• One of the world’s first open-access playbooks providing hospitality operators with a holistic, practical framework to embrace disability inclusion
• Supported by SG Enable, World Sustainable Hospitality Alliance and Valuable 500 and reviewed by nearly 20 disability inclusion experts globally
• Company announces global disability inclusion commitments, including standardised accessibility profiles for all properties, frontline disability awareness training and reporting on the hiring of persons with disabilities starting 2026

SINGAPORE – Media OutReach Newswire – 17 November 2025 – The Ascott Limited (Ascott), the wholly owned lodging business unit of CapitaLand Investment (CLI), has launched the Disability Inclusion Playbook for the Accommodation Sector. As one of the world’s first open-access, holistic disability inclusion playbooks, it sets a new benchmark for inclusive hospitality. Developed by Ascott in partnership with disability inclusion specialists Colorful Earth, it is supported by SG Enable (Singapore’s focal agency for disability and inclusion), World Sustainable Hospitality Alliance (a global coalition driving sustainability in hospitality) and Valuable 500 (a global non-profit of over 500 multinational corporations advancing disability inclusion).

Offering guidance across five key pillars of disability inclusion – Inclusive Training, Spaces, Hiring, Digital Interfaces and Programmes – the playbook empowers accommodation providers of all sizes to deliver welcoming and inclusive stay experiences from pre-arrival to departure, while fostering inclusive hiring and training practices. It addresses the diverse needs of travellers with disabilities, covering areas such as governance and strategy, collaboration with the disability community, barrier-free infrastructure, accessible programmes and function-specific training.

The playbook’s launch event took place at Citadines Science Park Singapore, officiated by Guest-of-Honour Mr Eric Chua, Singapore’s Senior Parliamentary Secretary for the Ministry of Social and Family Development and the Ministry of Law. He said: “A truly inclusive society that strengthens the quality of life for persons with disabilities is a whole-of-society effort. I am glad that like-minded partners such as Ascott have come onboard, and welcome more to join us. Together, we must work together to build a more caring and inclusive Singapore.”

Ascott’s Disability Inclusion Commitments
At the launch, Ascott announced a comprehensive set of disability inclusion commitments, structured around the playbook’s five-pillar framework:

• Starting from 2026, at least one Ascott property in every country where it operates will host a community programme dedicated to disability inclusion. The company will also begin reporting on the hiring of persons with disabilities in its annual sustainability reports. Every property will feature a standardised accessibility profile detailing room features, measurements and accessible transport options, empowering guests to make informed booking decisions. Currently, around 60% of Ascott’s operational properties already provide accessibility information, with plans to transition to a standardised template and extend it progressively across the remaining properties.
• By 2027, 100% of Ascott’s frontline associates globally will have completed disability awareness training. To date, over 100 associates in Singapore and Australia have been trained to create welcoming stay experiences for guests with disabilities.
• By 2028, all guest-facing digital platforms will meet Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 AA accessibility standards, ensuring a seamless and inclusive online experience. Ascott’s booking website, DiscoverASR.com, already complies with these standards, with its Ascott Star Rewards mobile app next in line.

Ms Beh Siew Kim, Chief Financial and Sustainability Officer, Lodging, CapitaLand Investment, said: “We are honoured to launch the open-access Disability Inclusion Playbook for the Accommodation Sector, a practical resource developed in close collaboration with disability inclusion experts and informed by our global hospitality operations. The playbook will guide Ascott’s disability inclusion efforts across our global portfolio of more than 1,000 operational and pipeline properties in over 40 countries, and we welcome other operators to join us in this collective journey.”

“Real inclusion requires more than guidance – it demands action, accountability and shared learning. That is why Ascott is backing this playbook with measurable commitments across our global portfolio, including standardised accessibility profiles for our properties, comprehensive staff training and transparent reporting on our progress. By sharing both our learnings and commitments, we aim to accelerate collective progress and show that inclusive hospitality is not just the right thing to do; it is vital to building resilient businesses that truly serve all guests and communities,” she added.

