GoHome.com.hk, Hong Kong’s No.1 property multimedia platform, is committed to providing the most comprehensive list of serviced apartments and information to all consumers. Building on its 4 years of success, the fifth “GoHome Serviced Apartment Awards 2017” presentation ceremony was held at W Hotel today crediting all outstanding serviced apartments in Hong Kong, thereby promoting industry excellence and increasing the quality of life in city. Honourable guests at the ceremony included Ms Carrie Law, Regional General Manager of iProperty Group (Hong Kong & Macau), representatives from the winning companies, and television celebrity Ms Bella Lam as the awards presenter.
The winners of “GoHome Serviced Apartment Awards 2017” were selected by GoHome.com.hk users via online voting. The judging criteria included comfortability, location, services, design, and property facilities. The results indicate that consumers are willing to pay higher rents for serviced apartments with better location (25%), higher comfortability, brilliant services (23%) and modern design (20%).
Ms Carrie Law, Regional General Manager of iProperty Group (Hong Kong & Macau) said, “This is the fifth annual ‘GoHome Serviced Apartment Awards’ that recognises excellent achievers in the serviced apartment industry and assist potential tenants and consumers in the selection of ideal home from among a wide variety of residential choices. The event has received heartfelt support from numerous industry leaders. It is our great honour to be their multimedia advertising partner to promote nominated serviced apartments to business travellers and even potential local tenants on digital platforms, social media and print media. On behalf of iProperty Group, we would like to take the opportunity to express our heartiest congratulations to all winners. GoHome.com.hk will keep abreast of market trends, collaborate with different industry players, and assist our peers in breaking new records through the powerful platform and network offered by GoHome.com.hk.”
Celebrity Ms Bella Lam said, “I prefer serviced apartments to hotels when I go away during vacations and business trips. Serviced apartments not only provide all-rounded facilities and excellent services, but also serve as a home away from home with all the coziness and secure privacy.”
As an international city, Hong Kong has high competitiveness in attracting talents and corporations from all over the world. The proportion of high-end business travellers increases continually. According to the Global Serviced Apartments Industry Report (GSAIR) 2016/171, Hong Kong is the top city destination in the world, attracting over 27.8 million tourists a year, followed by London, Singapore, Bangkok, Paris, Macau, Dubai, Shenzhen and New York. In the past decade, demand for serviced apartments in the Asia Pacific region has increased by 25%. According to data2 released by Census and Statistics Department last August, there were 215,400 mobile residents3. Since they are frequent travellers between Hong Kong and foreign regions, they have the potential to become tenants of serviced apartments. In addition, with the rise of bleisure travel, many business travelers would make good use of their free time during business trips, or extend their stay in order to explore their destinations. This type of travellers will provide new business opportunities to the serviced apartment industry. Therefore, the demand in the market remains substantial and stable, which brings about bright prospect.
Besides, GSAIR 2016/171 shows that the millennials have become the dominant users in serviced apartment industry. They are leisure-focused, thirsting for new travel experience, and bounded up with the Internet. Besides comfortability and facilities of the serviced apartments, technological convenience and time-saving strategies are also their priority. Millennials tend to consult reviews and ratings on online platforms and apps, on which they make accommodation anywhere at any time and make efficient use of time during their trips. In conclusion, tenants expect to find an authentic, unique, and suitable serviced apartment based on the objective online reviews.
Ms Law added, “In order to assist the industry actively explore the bleisure market, as well as attract a wider range of consumers, we have launched the 360-degree panoramas plugin on GoHome.com.hk. Brands can reach out to potential consumers with 360-degree panoramic photography through our social media platform and remarketing service, taking lead in the market. 360-degree panoramas technology enables consumers to browse serviced apartments on smartphones, laptops, and desktops, as well as making enquiries. This caters for the digital consumption habit of millennials. Looking ahead, GoHome.com.hk will continue to harness the latest market trends and keep launching more digital technologies to provide the latest, the broadest, and the most instantaneous database so as to bind together serviced apartments, their service providers, and target consumers.
Remarks:
1Source – Global Serviced Apartments Industry Report (GSAIR) 2016/17
https://www.apartmentservice.com/gsair/global-serviced-apartments-industry-report-201617/report/
2Source – the statistics announced by Census and Statistics Department on 11th August 2016
http://www.censtatd.gov.hk/press_release/pressReleaseDetail.jsp?charsetID=2&pressRID=3867
3 Mobile Residents” are Hong Kong Permanent Residents who have stayed in Hong Kong for at least one month but less than three months during the six months before or for at least one month but less than three months during the six months after the reference time-point, regardless of whether they are in Hong Kong or not at the reference time-point.
“GoHome Serviced Apartment Awards 2016” final winners list
(In alphabetical order)
1.Eaton Residences
2.Eight Kwai Fong
3.Harbour Plaza North Point
4.iclub Sheung Wan Hotel
5.L’hotel Island South
6.Lodgewood by L’hotel Wanchai Hong Kong
7.Madera Residences
8.Royal View Hotel
9.The Grand Blossom Serviced Apartments
10.The Lily by Chinachem Group
11.V Residences and Serviced Apartments