Portman Breaks Ground on Mixed-Use Development in Shanghai

John Portman & Associates, an internationally recognized architectural and engineering firm, recently broke ground on the Jian Ye Li mixed-use development in Shanghai. The new development will offer for-sale residential, serviced apartments, retail and restaurant facilities.

The Jian Ye Li development occupies 193,750 square feet of property and is a re-use development that will retain its original architecture while the interior is modernized and refurbished. The new mixed-use development will provide an international destination for visitors to experience the culture and history of Shanghai.

The new Jian Ye Li mixed-use development will be comprised of 51 residential units, 40,000 square feet of retail space, and 50 serviced apartment units. Construction of the project is expected to be complete by September of 2010 with a price tag of approximately $105 million.

Jian Ye Li was originally constructed as a housing project for low-income families who worked for the Jian Ye Li Construction Company. The development will be refurbished in an effort to revitalize a neglected section of the picturesque French Concession district. Residential, serviced apartment units and retail spaces will be constructed as a result of the dismantling of the East portion of the site during the first phase of the project.

The new-mixed use development will include an iconic water tower that is part of the original 1928 drawings and will include copper lattice work with original Jian Ye Li brick material. Since the original design of the water tower is unknown, Portman & Associates plans to create a modern version.

Portman & Associates currently has 16 projects in Shanghai underway that include retail, residential, serviced apartment, and commercial facilities. The company employs a team of more than 40 professionals and offices in Atlanta, Georgia and Shanghai, China. Established in 1953, Portman has over 50 years of expertise in designing hotels, serviced apartments, universities, serviced offices, trade marts, and mixed-use urban complexes all around the world.

Portman’s Shanghai office, John Portman & Associates International, was established in 1993 and was one of the first foreign architectural firms to do work in China. The Shanghai office has been paramount in facilitating the design of numerous projects in China. Projects include large mixed-use projects, cultural centers, stand-alone serviced office towers, hotels, serviced apartments, marts, and large residential developments built in the cities of Shanghai, Beijing, Dalian, Tianjin, Wuxi, Hangzhou, Chongqing, Nanjing, Shenzhen, Ningbo, and Jinan.

For additional information on accommodations in Shanghai, log onto Move and Stay at www.moveandstay.com.cn .

Oakwood Worldwide Launches Serviced Apartments in Hangzhou

Oakwood Worldwide, a leading provider of serviced apartments, has launched Oakwood Residence Hangzhou, China. The new project is the first international serviced apartment brand in the city of Hangzhou.

Oakwood Residence Hangzhou offers a wide variety of serviced apartments that range from studios to three-bedroom units. Each unit includes a fully-equipped kitchen, washer and dryer, high speed broadband Internet, 24-hour security, concierge, daily housekeeping, and both direct and switchboard telephone lines. Tenants have access to a restaurant and bar, fitness center with indoor swimming pool, Wi-Fi, and a business center.

The new serviced apartment complex is located within close proximity to high end serviced office space, Europe America Center (EAC), the Yellow Dragon Commercial Circle, prime retail outlets and 380 upscale condominiums. The Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport and Hangzhou Central Railway Station is nearby, as well as the Hangzhou International School. Move and Stay at www.moveandstay.com.cn has information on accommodations and availability in Oakwood Residence Hangzhou serviced apartments.

Oakwood residence Hangzhou marks the ninth property by Oakwood to open in China. The company currently has expansion plans underway which will increase Oakwood’s portfolio to nearly 2000 units across five cities by 2010. Oakwood currently has serviced apartment developments in Beijing and Guangzhou. Oakwood partnered with Jianong Real Estate to construct the Oakwood Residence Hangzhou.

Serviced apartments have become the preferred option for accommodation in many Asian cities because they provide short and long-term stays for business and leisure travelers with five-star hotel services in a more comfortable and home-style atmosphere.

Oakwood has had long standing relationships with Fortune Global 500 companies who rely on Oakwood to handle their accommodation needs. This is due to Oakwood’s “gold standard” of service excellence in its serviced apartment properties throughout the world.
A division of Oakwood Worldwide, Oakwood Asia Pacific manages Asia's finest serviced apartments for business and leisure travelers in China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Korea and Thailand. An additional 26 properties are scheduled to open by 2011 in strategic locations across Asia Pacific. Oakwood Asia Pacific operates Oakwood Premier, Oakwood Residence and Oakwood Apartments with Oakwood Premier Resorts and Oakwood Resorts coming soon.

