Ascott highlights plans for expansion, eco-friendly drive

The Ascott Limited (Ascott), a leading international lodging owner-operator wholly owned by CapitaLand Investment, showcased strong expansion plans and robust sustainability efforts at the recently concluded Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2023.

Aligning with its regional expansion target of achieving 10,000 operational units by 2025, Ascott is set to further augment its footprint in MEAT with a tenacious pipeline into the African sub-continent, including Djibouti, Cameroon, Ethiopia, Ivory Coast, Morocco, Nigeria and Senegal. Focusing on existing key source markets, Ascott will also reinforce its presence in Kenya, Türkiye and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) with property openings across its iconic Ascott, Citadines and Somerset brands.

As part of the Group’s five key pillars to build a better tomorrow: Community, Alliance, Respect, Environment and Supply Chain; Ascott CARES aligns with parent company CapitaLand Investment’s 2030 Sustainability Master Plan to build a resilient portfolio that accelerates sustainable innovation to enable thriving and future-adaptive communities in the region.

Ascott has implemented key sustainable best practices within its operational processes to transition towards a low-carbon business model, diminishing its carbon emissions intensity2 by 78% globally, decreasing water consumption intensity2 by 45% and energy consumption intensity2 by 35%, and achieving a 25% increase in recycling processes for daily operations.

Ascott will also improve its waste management and supply chain processes through environment, health and safety (EHS) systems, which reduce energy consumption across operating properties worldwide. In the region, Ascott will also enhance guest experiences with wooden contactless key cards and using plant-based cutlery at operating properties.

Championing its unwavering sustainable commitment to the region, Ascott demonstrates its pledge to the environment under the theme, ‘Paperless’ at ATM 2023. Visitors are welcomed to a captivating and immersive digital experience of Ascott’s properties at the hospitality exhibition with a combination of interactive screens, tablets and digital business card deployment. Inspiring a greener future, Ascott’s sustainable booth exudes fresh aesthetic at ATM with vibrant plants, and at its centre radiates a glorious blooming olive tree.

Furthermore, the leading lodging owner-operator strengthens its environmental consciousness by setting up recycling counters at ATM and will reutilize elements of its inspiring booth towards future trade shows in the UAE under the principles of ‘ Reduce, Reuse and Recycle.’

Striving for sustainable excellence, Ascott’s dynamic eco-friendly best practices have attained the leading lodging owner-operator Green Key certifications across its regional properties, with Somerset Maslak Istanbul also obtaining the first stage of the Gulf Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) certification.

“At Ascott, we are committed to creating a thriving future for our planet and believe every action counts. By enhancing our sustainable best practices, we aim to reduce our environmental impact, while providing our guests with a comfortable and eco-friendly experience,” said Vincent Miccolis, Ascott’s Managing Director for Middle East, Africa, Türkiye, and India.

The Ascott Limited has also accomplished an outstanding milestone for its commitment to guests and the communities in which it operates, attaining the coveted ‘Best Serviced Apartment Brand In The Middle East’ for the 8th consecutive year at the 2023 Business Traveller Awards.