Global Student Housing Trends with Joe Persechino (Yugo)
In this week’s Pillow Talk Sessions, Jessica Gillingham and Kristian Lupinski sit down with Joe Persechino, COO of Yugo, to unpack the global growth trajectory of student accommodation and the strategies needed to meet demand.
💡 Highlights from the conversation:
🌍 Why student numbers are rising from 240M to 400M by 2050
📊 Why markets like the UK are 30% penetrated while Italy lags at only 5%
🏢 How Yugo blends global brand consistency with local market nuance
🤝 Why partnerships with universities and parents are critical for trust and growth
🌱 How Gen Z expectations around sustainability and wellbeing are reshaping the student experience
Joe explains why PBSA is no longer a niche “alternative” but a core asset class attracting global institutional capital — and how Yugo is leading the way.