Ascott Awarded Contract to Manage Serviced Apartments in Raffles City Beijing

The Ascott Group, a worldwide leading serviced apartment provider, was recently awarded a contract to manage another serviced apartment residence in Beijing, the Ascott Beijing Raffles City. The new serviced apartment complex represents the Ascott Group’s fifth property in Beijing and is expected to open during the second half of 2009.

The Ascott Beijing Raffles City will offer 175 serviced apartment units situated in a mixed use development consisting of a retail facility, serviced office tower, and serviced apartment residences. The complex will be located in the heart of the Dongzhimen Dongcheng District and nearby to the embassy district where several embassies and over 500 foreign enterprises are located.

Dongzhimen is the name of one of the gates in the old city walls of Beijing and is currently a major transportation hub in Beijing with links to Airport Expressway. The Beijing subway has a station at Dongzhimen, where Lines 2 and 13 connect and line 13 has its eastern terminal at Dongzhimen.

The new serviced apartment complex will be located within close proximity to the primary transportation hub and about twenty minutes by railway to the Bejing airport. Nearby is the Forbidden City, a wide variety of dining and leisure facilities and the renowned Sanlitun nightlife area.

The Ascott Beijing Raffles City will be the Group's fifth Ascott-branded serviced apartment residence property in China. The other four properties include Ascott Beijing, Ascott Shanghai Pudong, Ascott Guangzhou, and Ascott Shenzhen Maillen which is scheduled to open in 2010.

Other new Ascott serviced apartment properties in China that will open within the next two years are Citadines Xi'an Gaoxin, Citadines Wuhan Zhuankou and Somerset Heping, Shenyang. This will expand Ascott’s portfolio to over 5,000 units in 26 properties in 12 cities across China. Move and Stay at www.moveandstay.com.cn has information on accommodations availability for these properties.

The Ascott Group is the world's largest international serviced apartment residence provider with more than 18,000 operating serviced apartment units in key cities of Asia Pacific, Europe and the Gulf region and 7,000 units which are currently under development, making a total of over 25,000 units.

Officescape Opens Cutting Edge Virtual Offices in Beijing

Officescape, a worldwide leading provider of serviced offices and virtual offices, recently open the doors of a new facility in the NEWLOGO International Building in Beijing, China. This is the newest property by Officescape and will offer the very latest in cutting edge office and technology services and equipment.

The new serviced office facility is centrally located in the technology hub in the Haidan District of Zhong Guan Cun which is a high-tech zone where the majority of major foreign high-tech companies are located. The facility is located within close proximity to major parts of Beijing with easy access to the National Library of China, the Beijing Exhibition Centre, and the Summer Palace. Business clients have immediate access to the subway with a forty minute drive to the Beijing International Airport.

Officescape is renowned for offering the newest and the latest in alternative officing technology with a total solution to remote office, meeting and conferencing needs. The company is known for its high-end “anywhere” services for telecommuters and its Office On Demand service which allows businesses and corporations to pay only for what they use.

Officescape’s innovative solutions provide for physical serviced office space and virtual office space with state-of-the-art technology services that significantly increase the mobility of businesses and large corporations.

Officescape’s services include, serviced offices, virtual offices, offices on-demand, online offices, unified communications allowing communication from anywhere, conferencing from anywhere, computing on-demand, software anywhere including web-based applications, and Enterprise services that allow telesecure computing from anywhere. The serviced offices and virtual offices are operated via a single platform.

The unique business solutions are offered at all of Officescape’s locations worldwide and a membership allows business clients to access all of those locations as well as the professional staff support services and conferencing services.

The new serviced office facility in the NEWLOGO International Building offers excellent convenience, accessibility to facilities, and a complete business solution with increased flexibility. For information on availability, contact Move and Stay at www.moveandstay.com.cn .

New Global Sourcing Center in Shanghai to Attract Overseas Business

The government of Shanghai recently announced that it plans to invest 2 billion yuan (US $292 million) to build a transitional sourcing center in Shanghai for the purpose of promoting foreign trade and attracting overseas business clients. The Shanghai Transitional Sourcing Center will cover 130,000 square meters and will include an international exhibition center and two serviced office buildings.