Driving Inclusive Hospitality Through Collaboration and Expertise
An estimated 1.3 billion people – or about 16% of the global population – live with permanent disabilities[1], representing a substantial yet underserved market in tourism and hospitality. Accessibility is therefore both a social imperative and a significant opportunity for the hospitality industry. Ascott’s Disability Inclusion Playbook addresses this need with practical guidance drawn from its global operations and reviewed by nearly 20 experts from Colorful Earth, SG Enable, World Sustainable Hospitality Alliance and Valuable 500.

The playbook is also a key outcome of Ascott’s 2024 Memorandum of Understanding with SG Enable, the first partnership of its scale in Singapore’s hospitality sector. This collaboration has already produced industry-first initiatives, including Singapore’s first hospitality-specific disability inclusion training, launched at the Ascott Centre for Excellence in June 2025.

Ms Lee May Gee, CEO of SG Enable, said: “This global disability inclusion playbook translates aspiration into action – exemplifying what can be achieved when industry leaders, persons with disabilities, and community partners come together to co-create solutions grounded in lived experience. We hope it inspires others in the hospitality and tourism sectors to join us in shaping a world where everyone feels welcomed, valued and included.”

Mr Glenn Mandziuk, President & CEO, World Sustainable Hospitality Alliance, stated: “Today marks a pivotal moment for global hospitality. This Playbook is more than a guide; it is a beacon for systemic change, transforming the industry’s ambition for disability inclusion into tangible action. We are profoundly grateful to Ascott for their catalytic investment and leadership, and to Colorful Earth for authoring a truly superb and practical playbook. This collaborative triumph with SG Enable and the Valuable 500 proves that true hospitality must be universally accessible. It provides our entire industry with the crucial roadmap to build a future where everyone, without exception, can truly belong.”

Ms Katy Talikowska, CEO, Valuable 500, said: “Ascott’s Disability Inclusion Playbook offers practical processes and strategic guidance to help hospitality organisations of all sizes move from intent to impact. It recognises that inclusion is not a single department’s job but a shared responsibility that touches every guest experience and employee interaction. From accessible digital interfaces to inclusive hiring and spatial design, the framework aligns perfectly with Valuable 500’s vision of inclusion as a driver of innovation, growth and resilience.”

Hashtag: #TheAscottLimited #Hospitality #Sustainability #DisabilityInclusion #AscottCARES

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The Ascott Limited

The Ascott Limited (Ascott) is driven by a vision to be the preferred hospitality company, enriching global living with heartfelt experiences. With a portfolio of more than 1,000 properties spanning over 230 cities across more than 40 countries, Ascott’s presence spans Asia Pacific, Central Asia, Europe, the Middle East, Africa and the USA. Its diverse collection of award-winning brands includes Ascott, Citadines, lyf, Oakwood, Somerset, The Crest Collection, The Unlimited Collection, Fox, Harris, POP!, Preference, Quest, Vertu and Yello.

Ascott specialises in managing and franchising a wide range of lodging options, including serviced residences, hotels, resorts, social living properties and branded residences, catering to the varying needs and preferences of global travellers. Through the Ascott Star Rewards (ASR) loyalty programme, members enjoy exclusive privileges and curated experiences, enhancing every aspect of their travel journey.

As a wholly owned business unit of CapitaLand Investment Limited, Ascott generates fee-related earnings by leveraging its expertise in both lodging management and investment management. It also drives the expansion of funds under management by growing its sponsored CapitaLand Ascott Trust and private funds.

For more information on Ascott and its sustainability programme, please visit www.discoverasr.com/the-ascott-limited. Alternatively, connect with Ascott on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and LinkedIn.

CapitaLand Investment Limited

Headquartered and listed in Singapore in 2021, CapitaLand Investment Limited (CLI) is a leading global real asset manager with a strong Asia foothold. As at 5 November 2025, CLI had S$120 billion of funds under management. CLI holds stakes in eight listed real estate investment trusts and business trusts and a suite of private real asset vehicles that invest in demographics, disruption and digitalisation-themed strategies. Its diversified real asset classes include retail, office, lodging, industrial, logistics, business parks, wellness, self-storage, data centres, private credit and special opportunities.

