Hong Kong see hotels revamped into student dorms

In Hong Kong, hotels are being converted into student dormitories as part of a growing trend in the city's property market, according to a recent report by property consultant Colliers. The majority of hotel property transactions this year, involving about 2,550 rooms and worth HKD8.2 billion (US$1.05 billion), have focused on converting hotels into student accommodations, with some hybrid models combining hotel and co-living features, reported Caixin Global.

CapitaLand Investment, a Singapore-based company, plans to acquire the 550-room Ibis Hong Kong Central & Sheung Wan hotel for around HKD2.3 billion to transform it into student housing, marking one of the largest recent investments in Hong Kong's purpose-built student accommodation sector, according to Colliers. Other notable deals include the acquisition of Silka Seaview (268 rooms) and 218 Apartment Wan Chai (59 rooms) by JD.com, totaling HKD1.03 billion, for the development of student housing.

These transactions reflect a shift in the Hong Kong hospitality property market. Hong Kong was consistently ranked as the world's most-visited city before 2019, with 29.26 million overnight visitor arrivals in 2018, and an average hotel occupancy rate of 91% that year, according to Euromonitor International. However, the city recorded 23.19 million overnight visitor arrivals in 2022, still 20% below the 2018 peak, with an average hotel occupancy rate of 87%.

Rising financing costs due to higher interest rates have made the hospitality business challenging for many hotel owners, who have had to dispose of their assets at discounted prices or have creditors liquidate them. Many of the hotels that changed hands were acquired by new owners for conversion into student accommodation, reported the South China Morning Post.

The Hong Kong government aims to establish the city as a global education hub, and JLL estimates that the city will face a shortage of over 140,000 student beds by the 2029-2030 school year. Analysts say that the hotel property market could see more conversions and investment in existing and new hotels, particularly higher-end hotels that could attract more capital for upgrades and midscale properties suitable for conversion into student accommodation.

Location plays a crucial role in determining whether a hotel should be converted into student housing or continue as tourist accommodation, said Cleavon Tan, senior vice-president of hotels and hospitality at JLL Hong Kong. Hotels in established tourism and business districts with strong demand drivers may be better suited for continued hotel use and further investment, while properties outside these core locations, particularly with good access to universities and public transport, may be more attractive for student accommodation.