The influx of foreign investment and increasing activity from local companies in Cambodia have transformed its real estate sector into a source of many opportunities. Many foreign investors have taken advantage of continuous development and rising quality of life to purchase property for investment endeavours over the country’s recent decade of fast development. But as COVID-19 made international travel more restrictive, the Kingdom’s real estate market saw its focus shift to the local market.This shift to the local market has been taking off and Ms. Mom Sothavatey, GM & Leads Manager of Realestate.com.kh accepted the invitation to shed light on what Cambodian buyers have been looking for. In her time at Realestate.com.kh she has worked in Digital Sales, Developer Relationship Management, and Marketing before becoming the GM with a major focus on overseeing leads generated for clients and ensuring property seekers are serviced to a high level.“For many Cambodians, buying a house remains a big decision as it involves a lot of things to consider,” said Mom Sothavatey. Vatey, for short, recently purchased a home herself and noted some of the key factors that influenced her decision and the considerations of the many buyers she has come across.“Affordability remains a top concern for many Cambodians,” noted Vatey as a big factor for many local buyers. The real estate market’s growth brought with it development in the affordable spectrum, which has seen increased interest over the past few years and further accelerated by the fact that locals have become the more reachable market during COVID-19.Affordability and location remain the top priorities for many Cambodian property buyers. Photo taken during Realestate.com.kh's Home & Lifestyle Expo 2019.Being a recent homeowner herself, Vatey shared that she looked around the $30,000 to $40,000 price range for properties - also the range where most affordable properties are found. “Most young professional Cambodians, such as myself, are seeing the value of investing in our future. One avenue we can do that is by owning or investing in real estate” Vatey continued that being serious about buying property has taught her (and many other young Cambodians) to limit her expenses so she has more to invest in her future.“Location comes a close second for Cambodians,” she said, “The amenities and the growth potential of an area are key considerations for many buyers.” She mentioned that large developments such as shopping malls and infrastructure projects like national roads increase the value of projects in the eyes of local buyers.Chroy Changvar, for example, was on the fringes of Phnom Penh’s early development years. But as more developments came to the area like commercial areas and residential projects, more buyers have expressed interest and have now become one of the most eyed areas in Phnom Penh.Meanchey district is somewhat similar to Chroy Changvar. The southern district was largely occupied by shophouses and factories just a few years ago, but major developments such as the Hun Sen Boulevard and the announcement of the AEON Mall 3 construction have increased the value of properties surrounding these projects significantly.“The ability to get a loan has become more important over the past few years,” said Vatey. “Properties are major investments, especially for young Cambodians, and getting a loan is almost always a given for most local buyers”. Vatey noted that shopping for a loan plan also became a concern to her own property search. “I personally had to consult friends and family working in the financial sector so I know what I should look for in a loan.”Phillip Bank's Head Office in Monivong Boulevard, Phnom Penh. Photo by Phillip Bank.Banks in Cambodia have been proactive in marketing their loan programs to Cambodian property buyers; Phillip Bank and BRED Bank, in particular, have created friendly systems to make it easier for many loan seekers to get a loan - an effort that has contributed to keeping the real estate market active during the height of COVID-19.Realestate.com.kh, Cambodia’s leading real estate classifieds portal, launched Homeloan.com.kh as a one-stop-shop for home/investment seekers in Cambodia to easily shop for loans available. The popular website has also integrated a loan calculator in over 20,000 of its growing list of properties all over Cambodia for property buyers to easily calculate loans as they browse listings.The availability of many property types has been a result of the Kingdom’s fast-paced growth. Residential properties, in particular, are varied but can be simplified into 2 categories: Landed properties and condominiums/apartments. According to Vatey, landed properties such as those found in boreys (gated communities in Cambodia) remain a popular choice among local buyers.Borey Williams in Por Sen Chey, Phnom Penh is one of the projects seeing much attention in the district. Supplied. “There are many reasons why Cambodians gravitate towards landed properties,” said Vatey “In my case, I want to house my family in a space that can accommodate them in the long-term”. While city living has taken root in Cambodian culture, suburban living has similarly become a growing trend with locals spurred on by a city centre slowed down by rush hour traffic and increasing availability of more affordable housing on the city outskirts.Vatey observed that local buyers are keen on purchasing property close to big developments such as roads and commercial areas, saying “Many local investors have their ear close to the ground and as soon a big developer buys land somewhere, they will be quick to secure land near these sites”.Overall, Cambodian buyers are looking for good deals on the market. Local buyers understand that COVID-19 has resulted in some developments lowering their prices to meet demand. Vatey says that rooms for negotiations and availability of discounts make a property more appealing and that a property appearing to be for sale under market value will be quick on the sights of Cambodian buyers.Realestate.com.kh’s Online Flash Sale is an event that will be showcasing a wide collection of under-market properties from Cambodia’s most reputable developers and real estate agents. New developments such as the Stardream Lake Tourism Town in Koh Kong, Angkor Grace Residence & Wellness Resort in Siem Reap, and Vue Aston in Phnom Penh will be available at discounted prices.Resale properties from resellers all over Phnom Penh and the rest of the country will also be available at a discounted price. Register today and reserve your discount starting June 3 to 6!Article by:

The 2021 Realestate.com.kh Flash Sale is now live! Property seekers that are looking for the best deals in the market can now start browsing properties on the Flash Sale website, before the discounts are revealed on the 3rd of June for 4 days only. This year developers will only be offering special discounts on a selected number of units, so whilst the discounts will not be revealed until the 3rd of June, all interested buyers are highly encouraged to “register their interest” in particular developments and properties in the lead up to June 3. Once buyers register their interest, they will then be able to connect to the developer or agents straight away so buyers can obtain all the information they require before making a buying decision between the 3rd - 6th of June. Buyers are also encouraged to look at the resale properties section, where we have brought together some of the best under market value properties in Cambodia. Again, make sure you register your interest, as these properties are a once off!Throughout the month of May Realestate.com.kh will continue to add new projects and under market value properties in the lead up to the 3rd of June.The Online Flash Sale is part of Realestate.com.kh’s endeavours to connect buyers, agents, resellers and developers despite current movement restrictions. Economic slowdowns have historically been times where savvy property investors have secured properties at lower prices, and the Online Flash Sale will do exactly that for both local international buyers!How do I participate?STEP 1: Visit onlineflashsale.realestate.com.khSTEP 2: Register to receive weekly updates on new properties that are added to the event STEP 3: Browse properties and register your interest to be connected to developers directly STEP 3: Book your units - June 3 to 6!To kick the event off in style, we are launching some of the hottest projects right across the country! Stardream Lake Tourism TownDiscount: To be revealed on June 3 to 6Location: Koh KongDeveloper: Coastal City Development Group Co. Ltd.,The development of Stardream Lake Tourism Town covers an area of 248 hectares of land which is planned to include an ecological park and two lakes in the future. The project will be built after the completion of its green spaces, natural ecology, and pristine beaches to lay the foundations of an entrepreneurial community and leisure tourismClick here to see more detailsAngkor Grace Residence & Wellness ResortDiscount: To be revealed on June 3 to 6Location: Siem ReapDeveloper: Angkor Hearta Development., Co Ltd,Despite only being a few minutes away from the busy center of Siem Reap, Angkor Grace Hotel & Residence still affords residents the luxury of verdant landscapes rarely found in modern large-scale properties. The entire project measures 22,670 sqm largely composed of pristine greenery, the influence of which manifested in the residential units made with concrete and solid wood panels that pay homage to Cambodia’s rich architectural heritage.Click here to see more detailsVue AstonDiscount: To be revealed on June 3 to 6Location: Chbar AmpovDeveloper: The Peninsula Capital Co., LtdVue Aston is a newly launched condominium development in 2020. The development is located along the riverside in Norea Island which is a new residential development area. The development of a new bridge is scheduled to take place in the area and will serve as new access to Downtown Phnom Penh. This accessibility development is expected to attract greater traffic flow and land-rise which will drive the area to be the next potential development zone.Click here to see more detailsOther top properties offering great deals exclusive to this event:R&F CityWorldBridge Sports VillageCity GemThe Peninsula Private ResidencesLe Conde BKK1Ratana Plaza Top ApartmentGolden Tower 322Borey Icon KampotBorey Nadi by GC CityMake sure you also check out the best resale properties at the event as well! Register now!

Phnom Penh’s landscape: Photo credit to Mr.Chhoy ThearaWith the main theme of “Co-Creating Common Values of Sustainable Real Estate” in Cambodia, “Rainmaking Cambodia” has been selected to be one of the “Rainmaking Series” in 10 countries across Asia, Africa and North America, to be hosted by Good City Foundation with local strategic partners, virtually on 25th May 2021, supported by InvestHK and StartmeupHK. Rainmaking Cambodia is calling for urban tech projects submission and inviting interested real estate professionals, young leaders in housing public policy, and corporates to register and co-create the new pages of resilient values for future cities in Cambodia.Rainmaking Series’ page: https://www.goodcityfoundation.org/programs/rainmaking-seriesDelegate Registration Link: https://www.goodcityfoundation.org/programs/register-as-delegate“Rainmaking Cambodia” would be conducted in the form of Keynote Speaking; Panel Discussion and Tech For Good Cities Roadshow (to meet with angel investors). Representatives of the World Economic Forum, Cambodia Real Estate Association, Knight Frank, and other key influential stakeholders would sit in the panel discussion and explore the challenges and prospect of real estate development in Cambodia and the role where technology, public policy, Hong Kong, and Greater Bay can play and support.Tech For Good Cities Roadshow would be hosted with corresponding local top partners with a prime mission to identify impactful urban technologies and support their soft landing in Hong Kong and Greater Bay Area with potential investment matchmaking, market expansion advisory, and corporate partnership in Hong Kong and Mainland China to boost strategic business values.Global supporting partners include investment promotion agency of Hong Kong Government, InvestHK, World Bank IFC, Global Changemakers, Ventures Platform Hub and Hong Kong Scheme of Excellence Scholarship Scholar Association (HKSESSA). Local Supporting organizations include Knight Frank Cambodia, Realestate.com.kh, Property Area Asia, Cambodia Real Estate Association, and Digital Commerce Association of Cambodia.Good City Foundation is a non-profit non-governmental development organization founded in 2016 by a group of Hong Kong scholars and entrepreneurs, with a vision of better urban resilience in the next 100 cities in emerging Asia and Africa. The Foundation missions to foster innovative public and private partnership among the young generations in emerging cities, and have attracted a wide spectrum of innovative startups, family offices, young policymakers, and corporates to explore the latest development of urban design, economics, technology, and innovation and explore partnership. The foundation is an Institutional Partner of G20 Global Smart Cities Alliance and Private Sector Committee of ASEAN Smart City Network on behalf of Thailand, and also serving as Non-Profit Committee in the IoT and Urban Transformation Platform (Asia Action Group) and the Future Real Estate Taskforce of the World Economic Forum (China and ASEAN).Ms. Chan Pichmonyka, City Partner of Good City Foundation, has been inspired by the Foundation to be Cambodian Young Leader and continue enhancing her capability. After the summit, she deepens her leadership role in Cambodia and Asia, and speaks up for the issue, as the selected young delegate to the Model UN conference at the United Nations in Geneva and New York respectively. Currently, throughout her experience as the city partner and investment analyst (Capital Markets) at Knight Frank, a global real estate consultancy firm based in Cambodia, she hopes to leverage the Cambodia real estate market for growth acceleration.“In the year of this “Rainmaking Cambodia” I would like to humbly invite you to be part of our curation of the event and speak for the potential development, future city and entrepreneurship in the context of emerging Cambodia. As the expected overall outcome, the ultimate goal of the event is to connect all the aligning interests as a powerful network and resources for future discussion and impactful collaboration within the real estate and entrepreneurship ecosystem in Cambodia and across the region within ASEAN, Hong Kong and the Greater Bay Area. The sustainable real estate, is not just a matter of time, but together, we could break through the miracles, challenge the old dots, and create impacts”.Interested delegates and parties for the partnership could contact local city partner of Good City Foundation,Ms.Chan Pichmonyka (monyka@futurecitysummit.org)Rainmaking Series’ page: https://www.goodcityfoundation.org/programs/rainmaking-seriesDelegate Registration Link: https://www.goodcityfoundation.org/programs/register-as-delegate

