serviced apartments "are coping much better" with the crisis than hotels.

NYC corporate rentals company set for summer launch

US: Dwell Optimal, a company offering apartments to corporate clients will launch in late summer, in the New York City metropolitan area.

UK to lift quarantine restrictions on European arrivals from July 6

UK: Restrictions on overseas travel will be relaxed from July 6, ministers have said.

Sonder raises $170 million in Series E round

US: Apartment rental company Sonder has raised US$170 million in a Series E round, which was led by Fidelity Funds, Westcap and Inovia Capital.

Bangkok's serviced apartments weather the Covid storm

Thailand: A report from property consultants JLL shows that serviced apartments in Thailand have fared better than their hotel counterparts during the pandemic.

UK PM urged to set 30,000 annual target for retirement living properties

UK: Three of the UK’s largest retirement housebuilders have called on Boris Johnson to set a target for the delivery of homes for the over-65s.

Partnership to develop 1,000 Home2 Suites by Hilton in China

China: Hilton has signed a management license agreement with Country Garden to introduce and develop the Home2 Suites by Hilton brand in China.

The Hello World buys StayAbode and seeks further acquisitions

India: Bengaluru-based home rental startup NestAway’s coliving subsidiary The Hello World has acquired coliving provider StayAbode for an undisclosed sum.

Green light for Newcastle student accommodation

UK: Plans for a development of student accommodation at Newcastle's Quayside have been given the green light.

The Assemblage ceases operations following death of founder Niño

US: Wellness-focused coworking brand The Assemblage has ceased operations at all three of its Manhattan locations.

Acomodeo partners with ATG

Germany: Serviced apartment booking portal Acomodeo has partnered with leading international travel management company ATG

Trio team up for €1 billion Paris venture

France: Ivanhoé Cambridge and Bouwinvest Real Estate Investors alongside Greystar Real Estate Partners have launched a new venture focused on funding purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) and young professional accommodation in the Greater Paris Region.

Locke announces European opening timetable

UK: Locke, Eden's lifestyle aparthotel brand, has announced its European openings, with properties in Germany, Ireland, Denmark and Portugal.

My Place strengthens executive team

US: My Place Hotels of America has named former EVP Matthew Campbell as chief operating officer/chief legal officer and former associate general counsel Adam Altman as the company’s general counsel.

Second wave of UK job cuts at WeWork

UK: WeWork has made a second round of bobcats n the UK as it continues its restructuring.

22-storey Manchester aparthotel plans to be decided this week

UK: Developer Ask Real Estate's plans for a 22-storey aparthotel on Manchester's Deansgate will be decided this week.

Warrington aparthotel plans submitted

UK: A listed former bank building in Warrington town centre is set to be turned into an aparthotel.

WoodSpring hits 70 per cent occupancy for May

US: Choice Hotels' extended stay portfolio has achieved industry leading occupancy during March, April and May, with WoodSpring Suites achieving more than 70 per cent.

UK hospitality sector set to reopen on July 4

UK: Prime minister Boris Johnson is reportedly set to announce hotels and bed and breakfasts can reopen on July 4 along with pubs, restaurants and hairdressers.

Out-of-court settlement for Dublin aparthotel dispute

Ireland: A High Court dispute over a planned seven-storey aparthotel development in James’s Street, Dublin has been resolved through mediation.

Guild Living to make London debut

UK: L&G's retirement living provider Guild Living has announced a £130 million scheme in Uxbridge, west London.

Ascott adds record 5,400 units in first five months of 2020

Singapore: The Ascott Limited has secured contracts for 25 new properties with more 5,400 units across 19 cities in the first five months of the year.

Funding secured for Midlands coliving scheme

UK: The Studios24 has secured funding of £6.4 million for a coliving development in Wolverhampton.

Dream Apartments launches booking service for corporate travellers

UK: Belfast-based Dream Apartments has launched Dream Worldwide, a booking service designed to give corporate travellers "a home from home global experience without the hassle".

Serviced apartments could lead the recovery in Europe says Savills

UK: New research from Savills shows that serviced apartments' resilience during the Covid-19 crisis in Europe is "shining a light on the sector".

Riverstone appoints new chair ahead of London investment push

UK: Senior living operator Riverstone has appointed Penny Hughes as chair in preparation for a £3 billion expansion in London.

Alonso takes partnership role at Zeevou

Spain: PMS and channel manager Zeevou has appointed Emilio Alonso as chief partneriser.

Quest launches domestic travel ad campaign

Australia: Quest Apartment Hotels has launched On the Road Again, a campaign aimed to inspire Australians to make the most of their domestic travel liberties.

Hmlet launches 'heritage properties' in Singapore

Singapore: Coworking operator Hmlet has launched a collection of 'heritage properties', adding 80 furnished rooms in Tiong Bahru and 12 in Emerald Hill.

Home2 Suites opens Vermont property

US: A Home2 Suites by Hilton extended stay hotel has opened in downtown Williston, Vermont.

RESIDE Worldwide launches RESIDE Right duty of care and sanitation programme

US: RESIDE Worldwide says it is dedicated to helping flatten the COVID-19 curve.

Egypt set for branded residence boost

Egypt: A raft of international brands are planning to expand in the Egyptian branded residential sector, joining the likes of Four Seasons, Safir, Hilton and InterContinental.

Out in the open

Awareness of mental health issues, and the sheer number of people they affect, has risen tremendously over the last few years.

The bubble has burst

It's sad to have to report on the ultimate demise of Stay Alfred, even though the news was not unexpected.

Solid State

As the financial impact of the pandemic on the hospitality and travel sectors becomes more apparent, there has been talk in a number of countries about the nationalisation of certain companies which have been propped up with huge amounts of government support.

ESA appoints Williams to franchising role

US: Extended Stay America has appointed Mark Williams as managing director, franchise development.

WeWork looks to shelve coliving division

US: WeWork is looking to wind down its WeLive coliving project, according to media reports.

SilverDoor integrates Orbi technology with SAP Concur

UK: Serviced apartment agency SilverDoor Apartments has integrated its Orbi technology with leading expense management system SAP Concur.

Staycity reopens properties with new health and safety protocols

Ireland: Staycity is set to reopen properties with a comprehensive set of health and safety protocols designed to minimise the risk of Covid-19 and deliver high standards of hygiene to both staff and guests.

Planning consent for Brighton's first purpose-built coliving scheme

UK: Brundell Property Group has been given the green light for Brighton’s first purpose-built coliving development after two years of negotiations with the local authority.

