Singapore -- (SBWIRE) -- 11/24/2011 -- CapitaLand’s wholly-owned serviced residence business unit, The Ascott Limited (http://www.the-ascott.com/) (Ascott), has launched a specially designed Facebook application, ‘Around our Residences’. The new application provides expatriates and travellers with local insights to help them navigate the city during their stay at any of Ascott’s serviced residences.

The application is a mash-up of Facebook and Google Maps, enabling users to share useful tips and get an inside peek to some of the unique finds one can discover within the vicinity of an Ascott serviced residence. ‘Around our Residences’ is available across Ascott’s three Facebook pages, Ascott The Residence (http://www.facebook.com/Ascott.The.Residence?sk=app_169331296488607) , Citadines Apart’hotel (http://www.facebook.com/Citadines.Aparthotel#!/Citadines.Aparthotel?sk=app_295348993811427) and Somerset Serviced Residence (http://www.facebook.com/Somerset.Serviced.Residence#!/Somerset.Serviced.Residence?sk=app_137585639674890). Through recommendations from Residence Managers at Ascott, Citadines and Somerset properties and other Facebook fans on topics such as which supermarket to find the freshest produce or the nearest local bank, long-stay guests can quickly assimilate into the local community. Travellers can also tap into this digital resource to discover interesting local haunts, the coolest shops or the hippest bars.

Mr Tony Soh, Ascott’s Chief Corporate Officer said: “Ascott constantly finds new ways to enhance our guests’ experiences. We understand that relocating or travelling to a new city can be exciting yet intimidating. Hence, we launched ‘Around our Residences’ to create a dynamic resource to help expatriates and travellers settle into a foreign city with ease. With Ascott’s global presence in more than 70 cities, we are able to leverage on the local knowledge of our Residence Managers globally to share timely and relevant information about the cities we are in. By engaging our almost 30,000 Facebook fans online, we aim to listen more actively to our guests, understand their needs and make them feel at home when they stay with us.”

Ascott’s Facebook fans are encouraged to share their own unique discoveries by entering the address of their tip. The application will automatically bring the user to the exact location on the map. Users can then share a few words, photos or even videos about the particular location. For every 5, 15 and 25 tips shared, the application will reward users with Ascott badges in recognition of their contributions.

From now till 28 November 2011, Ascott will be giving away free stays as part of the ‘Ascott’s Ultimate Resident’ contest. Fans of Ascott can access the ‘Around our Residences’ application from any of Ascott’s three Facebook pages and begin browsing or voting for their favourite tips. Contributors of the top five tips with the most votes will each win a three-night stay at any Ascott, Citadines or Somerset serviced residence worldwide. For more details on the ‘Ascott Ultimate Resident’ contest, please visit: http://www.the-ascott.com/ultimate_resident.

Besides Facebook, guests can connect with Ascott on Twitter, YouTube and Flickr to discover the latest news, promotions, opening specials, photos and videos from Ascott. For more information, please visit: http://www.the-ascott.com/connect.

About The Ascott Limited
The Ascott Limited (http://www.the-ascott.com/) is the world’s largest international serviced residence owner-operator with over 22,000 operating serviced residence units in key cities of Asia Pacific, Europe and the Gulf region, as well as over 6,000 units which are under development, making a total of more than 28,000 units.

The company operates three brands – Ascott (http://www.the-ascott.com/index.html), Citadines (http://www.citadines.com/) and Somerset (http://www.somerset.com/). Its portfolio spans over 70 cities across more than 20 countries, 13 of which are new cities in Ascott’s portfolio where its serviced residences are being developed.

Ascott, a wholly-owned subsidiary of CapitaLand Limited, is headquartered in Singapore. It pioneered Asia Pacific’s first international-class serviced residence in 1984. In 2006, it established the world’s first Pan-Asian serviced residence real estate investment trust, Ascott Residence Trust. Today, the company boasts a 27-year industry track record and award-winning serviced residence brands that enjoy recognition worldwide.

Recent awards include Business Traveller Asia-Pacific Awards 2011 ‘Best Serviced Residence Brand’ and ‘Best Serviced Residence in Asia-Pacific’, DestinAsian Readers’ Choice Awards 2011 ‘Best Serviced Residence in Asia Pacific’, TTG China Travel Awards 2011 ‘Best Serviced Residence Operator in China’, Business Traveller UK Awards 2011 ‘Best Serviced Apartment Company’ and TTG Travel Awards 2011 ‘Best Serviced Residence Operator’.

About CapitaLand Group
CapitaLand is one of Asia’s largest real estate companies. Headquartered and listed in Singapore, the multi-local company’s core businesses in real estate, hospitality and real estate financial services are focused in growth cities in Asia Pacific and Europe.

The company’s real estate and hospitality portfolio, which includes homes, offices, shopping malls, serviced residences and mixed developments, spans more than 110 cities in over 20 countries. CapitaLand also leverages on its significant asset base, real estate domain knowledge, financial skills and extensive market network to develop real estate financial products and services in Singapore and the region.

The listed entities of the CapitaLand Group include Australand, CapitaMalls Asia, CapitaMall Trust, CapitaCommercial Trust, Ascott Residence Trust, CapitaRetail China Trust, CapitaMalls Malaysia Trust and Quill Capita Trust.