Much of the Cambodian economy remains at a standstill as stricter quarantine measures are warranted to curb its spread. The Cambodian government has extended the lockdown of the capital city for another week and new zoning restrictions were implemented to halt its spread to other parts of the city. While these new measures appear to be means of allowing lower-risk areas to continue economic activity, it does beg the question: What about the rest of the Cambodian economy?Group CEO of Cambodia Investment Management Holdings, Anthony Galliano, joined Realestate.com.kh CEO Tom O’Sullivan in a discussion of the impact of lockdown measures on the Cambodian economy, specifically looking at its tourism, garment & textiles, agriculture, and construction & real estate sectors.The tourism sector has been the hardest hit since the global outbreak of COVID-19. The Ministry of Tourism’s report indicated that tourist numbers dropped by 80% in 2020, with only half of the first quarter of that year seeing arrivals comparable to previous years.“Tourism and hospitality are not in the best position at the moment,” said Anthony. “There was hope at the tail-end of 2020 but that the February 20 incident upset that”. Travel restrictions, from both ends of the flight, prevent most would-be tourists from coming to Cambodia. Anthony added that travel restrictions have stymied the growing tourism industry and the hospitality sector as a result.Tourist numbers have steeply declined over 2020 with continuing travel restrictions. Photo by the Khmer Times.Anthony noted that some form of international travel is returning like in China, Europe, and the United States but travel between South East Asian countries remains largely limited. “The gross revenue from tourism has been reduced to just over a billion dollars in 2020, a steep decline from the 4.9 billion we saw prior to COVID-19,” Anthony observed. He added that what activity tourism and hospitality saw in 2020 was frontloaded in Q1 before global tourism was put to a halt and that 2021 may be a more challenging year.The garment and textiles sector, which contributes 16% of GDP has done relatively well throughout the past year COVID-19 has been present in Cambodia largely due to healthy exports overseas, particularly those heading for the United States. The recent findings of positive cases in garment factories around Phnom Penh, however, have resulted in factories suspending operations and the sector is now facing problems of its own.The government recently announced that garment workers in factories under lockdown will receive a 50% salary in April. Anthony mentioned that this may affect the supply chain and put manufacturers in a position of struggling to meet orders. “This puts the sectors at risk of some orders being diverted to other production facilities like in Vietnam, Bangladesh, and Indonesia'' he said.Farmers find it difficult to transport goods during the lockdown. Photo from the Khmer Times.The agricultural sector is another big contributor to Cambodia’s economy employing a third of the workforce. Cambodia’s primary exports of rice, fruits, and vegetables have been integral in its export portfolio. However, Anthony observes a trend towards “self-consumption” instead of production on a large scale.“It’s an unfortunate trend as there’s a lot of small-scale farming. The country’s agricultural sector has held much promise in large-scale production that has not been realized yet” said Anthony. He says that one of the biggest problems of the sector is the low amount of foreign direct investment it receives compared to other industries in Cambodia despite consistent support from the public sector.“One of the things that could help is the Free-Trade Agreement with China,” said Anthony. He mentioned that part of the FTA is the exports of Cambodian agricultural products to China. The arrangement is already bearing fruit with a large shipment of mangoes worth $470 million. Anthony cites this as a momentum to increase agricultural production and exports despite COVID-19.In terms of real estate, Anthony noted that land properties remain an extraordinarily resilient market. “The land market is almost always on the uptrend and I’ve never met anyone who said they bought land and lost money on it,” he said. Owning land property remains a largely exclusive right to Cambodian citizens and has been a source of a boon for many landowners selling or leasing land in the wake of the Kingdom’s fast-paced development.On the other hand, new developments such as condominiums have seen some downward pressure following the community outbreak. “Volume of transactions are down by 15% to 20% in the condo market and we’ve seen prices go down by 20% to 30%,” said Anthony, “There are even some offering up to 40% discounts which shows a short-term slowdown in the market”.Anthony shares the observation much of the condominium market has been focused on the international market. But as travel restrictions currently stand, these buyers are not able to see the properties for themselves, and as a consequence, do not pursue purchases as they did prior to COVID-19. Nevertheless, Anthony reminds everyone that Cambodia’s real estate market is still in its early stages.“In my 20 years in Asia, if you look at the skylines of Bangkok, Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur, and Manila, these markets started out with very little development and they just exploded and demand self-fulfilled itself over the years,” he said. Historically, dips in the market have been windows where property buyers keen on making a good investment by buying low. Cambodia’s current market landscape presents an opportunity to look for deals on the market.Phnom Penh’s city skyline at night. Supplied.At the start of 2021, the National Bank of Cambodia forecasted a 4% economic growth for the Kingdom if vaccines can successfully curb the spread of the virus. “The light at the end of the tunnel appears to be flickering in and out every time there is a community spread” according to Anthony, “But there are silver linings in all of this”.Anthony lauds the government, particularly the Ministry of Health, for having a vaccination plan in place. “The government is quite well-organized. Vaccinations are arriving, there’s a schedule of different vaccines, and the Ministry of Health has a very clear plan of distributing these vaccines” he also credited the business community for their financial support and the commitment of the population to implemented quarantine measures.“The lockdown has somewhat slowed the infection rates. I believe that vaccine rates will go up in the next couple of months and we might see a rebound by the 4th quarter” he said. He cautioned that the first signs of recovery may not include tourism. But other industries, such as construction & real estate, garment manufacturing, and agriculture may see initial signs of rebounding towards the end of 2021.Looking to get in on the next live interview? Sign up here!

The utility of graphs and other forms of market data cannot be discounted when it comes to analyzing the sentiment of local consumers. However, we cannot also set aside the importance of directly asking homeowners/seekers: “What do you look for when buying a property?”This week, Mom Sothavatey, GM & Lead Manager of Realestate.com.kh shares her experience in home buying and insights into the Cambodian property seeker’s mindset. Catch her this May 5th (Wednesday) @ 2pm GMT+7 on Realestate.com.kh’s Facebook Page!Vatey has worked in the real estate industry for 5+ years in Cambodia and been with Realestate.com.kh for 3+ years. In her time at Realestate.com.kh she has worked in Digital Sales, Developer Relationship Management, and Marketing before becoming the GM with a major focus directly speaking to various property buyers and overseeing leads that we generate for our clients and those leads are serviced to a high level. Vatey is also a recent homeowner herself. Therefore we will explore her decision-making process from a local Cambodian buyer's perspective, as well as discuss what local Cambodians are looking for right now, from a first home buyer's point of view to a local Cambodian investor.If you’re an agent, property developer, or property investor, this can provide some much-needed insight into the Cambodian property seeker’s mindset!Pre-register for the event here: REGISTER HERE