WeWork to invest $100 million in Indian division

India: WeWork India is set to raise US$100 million from WeWork Global to invest in the sustainable growth of its business.

The Stay Company adds measures to help local businesses get back to work

UK: Serviced apartment provider The Stay Company has stayed open through the Covid-19 crisis and says it is standing by to support East Midlands businesses bring their employees back to work safely.

Workspace profits halved by Brexit uncertainty

UK: Workspace Group has seen a 47 per cent drop in pre-tax profits in its due to uncertainty around Brexit and the general election.

Graham gets go ahead for Egham mixed-use scheme

UK: Construction company Graham has secured a £60 million contract to build a mixed-use scheme in Egham, Surrey.

Remotelock signs up to Urban Living Festival

UK: Smartlock Europe's Remotelock brand is the latest company to sign up to exhibit at Urban Living Festival 2020 in London this November.

AXA IM acquires €150 million Madrid rental portfolio

Spain: AXA IM - Real Assets has completed the forward purchase of a 919-unit affordable housing for rent portfolio in Madrid region of Spain for €150 million.

Jenner joins Zeevou as digital strategy manager

UK: PMS and channel manager Zeevou has appointed David Jenner as digital strategy manager.

My Place launches Trend Hotels & Suites brand

US: My Place Hotels has launched Trend Hotels & Suites, a collection of upper midscale and upscale select service and extended stay hotels.

Jobs on the line in furlough dispute between Native and HMRC

UK: Aparthotel operator Native may be forced to lay off more than 60 staff at its Manchester property if a dispute with HMRC over furlough payments can not be resolved

Latest Studio 6 property opens in Texas

US: G6 Hospitality, owner, operator and franchisor of the Studio 6 extended stay brand has announced the opening of a new-build Studio 6 in Katy, Texas.

The connectors – the future of serviced apartment agency

SAN editor George Sell talks to leading serviced apartment agents about the impact of the Coronavirus pandemic and its potential influence in shaping the sector's future.

US economy extended stay RevPAR is double that of luxury sector in April

US: The latest figures from The Highland Group show that the economy extended stay hotels reported average RevPAR of $29.78 in April, around double that of the luxury sector.

"Transformational year" for hostel operator Safestay

UK: Hostel operator Safestay has reported turnover of £18.4 million for 2019, and adjusted EBITDA of £6.1 million.

My Place opens first Virginia property

US: My Place Hotels of America has made its 27th state debut with the opening of a property in King George, Virginia.

Cuckooz ceases trading

UK: London serviced apartment operator Cuckooz has closed its doors due to the impact of the Coronavirus pandemic.

Brookfield becomes British Land's largest shareholder

UK: Brookfield has paid £264 million for a seven per cent stake in British Land, making it the biggest single shareholder.

Dubai's first purpose-built student housing nears completion

UAE: The Myriad Dubai, the emirate's first integrated purpose-built student housing community is nearing completion ahead of new academic year

Furnished Quarters introduces electrostatic sprayers

US: Corporate housing provider Furnished Quarters is set to introduce electrostatic sprayers as the company evolves its cleaning practices in light of COVID-19.

Adagio to double number of properties by 2023

France: Aparthotels Adagio is set to double the size of its portfolio by 2023 and reopen 90 per cent of its existing properties by the end of June.

Industrious appoints Hogan Preusse to board as IPO preparations begin

US: Flexible office startup Industrious has appointed real estate veteran Mary Hogan Preusse to its board of directors and has been interviewing investment banks ahead of a potential IPO.

Quay Apartments wins Prestige Hotel Award

UK: Quay Apartments, which operates 14 units in Clarence House in Newport, has been named Best Serviced Apartment in South Wales and Cardiff for 2020 in the Prestige Hotel Awards.

Pirrotti-Dranchak joins Office Evolution to support growth

US: Coworking franchisor Office Evolution has appointed Andrea Pirrotti-Dranchak as chief marketing and development officer.

Tooting aparthotel gets green light for expansion

UK: LHG (London Hotel Group) has won planning permission to expand its aparthotel scheme on Tooting High Street to 373 keys across six floors

HVMG to manage Texas Residence Inn property

US: Hospitality Ventures Management Group (HVMG) has been awarded a management contract for the 104-room Residence Inn by Marriott Waco/South in Texas.

Latest deal reflects resilience of UK student housing sector

UK: Two student accommodation developments, in Edinburgh and Leicester, have been sold for a combined £22.2 million.

UK senior living to see increased investor focus

UK: The senior living sector is set to see an increased investor focus despite the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Cycas strengthens French and German teams

Netherlands: Cycas Hospitality has appointed five regional experts across France and Germany in recent weeks to further accelerate its European growth.

Zeevou appoints Reynolds to partner engagement role

US: PMS and channel manager Zeevou has appointed Andrew Reynolds as partner engagement manager.

Stanza Living outlines coliving expansion plans

India: Stanza Living will invest Rs 400 crore (around US$50 million) over the next two years on expansion.

Essex aparthotel plans refused

UK: Plans for a £6 million aparthotel, shops and restaurant complex in Clacton town centre have been dismissed by a planning inspector.

Cardiff student accommodation applies for continued serviced apartment usage

UK: The owner of a prominent Cardiff building has applied to extend a temporary permission allowing it to be used for serviced apartments as well as student accommodation.

European real estate investment to halve before rebounding sharply

UK: Forecasts from Savills predict that European real estate investment activity is set to fall by 50 per cent before rebounding sharply within the next year.

Hotels are adopting the serviced apartment business model in order to survive

Back in early March I wrote an article for our sister publication Boutique Hotel News about a trending buzzword in real estate circles – the “hotelisation” of real estate. Now a new trend is manifesting itself.

The Residence launches Tower Hill apartments

UK: London serviced apartment operator The Residence has added The Residence Tower Hill to its portfolio.

In Sync - the diversification of hospitality

Global: With the International Hotel Investment Forum postponed until 2021, organiser Questex has launched In Sync, a two-day online event.

Starcity forms JV with Barcelona Homes as European expansion starting point

Spain: San Francisco-based coliving firm Starcity has formed a JV with Barcelona Homes to "build housing for the urban renter in Spain".

Belfast aparthotel project runs in to infrastructure problems

UK: Plans for a £23 million aparthotel have been recommended for refusal by officials in Belfast City Council due to a lack of wastewater treatment infrastructure.

