Veriu unveils new identity with dual brand integrated tower in South Australia
The move brings together the organisation’s portfolio of Living Sector brands – Veriu Hotels & Suites, Punthill Apartment Hotels and UKO, a third-party operator of Co-living & Build-to-Rent Properties – under a unified identity to reflect its expanded capabilities across short, medium and long-term living.
The new platform is said to have been developed to respond to growing demand for more flexible, tailored accommodation and living solutions across hotels, co-living, apartment living and build-to-rent.
Described as a platform built for scale, LiveStay launches with 90 sites currently operating or under construction comprising over 5950 keys, with a further 6 sites to begin construction in 2026 and 2027. Recent activity includes the opening of Punthill Narrabundah in Canberra, alongside a pipeline of new developments across Adelaide, Ryde, Epping, Shepparton, South Yarra and Albury.
“By partnering with owners and developers from the earliest stages, the business identifies the optimal operating model for each property – maximising long-term performance while enhancing both guest and resident experience,” Veriu Group stated.
LiveStay is expected to bring capability across planning, operations, revenue management and asset optimisation to operate complex and non-standard assets with a focus on long-term value rather than short-term yield.
The formation of LiveStay is said to reflect both the scale the business has reached and the way the living sector itself is evolving, according to CEO Zed Sanjana.
“This isn’t a new business – it’s the natural evolution of what we’ve been building over many years,” Sanjana said.
“LiveStay better reflects who we are today: a fully integrated platform operating across the entire living spectrum.”
“The lines between hotels, serviced apartments and residential living have been blurring for some time,” Sanjana said.
“What LiveStay represents is our ability to operate seamlessly across those categories and deliver the right solution for each asset.”
“We’ve built strong, long-term relationships across the market, and that’s a big part of our success,” Sanjana said.
LiveStay announced its first dual-brand development, Veriu Adelaide on Wakefield – Australia’s first integrated tower combining an apartment hotel with co-living – bringing together short- medium- and long-term living within a single asset.
Scheduled to open in 2028, the development will feature 120 Veriu apartment hotel keys and 120 UKO co-living residences, representing the first fully integrated expression of the LiveStay model. The project has been designed to cater to a broad mix of demand, from overnight corporate travellers through to extended-stay guests and long-term residents.
“Wakefield Street is a strong example of where the market is heading,” Sanjana said.
“By combining different living models within one asset, we can create more resilient, higher-performing developments that respond to multiple demand streams.”
The Veriu component will offer a mix of studio, studio interconnecting and accessible options, while UKO will deliver community-focused living for longer-term residents. The development will have two conference spaces, resident communal spaces, a gym, lobby, guest pantry and car parking spaces.
“Adelaide continues to see consistent demand across multiple segments, and there’s a clear opportunity for more flexible, apartment-style accommodation,” Sanjana said.
“This development allows us to meet that demand in a way that’s both operationally efficient and customer focused.”
In the living sector, UKO delivered six new properties in 2025, with a further eight developments currently under construction across key metropolitan locations in Adelaide, Perth, Brisbane and a number of locations in Sydney including Randwick, Botany and Mascot.
“We’ve already built significant scale, but we see a lot of opportunity ahead,” Sanjana said. “Importantly, our growth is focused on the right opportunities – where we can add value and deliver strong long-term outcomes for our development partners.”
The project’s official sod-turning ceremony was attended by Dr Jane Lomax-Smith AM, Adelaide’s Lord Mayor, The Hon. Nick Champion MP, South Australian Minister for Planning, Housing and Urban Development and Housing Infrastructure, Group Founder Rhys Williams, Group CEO Zed Sanjana, local developer Rob Colangelo, and other VIP guests.