Christmas across countries and seasons
As CEO Apac of Habyt, Jonathan Wong brings adventure, connection and adaptability to the global housing provider – as well as his marriage
FOR JONATHAN WONG, LIFE IS about big ideas and bold moves. Whether he’s leading Habyt’s Asia-Pacific operations through its next growth phase, or organising Christmas celebrations with his family, he believes in taking big risks while staying optimistic. “You have to take big, calculated bets. You have to be bold,” he says with a grin. “If you’re winning all of your bets, you’re not being bold enough.”
As CEO Asia-Pacific of Habyt, Wong has steadily expanded the company’s footprint in the East, redefining what modern living means under the global provider of flexible housing solutions. From launching new co-living spaces in Hong Kong and Singapore to introducing short and long-stay properties, he’s transforming Habyt into a versatile, community-driven brand. “It’s not just about providing a place to stay. It’s about facilitating connections and a sense of belonging – connections that are particularly important during festive seasons like Christmas.”
Habyt has just opened Kada At Maxwell, a beautifully restored 1920s heritage building at 5 Kadayanallur Street in Tanjong Pagar – a stone’s throw away from Maxwell Food Centre and its famous hawker stalls. The property includes a gym and co-working space, and guests can enjoy complimentary access to wellness amenities such as a cold plunge, infrared saunas, hot tubs and foot baths.
Although Habyt stops short of decorating its properties with Christmas ornaments to maintain its clean and impartial environment, it tries to connect its residents with one another via digital means so that they may choose to spend the festive season together. “For the people who just moved in over Christmas, who haven’t met anyone yet, we facilitate that connection by bridging the communication gap between various folks, so that they find someone or a group of people to hang out with over the festive period.”
A modern meet-cute in London
Wong certainly believes that digital connections can flourish into lifelong relationships. He found his future wife, Lilian Sun, on WeChat while they were studying in London: Wong was doing his Master of Business Administration at London Business School, while Sun was pursuing a master’s degree in media and development at University of Westminster. His school’s back gate was just steps from her condo, so WeChat’s “nearby” feature connected them.
“We chatted online for six months before we met in person,” Sun shares. “I wasn’t sure if he was a good person or not, and honestly, I just thought it was a good way to practise my English, which is not my first language.”
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Wong, a lifelong optimist, patiently waited for their first meeting. “She’s the one who said hi to me first,” he jokes. “I’ll never let her forget it.” When they finally met at a Japanese restaurant, sparks flew. “From that day, we kept bumping into each other – at the same restaurants, on the same routes,” Sun recalls. “It felt like fate.”
The couple tied the knot in 2015 and has since built a life that seamlessly blends their diverse backgrounds. Wong was born in Malaysia and raised in Hong Kong. He did his bachelor’s degree in Sydney and was accustomed to cosmopolitan environments where Christmas was a material celebration. Sun, on the other hand, hails from Tongxiang, a small city in China, where Christmas was a foreign concept. “I never celebrated it growing up,” she says. “In China, it’s just another day – no holidays, no traditions.”
Together they’ve forged their own unique traditions, travelling the world every Christmas to experience the Yuletide holiday in all its forms. From the enchanting Christmas markets of Munich and Leipzig, to the scorching summer Christmas of Sydney, their holidays have been as diverse as their relationship.
Christmas every day
Now parents to two children – a four-year-old and a four-month-old – the couple’s Christmas traditions have evolved. “Pre-kids, it was all about exploring new places,” Wong says. “We’d alternate between hot and cold destinations – one year snow, the next sun.” Post-kids, their focus has shifted. “Now it’s about reconnecting with the people who matter.”
The couple has friends scattered across the globe – from the US and Latin America to Europe and Asia – so they use the holidays as an opportunity to strengthen those relationships. “We want our kids to grow up with a global village of friends,” Sun says. “It’s one of the best gifts we can give them.”
Sun recently made the decision to step back from her full-time role as an event producer at Pico to focus on their growing family. “With one child, it was manageable,” she explains. “But with two, I wanted to be more present. I’ve moved to freelance work and am focusing more on my lifestyle brand, Eastnomads.”
Eastnomads, which she co-founded with a friend, curates modern Chinese lifestyle products for Singaporean homes and beyond. “People think Chinese design is just blue-and-white porcelain, but there’s so much more – we have modern, vibrant pieces that mix tradition with cutting-edge designs. And I want to bring them outside of China to bridge cultures.”
As 2024 draws to a close, the couple looks back fondly on a year of growth and change. Wong’s leadership at Habyt has propelled the company’s expansion, while Sun’s shift to freelance work has brought her closer to their children and her creative passions. “It’s been a year of big adjustments, what with my work and the arrival of a new kid,” Wong says. “But through it all, we’ve supported each other.”
Whether it’s a sunny Christmas in Sydney or a snowy one in London, what matters most to him is the same value he’s built his life and career on – connection. “Love and connection,” he says with a smile, “are what make every season and every place feel like home.”
Photography: Darren Gabriel Leow Fashion direction & styling: CK Hair & make-up: Grego Oh, using Chanel Beauty Location: This Humid House
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