Green light for Chester pub conversion to serviced apartments

UK: Plans to transform a disused Chester pub into serviced apartments have been given planning consent by the local authority.

Watkins Jones reopens BTR and student housing sites

UK: BTR and student housing developer Watkins Jones says most of its UK construction sites are now operating at 75 per cent of normal capacity, following the restarting of work after the coronavirus lockdown.

Ascott's Indian expansion plans stymied by pandemic

India: Ascott's pipeline of new property openings in India will be slowed due to the impact of Covid-19, according to regional GM Vincent Miccolis.

ESA launches STAY Confident safety initiative

US: Extended Stay America has launched the STAY Confident initiative to focus on "the health, safety, and comfort of its guests".

Industrious to manage NYC coworking space

US: Thor Equities has signed up workspace manager Industrious as a partner to operate its 36,000-square-foot coworking space in Midtown Manhattan.

Orange Capital acquires Utrecht apartments

Netherlands: Dutch real estate firm Orange Capital has acquired 173 student and residential apartments from a KKR and Round Hill Capital partnership.

Oakwood to focus solely on property management

Singapore: Oakwood will concentrate solely on growing and managing its hospitality portfolio, exiting its agency business.

House of Fisher submits plans for Farnborough aparthotel

UK: House of Fisher has submitted plans for a 39-key aparthotel in Farnborough town centre, Hampshire.

Barrie joins Synergy as VP of sales EMEA

UK: Synergy Global Housing has appointed Claire Barrie as VP of sales, EMEA, based in London.

Cheval offers complimentary two-week stay with 90 day-plus bookings

UK: Cheval Collection is offering two weeks on a complimentary basis for any guest looking to book a 90 day stay or longer at its London properties.

Whittaker joins National Corporate Housing as VP of global supplier management

UK: National Corporate Housing has hired former Oakwood AVP Richard Whittaker as VP of global supplier management.

UK chancellor expands furlough scheme to October

UK: The UK government will continue to pay the wages of workers furloughed due to coronavirus until October, Chancellor Rishi Sunak has announced.

Quest partners with Salvation Army to provide temporary accommodation during pandemic

Australia: Quest Apartment Hotels has partnered with Housing All Australians (HAA) and the Salvation Army to provide temporary accommodation for Australians who are at risk of homelessness as a result of the pandemic.

Guild Living lodges plans for 193-unit Surrey scheme

UK: Legal & General’s retirement housing company Guild Living has submitted a planning application for a 193-unit site in Walton-on-Thames.

A leftfield launch

Sometimes a brand launch comes at you from leftfield, and a concept that you would never have considered comes to life before your eyes.

Follow the money

In extraordinary times, it's always fascinating to see where the smart money goes.

Hoping for a V

It's not often that a press release from an industry body contains the word "dire" but the GBTA has been very candid when announcing the results of its latest flash poll of members.

Acomodeo Price Radar shows cost saving of serviced apartments over hotels

Germany: Booking portal Acomodeo has published its Serviced Apartment Price Radar 2019, highlighting price differences in the world’s major business destinations when booking a serviced apartment compared to a hotel room in 2019.

PM says some UK hospitality businesses could reopen in July

UK: Prime minister Boris Johnson has announced a phased approach to easing Coronavirus lockdown restrictions, which could see some hospitality businesses open in July if certain targets are met.

Magnuson Hotels launches extended stay brand

US: Magnuson Hotels has launched an extended stay brand, with its first properties in Texas and Ohio.

Domio launches industry's "most comprehensive" cleaning program

US: Aparthotel operator Domio has unveiled its Domio Difference cleaning program.

Zeus Living raises $15 million to fight COVID-19 impact

US: Furnished apartment provider Zeus Living has raised about $15 million in equity and debt.

ESA opens first franchise new-build property

US: Extended Stay America has opened its latest property, in Colonial Heights, Virginia.

Coliving firm sued over NYC lease

US: German coliving firm Quarters is being sued over the $8 million lease on a property in Brooklyn by the building's owner.

Expansion plan for Liverpool aparthotel

UK: The 126-room Aparthotel Adagio Liverpool City Centre could be expanded to occupy two more floors, under proposals from the property’s owner.

Airbnb to cut a quarter of its workforce

US: Airbnb is laying off nearly 1,900 of its 7,500 employees as a result of the effects of the COVID-19 crisis.

Noli Studios parent secures investment from Novo Holdings

Denmark: NREP, the owner of the Noli Studios serviced apartment brand, has welcomed Novo Holdings as a minority shareholder.

Frasers switches serviced apartments to residential rental portfolio

Australia: Frasers Property Management has a selection of serviced apartments to its national portfolio of residential properties for rent.

What next for Airbnb?

The effects of the coronavirus pandemic have been felt keenly across the hospitality sector, but nowhere more so than at Airbnb. SAN editor George Sell looks at how it has been affected and the potential implications for the serviced apartment sector.

Criton offers free app to reduce touch points during COVID-19

UK: Criton is offering its guest engagement platform free of charge to serviced apartments until 2021.

ESA opens South Carolina property

US: Extended Stay America has opened a 120-key hotel in Bluffton, South Carolina.

Long-stay business proving resilient at The Collective

UK/US: Coliving developer and operator The Collective says short-term stays have been severely impacted by the lockdown but its long-stay business is proving resilient.

Quest to open first Gold Coast property

Australia: Quest Apartment Hotels will open its first property on the Gold Coast, Quest Robina, on Monday May 4.

Ascott adds benefits to celebrate reward programme’s first year

Singapore: Ascott’s loyalty programme Ascott Star Rewards (ASR) is offering its members “more value and flexibility” as it marks it first year.

Southern Grove reveals details of 'autonomous' aparthotel

UK: Developer Southern Grove has revealed details of its first autonomous aparthotel, where guests are able to book online, receive a code and access their stay without human interaction.

Quick Q&A: Sam Nazarian, sbe

Sam Nazarian, founder and CEO of sbe talks to SAN about launching the Hyde Living aparthotel brand in Europe, and what the Coronavirus pandemic has taught him.

Egyptian serviced apartments to carry Emaar's Address flag

Egypt: Emaar Misr has awarded Hassan Allam Construction and Consolidated Contractors Company (CCC) joint venture contracts to build the new Address Hotel and Village A Resorts Complex in the Marassi North Coast compound.

Homelike sees major boost in bookings post-Easter

Europe: Apartment rental platform for business Homelike has reported a significant boost in medium and long-term bookings over the last two weeks.

