Ascott has expanded its lyf portfolio to a total of 17 properties with over 3,000 units in 13 cities and nine countries. The expanded portfolio includes the newly opened lyf Mid-town Hangzhou, Ascott’s first lyf-branded co-living property in China. It also secured a management contract for its second lyf property in Thailand, lyf Riverside Bangkok. This follows hot on the heels of Ascott’s recent acquisition of its first lyf property in Europe, livelyfhere Gambetta Paris, through its private fund Ascott Serviced Residence Global Fund in June 2021.

lyf or ‘live your freedom’, is a lodging concept designed for the next-generation travellers. The apartments, social spaces and experiential programmes at lyf properties are designed for guests to forge connections and to nurture a strong sense of community. To date, Ascott has opened four lyf properties in Singapore, Bangkok, Fukuoka and Hangzhou. Three more are slated to open later this year in Singapore, Xi’an and Shanghai—lyf one-north Singapore, as well as lyf Dayanta Xi’an and lyf Hongqiao Shanghai in China. Between 2022 and 2025, 10 more lyf properties are slated to open in Bangkok, Beijing, Cebu, Danang, Kuala Lumpur, Manila, Melbourne, Paris, Shanghai and Singapore.

lyf Mid-Town Hangzhou is located in the Gongshu district, near the Grand Canal, a popular UNESCO World Heritage site noted for its historical relics. It is also situated near a shopping mall and directly opposite the Hangzhou International Convention and Exhibition Centre. A short walk away, guests can easily access a future train station, opening in 1Q 2022 along line 10 of Hangzhou’s metro network. Famed tourist spot, West Lake and its surrounding vibrant retail, dining and nightlife options are about a 30-minute drive away. The Hangzhou International Airport and the Hangzhou East train station are about a 45-minute and 30-minute drive away respectively.

lyf Mid-Town Hangzhou offers 118 units comprising ‘One of a Kind’, ‘One of a Kind Plus’ and ‘Side by Side’ studios, ‘lyf Style’ thematic studios as well as ‘Two of a Kind’ and ‘All Together’ apartments. Its social facilities and spaces include the ‘Bond’ social kitchen, the ‘Connect’ coworking and lounge zone, and ‘Wash & Hang’ laundromat.

In celebration of lyf’s debut in China, Ascott has launched the ‘lyf: Influencers of Our Time’ campaign in partnership with The Paper, a Chinese digital publication popular among young adults.

As a coliving concept designed for next-generation travellers such as digital nomads, technopreneurs, creatives and self-starters, lyf champions the spirit and vigour of these young movers and shakers, and aims to share their unique life stories and achievements as a beacon of inspiration. With lyf’s creative living and social spaces as well as programmes, it brings changemakers together to discover new possibilities and spark creative ideas to shape the future.

The ten personalities have made significant contributions to China in the fields of ecommerce, education, fashion, food and beverage, media, philanthropy, scientific research and sports. The influencers include Wendy Yu, a millennial entrepreneur recognised by Forbes China as an industry leader in fashion and arts, who is also the founder of Yu Holdings that invests in international fashion, lifestyle and technology enterprises; Austin Li, a popular social media personality with over 40 million followers on Douyin, widely known for his ecommerce and charity efforts; Neo Nie, the founder of China’s bubble tea giant Heytea; as well as Lu Kangjia, a researcher at National University of Singapore who developed a membrane distillation technology with her team to recycle wastewater.

‘lyf: Influencers of Our Time’ campaign will culminate in a grand finale to celebrate the opening of lyf Dayanta Xi’an later in 2021.