Quays Serviced Apartment Hotel Chooses EasyRMS to Provide Revenue and Yield Management Solutions

The Assured Ascot Quays Serviced Apartment Hotel recently selected EasyRMS to provide their Internet Product Suite, Deal Quotation, and Budget Analysis Modules at their serviced apartment property located on the Swan River in Perth.

Ascot Quays Serviced Apartment Hotel chose Easy RMS to help them implement the serviced apartment industry best practice pricing and distribution policies. The decision is a result of the currently uncertain economic climate and will help the serviced apartment provider to strategically plan all aspect of business including offering the highest quality services to its guests.

EasyRMS will act as a revenue management partner in managing the pricing and distribution policies and practices of the Quays serviced apartment property. EasyRMS will also be a key resource for helping Assured Ascot Quays Serviced Apartment Hotel to increase their profitability as well as meeting and exceeding their business objectives.

The Assured Ascot Quays Serviced Apartment Hotel is a subsidiary of the Australian owned Assured Hotels and Apartments Group and is located right on the banks of the Swan River with views of the river, city and parkland. The property offers 68 4.5 star fully-equipped and furnished serviced apartments ranging from one to three bedrooms with full furnishing and complete kitchen. Guests also have access to reception, complimentary parking, restaurant and bar including alfresco area, room service, 25m swimming pool, gymnasium, business services, broadband wireless Internet access and a tour desk. You can find out more information about accommodations by visiting Move and Stay at www.moveandstay.com.au.

EasyRMS was founded in 1999, has become the global leader and provider of ASP Revenue & Yield Management Solutions within the hospitality sector for hotel properties and serviced apartments. The company has offices in London, Paris, New York, Calgary, Sydney, Singapore, Rome, Athens and Dubai.

With more than 20 years of combined industry knowledge EasyRMS is dedicated to the introduction of new generation technology and procedures within the hospitality sector and delivers these services to help hoteliers and serviced apartment providers maximize their business.

Quest to Open Its 126th Serviced Apartment Property in Central Queensland

Quest Serviced Apartments plans to open its 126th serviced apartment property next month in Gladstone, Central Queensland.

The new serviced apartment property at 39-43 Bramston Street, Gladstone, will offer 82 units that range from studio, one, two, and three bedrooms with self catering facilities and the latest in technology and comforts. The serviced apartments are equipped with high speed Broadband Internet access, iPod docks, flat screen LCD televisions, and Austar connection. The property offers complimentary car parking onsite, a swimming pool, and barbeque area.

Additionally there will be a host of breakfast options, a pantry shopping service, chargeback at a selection of local restaurants, and business administration services. For business clients seeking to hold a conference or seminar, the conferencing facilities are capable of catering up to 50 clients.

The new serviced apartment complex is located within close proximity to the Gladstone airport, within 600 meters of the Central Business District of Gladstone, and 1.9 kilometers from the Marina. It is expected that the population in Gladstone will double by the year 2026 with the city situated at the gateway to the Great Barrier Reef. Additionally, the rapid growth of surrounding regions in north-east Australia can account for the sound management at all levels by government and industry. Quest has been keeping up with the growth in these areas where there is a constant demand for high-quality and contemporary serviced apartment accommodation options.

Quest Gladstone serviced apartments are also located in an ideal position for travelers seeking access to the Gladstone Hospital, Entertainment and Aquatic Centers, Central Queensland University, and the multi-purpose sports complex. Move and Stay at www.moveandstay.com.au will have additional information on accommodations at Quest properties.

Quest chooses serviced apartment property locations in the Central Business Districts, metropolitan and regional precincts, due to their close proximity to business centers, restaurants and shopping, as well as additional conveniences, to enable guests to be able to conduct their business and enjoy lifestyle options without having to travel long distances.

The opening of Quest Gladstone next month will follow recent openings in the Sydney Central Business District and Potts Point, Albury, Ipswich and Chermside, Ivanhoe and Glen Waverley. Since 1988, Quest has created a network of 120 strategically-located serviced apartment complexes.

Quest Launches Serviced Apartments in New Plymouth

Quest, a major serviced apartment provider in Australia, recently launched new serviced apartments in New Plymouth, New Zealand.

The new 40-unit serviced apartment complex is located in New Plymouth’s landmark Post Office Building on Currie Street. Renovations in the building began in February of this year and some of the small jobs are in the process of being completed.

Quest New Plymouth serviced apartments are being managed by new franchise owner, Tony Boswell and his wife Michelle. They have entered the accommodation business after selling two successful bowling alleys in Wellington and twenty of the units have already been booked.

It is expected that corporate clients will account for 70 percent of the bookings in the Quest New Plymouth serviced apartment complex. Tony Boswell predicts that the rest of the units will not be hard to fill due to the fact that the new serviced apartment complex is one of very few in the area and the economy in New Plymouth appears to be recession proof.

Quest currently operates more than 120 serviced apartment complexes throughout Australia and Fiji with 27 facilities located in New Zealand. Quest has been operating serviced apartment properties in Australia for over twenty years and has become Australia’s largest and most successful operator in the serviced apartment industry.

The company currently has plans underway to open seven new properties in 2009. The new serviced apartment properties include Quest Singleton in New South Wales, Quest Gladstone and Quest Mackay in Queensland, Quest Mawson Lakes in Southern Australia, Quest Shepparton in Victoria and Quest Carlaw Park and Quest Napier in New Zealand. The new Quest serviced apartment properties will be offering introductory rates and special opening deals.

Quest New Plymouth serviced apartments are currently receiving tenants and the purchase by franchise owner Tony Boswell came as a result of looking into opportunities in Wellington. Due to the previous award winning properties established under the Quest brand, the Quest New Plymouth property will practically run itself.