CDL buys majority stake in Sincere Property Group

Singapore: City Development Limited (CDL) has entered into agreements to acquire a 51 per cent stake in Sincere property Group for RMB4.39 billion.

Property entrepreneur launches Belfast serviced apartments

UK: Local property entrepreneur Mickey Brannigan has launched 15 new one- and two-bedroom apartments at the recently completed Ulsterville complex in Belfast City Centre.

Frontdesk secures $6.8 million in Series A round

US: Apartment rental company Frontdesk has secured $6.8 million in a Series A round in a combination of debt and equity.

San Francisco coliving firm raises $30 million

US: Starcity, a San Francisco-based coliving company, has raised $30 million in a Series B funding round.

Kern takes CEO role as Expedia raises $3.2 billion

US: Expedia Group has named Peter Kern and Eric Hart as its new CEO and CFO.

Union Living submits planning for 32-storey Manchester project

UK: Union Living, the coliving arm of developer Vita Group, has lodged an application for a 390-unit on Water Street in Manchester.

The Collective secures planning for Battersea coliving-led mixed-use project

UK: The Collective has been granted planing consent for its latest London project, a 112,000 square foot scheme in Battersea.

IHM hires Jaswal as event producer for Urban Living Festival

SAN publisher International Hospitality Media has appointed Prabhtej Jaswal as event producer for the Urban Living Festival 2020, which takes place on November 25 and 26 in London.

Liverpool aparthotel and restaurant site changes hands for £4.5 million

UK: Manchester-based HS Property Group has bought an aparthotel and restaurant asset on Liverpool's Castle Street from RSL Property Management.

The Ascott provides homes for key workers internationally

Singapore: Ascott is providing homes for healthcare workers, returning nationals, guests who are affected by border closures or city lockdowns, migrant workers and others who have been stranded due to COVID-19.

Lamington Group partners with homeless charity SPEAR

UK: Lamington Group, the operator of room2 Hometels and Lamington Apartments, has partnered with homeless charity SPEAR to support rough sleepers.

Minor Hotels targets Africa with Oaks extended stay brand

Thailand: Minor Hotels has appointed a regional director for Africa and plans to launch its oaks extended stay brand on the continent.

Hypnos wins second Queen’s Award for Enterprise

UK: British bedmaker Hypnos has received the Queen’s Award for Enterprise in Sustainable Development for its commitment to sustainable and ethical manufacturing.

Liverpool aparthotel placed in administration

UK: The Shankly Hotel, a 59-key aparthotel on Liverpool's Victoria Street, has been placed in administration.

Workspace offers 50 per cent rent reductions

UK: Flexible workspace provider Workspace is offering tenants a 50 per cent rent reduction during the coronavirus lockdown period.

Student accommodation and BTR homes planned for Bath car showroom sites

UK: Developer Watkin Jones Group has revealed plans for build to rent homes, student accommodation and commercial space.

Accor and sbe to debut Hyde Living aparthotel brand in Europe

Germany: Accor has announced plans for Europe's first Hyde Living aparthotel, at Munich Airport's LabCampus.

Hospitality businesses will be "among the last" to exit UK lockdown says government minister

UK: Michael Gove, the UK's minister for the cabinet office has said that hospitality businesses will be "among the last" to exit the country's current restrictions.

Up close and personal with Lina Abdullah, Oakwood

In the latest of a regular series, we find out what makes some of the leading figures in the serviced apartment and aparthotel sectors tick. This time, we speak to Lina Abdullah, Serviced Apartment Awards Rising Star winner and regional general manager, Cambodia, Myanmar and Thailand at Oakwood.

Hines hires student housing asset manager

UK: Global real estate investment firm Hines has appointed Alexandra Gumuchian to its student housing team.

Apache funds Edinburgh BTR project

UK: Apache Capital Partners and Harrison Street’s UK multifamily housing platform are funding a £215 million build-to-rent development in Edinburgh.

GBTA survey reveals "dire" state of global business travel

US: The Global Business Travel Association has polled 974 of its global member companies about the current state of the sector.

IHM supports AETHOS initiative to help hospitality professionals impacted by COVID-19

UK: SAN publisher International Hospitality Media is delighted to support AETHOS Consulting Group’s initiative to help hospitality professionals cope with impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Plans lodged for Birmingham aparthotel and hostel

UK: Plans to turn an office building in Birmingham city centre into an aparthotel and "boutique hostel" have been lodged with the City Council.

Airbnb moves focus to extended stays

US: Airbnb is updating its landing page and introducing new features aimed at longer-term stays.

Average age of London coliving tenants rising fast

UK: New data from coliving operator Built Asset Management (BAM) shows the average age of coliving residents in shared properties in London has risen by nearly five years since 2017.

Ascott set to operate floating accommodation for foreign workers in Singapore

Singapore: Ascott is set to operate accommodation vessels typically used for offshore and marine industry staff, in a bid to slow the spread of coronavirus.

My Place launches Help Our Heroes initiative

US: My Place Hotels of America has launched its Help Our Heroes initiative, a campaign dedicated to providing financial support for first responders across America.

Danke achieves WELL silver certification for Beijing coliving project

China: Danke has announced its Model Room Center in Beijing has received the WELL Silver Certification from the International WELL Building Institute (IWBI).

Student property market set for growth in Dubai

UAE: Demand for student accommodation in Dubai continues to outstrip supply, according to CBRE.

SKYE Suites fast-tracks opening of third Australian property due to long-stay demand

Australia: SKYE Suites Green Square is set to officially open in July, but from next week, SKYE Residences will offer serviced-apartment stays of 3 months or more to long-stay residents.

Adina to open four Australian aparthotels over next 12 months

Australia: Adina is set to open four properties over the next year, in Melbourne, Sydney and Canberra.

Convivia to develop Devon aparthotel

UK: Convivia, a new property development and investment group, will open its first aparthotel in Torquay, in early 2021.

Up close and personal with Bill Barnett, C9 Hotelworks Company

In the latest of a regular series, we find out what makes some of the leading figures in the serviced apartment and aparthotel sectors tick. This time, we speak to Bill Barnett, branded residence expert and managing director of C9 Hotelworks Company.

Curlew Capital buys Dutch coliving development for €20 million

Netherlands: Curlew Capital has acquired a 153-unit co-living development on behalf of insurer Vivat.

