YOO Club launches

We are excited to announce the launch of the YOO Club.

The YOO Club is an exclusive members club created for the benefit of YOO developer partners and owners of YOO properties.

THIRDHOME, the exclusive luxury property and travel club, is delighted to announce a new partnership with YOO Worldwide, the worldrenowned residential and hotel property developer. The two international brands have joined forces to launch The YOO Club, an exclusive members club created for the benefit of YOO developer partners and owners of YOO properties. The Yoo Club will enable the owners of YOO residences to travel the world by exchanging the downtime in their own homes with other YOO owners and the wider THIRDHOME portfolio of properties.

The YOO Club will offer all qualifying owners and buyers of YOO residences complimentary lifetime membership in The YOO Club, while providing existing THIRDHOME members access to YOO residences at the same time. The initial YOO Club members will be joining THIRDHOME while the dedicated YOO Club site is developed with a view to switching them into their branded area in due course.

THIRDHOME is a premier luxury property and travel club that enables second home owners to exchange time in their home for stays in spectacular destinations around the world. Passionate about luxury travel, THIRDHOME is striving to create the finest luxury second home exchange programme in the world.

The team at THIRDHOME meticulously review and approve all homes before they are accepted into the club. All homes must be in a desirable location with quality furnishings, appointments and amenities. They will also make sure that there is a dedicated Member Experience team in place to ensure YOO members get the most of their club membership.

For more information and to enquire about membership, please click here.

Commenting on the partnership, Giles Adams, President of THIRDHOME, said: “We are thrilled to be working with the international renowned YOO to not only provide their owners with all of the fantastic benefits that membership of this club will include, but also to create an environment that will strengthen the YOO proposition for both them and their developer partners. We can’t wait to get started.”

Of the newly launched YOO Club, John Hitchcox, CEO at YOO Worldwide said: “We are delighted to partner with THIRDHOME on this exciting venture. THIRDHOME has created the perfect platform for our development partners and buyers to exchange properties in breath-taking destinations and we are very keen to have them all unite in the YOO Club. We very much look forward to working with THIRDHOME on this exciting project.”

This new addition to THIRDHOME’s portfolio comes at an exciting time for the company, with other recent announcements including a new luxury Rentals service and a one-of-a-kind travel Adventures concierge.

Hey YOO!

World’s largest residential design brand lands in Southeast Asia with a new team and regional HQ in Bangkok.

With a hive-mind of design talent and visionary concepts the “out-of-the-box” design brand readies to reinvent spaces throughout the region.

BANGKOK, THAILAND: What do you get when you cross a game-changing property developer with one of the most seminal names in design and a gang of visionary architects, curators, celebrity style icons and interior design sages? YOO already know the answer.

Now the brand, which is just as well known for its show-stopping ensemble as it is its enviably unique property developments and interior designs, is setting up shop in Southeast Asia.

YOO Worldwide recently announced that Bangkok will be the base for its regional HQ and has already confirmed the appointment of key executives – supported by a stable of creative directors – to propel its residential design and hotel franchise business forward.

Central to YOO’s approach is a bold vision to rethink and reimagine spaces through the concept of “Placemaking”, which considers the entire environment, space and community rather than just the box in a residence or hotel. This is also the first time the YOO brand will be available for design of private commissions, houses, bars, restaurants, show apartments, social enterprises and co-working spaces.

The UK-based company was created at the turn of the 21st century by radical real estate developer John Hitchcox and international design legend Philippe Starck with a mission to enrich lives through extraordinary living spaces. Focusing on places and spaces, YOO is now the largest pure residential design brand in the world, with 81 projects in 40 countries.

Harnessing the creative flair of contemporary designers like Marcel Wanders, Jade Jagger, Steve Leung and Sussanne Khan, complimented by the young global talents in YOO’s Design Studio, YOO transforms buildings into aspirational and inspirational living spaces, delivering holistic design, branding and operations to developers across seven continents.

The team is now turning its attentions to Southeast Asia, tapping into, amongst other trends, the soaring demand for high-end branded residences. With more than 25 percent of the world’s “under-construction” real developments based in Asia Pacific, it’s been a question of ‘when’, not ‘if’, YOO would expand eastward.

“We see huge opportunities for growth in Asia. We really feel the market is ready for our unique brand of design. We challenge, innovate, disrupt and bend rules – allowing our clients’ projects to stand out, adding greater visibility and value to their developments. We’re about ‘the space’ – inside and out – and this is what drives YOO’s design,” explains James Snelgar, Partner & Head of Business Development, YOO Worldwide.

Driving the company’s regional expansion strategy is Rich Millar, YOO Worldwide’s Vice President of Business Development – Asia Pacific, and Justin Dunne, F&B Concept Curator for YOO Hotels & Resorts. Titans in their respective fields, Millar and Dunne will bring their complimentary brands of creative talent and expertise to YOO’s Bangkok office.

YOO’s regional headquarters are in Bangkok where its Asia-partner for hotel operations ONYX Hospitality Group is based. In late 2017, YOO and ONYX launched a duo of distinctive hotel brands, YOO Collection and Yoo2, with the first yoo2 hotel due to launch in Phuket in 2020.

Khun by Yoo, inspired by Philippe Starck, developed by Sansiri will also transfer later this year – and currently sets the highest per square metre prices on Thonglor. Other notable Asia projects include 8 Conway in Kuala Lumpur and a number of multi award-winning residential and hospitality projects in Hong Kong including Mira Moon.

“We are not entirely new to the region, but we are looking to shake things up a bit and grow through our new presence in the region,” says Snelgar. “Our designers will work with leading development companies to bring their visions to life and we will nurture creative talent in Bangkok to build a new team of designers based here,” he added.

Branded residences are among the hospitality industry’s fastest-growing sectors, and YOO is at its forefront with 13 percent of the world’s total portfolio. Fun, rebellious and innovative, YOO is disrupting traditional hotel and residence brands and attracting Asia’s emerging generation of high-net-worth millennial buyers to its designed “spaces”. As Asia’s affluent young investors demand greater personalisation, they increasingly want bespoke living spaces to complement their designer clothes, cars and gadgets.

“We don’t believe in residences or hotel rooms,” adds Snelgar. “We believe in spaces.”

YOO better watch this space.

YOO Book: Vertical Living

More people than ever before are living in apartment buildings high above cities.

To meet the growing demand for dynamic urban environments, striking new buildings have become “vertical villages” that offer comfort, diversity, and refreshing atmospheres reminiscent of clubs or hotels.

Vertical Living profiles a range these spaces, which demonstrate an ever more sophisticated style palette while facing the challenges that arise when the walls are made of glass.

Taking a tour through the inspirational and innovative world of YOO’s global design projects the book explores the evolution of communities at the heart of the vibrant metropolis. Each chapter features interviews with designers—including Philippe Starck, Marcel Wanders, Jade Jagger, Steve Leung and Kelly Hoppen—who have embraced new vertical spaces and changes in lifestyle to produce an impressive range of open-plan living spaces and spa-style bathrooms, as well as new integral features of vertical living: glorious lobbies, communal relaxation areas, sky terraces, and rooftop dining. With examples from cities including Mumbai, Panama City, Istanbul, Marrakech, and Moscow, among others, the book reveals some of the most beautiful—and breathtaking—examples of city living.

Including 140 colour illustrations and thought-provoking discussions by YOO’s CEO and Founder John Hitchcox, and revered design writer and journalist, Dominic Bradbury, the book is an insightful exploration of how great design and extraodinary living spaces can shape the lives we lead for the better.

As John Hitchcox explains in his personal introduction, “These are the new community spaces – the modern-day campfires around which residents can relax, discuss the issues of the day, share ideas, interests and wisdom and watch their children grow up.”

Vertical Living is available to buy through Amazon

YOO supports Whole World Water

Today nearly 1 billion people don’t have access to clean and safe water.

WHOLE WORLD Water is a Campaign designed to unite the Hospitality and Tourism Industry on a non-competitive platform to eradicate this issue. But this is much more than a fundraising initiative. It is a revolutionary way of thinking, a new way to do business designed to balance environmental, health and economic issues.

YOO is about creating communities and with that comes the responsibility of being aware of the world and our surroundings. Making a mark on the world shouldn’t leave an environmental footprint, that is why we are supporting Whole World Water. This is much more than a fundraising initiative. It is a revolutionary way of thinking, a new way to do business designed to balance environmental, health and economic issues. It’s time for everyone to get involved.

Get involved: wholeworldwater.co

New YOO Hotel – Vancouver 2020

YOO Hotels is excited to announce the opening of the new property for 2020.

Khun by YOO

Located in the heart of Thong Lo, Bangkok’s most desirable neighbourhood, Khun by YOO inspired by Starck offers residents exquisite amenities including; roof gardens, alfresco swimming pool, spa, games room, screening room, gym and lounge. Every corner of Khun by YOO has been designed with a focus on you, bringing elegant and intelligent design into the home.

Olympia London

A £1bn project to turn Olympia London into a world-leading cultural hub has been approved by planners. Work will begin from next year, with the first tenants moving in by 2023. Permission has been granted to transform the 132-year-old exhibition centre into an arts, entertainment, events and creative business quarter.