Covid-19 has been a major effect to almost every industry dated since early of 2020 until present time, as well as in real estate industry. Due to the seriousness of the global situation, all flights forcibly stopped the operation until recovery. During the disruption of pandemic, nearly whole market is unpredictably going down, the buyers have more bargaining power in purchasing, hence most of the project is utilizing prize discount to attract more buyers and stimulate their sales. Surprisingly, Le Condé BKK1 have been performing very well ever since the last 2 quarters of 2020 and achieved remarkable sales volume to be the top sale project in the market. Likewise, the project itself becomes very popular in the Cambodia market. Effective from 23th April 2021, Le Condé BKK1 is pleased to inform that the unit price is increasing 5%. As Le Condé BKK1 homeowner, congratulations that your property has gained 5% capital yield.  From client’s and professional agent’s perspectives, Le Condé BKK1 is a rare and iconic condo development that is highly efficient for both living and investing. That is why a quick positive reputation of this project well-earned as Awards Winning Project by PropertyGuru despite the pandemic.  Situated in great location of central Boeung Keng Kang I, Le Condé BKK1 is thoroughly designed to create the first revolutionary condominium in Cambodia market with healthy, luxury and smart living lifestyle. All these strong factors made this project undeniably great for comfortable living and high return in rental that contributing to high demand from customers, especially smart home technology.  One of core principles of Le Condé BKK1 is firmly to protect homeowner’s interest. So your investment with Le Condé BKK1 project is and will be continuously secured. Le Condé BKK1 is really thankful for your trust and investment in our team and in return we promise to make your investment worthwhile for long-term relations. Besides high-class condo units with smart-home technology and revolutionary facilities, to upgrade this project to be a truly harmonious community, Le Condé BKK1 will introduce you the new product soon, the developer will announce the detail information in May. Stay tuned with us!  Looking to get in on the next live interview? Sign up here!

Quarantine Fun Challenge is a fun and rewarding online challenge that was initiated by Le Condé BKK1 project to entertain people during this lockdown period by making a fun video of your quarantine time.To support the Government during this lockdown, Le Condé BKK1 initiated this online challenge and now it is valid until 5th May 2021 to join and the winners will be announced on 7th May 2021.Le Condé BKK1 understands that it is a very tough moment for everyone. Taking this opportunity, Le Condé BKK1 would like to encourage people to stay alert with a strong mentality while doing quarantine, however, they still can have fun by joining this challenge at home. What’s even more interesting, many big prizes for the winners, the biggest prize is $1,500 cash for the winner with the most creative video.Right after the announcement, quickly hundreds of participants made videos to join our challenge sharing their quarantine fun day, showing that quarantine is not boring at all but we still can have some fun too. We have noticed some famous idols also joined our challenges like HRH Princess Norodom Pongsoriya and our handsome YouTuber Heng Visal.Many of the challenge participants expressed their positive feedback on this online challenge that this is a brilliant idea; while people stuck at home, they are easily getting bored and not very productive, however this challenge is very entertaining, interestingly a lot of big prizes. They also shared it with their friends and relatives to join.Le Condé BKK1 is a high-class residential condo project situated in a great location - central of Boeung Keng Kang 1 with revolutionary amenities. In the market, it’s very well-recognized because it’s the first smart home project in Cambodia. All these remarkable factors made Le Condé BKK1 the top sale and outstanding project thus far.

Prime Minister Hun Sen speaking at an event prior to lockdowns. Photo by K/T Khem SovannaraPrime Minister Hun Sen announced last night he will end the lockdown in Phnom Penh and other provinces, but some small areas with a high risk of infections will remain under restrictions.His announcement was made in response to a Facebook user, asking him about the situation after May 5, a deadline to reopen Phnom Penh and Takhmao City after three weeks of lockdown to prevent the spread of COVID-19.“There is no reason to continue to close it. We will reopen provinces or capital. [We] can close small areas where there is a high risk of infections,” he said.“Ongoing lockdowns are compulsory to reduce the infection and deaths of our people. Please understand a common difficulty faced by the nation,” he added.Originally published in the Khmer Times:https://www.khmertimeskh.com/50849886/lockdown-in-phom-penh-and-takhmao-to-be-lifted-after-may-5/

Key Features of an Oasis VillaThe Oasis Villa is the newest flagship model home in Borey Williams family of homes. This house has many awesome features that you don’t want to miss.Massive lot size – Each Oasis comes with a standard land size of 400 square meters! This is our largest size home yet which appropriately has the largest size lot also. Plenty of room for gardens, a pool, extra parking, or just enjoy the green space surrounding your home. You can expand your lot size to make it even bigger if you want.A curved driveway! - The Oasis driveway is curved! It can easily park up to 3 or 4 vehicles which makes it easy when you have lots of friends visiting. Since the driveway is curved you can easily enter or exit from either side which means you don’t have to put your car in reverse. This is actually safer because you don’t risk backing into a low object (or person) behind your car which is out of view. The driveway is also covered by a massive balcony so there is cover from the rain or sunshine when entering and exiting your car… just like a hotel.Huge windows - Looking at the front of the Oasis Villa, your eyes are immediately drawn to the gigantic box-style windows on either side of the home. The largest window is over 6 meters tall! At night you will see the glow from around each window as there is offset LED accent lighting around each window. The concept with the Oasis design was to allow lots of light into the home while offering an ultra-contemporary design pleasing to the eyes. The oversize windows provide a great view of your gardens and lawn as well so you can enjoy your green space. Be prepared, as you may have many neighbors just stand outside and look at your home’s unique style, as they will want an Oasis too if they don’t already have one.Ground floor – The main living room has many unique choices of texture and color. There are matte finish wood tiles, white granite accent, and dry-stone wall accent which make a warmer feeling in the main sitting room. There is a wrought iron partition separating the living room from the dining room. The dining room can easily fit a table for 8-10 guests. With 3-meter-tall ceilings, you will not feel cramped at all in this large home. There is also a minibar between the dining room and the kitchen which can be used for enjoying each other’s company with someone preparing food in the kitchen and is perfect for parties. The ground floor also has 1 bedroom, 2 bathrooms, and 2 storage closets. First floor. - Walk upstairs and you come to a second living room, also called a loft. This spacious area can be used as a game room, a place to lounge, or a movie room. There is a glass handrail and a view through the main window in the front of the home. This floor also has the master bedroom. This main bedroom features a large private bathroom with double sinks, a grand size walk-in closet, and a private 22 square meter balcony. The Oasis was designed to make the owner feel the most special, have the most beautiful living space, and also more privacy from the other rooms in the house.The second floor – Walk up to the second floor and you have glass doors leading out to an enormous patio balcony which is 51 square meters in size! This is the PERFECT place to have outdoor parties in the evening, sit and enjoy a breeze, exercise in the morning, or just enjoy the view. This oversized patio can be customized to additional bedrooms at customers’ request. This floor also features 2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom, 1 closet, and 1 more balcony. The forward-placed bedroom has sliding glass doors leading out to the second balcony which features a sandstone accent, and wood-paneled ceilings to give warm vibes and unique textures.This Oasis Villa is our latest model which was just released in early 2021 and already has dozens of customer pre-orders. This house was an American-inspired design and only uses premium materials all throughout each section of the home. In the Oasis you will find Cotto fixtures, Rinnai water heaters, Midea air-conditioners, 10-year Jotun paint, and SCG products throughout the home. These are just some of the main brand names our customers have come to expect from Borey Williams homes, and the Oasis will not disappoint.Oasis homes start at $275,500 and monthly payments of only $1,272/month with our partner lenders.Contact us today to book your own Oasis Villa.Phone: 092 92 1000Google Map: http://bit.ly/bwilliamStart Owning Today with Borey Williams!