Bootle predicts V-shaped recovery from coronavirus impact

Global: Economist Roger Bootle of Capital Economics says the medium-term prospects for the hospitality industry are "extremely good".

US economy extended stay sector showing resilience against Covid-19 pandemic

US: Preliminary data for economy extended-stay hotels indicates a 10 to 15 per cent RevPar decline in March 2020 compared to March 2019.

Levin joins HLC Equity with brief to expand Layers brand

US: HLC Equity has appointed Andrew Levin as director of acquisitions to lead the company’s investment and acquisition efforts nationwide.

Western Australia serviced apartments given the green light

Australia: Amended plans for an AUD$8 million seven-storey serviced apartment block in the Perth suburb of Nedlands have been given the green light by State planners.

The lie of the land: Serviced Apartment News operator survey

Global: Serviced Apartment News polled 36 operators of varying size from around the world to see how they were coping with the coronavirus pandemic and its impact on business, as well as asking them for any ideas, tips or strategies which are helping them in the current situation.

Cytonn introduces virtual tours for Kenya serviced apartment investors

Kenya: Cytonn Investments is inviting potential investors in its serviced apartment developments to virtually tour the project while gatherings are banned in the country due to COVID-19.

Wealth Hospitality Group acquires Tennessee Residence Inn property

US: Wealth Hospitality Group, a new company formed by a merger of Fusion Hospitality and Heritage Hospitality Group, has acquired the Residence Inn in Jackson, Tennessee.

Coronavirus could cost US senior living industry $57 billion

US: The US senior living sector is facing an adverse economic impact of between $40 billion and $57 billion over the next 12 months, according to new analysis.

Plans submitted for Nottingham student housing project

UK: Jensco Group has submitted plans for two blocks of student accommodation at a site between Traffic Street, Waterway Street West and Sheriffs Way in Nottingham.

Ascott to open Somerset property in Bangkok

Thailand: Ascott has announced plans to open a 445-unit Somerset property in in Ratchadapisek-Rama 9, the new Central Business District of Bangkok.

Foster + Partners designs Chinese coliving project

China: Foster + Partners has released visuals of Qianhai Talents' Apartments, a project with co-living spaces planned for Shenzhen, China.

CapitaLand appoints Goh as CEO, Lodging

Singapore: CapitaLand Group has appointed Ascott CEO Kevin Goh as CEO, Lodging.

BridgeStreet branded properties in the US to close

US: BridgeStreet is closing properties it operates under its own brand in the US due to the impact of the Coronavirus.

Oakwood opens third Jakarta property

Indonesia: Oakwood has opened Oakwood Apartments PIK Jakarta, its third property in the city.

Red Roof offers day rates to remote workers

US: Red Roof, which operates the HomeTowne Studios brand, is introducing day rates for remote workers in response to pandemic-enforced changes to the working environment.

My Place makes Arizona debut

US: My Place Hotels has announced the opening of My Place Hotel-West Phoenix/Avondale, AZ.

Ministry of Design unveils co-living house in converted Singapore heritage shophouse

Singapore: Architecture firm Ministry of Design (MOD) has completed an all-white co-living house aimed at "making the residents its prominent features and giving them a blank canvas for the future".

Building management proptech platform launched

UK: Twinview, a "digital twin platform" designed to change the way buildings are managed and perform has been launched.

Wirral aparthotel conversion gets planning consent

UK: Developer E O’Grady’s proposals to convert the grade one-listed former Lloyds Bank in Birkenhead's Hamilton Square into a 10-bedroom aparthotel has received planning approval.

Aparthotel firm secures jobs with new finance package

UK: Walker & Williams, which owns and operates four aparthotels in the north-west of England, has secured a five figure finance package from Lloyds Bank Commercial Banking.

Global inventory hits 1.25 million units

UK: The eighth edition of the Global Serviced Apartments Industry Report (GSAIR), estimates that worldwide serviced apartment supply has increased by 14.75 per cent since 2018 to 1,254,743 units.

Oakwood's Abdullah promoted to regional GM

Singapore: Oakwood has promoted Lina Abdullah to the role of regional general manager.

Staycity negotiates rent freezes with landlords

Ireland: Staycity, which operates aparthotels across Europe, has negotiated rent freezes where possible its with landlords.

Oakwood postpones sale of agency business to Dwellworks

US/Singapore: Oakwood has postponed the sale of its global solutions business to Dwellworks and is suspending new bookings through its agency arm.

UK government advises accommodation providers to close for business

UK: The government has issued guidance to accommodation providers and has advised all those providing commercial accommodation to close.

E&O to launch Kuala Lumpur serviced apartments

Malaysia: Eastern & Oriental will open the 51-storey Conlay luxury serviced apartment project.

Suite Hub appoints Sadiq as commercial director

Berkshire-based apartment provider Suite Hub has appointed Aneal Sadiq to the newly created role of commercial director.

Winstone promoted to group CEO at SilverDoor

UK: Apartment agency SilverDoor has promoted Stuart Winstone to group CEO.

SAN operator survey seeks to share collective industry knowledge and experience

Worldwide: Serviced Apartment News is polling serviced apartment, aparthotel and extended stay operators across the globe to gauge the impact of the coronavirus on the sector and to share strategies for mitigating its effects.

IHM events manager helps the next generation

UK: International Hospitality Media events manager Chelsey Hulbert was recently invited to the University of Surrey to advise students on their latest module.

Quest set to convert apartments into quarantine locations

Australia: Quest Apartment Hotels has offered to turn up to 80 of its properties into quarantine or isolation facilities as the government requires them.

Yorkshire aparthotel gets the go ahead

UK: Councillors have given planning consent for a new development of homes, retail units and an aparthotel in Todmorden, Calderdale.

Amid the mayhem that that the coronavirus outbreak is wreaking on hospitality, and all the distress it is causing around the world, it has been heartening to see individuals and companies doing the best they can under the circumstances - being honest, being realistic and being responsible.

Extended stay conversion proposed for Duluth

US: A building in downtown Duluth, Minnesota, could be transformed in to the city's first extended-stay hotel, aimed at serving hospital and construction workers.

Marriott begins employee furlough program

US: Marriott International is starting to furlough thousands of employees as it closes hotels globally.

Sydney airport apartments on the market

Australia: Sydney Airport Suites, a development of 35 serviced apartments, is for sale through JLL.

URBAN LIVING FESTIVAL 2020 rescheduled for November 2020

International Hospitality Media (IHM) is rescheduling the inaugural URBAN LIVING FESTIVAL (ULF) from this July until November 25 and 26 2020.

