AVE, the residential real estate brand of Korman Communities, recently celebrated its annual Resident Appreciation Week, a tradition it created a decade ago to celebrate its residents and reinforce the brand’s commitment to community building.
For the 10th anniversary, the theme was “Be Our Guest,” in collaboration with Crate & Barrel. Residents had the opportunity to enter 10 giveaways from Crate & Barrel and CB2, with hosting and entertainment-themed prizes. The week also included festive fall programming and the activation of its amenities, including puppy pool plunges, live music by the fire pit, meditation in the courtyard, and ballroom dancing lessons in the fitness studio.
Lea Anne Welsh, chief operating officer at Korman Communities and president of AVE, shares with Multifamily Executive how resident appreciation has evolved in the past decade and the resident engagement AVE sees.
What inspired the creation of Resident Appreciation Week 10 years ago, and how has it evolved?
AVE pioneered Resident Appreciation Week a decade ago because we felt it was a great way to show our residents gratitude for choosing AVE as their home. We design a calendar of events every month for our residents, so we wanted to take it to the next level with a week of events and prizes to bring our residents together in a meaningful way. Spending time with our residents and creating community is the heart of what we do. Each year, we've become more creative in how we activate our amenities and design programming that brings our residents together. This milestone year with our “Be Our Guest” theme and partnership with Crate & Barrel and CB2 represents how far we've come—but our core mission remains the same: celebrating the people who call AVE home.
This year's theme, "Be Our Guest," emphasizes service and hospitality. How does that theme reflect AVE's brand philosophy and approach to resident experience?
“Be Our Guest” perfectly embodies how we think about resident experience every single day at AVE. We don't just operate properties—we create an inviting sense of home and community with a hospitality-first mindset. This theme reflects our commitment to exceptional service and making every resident feel welcomed, valued, and cared for. Whether it's through our dedicated service teams, our thoughtfully designed amenities, or events like Resident Appreciation Week, we approach everything from a place of genuine hospitality. We want residents to feel like honored guests in their own community, where every detail is considered with their comfort and experience in mind.
How do you design events that appeal to residents across different demographics and markets?
We take a very intentional approach to programming that balances broad appeal with local personality. This year's lineup is a great example—we have activities that span different interests and energy levels, from puppy pool plunges and ballroom dancing lessons to guided meditation in our courtyards and cozy movie nights. We also leverage the incredible amenities our communities are known for—our state-of-the-art fitness centers, resort-style pools, firepit lounges, and café spaces—to create diverse touchpoints throughout the week. Our local teams know their residents best, so while we provide an overarching theme and framework, each community personalizes their programming to reflect what resonates with their specific resident base.
This year marks a partnership with Crate & Barrel and CB2—two strong lifestyle brands. How did this collaboration come about?
We have been collaborating with Crate & Barrel Holdings for years on our apartment model designs and furnished apartment kitchenware. We were thrilled they wanted to sponsor our 10th anniversary celebration. The collaboration on this campaign came together naturally because of our shared values of delivering quality, as well as products that bring style, comfort, and purpose to living spaces. Crate & Barrel has been synonymous with quality, timeless style, and modern home design since 1962, which aligns beautifully with AVE's focus on elevated apartment living. The giveaway prizes—from Le Creuset Dutch ovens to Wusthof knives—are all about elevating how our residents host, entertain, and create memories in their homes.
What kind of engagement and feedback did you receive this year?
The engagement this year was phenomenal. We saw tremendous turnout across all our communities, with residents really embracing the “Be Our Guest” theme. The variety of programming—from the pumpkin movie nights to the ballroom dancing lessons—meant there was something for everyone, and we heard from so many residents who appreciated the opportunity to connect with their neighbors. The Crate & Barrel giveaways generated incredible excitement, and the feedback we received reinforced why this is our favorite week of the year. Residents consistently tell us how much they value these community-building moments, and that's exactly what drives us.
AVE emphasizes a hospitality-inspired approach to apartment living. How does that philosophy shape your amenities, events, and resident touchpoints year-round?
Our hospitality-inspired philosophy is woven into every aspect of the AVE experience, 365 days a year. It starts with our dedicated service teams at each community who are passionate about anticipating needs and creating seamless living experiences. Our amenities are designed like boutique hotel offerings: flex workspaces with gigabit Wi-Fi; resort-style pools; 24-hour state-of-the-art fitness centers with wellness classes; tranquility gardens; pet spas; and media theaters. But amenities are just the foundation—we activate them through weekly programming, from wellness classes to social events, because we know that great hospitality is about creating moments and connections. This approach has resonated deeply with residents, which is why we've been ranked the No. 1 property management company in the U.S. based on renter satisfaction for three consecutive years by Kingsley Associates. Resident Appreciation Week is our signature celebration of this philosophy, but it's really a reflection of how we operate every day.