According to Sha Halin, deputy secretary of the Shanghai municipal government and director general of Shanghai Municipal Commission of Commerce, the project will provide a solid platform for international sourcing as well as an international trade center.

In addition to these goals, the annual International Sourcing Fair will be held in the new center and will help to accumulate a wealth of global buyers and lure more business clients to establish a presence in the new serviced offices.

The Shanghai Transitional Sourcing Center is located in the heart of the Changfeng Ecological Business Zone in the Putuo District. The business zone will offer 1.5 million square meters of serviced offices as well as commercial and entertainment facilities. In addition, the zone will provide 1.2 million square meters of high-end residential and serviced apartments. Move and Stay at http://www.moveandstay.com.cn/ has updates and information on serviced office and serviced apartment availability in the Changfeng Ecological Business Zone.

The entire 2.2 square kilometer business area is specifically planned for the service industry and will be home to the headquarters of many major corporations.

Metro-Goldwyn Mayer, a major American media company, plans to build an entertainment center within the zone which will be completed by the year 2010 before the World Expo. The center will be known as MGM Studio World and will be built around the MGM brand and its intellectual properties and will include dining, unique retailing, nighttime venues, and entertainment in 200,000 square feet of space.

MGM Studio World will be easily accessible by serviced office and serviced apartment clients within the Changfeng Business Zone.

Bridges Executive Center Offers Affordable Serviced Office Space in Central Hong Kong

Bridges Executive Center, a leader in adaptive corporate solutions, is providing premium business solutions to corporate clients in Hong Kong with state-of-the-art serviced offices, virtual offices, and conferencing facilities in a cost-effective flexible alternative to conventional office space.

The Bridges Executive Center serviced office facility is located in the heart of Hong Kong’s financial and commercial district with easy access to major public transportation hubs, well-known commercial buildings, major banks, five-star hotels and serviced apartments. The business center is managed by a group of professionals who are well trained in office services and business support.

Bridges Executive Center offers contemporary style serviced office space that provides businesses with instant start-up in a fully-furnished office that enables the client to virtually sit down, plug in, and start operations instantly. Serviced offices include broadband Internet access, professional receptionist services, security system with proximity card access, management fees and government rates.

Included with the serviced office package, clients have access to multilingual secretarial services, company incorporation, accounting and auditing services, all on a pay-as-you-go basis. There is no capital cost or drain on company management time while securing accommodations and the center also offers a flexible lease terms for one day to one year on serviced office space accommodations for up to 20 people. Serviced office space accommodations include a choice of start-up offices, executive offices, team offices, connecting room offices, or open-plan offices.

The virtual office option offered by the Bridges Executive Center contains all of the benefits of occupying a conventional office only at a fraction of the cost. Clients do not physically occupy the space and are able to run their business from their home or overseas while enjoying a professional and corporate image.

The virtual office package provides a prestigious business address, a dedicated phone number which is answered in the name of your company, mail service for receiving and forward daily messages, and access to the additional support services and meeting facilities.

Bridges Executive Centers provide businesses with a premium working environment at a prestigious address with world-class service and state-of-the-art technology. Clients can inquire about space accommodations for serviced offices and virtual offices by contacting Move and Stay at www.moveandstay.com.cn .

Regus Group Opens Serviced Office Center in Macau

The Regus Group, a leading global serviced office provider, recently opened its first serviced office business center in Macau. The new workplace facility brings state-of-the-art serviced offices, high tech videoconferencing, meeting, and conference rooms to one of Asia’s fastest growing business regions.

The new Regus serviced office property consists of 16,000 square feet of office space, meeting and board room facilities to meet a wide variety of business needs, videoconferencing, a professional business lounge environment for drop-in clients desiring to remain productive while on the road, serviced office space for businesses of any size, the latest Cisco IP telephony systems, and secure high-speed wireless Internet access.

The Regus serviced office center is located in the heart of the downtown commercial district of Macau and within close proximity to the Institute of Civic and Municpal Affairs Building, banks, restaurants, shopping centers, as well as entertainment and gaming attractions. The serviced office center is also within walking distance from the main plaza of the historic city center and fifteen minutes from the airport. Information on space availability can be obtained from Move and Stay at www.moveandstay.com .

Macau has been experiencing continued rapid growth in business and industry despite the instability of the world economy. Macau has rapidly become a major tourist attraction in addition to experiencing a land-reclamation program and growth in construction which is aimed at attracting more investment, trade, and tourism. As a result, Macau is experiencing an increase in demand for serviced office space from start-up businesses and established companies.

