What has your company been up to in the past 12 months?

The past 12 months has seen some great developments for Londonist. We have now doubled our residential portfolio which has given more options to our partners and students globally. A big step for Londonist has also been our expansion of offices in Turkey and China. The company has also had important progress with our new partnerships with major and reputable institutions in the UK and associations from around the world.

What are the current or emerging trends within your sector?

In the student accommodation sector, there has been a gradual transition for many of the processes to become more digital. The customer journey from the initial enquiry to the final booking has always been important and the online process has now become more simplified. We have started to see how important the student community is once they are in the UK and we are working with a few innovative platforms in order to embrace and promote that. The value of our branding has also developed as the trends in the sector have changed and we have focused on innovation and technology which help us to build efficiency for our team and customers.

How does your role support the business?

As the founder of Londonist in 2013, I have always had a hands on approach to the business. All the team members are vital in order for the business to develop and grow and I also see myself as a Londonist team member who is always there to support and guide the team but also to learn from them. Leading the team is a great honour and I am proud to see how the company has rapidly grown over the years. Londonist is always pushing the boundaries and coming up with innovative ideas that then brings them to the market. My role has also expanded globally with our expansion into the Asian and Latin America market

What has been your career highlight to date?

My career highlight to date has been Londonist getting the People’s Choice Award at British Youth Travel Awards 2019. It has been a successful year for us, receiving the Star Service Provider 2019 at the ST Star Awards earlier in autumn. It has been a great journey for me, coming to the UK as a student ten years ago and now receiving recognition in an industry that provides services to students is an achievement I will not forget. When I came to the UK I noticed that there was a gap within this sector, and there wasn’t a company like Londonist to support students in London, and that led to the natural growth and development of Londonist. Reasonably, it was a big honour for myself and for the whole Londonist family to be recognised for providing a great service to our clients.

What is the best piece of advice you have ever been given?

The best piece of advice I have been given is that building employee morale and client relationships is vital. The truest drive in life comes from doing what you love and if you focus your energy on this, you will not only love what you do more and more, but also you will learn something new from it every day.

Where is your favourite place to travel to?

I have visited many countries in all different continents, but Asia stands out for me. The trends, culture and long history of Asia always fascinates me. Two of my favourite cities in Asia are Shanghai and Tokyo. Although they are not far from each other, just a few hours flight, it is amazing to see how different yet powerful these cities are. 

If you were not working in this sector what other industry would you have pursued a career in?

If I was not in this sector, I think I would be working in hospitality. I have always had a passion for working with people and meeting people from different cultures. In hospitality, it is important to understand your customers from all walks of life. From my experience and travels to many countries, hospitality is another fascinating world that I love.

What’s next for your company?

Londonist is looking forward to the future with many projects planned. We are looking forward to grow organically as the industry is also growing and changing. We are bringing more benefits to our customers whether it is their booking journey, additional services and platforms or the locations and room types we can offer. Being innovative is always important and crucial for us and we are looking forward to the future.

Find out more about Londonist here

Published 28 November 2019