KUALA LUMPUR: Serviced apartment operator Ascott International Management Pte Ltd, a member of CapitaLand, expects to more than double the number of rooms it manages in Malaysia by 2016- It now manages five properties with a total of 705 units and is scheduled to launch four new ones until 2016- Apart from the Ascott brand (which is comparable to a five-star hotel), the group operates Somerset (four stars) and Citadines (between three and four stars)- The new openings include the 215-unit Citadines Uplands Kuching which is scheduled to open in the first half of 2012 and the 143-unit Ascott Sentral Kuala Lumpur in 2013- Regional general manager for Singapore and Malaysia Tan Boon Khai said in an interview recently that its strategy for Malaysia is to build up scale and room inventory- "Thus far, based on our upcoming properties, we are doing well and we see opportunities in Malaysia as tourism numbers are up," Tan said- "In 2014, we can welcome Citadines D'Pulze Cyberjaya with 232 units and Somerset Damansara Uptown, Petaling Jaya, in 2016-" Tan said that Ascott sees potential particularly for its Somerset and Citadines brands- "We see Penang, Johor, Bintulu and Miri have potential for our brands," he added- Tan would like to introduce Citadines, which is described as modern and vibrant, within the Bukit Bintang and Shah Alam area in Kuala Lumpur and Selangor respectively- He said that apart from management contracts, it is keen to invest further in serviced apartments in Malaysia- "We are looking for investments- We see Malaysia as a significant market for us- Malaysia has shown good growth-" In fact, Ascot would consider buying the property it manages should the owner or developer decide to sell- Currently, it wholly owns the 207-unit Somerset Ampang and the 96-unit Somerset Seri Bukit Ceylon in Kuala Lumpur- It also has a 50 per cent plus one share in Ascott Kuala Lumpur-...

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