The Malaysian hospitality sector is famously competitive, yet Ascott has successfully carved out a unique space by adapting to how people actually live, work and travel today.
IN THE highly competitive landscape of Malaysian hospitality, where sleek towers and luxurious amenities vie for attention, the true measure of a leader lies in their philosophy—the underlying belief that steers the ship.
For Ascott Malaysia country general manager Mondi Mecja, that philosophy is centred on a simple, yet profound concept: shared value.
With a career spanning almost three decades, Mecja has moved far beyond metrics of occupancy rates and revenue, instead focusing on benefits for guests and society.
“In our industry, we aim to address social problems that intersect with hospitality by creating measurable economic benefits for society in general and all our associates or external stakeholders,” said Mecja.
This isn’t just corporate jargon for Mecja, but a belief system that views every property as an integral part of its local community, a principle that earned him the Leadership Personality Award (Most Outstanding) at the Hospitality Asia Platinum Awards 2018-2020.
Vision of 2030
Mecja describes his personal leadership style as that of a “servant leader”, someone whose primary goal is to empower and uplift those around him, be it guests, associates, owners or stakeholders.
For him, Ascott’s success is not a personal victory but a collective one, built entirely on the talent of his team.
“One of our key strategies that I always believe we should focus on is our people. We need to invest in our talents, because it is through their hard work and dedication that we have reached where we are now,” he said.
“To foster a motivated team, I will always be around them, listen to their ideas and drive engagement among my colleagues. Our success is measured by the way we develop and grow our team to build a resilient corporate culture.”
This dedication to people is the engine driving his bold long-term vision: for Ascott to be the leading hospitality player in the country by 2030.
With 28 properties currently operating and 22 in the pipeline, the strategy to double new property signings is aggressive, but Mecja is betting on the group’s agility and the strength of its people to get there.
Mecja: “Sustainability isn’t just a back-end responsibility. It’s central to how we operate, how we engage with our guests and how we contribute to the community.”
A home away from home
The Malaysian hospitality sector is famously competitive, yet Ascott has carved out a unique space by adapting to how people actually live, work and travel today.
Mecja highlights the power of their flex-hybrid brand portfolio, as they’ve blurred the lines between hotels and serviced residences.
“We’ve moved beyond the traditional divide. Our brands are now designed to be flex-hybrid, meaning they can operate effectively in their model, depending on market demand and owner needs.
“Brands like Citadines or Somerset could open as serviced residences or as a hotel, while lifestyle brands like FOX, Iyf and Oakwood can flex between short- and long-stay guests, and Domitys, which caters to Active Senior Living,” he said.
This gives the company “agility”, allowing them to respond quickly to new guest profiles, locations or investment models—whether it’s a short leisure stay or a long-term relocation.
What unifies this diverse portfolio is the constant drive to enhance the guest experience, guided by the goal of making their products feel like a “home away from home”.
Technology plays a vital, yet subtle, role in this experience. From mobile check-in and digital keys to in-room automation and a round-the-clock digital concierge, technology acts as an intelligent assistant, ensuring seamless comfort.
“At the heart of it, Ascott is combining the warmth of hospitality with the intelligence of technology,” Mecja noted, confirming that high-tech features act as tools to deliver the age-old promise of genuine care.
Sustainability as shared experience
In an era where consumers increasingly scrutinise a brand’s environmental credentials, Mecja views sustainability as a shared journey with guests.
Aligning with parent company CapitaLand’s 2030 Sustainability Master Plan, Ascott is leading with practical, impactful actions.
This includes rainwater harvesting systems at properties like Ascott Kuala Lumpur and Citadines Prai Penang, and the adoption of solar panels in Somerset Damansara Uptown Petaling Jaya and Somerset Medini Iskandar Puteri.
“We’ve also phased out single-use plastics across all our properties, replacing them with refillable amenities and reusable bottles. Guests are invited to join the journey through towel and linen reuse programmes and gentle in-room reminders, turning sustainability into a shared experience,” said Mecja.
This commitment has earned Ascott the distinction of being the only hotel group in Malaysia that is fully certified by the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC).
“Sustainability isn’t just a back-end responsibility. It’s central to how we operate, how we engage with our guests, and how we contribute to the community,” Mecja explained.
Flexible, meaningful future
Looking ahead, Mecja sees flexibility, hyper-personalisation and the persistent pull of sustainability as trends that will define Malaysia’s travel landscape.
“Travellers increasingly seek flexibility, personalised experiences and seamless technology, while sustainability is becoming an important factor in decision-making. At the same time, competition is intensifying, requiring operators to be more agile and innovative than ever,” he said.
Ascott is preparing by strategically diversifying its offerings through a multi-typology portfolio, with many “firsts”, including the first The Unlimited Collection property in Malaysia, Harris property outside Indonesia, Ascott-branded residences and beachfront property in Batu Ferringhi, Penang.
These developments ensure they can meet the needs of all travellers, from short-stay leisure to long-stay business and branded residential experiences.
Mecja noted: “By leveraging our diverse, flex-hybrid brand portfolio, it allows us to operate properties effectively, regardless of their service models.”
For more information, visit www.discoverasr.com to discover Ascott Malaysia’s properties.
