Crown leads the industry as the first Canadian landlord to launch VTS Rise, an app integrating security and building access, amenity booking, package delivery, service requests, messaging, as well as real-time tenant feedback.
Crown began their journey in this space in 2020 and is now proud to announce almost all buildings and tenants can benefit from this new property technology. The new tenant-focused app, branded Connect by Crown, gives building occupants the ability to engage with their office community from their mobile device, or on-site tablets, providing a contactless and user-friendly office experience.
“Recognizing that in today’s business landscape, we’ve become accustomed to using our phones and devices for everything from lunch orders to ordering groceries or requesting a car service – everything has gone digital. It was time we brought that same thinking to our office properties. Gone are the days that we sign guests in on a notepad, book events and shared spaces by hard copy forms, or swipe access cards,” notes Janbee Monsod, Crown’s Vice President, Property Management.
“Over the past 20 years, Crown has grown with thoughtful, strategic expansion, and program investments such as this partnership with VTS. The decision to lead the way was a no-brainer for us. Innovation and Technology are at the core of who we are, ensuring the best experience and outcome for our investors, tenants and the people that come to work in our buildings every day,” shares Les Miller, Managing Partner and CEO.”
“We are a small landlord as it compares to others across the country, however that didn’t mean we couldn’t be the first to lead the pack as it related to real estate firms aligning with property technology partners,” adds Miller.
“Prop-tech activity is hot throughout the Canadian market, particularly in Toronto, as there’s been so much development taking place throughout the city, and such a high level of product. Toronto continues to be a hub of international investment and is an ecosystem of innovation with a large startup scene”, said Nick Romito, CEO of VTS.
“We found it very important for our investors, partners and tenants that we continue to champion our objective of continuous improvement and innovation, the best possible property data, security, and leasing information,” said Miller.
Through Connect by Crown, tenants can book amenities like a gym session or meeting space and use their phone for building access, in place of their pass card. From rooftop gardens and beehives to bike storage and community-engaging events, Crown’s goal is for the workplace experience to be consistent from arrival at a building through to when a tenant sits down at their desk or meeting space.
At Crown, we are committed to providing a premier tenant experience through best-in-class office space, value added on-site conveniences and by staying at the forefront of building technology and innovation. With a commercial real estate portfolio of over 10M square feet across Ontario, our company continues to grow. 2022 is an exciting year for us, as we continue to seek out value-added opportunities in the office market and grow our team.
Where is the Prop-tech industry headed next?
“In the coming years, we can expect the level of economic investment in prop-tech to continue to grow. Throughout the pandemic, we’ve seen a record level of investment in new technology solutions, further fueling the prop-tech boom. As the industry continues to grow, consolidation will continue to become more important. Customers want simple solutions and a clear choice when choosing products. We saw a lot of that in 2021 and expect to see more in 2022”, added Romito of VTS.
About Crown Realty Partners
Crown is an integrated commercial real estate investment and management firm focused on value-add opportunities across Canada, with approximately $3B of real assets under management. Founded in 2001, Crown has a well-established track record, an experienced team and takes a hands-on approach to provide superior returns for investors and better workplaces for tenants.
About VTS
VTS is commercial real estate’s leading leasing, marketing, asset management, and tenant experience platform where the industry comes to make deals happen and real-time data comes to life. The VTS Platform captures the largest first-party data source in the industry, which delivers real-time insights that fuel faster, more informed decision making and connections throughout the deal and asset lifecycle. VTS Data, the industry’s only forward-looking market dataset, and VTS Market and Marketplace, the industry’s first integrated online marketing solution, give landlords, brokers, and tenants unparalleled visibility into real-time market information and the direct connectivity to execute deals with greater speed and intelligence at every point in the planning, marketing, leasing, and asset management cycle. VTS Rise is the industry’s most comprehensive tenant experience solution, offering occupiers, building operators, and visitors an immersive, tech-enabled experience. To learn more about VTS, visit www.vts.com.
Available for comment & interview:
Scott Watson, Managing Partner | Acquisitions & Leasing, Crown Realty Partners
Les Miller, Managing Partner, CEO, Crown Realty Partners
Nick Romito, CEO, VTS
Media Contact:
Sarah Eadie, Managing Director
The Creative Collective
416.303.6576
sarah.eadie@creative-collective.ca