The Regus serviced office center provides short-term leasing as well as longer-term accommodations for companies seeking a branch office location in Macau’s rapidly growing economy. The serviced office center also offers a Businessworld membership which allows professionals to reserve office space at any of the worldwide Regus locations for as little as $30 a day.

The location of the new Regus serviced office center will also offer Businessworld members access to the business lounge anytime at no additional charge. The Businessworld program is the only one of its kind that provides executives with the flexibility they need during business travel.

The Regus Group is the world's leading provider of workplace solutions, with products and services ranging from fully equipped serviced offices to virtual offices, professional meeting rooms and training venues, business lounges and one of the worlds largest network of videoconferencing studios.

For more information on Regus serviced office locations and facilities, contact Move and Stay at www.moveandstay.com.cn .

The Executive Center Selects SALTO Systems to Manage Pan Asia Serviced Office Network

The Executive Center, a leading serviced office provider in Hong Kong, recently selected SALTO Systems to install and manage their latest electronic access control solutions and day-to-day security across their serviced office network.

The Executive Center currently secures over 1500 doors in sixteen cities with SALTO Systems with the solution being installed by local SALTO dealers. As the Executive Center serviced office network expands, more integrated securtiy systems through SALTO will be added.

The Executive Center is currently Asia-Pacific’s leading serviced office provider and part of a primary global property management group. The company provides serviced offices, virtual offices, meeting facilities, videoconferencing, and business services. Beginning with their first serviced office center in 1994, The Executive Center has expanded to over 29 centers across 16 cities in the Asia-Pacific.

Security is a high priority for the Executive Center serviced office and virtual office facilities. To implement a state of the art security system, the Executive Center chose the i-Button system of electronic locks which provide 24/7 security and full audit trail monitoring which is necessary to ensure security is not compromised in any of its serviced office centers.

Each facility contains up to eighty locks with on line wall readers at the entrances, i-Button locks on the serviced office and meeting room doors, and i-Locker locks on a variety of cabinet doors. The stand alone access control system fully utilizes the read-write capabilities of the i-Button platform which allows access information to be stored in the lock and in the ID carriers and i-Button keyfobs. The system allows the Executive Center staff to program keys that will provide access to certain rooms or areas within each serviced office center during specific periods only. The doors can also be individually programmed to automatically lock at specified times.

The new security system on the Exectuvie Center serviced office facilities will also minimize the time needed to manage the system without sacrificing flexibility, control, or security by allowing the stand alone locks and operating system to exchange information via the read-write i-Button technology. User realted access information is stored in an encrypted format on the ID carrier which also provides the ability to immediately cancel an i-Button fob from the security system should a client or staff member misplace it.

The Executive Center plans to expand installation of SALTO systems as they establish additional serviced office centers throughout the Asia-Pacific.

For more information on the Executive Center serviced office and virtual office space availability, contact Move and Stay at www.moveandstay.com .

Executive Center Opens Sixth Serviced Office Center in Hong Kong

The Executive Center, Asia’s leading serviced office provider and renowned for its quality serviced offices and business support services recently expanded its portfolio to a sixth serviced office center in Hong Kong with One Island East. One Island East is the sixth tallest building in Hong Kong and the island’s newest landmark business address.

One Island East serviced offices are fully equipped with the latest IT technology, Polycom communications system, videoconferencing facilities, state of the art modern furniture, 202 workstations, 4 meeting rooms, 2 boardrooms, and 3 facilities areas. The facility is also connected to the commercial complexes of Yaikoo Place and Taikoo Plaza which is the largest shopping mall on Hong Kong Island. Surrounding the 70 floor tower is over 300 multinational corporations as well as a wide variety of restaurant outlets including the dining area located at SOHO East that serve international cuisine.

The 18, 790 square foot new serviced office center is located on the 23rd floor of One Island East and has already achieved a 45 percent occupancy rate prior to opening. Current availability updates can be obtained from Move and Stay at www.moveandstay.com . Occupancy rates prior to opening are representative of the quality of services and work environment that the Executive Center provides in its serviced office facilities as well as first rate landmark business locations in Hong Kong and Asia as a whole. The Executive Center has established a renowned reputation and was awarded the Network World Asia All Star Award 2006 and Hong Kong Business Magazine’s High Flyers Award 2006 and 2007.