CLI aims to scale its fund management, lodging management and commercial management businesses globally and maintain effective capital management. As the investment management arm of CapitaLand Group, CLI has access to the development capabilities of and pipeline investment opportunities from CapitaLand Group’s development arm. In 2025, CapitaLand Group celebrates 25 years of excellence in real estate and continues to innovate and shape the industry.

As a responsible company, CLI places sustainability at the core of what it does and has committed to achieve Net Zero carbon emissions for Scope 1 and 2 by 2050. CLI contributes to the environmental and social well-being of the communities where it operates, as it delivers long-term economic value to its stakeholders.

Fueling Enterprises Cross‑Border Expansion

SINGAPORE – Media OutReach Newswire – 17 November 2025 – XTransfer, World’s Leading B2B Cross-Border Trade Payment Platform and Siam Commercial Bank (SCB), Thailand’s first indigenous bank, announced the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) at Singapore FinTech Festival 2025. The collaboration will focus on delivering efficient, secure, and cost-effective foreign exchange (FX) services in Thailand for enterprises engaging in international trade.

Under the MoU, XTransfer and SCB will work together to evaluate and develop tailored FX solutions in Thailand for enterprises engaged in international trade. The partnership will prioritise competitive FX conversion and improved rate transparency. By leveraging application programming interfaces (APIs) and digital platform connectivity, the parties aim to enable automated, real-time FX conversion and efficient transaction processing to help enterprises reduce costs and improve cash flow management. The parties will continue to explore the expansion of their collaboration beyond FX in Thailand to encompass domestic and cross-border payment solutions across key ASEAN markets, including Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, the Philippines, Cambodia, and Vietnam.

Bill Deng, Founder and CEO of XTransfer, said, “We are delighted to partner with Siam Commercial Bank to bring best‑in‑class cross-border financial services to enterprises in Thailand. SCB’s market leadership and digital capabilities, combined with XTransfer’s foreign trade enterprises’ focused infrastructure, will help our clients achieve better rates, faster settlement, and enhanced transparency. This collaboration not only strengthens service delivery for Thai enterprises, but also enables XTransfer to deepen our development across ASEAN. Together, we will continue to strengthen compliance and risk management to build a trusted financial backbone for cross-border trade.”

Rungsi Vongkitbuncha, Executive Vice President, Head of Large Corporates and International Business Function of SCB, said, “It is an honour to represent SCB at today’s Memorandum of Understanding signing ceremony, establishing our role as XTransfer’s key financial partner in ASEAN. As Thailand’s longest-established local bank, SCB supports XTransfer’s cross-border business development by providing advanced technological systems and efficient financial solutions, thereby offering more convenient business models for international traders.”
Hashtag: #XTransfer #SCB #SiamCommercialBank #SFF #Singapore #Thailand #MOU #CrossborderPayment

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Integrated hub redefines patient care, sustainability and future-ready design

SINGAPORE – Media OutReach Newswire – 17 November 2025 – The National University Hospital (NUH) has launched the new Orthopaedic Surgery and Hand & Reconstructive Microsurgery Centres, integrating key specialist services – from consultations and surgery to diagnostics, physical therapy and pharmacy stops – into one cohesive space for a seamless patient journey.

The launch of the Orthopaedic Surgery and Hand & Reconstructive Microsurgery Centres, officiated by Dr Koh Poh Koon, Senior Minister of State, Ministry of Health & Ministry of Manpower, brings together orthopaedic surgery, hand and reconstructive microsurgery, diagnostic imaging, rehabilitation and pharmacy for greater patient care and convenience by:

• Capitalising on proximity to facilitate expedited consultation, diagnostics and treatment
• Minimising intra-facility patient transfer and reducing patients’ walking distance across services by nearly half
• Enabling closer and synchronous collaboration between clinicians and allied health services
• Streamlining prescription and medication collection for greater accessibility and convenience

Originally situated at the NUH Main Building, the strategic relocation of the Centres to Levels 18 and 19 of the Medical Centre marks an important milestone in the first stage of the NUH redevelopment plan, a major transformative endeavour to meet growing healthcare needs in the Western region.

