PropertyGuru new ‘Asia Real Estate Reboot’ webinar series on post-pandemic opportunities abets sector

Virtual sessions bring together experts and leading voices from PropertyGuru Asia Real Estate Summit’s global network

• Viewers hail from over 40 countries around the globe  
• Speakers include founders of YOO Worldwide, PLP Architecture, Pomeroy Studio, C9 Hotelworks, Savills, BDO Global, and TechNode 
• Annual summit in December will be a hybrid physical and virtual event 

BANGKOK, Thailand — 29 June 2020 

 PropertyGuru Asia Real Estate Summit, the tech and thought leadership platform of PropertyGuru, Southeast Asia’s leading property technology company, has launched its webinar series as part of its ongoing efforts to provide post-pandemic insights and solutions for large-scale property investors, property developers, architects and designers. 

Jules Kay, managing director of PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards and Events, said: “As the trusted platform for millions of property seekers across Asia, PropertyGuru is proud to offer expert guidance to property developers as they navigate the post-pandemic era in real estate. We want to help developers approach this new normal from a well-informed perspective, supported by advice from knowledgeable thought leaders in investment, finance, design and development. This webinar series will go a long way towards helping companies remain resilient after disruption.” 

Strategising following the global health crisis 

Launched in the second quarter of 2020, the first live session in April was dubbed “Asia Real Estate Reboot” and was joined by nearly 700 participants from 37 countries around the globe who listened in to a panel of industry experts in Thailand, including BDO co-managing partner in Thailand, Paul Ashburn, and author Bill Barnett of C9 Hotelworks. Calling in from London, YOO Worldwide’s chief executive officer John Hitchcox sounded off on ways investors can strategise in the near to medium term following the global health crisis. 

In Singapore, PropertyGuru Group’s chief business officer Jeremy Williams shared consumer trends and digital tools that developers could use moving forward. PropertyGuru reiterated its market leadership in providing technology-related solutions to those affected by the pandemic.  

“Covid-19 has accelerated the move online across a wide range of different markets and commercial spheres. In the property sector it has quickly raised the profile and importance of technology-led solutions for buyers, agents and developers,” he said. 

Digital trends as markets reopen 

The second webinar in early June, called “China Reopens”, featured Dr. Gang Lu, the founder of TechNode Global, the exclusive partner of TechCrunch in China. Dr. Lu, who appeared at the 2019 PropertyGuru Asia Real Estate Summit event in Bangkok, was joined by Ivan Lam, Head of International Business, Charter Keck Cramer; James Macdonald, Head of Research, China, Savills; and Vincent Cheung, Founder and Managing Director, Vincorn Consulting and Appraisal Limited. The speakers talked at length about the rising adoption of e-commerce, livestreaming and other digital trends among Chinese entrepreneurs and consumers after the country became the first to reopen following its race to contain the pandemic. 

Around 300 viewers from more than 20 countries tuned in for the third instalment of the webinar in late June, entitled “Exploring Efficient Design”, to hear Prof. Jason Pomeroy, founding principal of Pomeroy Studio and Pomeroy Academy; Wenhui Lim, partner of SPARK Architects; and Ron Bakker, founding partner of PLP Architecture speak. Moderated by Andrew Au, regional managing director, Asia-Pacific for Eight Inc., the design-focused session, simulcast via Zoom, saw speakers call in from Singapore to Amsterdam to reflect on the most innovative examples of architecture and design against the backdrop of the Covid-19 outbreak.   

‘Balance is the new normal’ 

Stressing the notion that “balance is the new normal,” Pomeroy said: “It’s not hard to realise that with the pandemic era upon us, there is this sort of sense of needing to be moving away from the sense of convergence. If for so many years we have been converging into cities, now we’re needing a bit more space. What we need to think about now is the need to embrace the great outdoors.” 

With the success of and great interest in the live webinar series, PropertyGuru will continue to host them regularly this year in the lead up to the annual PropertyGuru Asia Real Estate Summit 2020.  

Green technology, Sustainability, and the New Economy 

Centred on the theme, “Spirit of Innovation,” this year’s conversation will focus on green technology, sustainability, and the new economy, with a confirmed keynote from The Economist. The renowned summit will take place at the Athenee Hotel, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Bangkok in Thailand on Thursday, 3 December 2020, as a hybrid physical and virtual event. 

Established in 2015, the PropertyGuru Asia Real Estate Summit over the years has gathered several influential and global names for its annual and regional events. Past speakers include ASEAN Deputy Secretary-General Dr. Aladdin D. Rillo; Thailand’s former Finance Minister Korn Chatikavanij; Malaysia’s Deputy Finance Minister Dato’ Lee Chee Leong; The Economist’s global editorial director Andrew Staples; TechCrunch China founder Dr. Gang Lu; Google’s head of agency and performance Kim Rellinger; Singapore’s chief urban planner-architect Dr. Liu Thai Ker; MiraLab founder Prof. Nadia Magnenat Thalmann; PLP Architecture’s Ron Bakker; and the original Apple Store designer-architect Tim Kobe.  

Past partners include the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), Nikkei Asian Review, TechSauce, Oxford Business Group, Mingtiandi, and The Wall Street Journal. 

Speaking, sponsorship and partnership opportunities are available for the PropertyGuru Asia Real Estate Summit. 

For more information, email [email protected]. Recordings of the live webinars are available on the official website: AsiaRealEstateSummit.com/