Just last week Realestate.com.kh announced the return of the famous online property sale event that it first held in 2020 as a vehicle to allow developers, agents, and property seekers to secure property at a great price and transact - 100% online, despite the ongoing pandemic. The inaugural online event generated over 110 reservations and over $40 million in total property value booked during the event.Initially, the 2021 Online Flash Sale was slated to run across 4 days, however, it has now been revealed that the event will span from May 6 right through to the finale on June 6. Here is all you need to know!Realestate.com.kh Online Flash Sale:May 6 - First announcement of properties participating in the event & buyers can start to pre-register their interest in properties and projects & start speaking to developers and arranging online viewingsMay 6 - June 1 - New properties will be released on the event website weeklyJune 2 - Online property seminars from developers, agents, lawyers, tax consultants & moreJune 3 - June 6 - Discounts publicly available, 4 days only100% free registration & property seminars$200 Fully refundable reservation fee during the final 4 days to reserve the discounted priceTom O’Sullivan, CEO of Realestate.com.kh said “We ran the online event last year for just 4 hours, which generated sales beyond our expectation, however, we still had over 1000 property seekers on the event website when we closed it down last time, so we knew this time we had to run it for longer”Over the first two weeks of marketing Realestate.com.kh registered over 500 people to the event from both local property seekers and international investors that are all looking for a great deal, and to take advantage of what is otherwise a difficult time to generate wealth, conduct business and travel.“We have over 500 registrations already, so running the event over 4 days would be successful, but the consistent feedback from registrations was that due to it now being even harder to visit showrooms and move around the country - buyers really wanted more time to register their interest for projects and be given more time to speak to agents & developers, arrange online property tours and understand the property as much as they possibly could (online) before making a buying decision.Although there was a restriction in movement in 2020 when we ran the first online event - buyers were still able to visit showrooms freely to complete their purchase and make down payments, after they had made the reservation fee online. By allowing property seekers a chance to register their interest for a month leading up to the 4 days ” O’Sullivan went on to say.The event now runs for a total of one month from the 6th of May to the 6th of June, giving potential buyers and investors more time to connect with agents/developers and understand the property more before they make a buying decision. This also gives agents and developers more of an opportunity to sell property online during what is otherwise a difficult time to sell property and profit during COVID-19 restrictions.

This week the CEO of Realestate.com.kh Tom O'Sullivan will be sitting down with Mr. Anthony Galliano, the Group CEO of Cambodian Investment Management Holding to discuss the impact of the lockdown on the Economy and dive into its ramifications for the Real Estate market.CLICK HERE TO REGISTER TO ATTEND THE WEBINAR The webinar will start on Wednesday, April 28th, 2021 @ 2pm GMT+7. In keeping with lockdown measures, the interview will be conducted via Zoom and will be streamed on Realestate.com.kh’s Facebook page.Realestate.com.kh is continuously working to provide local property seekers and international investors with the tools and information in relation to the Cambodia property market.If you missed last week's webinar (Covid updates & important information for the real estate sector in Cambodia) with the President of the CVEA Mr. Chek Soknim you can watch it here.

CVEA President Chrek Soknim gave us insights into the real estate market’s response to the lockdown measures imposed in Phnom Penh. This article is a summary of the interview, which you can view in full-length on Realestate.com.kh’s Facebook page.On the eve of Khmer New Year celebrations (14th of April), the Cambodian Government implemented strict lockdown measures in Phnom Penh and Takhmao to prevent the spread of COVID-19. This is on top of the previously mandated 8pm to 5am curfew implemented throughout Phnom Penh. Many businesses, particularly in the real estate sector are wondering: “What happens now?”Cambodian Valuers and Estate Agents Association (CVEA) President Chrek Soknim joined Realestate.com.kh CEO Tom O’Sullivan in a discussion about navigating the current landscape as well as a discussion on any possible reforms to allow agents and the industry to continue business during this period.“Everyone is experiencing a measure of challenge in light of the lockdown” said Mr. Soknim. “This certainly affects the Cambodian property market, especially in Phnom Penh. But this has not deterred our efforts to continue doing business with the help of technology”.He highlighted the importance of recognizing the danger posed by COVID-19, following government-mandated health measures, and finding ways to continue doing business despite current circumstances.The elephant in the room was the question of whether or not properties were still moving in the market, and Mr. Chrek clarified that deals are still being closed. “Deals are still being facilitated even during the lockdown” he said.Properties for sale have noticeably slowed down but are still receiving inquiries from interested buyers. Mr. Chrek observed that developments have an easier time closing deals during this period as opposed to existing homes. If you are interested in knowing more about all the new developments for sale in Cambodia, check them out here on Realestate.com.khGenerally “property buyers have all the information they need online and I think they will revisit the property market once the lockdowns are alleviated. After all, the nature of doing business in real estate is being able to see the property first-hand” he said. Mr. Chrek Soknim emphasized that providing information via online means has been crucial in capturing and keeping interest despite restrictions.Mr. Chrek considers the overall current situation as far from being a crisis. “The market is still strong as the interest is there. It’s just a matter of being able to visit the properties so buyers can make the right decision for themselves,” he said. On the contrary, he sees the current situation as an opportunity for property agents to learn additional skills while they stay put at home. “There are plenty of online resources that teach negotiation, sales, and marketing skills,” citing that he himself is subscribed to an online course teaching management and negotiation skills. “This is a good time for real estate agents to expand their skills so they have something more to offer for when the market eventually bounces back”View in full-length webinar on Realestate.com.kh’s Facebook page.Article by:

While Cambodia has been facing COVID-19 for more than a year, it is only now that a strict government-enforced lockdown has been implemented. Many businesses, particularly in the real estate sector are wondering: “What happens now?”CVEA President Chrek Soknim joins Realestate.com.kh CEO Tom O’Sullivan in an exclusive interview to discuss how the real estate market is responding to the new measures and how to best navigate the market throughout the lockdown.CLICK HERE TO JOIN THE LIVE INTERVIEWThe interview will start on April 21st, 2021 @ 2pm GMT+7. In keeping with lockdown measures, the interview will be conducted via Zoom and will be streamed on Realestate.com.kh’s Facebook page.Realestate.com.kh is continuously working to provide local property seekers and international investors with the tools and information in relation to the Cambodia property market.

