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CREATING DESTINATIONS OF COMFORT, STYLE AND INTEREST ACROSS CHINA
URBN Hotels was conceived by owners Scott Barrack and Jules Kwan from the desire to create destinations of comfort, style and interest across China. Together they already have a proven partnership of successful development projects in Shanghai through their company, Space Development. They have engaged in over 20 niche redevelopment projects throughout the city ranging from luxury residential and serviced apartments to office complexes and industrial buildings. Their specialty has been French Concession properties and creative warehouse spaces, therefore giving them the expertise and vision to rehabilitate the 1970’s factory that is URBN Hotels, Shanghai. Together Barrack and Kwan independently own, develop and operate all URBN Hotel properties.
URBN Hotels’ vision is to expand its concept to other cities in China so that people can have unique experiences reflecting the diversity of the destinations to which they travel. There are plans to develop 20 URBN Hotels in tourist and business cities throughout the country in next 3 years. The company is negotiating on sites in Beijing, Hangzhou, Dalian, and Suzhou in the immediate future. Continuing to rehabilitate existing structures and growing green will be essential to URBN’s strategy even as the size of the hotels increase to 50-100 rooms.
SCOTT BARRACK
Scott Barrack, an American native from Newport Beach California and Aspen Colorado, comes from a strong family background of successful real estate entrepreneurs. In 1998 he moved to China to follow his dream of being part of a “waking China” and since has lived in Beijing, Shenyang, Dalian and Shanghai. Beyond Space Development, Scott has founded and currently runs several successful China based lifestyle property companies including Space International, generally regarded as the specialists of unique and luxury French Concession properties, and Inn Shanghai, the city’s first boutique serviced apartment complex. Over the past 9 years Scott has developed a deep understanding of the Chinese business and social cultures to become one of the pioneers in the Shanghai real estate market.
www.space.sh.cn
www.space-development.com
www.innshanghai.com
JULES KWAN
Jules Kwan, born and raised in Sydney Australia, with Chinese and Irish heritage, has been living in China for the past 8 years. He previously worked in development in Australia for Olympic stadium builder Multiplex. Setting off on a junk to China to simultaneously master the arts of mandarin and kung fu in Beijing, Jules then co-founded and spent 6 years with the international award-winning alternative media company www.MailmanChina.com based in Shanghai with offices and distribution in over 20 major Chinese cities including Beijing, Guangzhou, Shenzhen and Hangzhou. Brokering over 888 media deals, Jules has an in-depth understanding of how to brand, market, and sell products in China to both the Chinese and the international consumer. Jules has also been the face of over 50 national/international advertising campaigns for brands including Sony, Great Wall, Toyota, Crocs, Evian, Philips, Ford, Siemens, and Shui On Properties. Previous to co-founding Space Development with Scott, Jules has successfully set up residential and commercial property developments in Shanghai, Beijing and Sri Lanka.