Ascott Bolster Executive Team in Dubai

Dubai, UAE, April 2019: The Ascott Limited (Ascott) is strengthening its executive team by appointing Jaya Raj as the new Director of Revenue & Distribution for the Middle East, Africa and Turkey. Jaya will oversee the group’s regional revenue management and distribution strategy as well as manage day-to-day yield operations to maximise individual property revenues.

A seasoned hospitality professional with an impressive track record, Jaya has more than 15 years’ experience of revenue management for leading hotel brands in the Middle East and India in addition to F&B and event management. She holds a Bachelors Degree in Hotel Management & Catering Technology and a Postgraduate Diploma in Professional Marketing from the UK’s Chartered Institute of Marketing.

“I’m excited to be joining Ascott as it embarks upon its next phase of growth,” says Jaya. “MEA and Turkey is a dynamic region with a thriving hospitality sector; effective revenue management is a key element in maintaining Ascott’s competitive edge by optimising profitability.”

Jaya began her career in hospitality in 2002 as Banquet Sales Co-ordinator at The Oberoi & Hilton Towers in Mumbai before taking on the mantle of Meeting & Events Manager at Dubai’s Al Bustan Rotana two years later. She then joined Radisson Blu Hotel in Dubai Media City and worked as Revenue Manager before being promoted to Director of Revenue. Jaya’s latest role was Head of Revenue & Distribution at HMH Hotel Group in Dubai. 

“We are delighted to welcome Jaya Raj to the Ascott team in Dubai,” says Vincent Miccolis, Ascott’s Regional GM for Middle East, Africa and Turkey. “Not only is Jaya a highly motivated professional, she’s also adept at streamlining revenue management and developing strategies for maximum return on investment. Her in-depth knowledge of business analytics will be a key asset as we edge towards our regional growth target of 5,000 units by the end of 2020,” he adds. 

Ascott currently has 12 properties in operation across 11 cities in KSA, the UAE, Turkey, Bahrain, Oman, Qatar and Ghana, featuring the group’s award-winning hospitality brands Ascott, Citadines and Somerset. An additional 12 properties (1,730 keys) are currently under development throughout the region - seven in KSA, with the remaining five spanning the UAE, Turkey, Ghana and Oman. 

About The Ascott Limited

The Ascott Limited is a Singapore company that has grown to be one of the leading international lodging owner-operators. It has more than 58,000 operating units in key cities of the Americas, Asia Pacific, Europe, the Middle East and Africa, as well as over 43,000 units which are under development, making a total of more than 101,000 units in over 670 properties.

The company’s serviced residence and hotel brands include Ascott, Citadines, Citadines Connect, Somerset, Quest, The Crest Collection, lyf, Préférence, Vertu, Harris, Fox, Yello and POP!. Ascott’s portfolio spans more than 170 cities across over 30 countries. Ascott’s properties can be found in cities including New York, London, Paris, Brussels, Berlin and Barcelona in Europe; Singapore, Bangkok, Hanoi, Kuala Lumpur, Tokyo, Seoul, Shanghai, Beijing and Hong Kong in Asia; Melbourne and Perth in Australia, Bangalore and Chennai in India; Dubai, Doha and Manama in the Middle East as well as Ghana in Africa.

Ascott, a wholly owned subsidiary of CapitaLand Limited, pioneered Asia Pacific's first international-class serviced residence with the opening of The Ascott Singapore in 1984. Today, the company boasts over 30 years of industry track record and award-winning brands that enjoy recognition worldwide.

Ascott’s achievements have been recognised internationally. Recent awards include DestinAsian Readers' Choice Awards 2019 for ‘Best Serviced Residence Brand’; World Travel Awards 2018 for 'Leading Serviced Apartment Brand' in Asia, Europe and the Middle East; TTG China Travel Awards 2018 for ‘Best Serviced Residence Operator in China’; Business Traveller Asia-Pacific Awards 2018 for ‘Best Serviced Residence Brand’; Business Traveller UK Awards 2018 for ‘Best Serviced Apartment Company’ and Business Traveller China Awards 2018 for ‘Best Luxury Serviced Residence Brand’. For a full list of awards, please visit https://www.the-ascott.com/ascottlimited/awards.html.

About CapitaLand Limited

Ascott’s parent company, CapitaLand is one of Asia’s largest real estate companies. Headquartered and listed in Singapore, it is an owner and manager of a global portfolio worth over S$92 billion as at 30 September 2018, comprising integrated developments, shopping malls, lodging, offices, homes, real estate investment trusts (REITs) and funds. Present across more than 160 cities in over 30 countries, the Group focuses on Singapore and China as core markets, while it continues to expand in markets such as Vietnam and Indonesia.   

CapitaLand’s competitive advantage is its significant asset base and extensive market network. Coupled with extensive design, development and operational capabilities, the Group develops and manages high-quality real estate products and services. It also has one of the largest investment management businesses in Asia and a stable of five REITs listed in Singapore and Malaysia – CapitaLand Mall Trust, CapitaLand Commercial Trust, Ascott Residence Trust, CapitaLand Retail China Trust and CapitaLand Malaysia Mall Trust.

Visit www.capitaland.com for more information.