Habyt APAC CEO Jonathan Wong Discusses New Flexible Living in Asia

Habyt, a leading flexible living provider, recently announced the appointment of Jonathan Wong as its new CEO for the Asia-Pacific region, coinciding with the rebranding of the recently merged co-living solutions company Hmlet to Habyt

Heading APAC, Jonathan is championing growth in the region for the rental provider beyond the European market to establish a unified global flexible living brand offering alternative spaces for young renters in Asia.

With this strategic decision and under Jonathan's leadership, Habyt aims to expedite its global expansion and strengthen its presence in current cities. We interviewed Jonathan Wong to understand his new role, positioning Habyt as a market leader for renting in APAC. 

How has your career positioned you to take on a leading role at Habyt transforming Asia’s rental market?

Having held executive positions at CloudKitchens APAC and Uber SEA, I’ve had a front row seat to see these businesses transform the industries in which they operate.

At both prior roles, we were using technology and new business models to bring age-old, under-innovated industries into the 21st century – a parallel and opportunity clearly exists in the residential market.

Going deeper, I would say my expertise in the tech-enabled real estate sector is key. This, combined with the experience I have based on launching and scaling top-tier businesses across the APAC region, means we’re well positioned to drive commercial success for current and new real estate partners and enhance the stay experience for all members.

As CEO of APAC for Habyt, what are your projected plans for growth in the region?

Our growth plans are two-fold: to, in parallel, deepen our presence in our existing cities and expand our presence across the region. This will require strong and mutually beneficial partnerships with real estate partners, and delivering on our commitment to providing accessible, consistent, and flexible living solutions to a growing member base.

We aim to address these issues and provide viable options for the increasing number of individuals and families across the region. As we expand our horizons, I have my eyes set on key cities like Seoul, Bangkok, Jakarta, and Kuala Lumpur, where rapid urbanisation, increasing population of digital nomads, and gaps in the current residential market have driven demand for flexible living spaces.

When it comes to our members, our commitment is to provide accessible and flexible living solutions for anyone, anywhere. We recognise that traditional rental options may not always meet the needs of everyone, and as such, we continue to evolve our offerings to go beyond the norm.

What image and direction will Habyt take following the rebranding and merging of Hmlet?

This strategic decision to unify all brands within the Habyt Group is a logical evolution of our business as the largest flexible living company in the world, with over 30,000 rooms in 25 cities across three continents.

Within APAC, we are committed to retaining the best aspects of Hmlet’s strong legacy, while fully leveraging the synergies that come from being a larger global entity, such as accelerating our international expansion initiatives.

Our members can now truly unlock living anywhere, enjoying the Habyt platform that offers seamless access to our global portfolio of locations – all with exceptional flexible living experiences that cater to their diverse needs.

How are you ‘breaking barriers’, to quote a company slogan, to reinvent ‘flexible living’ in the APAC market?

Habyt is doing this by revolutionising the way people live. Our focus on quality, consistency, and convenience stays paramount. Through the unification of all brands under Habyt, we are creating a distinct and unified global flexible living brand that sets us apart in the industry.

We aim to remove the barriers and complexities associated with traditional rental solutions, and to enable flexible living anywhere, for anyone.

With our extensive portfolio of shared and private apartments, hotels, and serviced apartments, we want to ensure a perfect option for everyone through Habyt. We can transform the way people approach renting in Asia Pacific, by making the process easier, more convenient, and more enjoyable than before.

Why would you recommend tenants rent Habyt housing?

Habyt is committed to providing accessible and flexible living solutions for anyone, anywhere, at different stages of their life cycle. Among many reasons to choose Habyt, I would like to highlight a few pertinent advantages.

Seamless experience, our spaces are all move-in ready, and our team is standing by to help with any problem.

Much more flexibility, whether you need a place to stay for a few weeks while you look for a long-term home, or you want to retain flexibility to explore all parts of a city before settling down.

None of the hassle of a traditional rental experience, we take care of everything, so all you need to do is bring your things. You do the living, we do the rest!