Ascott Boosts Talent Development To Drive The Opening Of More Than 300 New Properties By 2028

PENANG, MALAYSIA / SINGAPORE - Media OutReach Newswire^[1] - 14 May 2025 - The Ascott Limited (Ascott), the wholly owned lodging business unit of CapitaLand Investment (CLI), is ramping up talent development to support the opening of more than 300 new properties by 2028. This global expansion is expected to create more than 12,000 new jobs, including over 1,500 property leadership roles. To power this growth, the company is launching Ascott Accelerate, a structured talent management programme that fast-tracks high-potential associates into hospitality leadership positions. This will be complemented by a digital learning platform offering flexible and accessible development opportunities for associates across all levels. Both new initiatives are part of the Ascott Global Academy for Excellence (AGAX), a comprehensive training platform launched in 2024 to build a future-ready workforce and support Ascott's target of achieving over S$500 million in fee-related earnings by 2028. AGAX is led by the Ascott Learning Council, co-chaired by Ms Wong Kar Ling, Chief Strategy Officer and Managing Director, Southeast Asia, and Mr Lee Ngor Houai, Chief Operating Officer for Europe, Middle East, Africa (EMEA), South Asia and China. In 2024, Ascott continued its upward trajectory, achieving a third consecutive year of record fee-related earnings at S$343 million, reflecting a 12% year-on-year increase on a recurring basis^[1]. This performance was driven by a 6% rise in revenue per available unit (RevPAU) and the opening of a record 11,700 units across 54 properties. Today, Ascott's global footprint spans more than 990 properties in over 230 cities, with two-thirds already operational. The company is advancing its growth through a multi-typology brand strategy designed to scale and diversify its presence across key markets. Malaysia exemplifies this approach with a portfolio of more than 40 properties – both operational and in the pipeline – spanning serviced residences, hotels, resorts, social living spaces and branded residences. Fittingly, Ascott chose Penang – home to 21 of these properties – as the launch site for Ascott Accelerate and its new digital learning platform during the Ascott Learning Festival, reinforcing Malaysia's role in supporting the company's broader growth strategy. Ascott Accelerate features three progressive career development tracks:

• Aim, which builds foundational leadership skills essential for supervisors;
• Advance, which strengthens the management capabilities required to lead as heads of departments; and
• Aspire, which prepares future Residence Managers and General Managers through curated hands-on learning, equipping them with the agility and leadership skills to thrive in a fast-evolving hospitality landscape.

To turbocharge the programme, Ascott is also introducing a new digital learning platform that enables associates to learn anytime, anywhere. Featuring tailored content across key operational areas – including guest services, housekeeping, property maintenance, digital technology and finance – the platform empowers associates to develop relevant skills at their own pace, while balancing daily responsibilities.

In addition, Ascott is enriching learning experiences through initiatives like the Ascott Global Exchange Programme and Ascott Learning Festivals. The exchange programme offers promising associates short-term overseas postings to broaden their perspectives, adapt to new environments and learn from high-performing teams across the network. Complementing this, the Ascott Learning Festivals are dynamic, in-person events where associates gain insights into the latest industry skills and best practices from expert trainers and thought leaders.

Ms Wong added: "Hospitality is about connecting people across places, cultures and possibilities. At Ascott, we believe those connections should begin within our own teams. Just as we aspire to offer global living to our guests, we are equally committed to giving our associates the opportunity to experience the global nature of our business – whether through international assignments or globally connected platforms like our learning festivals. These initiatives reflect not only the scale of our operations but also why many are drawn to hospitality: a passion for people, culture and discovery."

For more information on career opportunities and to explore how you can grow with Ascott, please visit: https://www.discoverasr.com/en/the-ascott-limited/careers. ^[2]

[1] Excluding fee-related earnings from one-off projects and the impact of foreign exchange movements.

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Hashtag: #hospitality #talentdevelopment #humanresource #Ascott

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