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T H E S P I R I T O F H I G H S O C I E T Y
www. mal aysi atatler. com
PP6732/ 06/ 2012(029858)
APRI L 2012 RM15
POISED TO SCALE GREATER HEIGHTS
Chua
EAST SIDE
STORY
Dynamic
people behind
Kuchings
success
FASHION
FOCUS
Ways to
wear springs
hottest trends
Carmen
160100-CoverMar12_Carmen_12-3.indd 2-3 21/03/12 3:00 PM
160100-People_Carmen_Chua_15-3.indd 76 15/03/12 9:37 AM
malaysi a tatler 77 apri l 201 2
PEOPLE
Whos Who
F
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E
S
Her rst venture in property as a luxury
lifestyle builder, one kl was the rst residential
development to feature the innovative 94
Apartments, 95 Swimming Pools. It went on
to receive Best Development under cnbcs
International Property Awards, in addition to
the sia Architectural Design Award. But whats
amazing is that the 29-year-old and eldest of
Tan Sri Chua Ma Yu and Puan Sri Sharon Chuas
four children, proved her mettle, excelling
in an industry fairly different from what she
studied at university (she graduated with rst
class honours in economics from the London
School of Economics). She says, My father is my
greatest teacher. He does not accept mediocrity
and expects excellence from everyone. Of
course this means hard work, determination
and dedication. Hes always told me There is no
ambition without passion and If youre going
to do something, you have to do your best and
be completely focused. This is the main reason
why we take on projects one at a time. We are
completely hands on and completely focused
on each project, paying the utmost attention to
every single detail of every part of a project.
A graduate of the traditional British girls
boarding school, Benenden in Kent, uk,
(where Princesss Anne once studied), Carmen
says that she was already
being groomed to take the
investments path from a young
age. Ever since I was 16, I
interned every summer at
investment banks and research
houses. Even at that age, my
father had instilled in me the
importance of fundamentals
in any investment, and work
at research houses reinforced
this belief. He was adamant
that all decisions made must
be fundamentally sound, based
on a solid foundation and on
numbers. And that relates very
much to the brick-and-mortar
work I do today.
On completing her
education, Carmen returned to Malaysia to
work with her father in the investments arm
of his company, cmy Capital Group. Although
she was whisked off to the ofce the day she
arrived back, she smiles in appreciation of her
fathers foresight and good intentions for her.
While running a portfolio and making her
own investments, an opportunity arose in the
property arm of her fathers organisation which
led her to establish an impressive and reputable
name for herself, in the property line.
Having received much acclaim with the
exceptional outcome of the award-winning one
kl project, Carmen shares about her next big
venture Malaysias rst six-star development,
The St Regis Kuala Lumpur. Our vision for
one kl was to create a development that would
completely revolutionise lifestyles, as well as
the world of architecture and engineering, and
ultimately raise the benchmark of Malaysian real
estate to that of international standards. We
have the same vision and aspiration for The St
Regis Kuala Lumpur, she says, trying to hide her
excitement over the development she deems as
her dream project.
She continues to talk about the construction
of the St Regis Kuala Lumpur, just as a proud
parent would of her child. It will feature a
Distinctly Carmen
DARLING OF THE PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT INDUSTRY, CARMEN CHUA
FOCUSES ON CREATING ENVIABLE LIFESTYLES WITH NICHE PROJECTS
AT A
GLANCE
common
ground
Look out for
works by Warhol,
Picassoand
Boteroat St Regis
Kuala Lumpur,
says Carmenwho
has a signicant
collectionof Andy
Warhols works
herself
hobbies and
past times
Architectural
photography,
collecting art,
reading
architecture
magazines and
following
developments
aroundthe world
T
he word mediocrity does not
exist in Carmen Chuas vocabulary.
Driven on challenge with only
seven years in the property
development industry, she has
already attained feathers in her
safety helmet so to speak. Known
for being lifestyle builders that focus on niche
unique projects, Carmen explains that the projects
her company undertakes are synonymous with
innovative luxury residential developments and high-
end lifestyle living. With the goal of being a leader
in setting new benchmarks for design and high-end
lifestyle living comparable to that of international
standards, their innovation paid off.
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160100-People_Carmen_Chua_15-3.indd 77 15/03/12 9:37 AM
malaysi a tatler
78
apri l 201 2
PEOPLE
Whos Who
208-room six-star hotel with 160 branded
residences for sale. The Residences at The St
Regis Kuala Lumpur will be Malaysias rst
luxury residence to offer full hotel services to its
residents. This will be managed in line with the
brands unsurpassed reputation and heritage for
excellence and bespoke service, informs Carmen
of the new concept recently introduced to Asia.
She equates this branded residence to a limited
edition saying, There are only 160 of these St
Regis residences of which owners will have the
entire hotel at their disposal!
With a global name such as The St Regis, one
is assured of the brands promise and the fact that
the residence and service levels will be comparable
with those offered by the hotel brand. Owners
will benet from the high quality associated with
the name, an assurance thats difcult to match in
a non-branded residential environment. Access
to hotel services such as concierge, room service,
housekeeping, f&b, business centres, tness and
spa treatments all these add value and give rise
to greater capital appreciation.
Thrilled by all the services that the hotel will
be delivering to the St Regis Residences, Carmen
tells of the thick design guide, a prerequisite
given by the hotel operator regulating minimum
standards expected of a St Regis. This called
for strong emphasis on interior design with
the highest quality of nishes and ttings, plus
understanding the demands of connoisseurs of
luxury evoking excitement within the young
lady boss. That is the other thing; a luxury
brand partnership such as this guarantees the
kind of quality, expertise and tradition that
savvy investors consider to be well worth the
additional cost. The value is placed on the superb
levels of service and attention to detail involved.
While the partnership with Starwood to
develop The St Regis Kuala Lumpur shared
synergies, along with Carmens dedication to
design, the St Regis Acionado elements also
seemed to coincide with many of Carmens
passions and interests food and wine; fashion
and design; art and literature; speed and sport;
society and philanthropy; spa and relaxation.
Besides, she adds, Branded residences also
provide a sense of security, in the knowledge
that not only will the property be well
maintained, but also give buyers peace of
mind in terms of capital appreciation as well
as rental yields. All this and more made the
project additionally attractive and profusely
challenging, captivating the all-the-more
determined Carmen, who said that construction
began in the last quarter of 2010, and will be
completed before 2014.
An adept young lady whos perfectly at ease in
the company of royals, heads of states, diplomats
and dignitaries, corporate big-wigs and noted
society gures it seemed only apparent that at
some point Carmen would cross paths with the
St Regis brand, both nonpareil in their dynamics.
With her keen eye for the tiniest of details, driven
on challenge and a meticulous approach to all
that she sets her mind to, who else better than
Carmen to take on such a project? She says of the
hotel, Its not only renowned for its reputation
of noble lineage but its dedication to delivering
an unrivalled guest experience, that has been and
still is synonymous with its acclaimed style and
six-star hospitality for over a century.
While she currently has her mind, heart and
soul completely engulfed in her dream project, she
has no intentions on giving any clues whatsoever
on where, what or with whom, she plans to sink
her mind, heart and soul into, in the near future.
But, whatever it is, no doubt it will be something
of a paragon of distinction.
SHARP AND
SAVVY
Carmen Chua
thrives on
challenges with
unwavering
dedication in
all that she sets
out to do
My father is my greatest teacher.
He does not accept mediocrity and
expects excellence from everyone
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160100-People_Carmen_Chua_19-3.indd 78 19/03/12 3:58 PM