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The leadership hat is an honorable one, but it cannot stay honorable without the wearer possessing expertise and experience in addition to inherent strength, grace, and dignity toward this responsibility. The following notion reflects what Asim Erturk’s leadership stands for.
An inspiring and dedicated entrepreneur with over a decade of expertise in marketing and management, Asim Erturk is a passionate and inspiring entrepreneur who is on a mission to transform the UK experience for both domestic and international students.
Academically, the phenomenal leader holds a master’s degree in management and organization from the prestigious Marmara University and a bachelor’s degree in public administration from Uludag University. His training and extraordinary ability to see opportunities have played a major role in forming Londonist DMC’s growth and strategy. But ascending to the peak was an absolute roller coaster.
He started his entrepreneurial journey in 2013 with Londonist Global, a group that includes Londonist DMC, Londonist Investments, Londonist Technologies, Londonist Hospitality, and Uninist. Recently Asim was nominated at Great British Entrepreneur Awards in the category Service Industries Entreprenuer. His journey is a testament to his unyielding determination to bridge the gap in student support and accommodation services, ultimately leading to the establishment of Londonist DMC.
Here, The Inc. Magazine depicts the journey of Asim Erturk, a visionary leader in 2024 helping international students find a home away from home. With his steadfast dedication and excellent leadership, he has carved out a unique position for himself in the industry.
The Tale of Inception and Growth: Londonist
Asim witnessed the dearth of specialized student housing companies when he first arrived in London in 2006 as an international student. In order to gain experience in the UK business sector, he first entered the Pedicab transportation industry. He then achieved success at the Financial Times. The entrepreneurial drive to create student housing eventually resulted in the establishment of Londonist DMC which started with 30 rooms ten years ago. The core aim of Londonist DMC is to provide students with accommodation that makes them feel at home away from home.
Londonist DMC commenced its operations in 2013 and has since expanded to include over 50 upscale properties with a combined capacity of over 2000 rooms. Londonist is an established player in the PBSA, education, and youth travel sectors, housing more than 5,000 international students each year. Asim Erturk created customized student support services and flexible booking substitutes after spotting a distinct need in the market for student housing. The success of the accommodation agency has been achieved by his strategic thinking and dedication to quality.
Recently Londonist celebrated a remarkable ten-year journey with the Turquoise Summit, held from September 29th to October 1st, 2023, in Northern Cyprus. This milestone event served as a tribute to Londonist’s enduring legacy and a platform for over 200 global industry leaders to discuss the future of student accommodation while emphasising student well-being.
Assuring a Seamless Accommodation Experience
Londonist believes that the best home-away-from-home experience can be created with the help of an inspired team, technology and partnerships. The team pursues this mission statement to ensure a smooth accommodation experience for partners and students. The Londonist has seen explosive development, going from 800 to 2000 rooms in more than 50 locations throughout the city.
Londonist has teamed up with reliable vendors to offer an extensive selection of PBSA buildings in prime locations for students, all of which are meticulously chosen. Students looking for short-term housing benefit from Londonist’s flexible stays. The company stands out for providing flexible tenancies ranging from two to 51 weeks, which gives students more assurance when it comes to making reservations and extending their stays in London.
Locating Affordable Housing Options
Londonist acknowledge the obstacles faced by overseas students while trying to locate affordable homes in London. The Londonist offers a bill-inclusive student housing option in light of growing expenses. The fact that bills are included in Londonist accommodations is a great relief for students, particularly considering how expensive energy and electricity are in London right now.
One of the most common issues is the upfront payment requirement if a guarantor is unavailable. To mitigate this, Londonist offers flexible payment plans that reduce costs and increase accessibility to high-quality lodging. Additionally, students taking internships or short courses may find it difficult to find flexible housing. By giving flexible booking choices, which can be as short as two weeks, Londonist provides a solution. Additionally, post-purchase services are prioritized, and a specialized customer support team is available around the clock to promptly handle any problems.
Fostering an Innovative and Adaptable Culture
Londonist is always looking for new and creative ways to enhance the educational experience for their students. The company created a virtual reality tour that enables students to explore and experience their premium accommodation facilities.
Student Portal is a cutting-edge app developed by the team that Londonist recently unveiled and combines with event-finding programs. Students may learn about local activities, events, and deals thanks to this sync. In addition, students can view invoices and access check-in and check-out times via the student site. Renowned providers share their experiences with students.
Asim’s Unique Approach to Assuring Effective Communication
Asim created an open environment where active listening is at the forefront. He interacts with the team on a daily basis to learn about their goals and obstacles. Furthermore, it is recommended that departmental managers engage in regular, transparent communication with their staff and voice any issues they may have when necessary. Management has established a weekly meeting for departmental managers to gain insight into the many issues facing each area. Teams can also support one another and exchange ideas about projects and procedures by joining various WeChat, Microsoft Teams, and WhatsApp groups. Londonist’s user base consists of partner agents and students. The company has provided several opportunities and avenues for students to express their delight or disdain regarding the service.
Evolving with the Latest Industry Trends and Emerging Technologies
Asim stays updated on trends and emerging technologies in the PBSA industry to remain competitive and adequately provide innovative solutions. Other useful methods he uses to obtain insights about cutting-edge applications that can improve the student experience include reading market research papers, networking with industry peers, subscribing to trade journals, joining trade groups, and reading market research studies. Asim continues to be dedicated to keeping up with industry developments and technology improvements, including some of these important lessons in Londonist team-built solutions.
Envisioning a Thriving Journey Ahead
Asim believes that issues including evolving student tastes, sustainability concerns, and technological breakthroughs will probably have an effect on the future of student housing. Furthermore, he feels that the industry will continue to place a premium on health and wellbeing since booking services, agencies, and providers of purpose-built student housing (PBSA) are expected to keep creating campaigns and initiatives that address the needs of students. With this in mind, the Londonist team created the “Move with Londonist” wellness campaign in 2022. Researchers from New York University and the University of Miami found that unique and varied encounters improve positive emotions, happiness, and general well-being, which strengthened the strategy.
Four unique experiences catered to individuals who enjoy heights, panoramic views, adrenaline rushes, or history were offered to students as part of the promotion.
The creation of a student portal application was motivated by a strong belief in the importance of technological growth. It’s a creative one-stop shop where students can communicate with the team, pay for their rentals, look into local events, find retail deals, and buy extra services. In terms of technology, the business is also creating a Partner’s Portal to enable agents to browse the inventory of available accommodations and make quick reservations.
Words of Wisdom by the Visionary Leader Embark on early planning to secure the best accommodation options. Discover the variety of options, such as private rentals, university housing, and PBSA sector. Studies show that, when all costs are taken into account, this specially designed student housing can be a convenient and affordable option. Cost reductions of up to 30% have been reported. In addition to housing, get involved in student organizations and campus events to create a well-rounded experience and long-lasting relationships.