Phnom Penh may see a slowdown in property market activity as inter-district travel becomes more restricted. SuppliedThe Cambodian property sector is facing a new round of challenges with the introduction of stricter lockdown measures last Khmer New Year. This time, however, Phnom Penh is at the center of the new quarantine measures leading many businesses, particularly real estate agencies & developers to adapt once again.CBRE Cambodia, a leading real estate consultancy firm, released its Q1 2021 Market Report before the Khmer New Year. According to their latest assessment, the condominium sales market saw respite from the few consecutive quarters with the high-end seeing an uplift of 4.8%, the affordable market seeing an uptick of 3.5%, while the mid-range saw a slight downward movement of 0.4%.The uptick in average sale prices in Q1 2021, particularly in the high-end, is an interesting trend as it is in contrast with how the property market reacted to the comparatively less severe November 28 incident. Though it is worth noting that Cambodia started 2021 with high hopes; such as the positive economic forecast from the National Bank of Cambodia (NBC) sometime back in January 2021.The CBRE report additionally noted only 12 out of the 19 expected condominium completions were delivered from the 2020 pipeline. The delays in construction can largely be attributed to supply chain disruptions across the globe.In terms of rental rates, CBRE’s report observed a positive movement over the first quarter of 2021. The high-end saw an increase of 1.3% and the mid-range saw a 1.7 increase. The affordable market, however, boasted 3.5% quarter-on-quarter growth likely caused by the market’s shift towards the segment.CBRE’s report notes that while these are positive signs, there is still a long way to go to make up for the decreases in both sale and rental prices witnessed over the course of 2020. As a comparison, the high-end rental rate at the end of the relatively well-performing Q1 2021 is still 9.4% below its value from Q1 2020.The property market’s recovery is directly tied with the confidence of buyers to go out and spend. While it is still early to determine how much the lockdown will affect condominium sales and rental trends further into 2021, we can expect the market to slow down due to intercity travel restrictions and the added red tape required to travel between areas.

Borey Lorn City is one of the anticipated boreys soon coming in Chaom Chau 2, Por Sen Chey. Supplied.The supply of landed property projects in Phnom Penh to grow at a rapid pace over the 6 months leading to Q1 2021, according to CBRE Cambodia’s recently released Marketview Q1 2021 Report.Over the 6-month period leading to Q1 2021, Phnom Penh’s landed property sector saw 21 launches across 9 districts. CBRE’s report estimates that these projects will add around 15,500 units to Phnom Penh’s landed property supply. In terms of completions over the same period, CBRE reports that 11 new projects were opened adding 4,500 units to the total housing stock in the capital city.The shift towards more affordable housing continues as newly launched projects are targeting the affordable housing sector. According to CBRE’s report, over 60% of newly launched linkhouses and over 70% of single villas will be priced in the affordable housing range.The report also showed areas where new existing housing supply, currently under construction, and recent launches are located. Sen Sok remains the top choice for many landed housing developments due to its vast flatlands, growing road networks, and increasing availability of commercial establishments that encourage movement in the area.Chbar Ampov, on the other side of Phnom Penh, ranks a far second in terms of existing supply. The peninsula district has also been a popular destination for borey developers. However, Dangkao district is set to overtake Chbar Ampov in existing stock once all its recorded projects are completed.Realestate.com.kh’s upcoming Real Estate Survey 2021 also reported keen interest from property seekers to purchase landed property in Sen Sok and Chroy Changvar in the next 12 months. The report explains that the preference for landed property among Cambodians is driving the popularity of suburban living, and will likely continue to do so in the foreseeable future.Interestingly, CBRE’s report notes a downward adjustment in average quoting sale prices for landed properties. In the period since Q3 2020, single villas saw a downward adjustment of 20.1% followed by linkhouses with a negative adjustment of 19.5%. Other landed property types followed with downward adjustments: 16.7% for shophouses, 15.4% for flathouses, and 13.5% for twin villas.Property seekers looking for landed homes may find it easier to find good deals on the market. To aid this search, Realestate.com.kh is launching the Online Property Flash Sale from May 6 to 9, 2021 featuring new developments and resale properties offered at more attractive prices. Interested buyers are encouraged to register for free.Article by:

The WorldBridge Sport Village is one of the most unique and exciting residential projects soon coming to Phnom Penh. The project is a massive undertaking near the Morodok Techo National Sports Complex, Cambodia’s first modern multipurpose and international standards sports facility designed to host the participants of the 2023 Southeast Asian Games.Upon completion in 2023, the WorldBridge Sport Village is set to become the finest residential choice for any individual/family looking for a comfortable suburban living experience with all the facilities that support an active and sporty lifestyle. In a nutshell: the ultimate Olympic village where you can live like an Olympian!Need to practice your swing for that game with the boys? There’s an in-house driving range for the golf enthusiast. Want to work on your cardio nearby? The running track has got you covered. Want a quick sweat with a game of tennis? Say no more. Or if you're the type who likes to sculpt one's own body indoors, the fully stocked gym will help you get those goals.WorldBridge Sport Village’s location itself is an exciting environment reflecting an active mindset. Having the WorldBridge Sport Village as your home means that you put a premium on living an active, healthy life full of sports and recreation. The surrounding area holds a potential for a great future as its earmarked with more commercial developments soon offering WorldBridge Sport Village residents plenty of things to do and places to see.Garden City’s massive entertainment spots surround the project namely the Waterpark, Safari, and Golf Club, three destinations ideal for families in the WorldBridge Sport Village. The new campus of the Royal University of Phnom Penh is also set to be within a few minutes drive from the project, making it an ideal residence (or even rental investment) for students/families in the long run. The grand cherry on top, however, is the Samdech Techo Hun Sen Dragon City, a 35,000-hectare mega-project set to be the new city centre of Phnom Penh coming in 2028!The WorldBridge Sport Village’s whole concept is designed to integrate all these surrounding features with a top-shelf, comfortable living experience where every whim can be satisfied without having to leave its grounds - all without interfering with their sense of security and privacy. The WorldBridge Sport Village will come with its own shopping mall, residents can engage in retail with all the international brands as well as have all necessities within arms reach right from the supermarket. After a shopping expedition or a hard day of active living, one can unwind in one of the many exquisite food and beverage outlets.We’ve talked plenty about what residents can do when living, but where can they actually stay?The WorldBridge Sport Village has quite the variety when it comes to the different units available. There's the top-tier Condo Residential unit, which provides spacious rooms with up to 3 bedroom options and the best view of the stunning landscape that surrounds the whole complex.There are Semi-detached villa units for those who prefer a more individual residence. The high-quality features and interiors built into these villas give the impression of a holiday getaway home, except it’s actually someone’s actual home.The Row and Townhouses are among the best in their respective classes providing a modest yet high-quality home for the many Cambodian families that would fit well here. Shophouses at the WorldBridge Sport Village let the entrepreneurial spirit of Cambodians stretch its legs with the space allotted for them to set up shop.The WorldBridge Sport Village is soon coming in 2023 and will be one of the most exciting developments in Chroy Changvar, and even Phnom Penh! If you’re interested, check out their property listing for a special price offer.