Orthopaedic Surgery Centre: Strengthening care with innovation

The opening of the new Orthopaedic Surgery Centre strengthens care for sports injuries in an increasingly active population, and for degenerative joint diseases, such as osteoarthritis, which affects about 10 per cent of the general population and 20 per cent of older individuals, aged 60 years and above[1].

It also serves as a launchpad for innovative treatments, including Singapore’s first stem cell treatment for cartilage repair, performed by Professor James Hui, Head & Senior Consultant, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, NUH, in 2005. The expanded infrastructure – featuring new procedure rooms and enhanced treatment capabilities – will further enable the Centre to widen its reach and expand its innovation and advanced treatment footprints.

These improvements aim to help patients recover faster, with fewer hospital stays, and better support their return to an active lifestyle.

“Our population is staying active for longer, and that means more complex bone and joint needs across all ages. The new Orthopaedic Surgery Centre is designed to more closely integrate our clinical teams, imaging and treatment facilities into one streamlined environment,” Prof Hui said.

“With expanded capabilities also means richer data for research and innovation, which can accelerate the development of new therapies tailored to the evolving orthopaedic needs of our community.”

Hand & Reconstructive Microsurgery Centre: Handing hope for complex injuries

The new Hand & Reconstructive Microsurgery Centre (HRMC) features a dedicated day surgery suite equipped with fluoroscopic and ultrasound capabilities, as well as an adjacent recovery facility to support efficient and post-operative care. The suite enables patients to undergo procedures earlier and facilitates a seamless recovery journey.

HRMC provides comprehensive care for trauma and diseases affecting the hand, wrist, and upper limb, and offers round-the-clock microsurgical service. It serves as a regional referral centre for digital, hand and major limb replantation, achieving success rates comparable to international standards.

“The multidisciplinary approach adopted by our care teams at HRMC is our greatest strength,” said Dr Sandeep Jacob Sebastin Muttath, Head & Senior Consultant, Department of Hand & Reconstructive Microsurgery, NUH.

He added, “Many patients come to us with the concern that they will have to undergo major surgery to regain the function of their limbs. However, with our integrated teams – which include our colleagues from neurology and rehabilitation medicine – we can deliver a full continuum of care, from diagnosis and surgery to rehabilitation and prosthetic support, all within a single site.”

Rehabilitation Centre: Restoring normalcy to everyday life

Rounding up the patient journey, the Rehabilitation Centre brings physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, and podiatry services into one space, providing a seamless transition from the Orthopaedic Surgery Centre and HRMC.

This allows patients to easily set up appointments with both their doctors and their allied health professionals (AHPs) on the same day and traverse between the two centres. Its design encourages collaboration between clinicians and AHPs, improving care coordination and innovation.

The Rehabilitation Centre features a dynamic indoor running and mobility track for one-stop functional assessments and a dual plinth setup that increases capacity by over 40 per cent to reduce patient wait times.

“Our vision was to create a seamless and collaborative environment for rehabilitation,” said Associate Professor Isaac Sia, Head, Department of Rehabilitation, NUH, “Beyond caring for today’s patients, our dedicated clinical education and observation spaces support the training of the next generation of allied health professionals, ensuring continued excellence in care for the future.”

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About the National University Hospital

The National University Hospital (NUH) is Singapore’s leading university hospital. While the hospital at Kent Ridge first received its patients on 24 June 1985, our legacy started from 1905, the date of the founding of what is today the NUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine. NUH is the principal teaching hospital of the medical school.

Our unique identity as a university hospital is a key attraction for healthcare professionals who aspire to do more than practise tertiary medical care. We offer an environment where research and teaching are an integral part of medicine, and continue to shape medicine and transform care for the community we care for.

We are an academic medical centre with over 1,200 beds, serving more than one million patients a year with over 50 medical, surgical and dental specialties. NUH is the only public and not-for-profit hospital in Singapore to provide trusted care for adults, women and children under one roof, including the only paediatric kidney and liver transplant programme in the country.

The NUH is a key member of the National University Health System (NUHS), one of three public healthcare clusters in Singapore. For more information, visit www.nuh.com.sg

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