To learn more about Quest serviced apartment accommodations and availability, log onto Move and Stay at www.moveandstay.com.au .

Corporate Travelers Fuel the Serviced Apartment Sector in Australia

Despite the reports of an economic downturn, the serviced apartment sector in Australia expects the competitive pricing offered to corporate travelers to fuel the growth of the industry. The serviced apartment industry is currently worth $2.2 billion in Australia which is an increase from $1.5 billion in 2005.

According to Allan Vidor, managing director of Toga Group, the additional space that is offered with serviced apartments coupled with five-star amenities for less than hotel price, make serviced apartments the preferred option for short and long term housing. The growth is driven by corporate traveler preferences for the more flexibile lifestyle that is possible with serviced apartment living.

Toga owns the Medina serviced apartment group as well as the Vibe and Travelodge hotels.

The serviced apartment industry in Australia has increased at an average of 6.3 percent annually with hotel revenue growth trailing at an increase of only 4.7 percent. For the year 2009 the revenue growth for serviced apartments is expected to be at 3.9 percent with the hotels trailing at a three percent increase.

New serviced apartment properties are being established throughout Australia due to the fact that developers find them easier to finance and construct than hotel properties. Additionally, serviced apartments are usually established in prime locations and the developers can contract for serviced apartment management which creates attractive packages for investors.

IBIS World Business Information predicts the serviced apartment industry will face a difficult year, however, the industry is recession resilient and will remain strong during the next five years. Corporate client prefer these accommodations over a single hotel room with expensive amenities.

Stella Group is currently the largest serviced apartment operator in Australia with 15,000 units under management and 143 serviced apartment properties throughout Australia with 13 properties in New Zealand. The company recently purchased Outrigger and Seville chains and open a 330 unit serviced apartment building in Darwin.

Additional information on serviced apartment accommodations in Australia can be obtained from Move and Stay at www.moveandstay.com.au .

Prime Investment Property in Melbourne for Sale

The prominent Prince Hotel freehold investment property in St Kilda has been recently offered for sale in what will be this year’s most popular accommodation asset. The hotel and serviced apartment property is currently owned by Melbourne’s renowned van Haandel family who has decided to sell in order to separate joint businesses.

The decision to offer the Prince Hotel for sale results is the desire of John and Frank van Haandel to separate their joint businesses so the families can pursue their own interests. They have appointed Jones Lang LaSalle Hotels to market the award winning investment property on a ‘sale and leaseback’ basis.

The Prince Hotel is Melbourne’s most famous serviced apartment and hotel combination. Last year the property won the “Australia’s Leading Boutique Hotel” award at the World Travel Awards in June 2008.

The Prince Hotel is located on the corner of Acland and Fitzroy Street in the popular suburb of St Kilda and features an award-winning restaurant Circa the Prince, the Prince Public Bar, the Aurora Spa Retreat, The Prince Deck, Il Fornaio café, Mink, the Prince Bandroom, and a multi-level car park for approximately 270 vehicles.

The property recently received Development Approval (DA) to construct an additional 24 luxury residential apartments and twelve serviced apartments on the site which will make the property even more attractive to investors. Because of the prime trading position and sustainability of diverse income streams, the property proves to be a secure freehold investment and will be highly sought after by strategic investors, high net worth individuals, investment funds, as well as investors with an eye for future development.

In addition to providing multiple income streams for investors, the location of the property which is near to St Kilda beach and the heart of Melbourne’s entertainment, fashion, and hospitality precinct, offers substantial opportunities for investment.

For additional information on serviced apartment property accommodations and investment opportunities in Australia, log onto Move and Stay at www.moveandstay.com.au .

Ascott Residence Trust Acquires Another Serviced Apartment Property in Perth

Ascott Residence Trust (ART) recently acquired an additional serviced apartment property located along the prime St. Georges Terrace in the central business district of Perth. The property is currently known as Chifley on the Terrace and will be renamed Somerset St Georges Terrace, Perth. The new serviced apartment property will be managed by Ascott International Management.

According to Ascott Residence Trust, the acquisition of the serviced apartment property is yield-accretive with an estimated annual property yield of 6.1 percent for 2008 and will be funded by borrowings which will bring its gearing to 34.5 percent.

Somerset St. Georges Terrace will offer 84 studios and one-bedroom serviced apartments and provide facilities such as daily housekeeping services, a bar and restaurant, meeting rooms, and convenient car parking. The property is already experiencing an average occupancy level of approximately ninety percent. Move and Stay at www.moveandstay.com.au has more information on rates and availability.

The Somerset St. Georges Terrace location makes the serviced apartment property attractive to corporate travelers due to the limited supply of high quality serviced apartment accommodations in Perth. According to a HotelBenchmark Survey by Deloitte, Perth was named the best performing Australian city in 2007. Average room rates grew at fifteen percent during the first none months of that year to reach A$159 and occupancy averaged about 84 percent.

At the completion of the Somerset St. Georges Terrace serviced apartment property, the portfolio of Ascott Residence Trust will average 1.37 billion and includes 3,550 serviced apartment units in 37 properties in 11 cities across seven countries. Ascott’s assets in Australia will make up four percent of the company’s total portfolio value which is a one percent increase before the property acquisition. Ascott Residence Trust’s other serviced apartment property in Australia is Somerset Gordon Heights located in the central business district of Melbourne.

Ascott Residence Trust (ART) is the first pan-Asian serviced apartment residence real estate investment trust (REIT) established with the objective of investing primarily in real estate and real estate-related assets which are income-producing and which are used as serviced apartment residences or rental housing properties in the pan-Asian region.

For additional information on serviced apartment accommodations and availability in Australia, contact Move and Stay at www.moveandstay.com.au .