Artyzen Hospitality Group has been awarded the contract by an entity controlled by Alpha Asia Macro Trends Fund II to operate and manage citizenM's first hotel in Asia Pacific;

Scheduled to open around the fourth quarter of 2016, the hotel, heralds the entry of the citizenM brand into Asia Pacific and its expansion in the region.

The circa 260-room citizenM hotel is strategically located in Ximending, the colourful retail and entertainment hub that is known as the Harajuku and Shibuya of Taipei.  The hotel is easily accessible by public transport and is close to the city's popular pedestrian mall as well as the Taipei railway station.

Launched in Amsterdam in 2008, citizenM now operates 7 hotels in cities including London, Paris and New York. A further 6 hotels are currently being developed, bringing the global room count to almost 3,000 keys.  The name citizenM derives from Mobile Citizens and some of the brand's signatures include a stylishly designed living room instead of a lobby where guests can check-in and check-out independently at touch-screen terminals.

On-site food and beverage offerings are available at canteenM, a 24-hour hotel bar, along with modern contemporary design rooms with a touch-screen MoodPad to control the lighting, temperature, window shades, alarm and television.



Alpha Asia Macro Trends Fund II is managed by Alpha Investment Partners (Alpha), the property fund management arm of Singapore developer, Keppel Land.

Industry veteran Edmond Ip joins Artyzen Hospitality Group
 
Branded hotel management company Artyzen Hospitality Group has announced that Edmond Ip has joined the group as vice chairman. Ip brings to Artyzen Hospitality Group a high-end hotel concept that he conceived back in 2007 and is excited that it has found a home within the group's portfolio of lifestyle hotel brands. Zitan represents the "Soul of Chinese Modernity," a position that aligns with the group's operating philosophy of providing culturally rewarding guest experiences.

With 40 years in the hotel industry, Ip held senior executive and development roles across some of the biggest names in the business. Following the early days of his career with Hyatt International, where he headed the finance and accounting function globally, to his spearheading the growth of IHG's business in Asia especially in Greater China, Ip later became chairman of Greater China, Hilton Worldwide. No stranger to innovation, Ip is one of the co-founders of Banyan Tree Hotels and Resorts.

A philanthropist at heart with a pioneering spirit, Ip established the IHG Academy in China for local talents development and partnered with Project Hope in building schools for children in remote places and providing scholarship for those who are unable to afford education. Ip's all-round contributions have been duly recognized with the Trailblazer Award by Horwath HTL Asia Pacific and Lifetime Achievement Awards from the China Hotel Starlight Awards and the China Hotel Investment Conference.

Photo credit: citizenM