M Social opens first location in mainland

A youthful and energetic lifestyle hotel brand, M Social, unveiled its first Chinese location in Suzhou, Jiangsu province, with a Brand Experience Day on Nov 7, bringing a new destination for relaxing, sharing and gathering to the city.

Located near Jinji Lake, M Social Hotel Suzhou is close to several major business and shopping areas as well as the Suzhou International Expo Center and Suzhou Culture and Arts Centre.

The interior of the hotel, by renowned architect KCA International, is intended to encourage public gathering and the sharing of experiences in a welcoming and informal setting.

The hotel has three restaurants and bars, each with unique features to offer guests a memorable experience.

M Social was launched in Singapore in 2016 to cater to the young and social-media savvy. With the opening of M Social Hotel Suzhou, the brand now has five physical locations. The others are in Singapore, Auckland, New York and Paris.

Andy Tan, senior vice-president of global sales, partnership and operations (Southeast Asia) at Millennium Hotels and Resorts, said that the reason to embark on a new brand is that the market has changed, and people prefer something that is not traditional.

Tan said that each M Social is different and vibrant and each has its own color. "In Singapore, we are piloting this right now that everything is voice-automated. It's really fun and cool," he said.

Tan highlighted that one feature of the hotel is sustainability. "Our parent company has pledged by 2030, we will be carbon neutral," he said.

Tan explained the reason to choose Suzhou as its debut in China is that it's a thriving city which has been growing. "Suzhou is also connected to Shanghai and the lifestyle element is very strong right here," he added.

According to Tan, M Social Hotel Suzhou runs an occupancy of more than 90 percent over the weekends.

"A lot of people understand that they will come here and rest over the weekend, holiday, and take a break. So, it's like a getaway," he said. "So, we noticed that the trends are increasing in regard to lifestyle brands."

In the future, M Social brand will expand to more cities in China and the rest of the world, Tan said.