New ‘livingroom’ concept makes the most of hotel space

Rooms come in just one configuration, with a uniform size of 25m2

Ansa Hotels & Resorts will introduce its second brand, thelivingroom Hotel, a three-star, limited-service hospitality concept, adding to its existing four-star, full-service Ansa brand.

Hanley Chew, CEO of Berjaya Hotels & Resorts, the parent company for Ansa Hotels & Resorts, explained: “We see a lack of hotels catering to corporate travellers with their families and millennials in key cities. This brand is meant to fill this gap where the demand is constantly on the rise.

“We offer a realistic 10-year return on investment outlook as compared to traditional hotels, which take approximately 15 years,” Chew added.

Room conceals a queen bed and bunk bed

Investors can expect a faster ROI due to greater operational efficiency and space maximisation. For example, the lobby also doubles as a lifestyle café area, which will be operated by a third party to generate premium rental revenue for the hotel.

Thelivingroom hotels will boost “new ways of serving guests” such as a flexible check-in service round the clock, which allows stays for a full 24 hours upon checking in, and a 24-hour breakfast concept at the lifestyle café, Chew told TTG Asia.

Rooms, however, come in one configuration only with a standard size of 25m2. Despite being smaller than the usual 30-35m2 room sizes at city hotels, thelivingroom hotels seek to cater to families with the innovative use of in-room space – a full-sized queen bed, which, when not in use, can be reclined back to the wall to transform into a study desk, and a three-seater sofa that opens up into a double-decker bunk bed.

Voila

There will be a facilities floor for guests to access the ironing room, vending machines and ice dispenser. Other facilities will include a fully equipped gym and small meeting rooms catering to 20-30 pax.

The first two properties, in Kuala Lumpur and Johor Bahru respectively, are currently under development and are expected to start operating in 2H2018.

The livingroom brand will have between 180 to 220 room keys. Room rates are expected to start from RM280 (US$66.50).

Chew is also looking at expanding the brand overseas through foreign partners who will have exclusive rights to expand the brand in their respective countries.

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