Staycity shuts Birmingham property as coronavirus hits occupancy

UK: Staycity has closed its Arcadian Centre property in Birmingham, moving guests to another aparthotel in the city.

City Relay launches solutions arm for apartment owners and operators

UK: London-based property management company City Relay has unveiled its latest brand, City Relay Solutions.

ESA opens company-owned hotel in Florida

US: Extended Stay America has opened new-build company-owned hotel in Port Charlotte, Florida.

The industry celebrates at Serviced Apartment Awards 2020

UK: The winners of the fifth annual Serviced Apartment Awards celebrated in London last night, at a gala dinner presentation at the Millennium Gloucester Hotel Kensington.

Ascott Residence Trust buys Sydney serviced apartments

Australia: Ascott Residence Trust (ART) has bought Quest Macquarie Park Sydney for A$46 million.

HanseMerkur buys Stuttgart serviced apartment development

Germany: i Live Group has sold a serviced apartment project in Stuttgart-Zuffenhausen to HanseMerkur Grundvermögen.

ESA promotes Bikulege to chief investment officer

US: Extended Stay America (ESA) has promoted Judi Bikulege to chief investment officer.

Willis to step down from Chatham role

US: Chatham Lodging Trust, a hospitality real estate investment trust (REIT) that invests in upscale extended-stay hotels, has announced that chief investment officer Peter Willis is stepping down from the company.

Manchester hospital redevelopment to include aparthotel for patients

UK: Wythenshawe hospital in Manchester is set to be redeveloped in to a "health village", including a rebuilt hospital, affordable housing for nurses and an aparthotel for patients.

LABS opens Camden serviced apartments

UK: Co-working company LABS has opend serviced apartment under its STAY brand in Camden, north London.

Planning application submitted for Glasgow aparthotel

UK: Belfast-based developer Big Top Productions has submitted plans for the conversion of a former police station into a 74-bedroom aparthotel.

Dual-branded Residence Inn and Moxy development opens in Munich

Germany: Swiss operator SV Group has opened the dual-branded Marriott property in Werksviertel, Munich's former factory district.

Limerick aparthotel and mixed-use project gets the go ahead

Ireland: The €180 million Project Opera scheme has been granted planning consent by An Bord Pleanala.

Lyric to close units and lay off 20 per cent of staff

US: San Francisco-based hospitality start-up Lyric, which numbers Airbnb among its investors, is to lay off 25 of its 120 staff and close up to 200 units.

Colonies secures €180 million funding round

France: Paris-based coliving operator Colonies has concluded a €180 million funding round.

Supermarket site in Czech ski resort gets design-led aparthotel

Czech Republic: A former supermarket site in the resort of Pec pod Sněžkou has been developed in to Aparthotel Svatý Vavřinec.

Discovery Suites Ortigas celebrates 20th anniversary

Philippines: Discovery Suites Ortigas, the first hotel opened by the Discovery Leisure Company, hospitality group, has celebrated its 20th anniversary.

Quest reveals shopping mall development strategy

Australia: Quest Apartment Hotels has adjusted its development strategy to focus on developing and operating suburban hotels next to large shopping centres.

Full steam ahead for 2020 Serviced Apartment Awards

UK: Next week's Serviced Apartment Awards ceremony in London will feature a new venue, new categories and new sponsors as the event goes from strength to strength.

Hines and Blue Noble team up for Florence serviced apartment project

Italy: Developer Hines and investment management company Blue Noble have made their third acquisition in the Italian market.

US extended stay occupancy at 19-year high

US: The latest figures from The Highland Group show that US extended-stay occupancy is at 19-year high despite the biggest increase in supply in 20 years.

Lateral City adds latest Edinburgh apartments

UK: Lateral City has opened Abbey Strand Apartments at Holyrood in Edinburgh.

Former Preston pub to anchor aparthotel development

UK: A historic Preston pub will be the centrepiece of a serviced development if planners give it the green light.

ESA records $535 million earnings for 2019

US: Extended Stay America has released its full year results for 2019.

Serviced Apartment Awards 2020 shortlist revealed

UK: The shortlisted entries for the 2020 Serviced Apartment Awards have been announced in advance of the awards ceremony on March 12th in London.

Kerten Hospitality to open Jordan aparthotel

Jordan: Dubai-based mixed-use operator Kerten Hospitality has signed a management agreement with Ayla Oasis Development Company to open the Cloud7 Residence Ayla Aqaba in June 2020.

Adagio celebrates year of growth

France: Aparthotels Adagio says 2019 marked a year of exceptional performance for the brand, including seven openings in four countries and an additional 17 aparthotel signings.

Ascott appoints head of business development for Europe

UK: The Ascott Limited has appointed Christian Desira as head of business development and investment for Europe.

room2 signs 30-year lease on Fulham Town Hall

UK: room2 will operate a 90-key ‘hometel’ at Fulham Town Hall in west London.

Zoku signs 129-unit Paris property

France: Dutch hospitality brand Zoku will open its first French property in 2021.

Residence Inn makes Panama debut

Panama: The Residence Inn Panama City has opened in the city's Punta Paitilla neighbourhood.

Expansion for Arkansas aparthotel

US: The Intersect311 aparthotel in Jonesboro, Arkansas, has added 15 units to its inventory.

CWS gains Great Place to Work certification

US: CWS Corporate Housing and CWS Home Services has achieved Great Place to Work certification.

Limehome secures €21 million to fund growth

Germany: Hospitality startup Limehome has secured a further €21 million from existing investors to develop its proptech platform and to continue scaling in Germany and Europe.

Corporate Travel Management selects CAP Worldwide as extended stay partner

UK: Global TMC Corporate Travel Management (CTM) has appointed CAP Worldwide Serviced Apartments as its 2020 extended stay and alternative accommodation partner.

The Collective secures £140 million to fund global expansion

UK: Co-living developer and operator The Collective has agreed a new £140 million discretionary financing package from Deutsche Bank and GCP Asset Backed Income Fund.

Aparthotel conversion proposed for Leicester nightclub

UK: A former Leicester nightclub and snooker hall could be turned into a 73-key aparthotel.

IHG launches new extended stay concept in Europe

Netherlands: Cycas Hospitality has signed a lease agreement with Van der Linde Architecten and Development company to manage IHG’s first Holiday Inn Express & Suites property in Europe.