The Executive Center has over 30 serviced office locations throughout the Asia-Pacific Region with 19 of those locations located in Greater China. The Executive Center is currently at the cutting edge of the serviced office industry and operating a rapidly expanding Asia-Pacific network of premium, on-demand office accommodations, virtual office representation services, meeting facilities, and a wide range of business support services.

To obtain additional information on serviced office availability in China, contact Move and Stay at www.moveandstay.com .

Virtual Office Provider Opens Businesses in China and India

MLS Business Centers, a major serviced office and virtual office provider in the United Kingdom, has recently opened two new centers in Shanghai, China and Kolkata, India. MLS Business Center serviced office and virtual office facilities focus on functional workspace solutions that are tailored to individual needs of businesses and provide cost effective and flexible solutions. The opening of the two new centers is part of the MLS business plan to expand to international locations.

The business markets in India and China are currently robust despite economic challenges and offer local and international businesses state of the art IT and telecommunications in a cost effective serviced office and virtual office setting. In India, Kolata is the primary business, commercial, and financial hub and home to the Calcutta Stock Exchange. In China, Shanghai is the center of finance and trade and competes with Hong Kong to be the primary economic force in China. Shanghai’s main business force is in technology and manufacturing which has contributed to the prominence of its role in financing, banking, and as a major destination for corporate headquarters.

The virtual office center in the city of Kolkata, India, is fully equipped for individual businesses with a wide variety of needs including IT/telecoms, meeting rooms, couriers, fully staffed reception desk, and stationery. It is located in the center of the city and within close proximity to the airport and train station. Move and Stay provides additional information on cost and rental options.

The virtual office center in the city of Shanghai is housed in a state of the art commercial building in the Hongqiao central business district and provides 1,700 square meters of fully serviced office suites and virtual offices. The center is located in the Gubei international community and Hongqiao consulate district and is within close proximity to local transport links and the metro line.

Both serviced office and virtual office centers provide a great opportunity for businesses to establish a presence in two strong business markets. Move and Stay has more information on space availability and rental options. Office solutions are provided for with simple short-term agreements, monthly billing, furniture, telecommunications, secretarial assistance and the choice to expand or contract your workspace as necessary.

For additional information on these new serviced office and virtual office business centers, contact Move and Stay at http://www.moveandstay.com/ .

Executive Center Serviced Offices Popular Throughout Asia Pacific

The Executive Center, a leading provider in serviced offices has continued to gain popularity throughout the Asia Pacific through leasing to top-notch multinational business from around the world. Currently the Executive Center has serviced office locations in fifteen cities and ten countries across the Asia Pacific. The business has grown at forty-five to fifty percent per annum during the last five years.

The Executive Center was founded by Alan Seigrist who decided to focus on the serviced office niche after his private equity firm closed. This is a niche that very few had concentrated on in Asia which targets businesses in need of office space for rent but not the traditional office space. Unlike traditional office space, serviced offices allow businesses to expand as the need arises.

The Executive Center in Taiwan caters to business people throughout the world and offers state-of-the-art facilities, a comfortable working environment, and easy access to restaurants, cafes, stores and a view of Taipei City. It is located on the 37th floor of Taipei 101, a 600-ping space that houses 50 serviced office suites that range from two to ten people.

Seigrist mentioned that Taipei 101 is the first building in Taiwan that really considered office workers and their environment. The Executive Center provides clients with equipment, amenities, and furniture consisting of the highest quality as well as fax and Xerox machines, Cisco’s IP phone systems, meeting room walls with color-backed glass that one can write on, and a maximum security system with programmed encryption technology. The serviced offices also include access to cafeterias equipped with refrigerators, coffee makes and other appliances.

The Executive Center serviced offices have been successful in attracting many famous international corporations such as Google. When Google entered Taiwan, it utilized serviced offices at the Executive Center to reduce costs for its five engineers. Over the following two years, the business grew to a staff of over forty which forced Google to move up to the 73rd floor of Taipei 101 to work from a more spacious serviced office unit.

According to Seigrist, Taiwan’s market has lots of potential due to the island’s solid infrastructure and its well-educated population. The island’s business environment needs some improvement by providing greater access to China so more international companies will be encouraged to base themselves in Taiwan. The island must deal with China on the same equal basis as Hong Kong, Japan, Korea, and Singapore.