ARES 2025 Promotes Dialogue Between the Property, Technology, and Design Industries
Bangkok - The PropertyGuru Asia Real Estate Summit (ARES 2025), held in Bangkok, Thailand, from December 11-13, 2025, attracted more than 400 delegates to discuss issues at the intersection of property, technology, and design.
With the theme "Trusted Marketplaces and Thriving Communities," Syetarn Hansakul, senior analyst for Southeast Asia at The Economist Intelligence Corporate Network, opened ARES 2025 with a macro overview of global challenges throughout the year and the region's outlook for 2026.
Simon Mitchell, co-founder of award-winning design firm Sybarite Architects, led the Design Spotlight session on "The Power of Place," highlighting flagship projects such as SKP Wuhan.
A panel discussion titled "The Brand Premium," moderated by Bill Barnett, managing director of C9 Hotelworks, featured hospitality industry leaders discussing how branded residences are redefining property value. The panel featured Jael Fischer, head of development Asia Pacific at Six Senses; Lee Lin, APAC regional director at Nobu Hospitality; Penny Trinh, vice president of mixed-use development at Marriott International; and Saowarin Chanprakaisi, vice president of business development at The Ascott Limited.
One of the Summit's most anticipated sessions featured broadcaster Duncan James Simpson, founder and director of CyberAI, who discussed data security issues in an increasingly artificial intelligence-driven market.
The afternoon session featured a panel on rethinking the concept of equity in Asian real estate, moderated by Dr. Nai Jia Lee, head of real estate intelligence at PropertyGuru Group. The discussion included Dr. Jing Yu, deputy chief of the Bangkok Programme Office at UN-Habitat; Marine Novita, co-founder and president director of MilikiRumah; Dr. Tan Tee Khoon, executive council member of the Singapore Institute of Estate Agents; and Anton Wormann, founder and CEO of Anton in Japan Media.
A follow-up discussion explored the importance of wellness in community development, moderated by Viona Zhang, deputy managing director of C9 Hotelworks. The panel included Christine Li, head of APAC research at Knight Frank; Dino Sukosol, co-owner and director of Sukosol Hotels; Kevin Tai, licensed physical therapist and Mister Global Taiwan 2023; and Pim Asavahame, host of the Pimchology podcast.
Ambassador Chantale Wong, former US executive director of the Asian Development Bank, joined the next panel discussing resilient cities in the digital economy era. Moderated by Sumitha Soorian, chief marketing and commercial officer of Headland, Phuket, the panel also featured fresh perspectives from Cyndy Tan Jarabata, president of Tajara Leisure and Hospitality Group; Diep Do, green and resilient building program lead for Vietnam and Thailand International Finance Corporation; and Sanjay Popli, co-founder and group CEO of Cryptomind.
The summit concluded with an international keynote from two-time Olympic gold medalist Panipak “Tennis” Wongpattanakit, who shared his insights on building resilience through sport and community.
Following the summit, VIP guests were invited to an exclusive cocktail afterparty at Kandhavas Place, The Athenee Hotel. This opportunity was also used to honor the four ARES Power Women of 2025: Ambassador Chantale Wong; Marine Novita; Marisa Sukosol Nunbhakdi, executive vice president of The Sukosol Hotels & The Siam and honorary president of the Thai Hotels Association; and Ar. (Dr.) Serina Hijjas, principal director of HIJJAS Architects + Planners and president of the Malaysia Green Building Council.
PropertyGuru Week 2025 concluded on December 13, 2025, with Kevin Tai returning to the stage, this time at Cinema Oasis in Bangkok. The Creator Spotlight session further explored his experience in health and wellness, as well as using popular platforms to build authentic influence.
Jules Kay, general manager of PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards and Events, stated that ARES is a collaborative space where technology and design converge—driving sustainable finance, human-centric data utilization, and policies that foster impactful innovation.
He noted that Asia faces more complexity and more challenges coming to the market each year. Whether building, financing, designing, marketing, managing, or searching for property, all these forces influence each other.
"Our role at PropertyGuru goes beyond simply displaying property listings. We want to reduce uncertainty and build trust among those searching for property in Asia. When decisions are based on trust, the quality of those decisions improves, and the community thrives. Thank you for your trust in us as we strive to build a trusted marketplace and a thriving community within that ecosystem," said Jules in an official statement on Monday (December 29, 2025).