Cardiff Staybridge Suites to open in spring 2021

UK: The 73-key Staybridge Suites Cardiff, an extension of the Holiday Inn Express at Cardiff Bay, is set to open early next year.

My Place makes 25th US state debut with Minnesota property

US: My Place Hotels has properties in half of the US states with the addition of My Place Hotel-Shakopee in Minnesota.

Bournemouth department store has serviced apartment conversion potential

UK: The Beales department store in Bournemouth store is on the market for £11million, with a range of future conversion uses mooted.

Plans lodged for Dublin supermarket aparthotel conversion

Ireland: Cumberland Developments has lodged plans to build a five-storey aparthotel on the site of a former Dunnes Stores outlet in Dun Laoghaire, Dublin.

Staycity looking forward after strong 2019

Ireland: Staycity has released positive trading figures for 2019, which included key property openings and a new financing deal.

Planning granted for Dublin coliving project

Ireland: Dublin City Council has granted planning permission for a 97-bedroom co-living project in the Rathmines neighbourhood.

Blueground debuts in London and Paris

Greece: Extended-stay apartment rental company Blueground has opened its first properties in London and Paris.

“Of all the aparthotels, in all the towns, in all the world, they had to walk in to mine.”

York and Casablanca aren’t often mentioned in the same sentence, but Staycity CEO Tom Walsh can be forgiven for having a Humphrey Bogart moment when two Chinese guests, both staying at the company’s Paragon Street property, became the UK’s first confirmed cases of Coronavirus.

Co-living making the headlines

Co-living is making the headlines across the hospitality and real estate industry, and it is certainly having an affect on the way players in the serviced apartment sector are thinking.

OakNorth provides funding for east London Locke aparthotel

UK: OakNorth Bank has provided £27 million of funding for the development of a 12-storey aparthotel in Aldgate, operated by Edyn Group.

York aparthotel closed by flooding

UK: The £20 million Roomzzz York City aparthotel, which opened last month, has temporarily closed due to flooding.

Talking Business: Vivi Cahyadi, AltoVita

AltoVita co-founder Vivi Cahyadi talks to SAN about the company's mission to become a global disrupter in the corporate housing sector.

Voting for the 2020 Serviced Apartment Awards Rising Star and Industry Inspiration categories is now open

UK: Two of the prizes in the 2020 Serviced Apartment Awards will once again be decided by you, the Serviced Apartment News readers.

Green light for Glasgow aparthotel

UK: Developer Caledon Properties Ltd has been granted planning permission for a 157-bed aparthotel, public house and retail units in the city’s Trongate area.

Lytham aparthotel opens its doors

UK: The Hy Hotel has opened in Lytham St Annes, following a £4 million investment by its owners.

Regal London secures £29.5 million loan for east London Wilde property

UK: Developer Regal London has secured a £29.5 million loan from Secure Trust Bank Real Estate to develop a 156-key Wilde aparthotel and café in Whitechapel.

Green light for serviced apartments at former Glasgow whisky HQ

UK: Glasgow City Council has giving planning consent for serviced apartments, a restaurant and bar on the site of the former head office of whisky company William Teacher & Sons.

Dash Living signs second Hong Kong co-living property

Hong Kong: Dash Living has signed its second HK co-living project, in Mong Kok, shortly after officially launching its TST project on Carnarvon Road.

Airbnb sues Hernandez over Niido deal

US: Airbnb has filed a lawsuit against NGD Homesharing and its CEO Harvey Hernandez, claiming it stole funds and made unauthorised loans to other companies.

INTELITY partners with Mews

US: Guest engagement and staff management platform INTELITY has partnered with PMS provider Mews.

First Belgian Residence Inn opens in Ghent

Belgium: Residence Inn has made its Belgian debut with the opening of the 105-key Residence Inn Ghent.

Co-living units to form part of Miami mixed-use scheme

US: The Related Group and W5 Group are building a mixed-use project in Miami’s Wynwood arts district.

York Staycity apartment sealed off amid Coronavirus precautions

UK: Two guests at Staycity's York aparthotel have tested positive for Coronavirus and are being quarantined at a specialist centre in Newcastle.

stayAPT Suites launches extended stay model with 12 US openings

US: stayAPT Suites, a new extended stay hotel brand, is launching its product offer with 12 new-build hotels across the US in 2020 and another 30 planned for 2021.

Frits van Paasschen joins Sonder board

US: Sonder has announced Frits van Paasschen, former CEO and president of Starwood Hotels & Resorts, is joining its board of directors.

Yays signs The Hague apartments

Netherlands: Yays has signed a long-term lease agreement for 53 serviced apartments at the Koninginnegracht in The Hague.

Avani to make Kenyan debut in 2020

Kenya: Avani Hotels & Resorts has signed Avani Nairobi Suites, the first Avani property in Kenya.

Provident rebrands second property as ESA

US: Provident Realty Advisors rebranded a Texas Candlewood Suites as an Extended Stay America property.

Cheval Gloucester Park reopens after multi-million refurbishment

UK: Cheval Collection celebrated the reopening of Cheval Gloucester Park, Kensington with a ribbon cutting ceremony.

Shama to add two Bangkok properties in 2020

Thailand: Shama Serviced Apartments by ONYX Hospitality Group is doubling its presence in the Thai capital by adding Phrom Phong and Yen Akat to its portfolio in 2020.

Green light for Canary Wharf hotel and apartment development

UK: Rockwell and FirethornTrust have been granted planning consent for the redevelopment of Quay House in Canary Wharf.

Criton appoints CTO and sales director

UK: Travel tech firm Criton has appointed Dwayne Pascal as chief technology officer and Laura Sullivan-Denham as sales director.

$57 million refinance for Chicago extended stay property

US: JLL Capital Markets, on behalf of Akara Partners, has arranged a $57.6 million refinance loan for the Home2Suites by Hilton Chicago River North.

BridgeStreet wins serviced apartment prize at Business Travel Awards

UK: BridgeStreet was named Best Serviced Apartment Provider at the Business Travel Awards in London, for the second year running.

Event review: RECHARGE 2020 Barcelona

Spain: Hospitality and real estate professionals from around Europe braved the might of Storm Gloria for the third staging of International Hospitality Media's uniquely collaborative RECHARGE event.

Up close and personal with Aaron Lee, Dash Living

In the latest of a regular series, we find out what makes some of the leading figures in the serviced apartment and aparthotel sectors tick. This time, we speak to Aaron Lee, CEO and founder of Hong Kong-based serviced apartment, hotel and co-living operator Dash Living.

