Pullman launches new China resort
Pullman, the Accor Group’s luxury five-star hotel brand, has announced the official launch of the Pullman Lijiang Resort & Spa in China’s southwest Yunnan Province. The new property is Pullman’s fourth resort in China, with two in Sanya and one in Zhangjiajie.“We are...
Continue Reading • 5 Apr 2011
St. Regis' Bangkok hotel launches butler services
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc has launched its first St. Regis hotel in Thailand — The St. Regis Bangkok.Located on the prestigious Rajadamri Road and developed by Rajadamri Lodging Limited, the new hotel will provide a new standard of timeless sophistication and refined...
Continue Reading • 4 Apr 2011
Beijing joins other cities to curb new home prices
China’s capital has joined 40 other Chinese cities to stabilise or even lower new home prices this year. This is in response to the central government’s call to keep housing gains in check.About 40 other Chinese cities promised that they will limit new home prices to below annual...
Continue Reading • 1 Apr 2011
China to continue clamp down on property prices
Beijing wants to ensure that prices of ordinary housing remains “stable” this year, relative to the levels seen in 2010, with some declines possible, according to a city official.The central government has been working hard to curb the increasing cost of new homes, which has turned...
Continue Reading • 30 Mar 2011
Singapore's architectural works to feature at Berlin gallery
Some of Singapore’s architectural works will be showcased at the architectural and urban design Aedes Gallery in Berlin, Germany from 28 March to 12 May this year.The works comprise projects by 20 architects aged below 45, including reputable names like Chan Sau Yan Associates, WOHA...
Continue Reading • 29 Mar 2011
Influx of Tokyo expats drive up HK rents
Following the massive Japan disasters, home rental prices in Hong Kong have risen, as foreign employees in the financial sector move to the city from Tokyo.The occupancy rate of rental homes has climbed since the earthquake, tsunami and nuclear threats occurred.“We have been receiving more...
Continue Reading • 29 Mar 2011
Lower prices fuel home sales revival in Hong Kong
Residential transactions gradually resumed force in the Hong Kong property market last week, after several home owners amended their asking price.The transactions within 10 benchmark housing projects climbed to 25 from 23 in the previous week. Meanwhile, no transactions were recorded at Whampoa...
Continue Reading • 28 Mar 2011
Legoland Malaysia to display iconic buildings
Legoland Malaysia in Nusajaya will display 15,000 miniature replicas of iconic buildings in the country, including the Petronas Twin Towers, Holy Light Church in Johor Baru and Putrajaya Mosque.“In creating a miniature building, we have to be sure that it is 90 percent to 95 percent like...
Continue Reading • 28 Mar 2011
More Chinese nationals snapping up Sydney homes
Luxury properties are now on the “must-have” lists of an increasing number of Chinese travellers to Australia.Ray Chan Wei, Managing Director of Henson Properties, a real estate agency in Sussex Street in Sydney's Chinatown, believes the Chinese have been the biggest foreign buyers in...
Continue Reading • 24 Mar 2011
China to assess impact of property curbs
The central Chinese government has sent eight “special” teams to evaluate the effects of the real estate tightening measures implemented across the country, in a move to prevent a housing bubble from creating social unrest.“The key point (of the move) is probably to reiterate...
Continue Reading • 24 Mar 2011
Starwood's Thailand growth mirrors rise in tourism market
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide Inc, one of the world’s leading hotel and leisure companies, stands strong in its leadership position in Thailand’s emerging tourism market, with the launching and development of various properties across the country.The company currently owns...
Continue Reading • 23 Mar 2011
China bans luxury property advertisements
Beijing has banned outdoor advertisements and billboards promoting luxurious lifestyles, as the government aims to curb public concerns about the increasing wealth gap in China.The government has banned words such as “luxury”, “supreme” and “high class” from...
Continue Reading • 23 Mar 2011
Hong Kong's first yuan REIT hits roadblock
Cheung Kong (Holdings) Ltd’s planned HK$1 billion yuan-denominated REIT initial public offering (IPO) may miss its mid-April listing target pending Hong Kong regulators approval, according to a source.Sources said that the territory’s securities regulator had returned with more...
Continue Reading • 23 Mar 2011
Increase in expat demand for HK homes likely
While Japan’s nuclear crisis has caused foreign financial institutions to evacuate, Hong Kong has become a favourable location for the same group of expatriates.“Rental costs, especially in popular districts for (the) Japanese like Kornhill, Tai Koo Shing and Hung Hom, will shoot...
Continue Reading • 21 Mar 2011
China's smaller cities lead home price growth
Smaller cities in China led the increases in the country’s home prices last month, as Shanghai, Beijing and other larger metropolitan areas implemented the central government’s local housing measures.Prices of new homes in the city of Yueyang climbed the most, among 70 cities tracked...
Continue Reading • 21 Mar 2011
Metro Residences' final tower to be released ahead of schedule
The tallest tower at Metro Residences Chatswood will be released to the market ahead of schedule.This comes after the 290 units released at the first two towers were snapped up over the weekend.Metro Grand features a 46-storey tower comprising 261 apartments. It will provide some of the best...
Continue Reading • 18 Mar 2011
Three sites in Hung Hom, Kowloon to be sold
The Hong Kong government is planning to sell three sites in Hung Hom over the next three months, which could provide nearly 400 housing units.The first site, located at Ko Shan Road, has an area of 20,470 sq ft and a gross floor area (GFA) of between 92,107 and 153,515 sq ft.Alvin Lam Tsz-pun,...
Continue Reading • 18 Mar 2011
Japanese investors may reduce UK property holdings
Japanese investors may reduce their assets in the UK property market, especially in real estate investment trusts (REITs), as they focus on rebuilding their country after recent devastation.“There must be the risk of a general repatriation of overseas assets by Japanese investors as...
Continue Reading • 18 Mar 2011
220 residential projects expected in Dubai this year
The emirate of Dubai is preparing to develop 220 residential projects this year, according to a source based there.“We have 220 projects (that are) going on,” said Marwan bin Ghalaita, Chief Executive of the Real Estate Regulatory Authority (RERA). “We have evaluated projects...
Continue Reading • 18 Mar 2011
Slow growth for Malaysian prime property values
Real estate values in Klang Valley, Penang and Johor will likely grow at a slower pace this year, due to increased supply and speculation activities, according to a real property services company.Foo Gee Jen, Managing Director of CH Williams Tahir & Wong, said around 10 to 15 percent growth...
Continue Reading • 17 Mar 2011