A new Lyf

It is the age of the traveller who enjoys co-working and co-living, who craves discoveries and community, and desires local experiences.

It is the age of the millennial traveller, and The Ascott Limited is ready with an unconventional take on the serviced residence.

Designed for and managed by millennials, lyf is a new way of living and collaborating as a community, connecting guests with fellow travellers and change-makers. Conceptualised and tested by millennials and developed with their input, this style of accommodation is tailor-made for technopreneurs, start-ups and individuals from music, media and fashion. Each property will have its unique personality with fun and quirky design elements which facilitate interaction between guests.

All lyf residences will have 'Connect' communal spaces - flexible co-working areas that can easily transform into zones for workshops or social gatherings. Waiting for the laundry to be done is no longer a dull affair as residents can hang out at the 'Wash & Hang' laundromat and play a round of Foosball.

Feeling hungry? In the 'Bond' social kitchen, guests can prepare home-cooked meals, take cooking classes and socialise while learning more about global cuisines from other residents. lyf properties may also incorporate interactive digital art pieces or even giant ball pits, hamster wheels and oversized Connect Four sets for the kids-at-heart amongst its guests.

The properties will be managed by lyf guards - young and sociable staff who may be residents themselves and act as the residence's barista, concierge, community managers, city and food guides and problem solvers. lyf guards, guests and partners can conduct workshops with local craftsmen, hackathons with local start-up accelerators or innovation talks. Residents may even score exclusive invites to local music festivals and concerts.

Apartment layouts range from 'Big Bed' rooms (studios) and 'Two of a Kind' rooms (twin rooms) - two private rooms with a shared kitchen - to the 'All Together' unit (business suites) perfect for project groups. The latter will have smart display screens for video conferencing and discussions, while a large table doubles up as a collaborative working zone cum dining area.

Instead of the traditional wardrobe within the apartment, guests can hang their clothes on rails suspended from the ceiling or put up a hammock for a lazy afternoon snooze.

Tying this new brand of serviced residences together are the values of curiosity, togetherness, authenticity, creativity and freedom. Curiosity because millennials are curious and want to explore and try new things and experiences. Togetherness because millennials like meeting people, socialising, networking and building relationships. Authenticity because millennials expect no less than local, authentic experiences, and creativity because they think out of the box and are natural innovators. Finally, freedom because millennials desire to live their life how they want, and without unnecessary restraint. These values will be infused in every area - from marketing and design to experience.

As it stands, millennials already form a quarter of Ascott's customers and their numbers are set to grow exponentially. lyf is therefore a concept for its time, providing global jetsetters and trendsetters with the opportunity to 'Live Your Freedom' in a dynamic environment and network with like-minded creatives to bring more ideas to life. Most importantly, they can literally rest assured thanks to Ascott's track record in managing award-winning serviced residences worldwide. With the rising trend of co-living and co-working, Ascott aims to have 10,000 units under the lyf brand globally by 2020.

The future is bright for the millennial traveller, and where they choose to stay, will surely be a transformative experience too.

Welcome, lyf.

Connect with lyf at facebook.com/livelyfhere