Get the best prices on the best properties in Cambodian real estate this coming May 2021!Realestate.com.kh, the leading real estate portal in Cambodia, is proud to announce the launch of the Realestate.com.kh Flash Sale, which will take place from May 6 to 9, 2021. The 100% online event will be one of the biggest 4-day sales events in Cambodian history, where property hunters can buy their dream home at some of the best prices ever seen!Realestate.com.kh Online Property Flash SaleDATE: May 6 (Thursday) - May 9, 2021 (Sunday)TIME: 9:00 GMT+7Secure discounts from Cambodia’s top developments & agents100% free registration$200 Fully Refundable Reservation Fee on the day to reserve the discounted priceFor a span of 4 days, first-time home buyers, property investors, and anyone in between can go online shopping for their dream property offered with the best prices of the year from Cambodia’s top developers and agents.Registration for the online event is FREE and interested buyers are highly encouraged to pre-register for the event to receive important information about participating developments leading up to the event. All complete details and discounts on properties, however, will only be revealed on the 6th of May, Thursday!This event follows the huge success of the inaugural online property sales event in Cambodia hosted by Realestate.com.kh in 2020 where over $20 million dollars worth of property was booked!Once the event launches, buyers will be able to find their favorite property and reserve the discount by paying a fully refundable deposit of $200 USD on the day. Buyers who reserve a unit during the 4-day event will then be provided a minimum of 14 days to choose the actual unit with the developer, discuss terms and sign a sales and purchase agreement. If in any case, the buyer does not follow through with their purchase, they will be fully refunded their $200 reservation fee.Lessons from previous economic downturns indicate that property prices dip and certainly bounce back; presenting a small window where buyers are able to acquire properties at significantly more attractive prices. Realestate.com.kh’s Flash Sale seeks to deliver that opportunity to local buyers and international investors in the Kingdom of Cambodia.Realestate.com.kh will be working with Cambodia’s hottest and most popular developments in the market as well as all the trusted real estate agents and agencies to reach as many buyers as possible both locally and internationally.Conventional offline means of reaching clients have been severely hampered by current quarantines and restrictions. The Online Property Flash Sale this coming May will be an avenue where buyers can safely browse for new homes and for agents/developers to present their properties while keeping everyone safe! Interested agents and developers are encouraged to reach out to Realestate.com.kh urgently.Realestate.com.kh has been at the forefront of connecting buyers, developers, and agents and contributing to Cambodia’s real estate market growth since 2009. The Online Property Flash Sale’s objective is to pursue this growth despite the necessary quarantines through continued online marketing efforts.If you are an agent or developer and want more information about this event please contact:Shengwei Zhao 赵生伟English/Chinese+855 085 321 897shengwei.zhao@realestate.com.khSumey Soun ស៊ូមុី សួនKhmer+855 077 241 285mey.soun@realestate.com.kh

Borey Nadi is a brand new borey development in Chroy Changvar district with a unique take on modern community living. Supplied.Cambodia’s continuing struggle with its latest COVID-19 wave is keeping most people indoors, and with more people indoors, the fewer people there are in showrooms. But the preference for land, and the homes that come on top of it, remain a top choice for many Cambodian buyers.According to Realestate.com.kh’s upcoming Real Estate Survey 2021, around 66% of its more than 2,000 respondents chose Phnom Penh as their choice of location. Top districts in the capital for landed property are somewhat tied between Sen Sok at 22% and Chroy Changvar at 21%.Sen Sok is known for its vast flatlands with increasing infrastructure that support both residential and commercial developments. It also does not hurt that the biggest mall in the city, AEON Mall Sen Sok, is located in the district. Realestate.com.kh previously reported that Sen Sok is one of the districts with the lowest median sale prices for property in Phnom Penh.The peninsular district of Chroy Changvar itself is seeing continuous interest from both borey and condominium developers. What Chroy Changvar lacks in its commercial appeal, it certainly makes up for in its natural beauty and suburban living that has become popular among property seekers. This combination has attracted many interesting developments such as Borey Nadi. This borey is a new development in Chroy Changvar that boasts a modern take on community living with its aesthetics and even has cherry blossom trees within its premises, just to name a few of its features.Interestingly enough, the survey also gathered that Cambodian respondents maintain a strong preference for land and landed properties when it comes to property choices. Around 45% chose land as the property they are most likely to buy. Landed properties such as shophouses and villas trail at 22% and 16%, respectively.Apartment units come in last of residential properties at 13% among surveyed Cambodian buyers. The remaining 4% is split among commercial and industrial property choices. However, foreign buyers who participated in the survey overwhelmingly chose apartments as their primary choice - unsurprising as foreigners cannot hold landed properties in the country.A majority of Cambodians are still interested in buying property while a third are choosing to save money for future purchases/investments. The severity of the Feb-20 event continues to streak across the country leading to a significant amount of respondents interested in a new home indicating that they are unsure of when would they will be buying.Despite slowdowns in property market activity, infrastructure projects by the government have not ceased. It is a given that infrastructure, particularly in transportation, are generational developments that would take years if not decades for its return on investment. Authorities pursuing these long-term plans during an economic lull help maintain the future potential of many landed properties in and around Phnom Penh.Article by:

PHNOM PENH, 27 March 2021 –  GCC today announced the launch of Nadi Care for Borey Nadi’s residents. This exciting program is an exclusive service specially curated for residents in Borey Nadi. The Nadi Care program is launched in conjunction with the 5-year anniversary establishment of GCC in Cambodia.“This program is first-of-a-kind in Cambodia. GCC is always a caring developer who believes in crafting the best ever service for the buyers. We recognize that buying a new home represents an important investment and so a great deal of care and workmanship has gone into this development and the establishment of this community. We want to make sure that your home along with the community and recreational facilities are designed to meet your needs and your family members. Nadi Care is a program specially curated to ensure all houses can enjoy effortless luxury living in the community. From a private shuttle to AEON Mall to organising a wedding party at Crystal Hall, the team at Nadi will make sure that nothing is a trouble when the house owners are with us.  We want to make sure that the residents need not worry as their parents and kids can take our private shuttle to AEON mall or any other places safely and comfortably,” said Eric Chong, Chief Executive Officer of GC City and GC Empire.   He added that all buyers of Borey Nadi will automatically become privileged members of Nadi Care as they can enjoy all Nadi Care services and also preferential rates at selected GCC’s subsidiary outlets.  There are a total of 12 services to be associated with Nadi Care which includes basic services such as Private Shuttle Service, 24 Hours Security System, 24 Hours Emergency Medical Support, and ala carte services with 24 Hours Emergency Maintenance Service, Residential Moving Coordination, Housekeeping Service, Personal Trainer, Laundry Service, Car Owner Care, Car Rental & Taxi Service, Event Coordination and Residence Provisioning.“We are passionate about our first Borey development in Cambodia, and we want to make it the best in the market. Borey Nadi is strategically located at Chroy Changvar area, surrounded by various completed and under-construction landmark development such as Morodok Techo National Stadium, Phnom Penh Safari, Win-Win Monument, Dinosaurs Alive, Garden City Golf Club, future Royal University of Phnom Penh campus, Chroy Changvar Satellite City and so on.  With the launch of Nadi Care, we are now one step closer to realizing our vision to bring inspired living to the market and to our esteem buyers. We are building a company that is synonymous with properties that offer world-class quality, innovation, and sustainable and caring value.” Internationally renowned property management consultant Keystone Properties and Bun & Associates are two existing partners for Borey Nadi. Today with the launch of Nadi Care, the level of services provided by Borey Nadi will be further enhanced with the offering of quality and liveability that Cambodia has yet to see.  “GCC has been detailed looking into many contexts so that Borey Nadi can express the vision we imagine for this development.  We are willing to spend extra effort and money to make the Nadi care successful.   Smart buyers will definitely value our effort.  We are delighted to receive a lot of positive feedback and compliments since we opened for sales.   We will launch more exciting projects to our portfolio by this year, for instance, the GC Orussey Market, a local wholesale market that will be a future hotspot and attraction for locals and tourists. We hope you are as excited as us to welcome these projects”, added Eric Chong. At the conference, Eric presented information on Nadi Care whilst also walking through the audience Nadi Care Mobile App.  He also shared about the latest Khmer New Year promotion which Borey Nadi buyers who place booking from 27 March to 30 April will be entitled to local or overseas travel packages to Song Saa Island or Japan. During the Khmer New Year promotion, Borey Nadi also provides a special and convenient payment option for clients to own their dream house at Borey Nadi at an installment as low as USD600 per month.About GCCGolden Cambodia Century (GCC) is an investment holding company from Hong Kong specializing in real estate development, land investment, and financial services (trust and fund management). GCC aims to be a 360 ° full-scale service property developer in Cambodia. Currently, there are 7 subsidiary companies under GCC, which consist of GC City GC Land, GC Empire, GC Realty, GC Design, GC Management, and GC Credit. Current projects of GCC include Borey NADI by GC City, CEO Wyndham Residence, GC Orussey Market, GC Residence at Chroy Changva, and Ream City at Sihanoukville.

Food and beverage businesses are continuing to see a massive drop in-store sales as COVID-19 persists in Cambodia. Photo by K/T Pann Ranchana.The February 20 Community Incident, as if posting, raised Cambodia’s total confirmed COVID-19 cases from 484 to 1753 in a span of 4 weeks. The spike in cases was accompanied by 4 deaths (as of March 22) directly related to COVID-19. Both national and local governments are scrambling to contain the virus’ spread as more provinces report new cases on a daily basis.The resurgence of COVID-19 fears is forcing residents, especially in Phnom Penh, Siem Reap, and Sihanoukville to stay indoors once again. Food & Beverage retailers, in particular, have been hit the hardest over the past year by the lack of people going out due to fears of catching the virus. It was previously reported that 58% of vacated retail spaces are from F&B operators, according to a previous report by The Mall Company (TMC), a retail specialist in Cambodia.The most recent February 20 community incident has vastly surpassed the November 28 incident, requiring more long-term planning from F&B operators in Cambodia.“For Food & Beverage retailers, the go-to everyone is talking about is the delivery apps. But they don’t replace store sales,” said Simon Griffiths, Managing Director of TMC. “They [delivery apps] bring in anywhere from 20% to 40% of normal sales volumes for retailers who have active digital strategies. The truth is, online delivery apps can boost sales and can make stores more profitable but ultimately cannot replace in-store sales, which have plummeted”Delivery apps becoming more prevalent and in-store sales plummeting has been a trend among F&B retailers in Cambodia. “During the COVID-19 peak, delivery sales were about 60% of our total sales which was a big jump from being around 20% normally.” said an operator of several restaurants, who has chosen to stay anonymous.He shares the same observation that while delivery apps help sales figures they cannot replace store sales to be sustainable. “Delivery gives us the extra sales we need to make staying open worth it. With delivery apps, however, the spread is much smaller due to commissions and we don’t increase our prices by a lot on delivery apps; we try to keep it close to store prices.”The idea of going solely online has become more popular the longer the pandemic persists though the transition may not work for all businesses. “You can run a business completely through online delivery sales, if it were designed that way,” the operator said. “But many businesses have existed pre-pandemic and have physical stores with manpower to retain, rent to pay, etc., we’re all just trying to be as efficient as possible, aiming to break even and ensure that people have jobs”The limited revenue for this extended period of time has shifted the priorities of many F&B operators. Marketing campaigns, for example, have taken a less important role in day-to-day operations. “Marketing is not a top priority for us right now, but that largely depends on what kind of market you’re serving,” he said. “Right now, our market is apprehensive about going outside,” he shared. “So, we’re not exactly pushing anything new nor spending extra. What marketing we have currently is focused on maintaining a presence.” He elaborated that they are keeping up a consistent social media presence supported by traditional media.“Delivery apps themselves are a marketing tool of their own. And they do sometimes focus on our brands,” he said. “So, whenever a new player comes in, we just join because out of sight, out of mind, right?Article by: