JLL further strengthens Asia Pacific Hotels Advisory and Asset Management team

SINGAPORE, 21 February, 2022 – JLL’s (NYSE: JLL) Hotels & Hospitality Group has continued to build its platform in Asia Pacific to meet the changing operating environment of the hotels sector, announcing several new strategic hires in its Advisory and Asset Management business in Japan and Singapore.

JLL announced the appointment of Kuraudo Ohashi as Executive Vice President, Head of Advisory, Hotels & Hospitality Group, Japan. In the newly created role, he will report to Takahiro Tsujikawa, Senior Managing Director, JLL Hotels & Hospitality Group, Japan, and will be based in Tokyo.

In his position, Ohashi will serve the maturing Japanese hotel sector, which continues to transform to meet the demands of both domestic and international travelers through advisory on operational, development and investment strategy and asset positioning. Through his expertise, he will also partner with owners on looking to attract interest from global investors and hotel operators.

His appointment follows the establishment of a dedicated Asset Management and Advisory presence in Japan in September 2021 by JLL. The decision was driven by heightened activity in the Japanese market and the requirements of many hotels to maintain cash flow, upgrade facilities and reposition strategies during and post-pandemic. Ohashi will work closely with Nathan Cook, Head of JLL Hotels & Hospitality Group’s Asset Management business in Japan. 

“The Japan hotel market increasingly requires a new level of advisory and asset management services to meet changing business dynamics and evolving traveler expectations. With his wealth of experience, we’re confidence Ohashi will position our advisory platform strongly to complement the needs of a maturing and collaboration-minded client base,” says Tsujikawa.

Ohashi joins JLL from Mori Trust in Japan, where he was Manager, responsible for the company’s hotel and resort business division. For 17 years at this company, Ohashi focused on hotel development, asset management and advisory to a diverse range of clients in Japan.

JLL Hotels & Hospitality Group’s Japan Advisory and Asset Management team has been further bolstered by the hiring of Asuka Takahashi, who joins the firm as Vice President, Advisory and Asset Management, reporting to Cook.

In Singapore, the firm continues with the regional expansion of its Advisory and Asset Management business. Pierre Marechal has joined the firm as Vice President, Asset Management, Asia Pacific. His responsibilities include asset management support regionally, initially focusing on Singapore and the Maldives. In Singapore, he will also provide full-service asset management support to the mid-market/boutique operations helping owner-operators optimize the performance of their properties.

He comes to JLL following two decades of experience in operational and commercial roles in hotels across Europe, Oceania, South East Asia and Indian Ocean. Prior to JLL, Pierre was the Co-founder and Director of RevUp Pro and Managing Director of Beary Good Ventures. He also brings experience from Travelodge Hotels Asia and Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide.

“Demand for advisory and asset management services will only increase in Asia Pacific as owners look at new strategies to enhance offerings and improve customer experiences. We see deep opportunities in key markets like Japan and Singapore to help hotels on this transformational journey and expect to continue growing our team to facilitate new ideas within this growing market,” says Xander Nijnens, Managing Director, Head of Advisory and Asset Management, Asia Pacific, JLL Hotels & Hospitality Group.

JLL’s Hotels & Hospitality Group has completed more transactions than any other hotels and hospitality real estate advisor over the last five years, totaling $83 billion worldwide. The group’s 350-strong global team in over 20 countries also closed more than 7,350 advisory, valuation and asset management assignments. Our hotel valuation, brokerage, asset management and consultancy services have helped more hotel investors, owners and operators achieve high returns on their assets than any other real estate advisor in the world.