Up close and personal with Rebecca Hollants Van Loocke, Frasers Hospitality

In the latest of a regular series, we find out what makes some of the leading figures in the serviced apartment and aparthotel sectors tick. This time, we speak to Rebecca Hollants Van Loocke, COO EMEA, at Frasers Hospitality.

German fund buys the Sebel Canberra

Australia: The Sebel Canberra Hotel has been bought in an off-market deal worth AUS$48 million, six months after it opened.

Real estate leaders discuss data at PropTech forum

UK: Leaders from real estate, technology and government discussed data at Round Hill Ventures' latest PropTech Connect session in London.

Vision adds Lucerne apartments

Switzerland: VISIONAPARTMENTS has opened its conversion of the former Hotel Fox in Lucerne, adding 60 apartments to its portfolio.

Radisson signs Muscat serviced apartments

Oman: Radisson Hotel Group has announced the signing of Radisson Hotel Apartments Muscat Ghala Heights.

Quest celebrates 21 years in New Zealand

New Zealand: Quest NZ is celebrating 21 years of business and has a record number of new aparthotels scheduled to open in the next 18 months.

Urban Creation adds Bristol apartments

UK: Bristol developer Urban Creation has grown its serviced apartment offering in the city.

Ascott opens Citadines property in Osaka

Japan: Ascott has opened its first Citadines serviced residence in Osaka.

Cycas makes four senior hires

Netherlands: Cycas Hospitality has hired two regional general managers (RGMs) and two general managers.

Corporate travel programmes lagging behind sustainability agenda

UK: Six in every ten travel buyers who responded to a Business Travel Show survey on sustainability and the environment admit they do not have an ethical travel programme.

Accor to debut extended stay brand in Saudi Arabia

KSA: Dhahran in Saudi Arabia’s Eastern Province will see the global debut of Accor’s new Novotel Living brand.

Dream Inn boosts portfolio thanks to Expo 2020 demand

UAE: Increasing demand for holiday home rentals has seen Dream Inn increase its property portfolio by 25 per cent.

Extended Stay America on target for $275 million in quarterly earnings

US: Brokerages expect Extended Stay America (NYSE:STAY) to announce $275.09 million in sales for the current fiscal quarter, according to Zacks Investment Research.

Remington Hotels to manage Colorado Residence Inn

US: Third-party management company Remington Hotels has signed an agreement to manage the Residence Inn Steamboat Springs in Steamboat Springs, Colorado.

Police drop objections to Newcastle aparthotel

UK: Malhotra Group's plans for an aparthotel in Newcastle city centre have received a boost with the withdrawal of an objection to the scheme by Northumbria police.

Cape Town seeing surge in aparthotel projects

RSA: South Africa, and particularly Cape Town, has become the African continent's development hot spot for aparthotel projects.

Up close and personal with Robert Alley, Roomzzz Aparthotels

In the latest of a regular series, we find out what makes some of the leading figures in the serviced apartment and aparthotel sectors tick. This time, we speak to Robert Alley, COO of Roomzzz Aparthotels.

Quarters to open Brooklyn developments

US: Coliving operator Quarters has announced plans for two further properties in Brooklyn.

CapitaLand to roll out lyf brand

Singapore: Ascott parent company CapitaLand is set to roll out its co-living brand across Asia.

Extended stay hotel opens on Amelia Island

US: A Home2 Suites by Hilton property has opened on Amelia Island, South Carolina.

Ascott opens Al Khobar property

KSA: The 172-key Ascott Corniche Al Khobar has opened, the sixth Ascott property in the Kingdom.

Embassy Suites opens in Arkansas

US: The 203-key Embassy Suites by Hilton Jonesboro Red Wolf Convention Center has opened in Jonesboro, Arkansas.

Locale raises $11 million in Series A funding

US: Austin-based aparthotel company Locale has raised $11 million in Series A funding led by Amplo Ventures.

Dash Living buys Easycity

Singapore: Hong Kong-based rental solution provider Dash Living has acquired Singapore co-living firm Easycity.

Adagio opens Leicester aparthotel

UK: An Adagio aparthotel, along with a Novotel, will officially open in Leicester city centre on January 16.

Gateshead serviced apartments “unaffected” by fraud investigation

UK: A 20-storey hotel and serviced apartment project in Gateshead is set to go ahead despite a fraud investigation in to one of the developer’s other projects.

PREM Group to open in Amsterdam

Netherlands: Dublin-based operator PREM Group is to open its 16th PREMIER SUITES property, in Zuidas, Amsterdam in June 2020.

Anyplace partners with SE Asia co-living operators

US: Flexible housing platform Anyplace has entered the Asian market, signing partnerships with co-living operators in Singapore and Indonesia.

First UK Hyatt House property opens in Manchester

UK: Hyatt has announced the opening of the 116-key Hyatt House Manchester, the extended stay brand's first UK hotel.

Up close and personal with Tracey Stephenson, Staying Cool

In the latest of a regular series, we find out what makes some of the leading figures in the serviced apartment and aparthotel sectors tick. This time, we speak to Tracey Stephenson, managing director of Staying Cool.

edyn signs Locke property in Copenhagen

Denmark: edyn has signed an agreement with Danica Pension for the development of a 236-room Locke aparthotel in Postbyen, Copenhagen.

Planning imminent for brace of Liverpool aparthotels

UK: Two aparthotel projects in Liverpool have been recommended for planning approval by the city council ahead of its January 14 meeting.

More than 40 per cent of travel buyers expect bigger budgets in 2020

UK: A survey of corporate travel buyers has revealed that 41 per cent expect to have bigger budgets in 2020.

Green light for The Collective in Stratford

UK: The Collective has been granted planning permission to redevelop an unused commercial site on Stratford High Street.

Dubai set for 2020 branded residence boost

UAE: The Dubai market is set to gain more than 1500 luxury branded residence units in 2020.

Staycity secures new financing deal

Ireland: Staycity has secured a €22.5 million flexible loan facility with Dunport Capital to support its growth plans.

Up close and personal with Marcia Gomez, Cotels Serviced Apartments

In the latest of a regular series, we find out what makes some of the leading figures in the serviced apartment and aparthotel sectors tick. This time, we speak to Marcia Gomez, managing director of Milton Keynes-based provider Cotels Serviced Apartments.

Latest Florida Residence Inn opens for business