From new skybridges and plush bars, to recycled art displays and a mother-of-pearl ceiling that automatically dims, the recent enhancements at some newly-renovated hotels are often stylish and green.
These hospitality trends reflect the rise of responsible tourism and the wish for wellness that the pandemic has accentuated.
At recently revamped hotels such as Capella Singapore and a trio of Pan Pacific Hotels Group properties, the new looks as well as novel experiences planned by the hotels entice staycationers. And when international tourists return, hoteliers hope the redesigned properties will be a fresh encounter for them.
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With more than 90 per cent of Singapore’s hotel revenue generated by international tourism, the industry has had to look long-term. But many have taken this opportunity to upgrade and create new experiences for the guests they do have. These include a pet “spa-cation” at Capella Singapore and the world’s first augmented-reality hotel art tour at the Ritz-Carlton.
Hotels that recently completed renovations – or are now embarking on facelifts – include Goodwood Park Hotel, Crockfords Tower, Travelodge Harbourfront, Andaz, Amara Singapore and Oasia Resort Sentosa (the former Le Meridien Sentosa).
But if you’re looking to plan a staycation now, here are seven hotels that have completed their renovations and are offering guests a new experience. Pack your bags!
What’s new: Suites and villas’ modern look for play and work
Capella Singapore entwines a pair of colonial bungalows with a new curvilinear annexe on Sentosa. The luxury resort was designed 12 years ago by Pritzker Prize-winning architect Norman Foster to reflect Singapore’s journey from British outpost to world-class tropical city.
A year-long refurbishment of its suites and villas by Hong Kong interior designer Andre Fu, unveiled last month, respects that dialogue of old and new.
Instead of an overhaul, he has complemented the original interiors by the late Jaya Ibrahim, whose design for Capella was based on pared-down luxury and balanced symmetry.
“I have tried to respect that original intent, while infusing an evolved level of luxury that the modern hotel guest has come to expect,” says Fu.
The modern enhancements are seen in the softer silhouettes and a stylish palette of sand, sage and mineral grey. Green is also prominent. The tranquil hues bring the outdoors in – the 112-room property is surrounded by rainforest.
In the updated spaces, a curvaceous, low-slung sofa is made for lounging and laptop work, while a two-tiered lounge table performs double duty as an informal dining spot and desk. Each new space has a relaxed residential feel, but is also multifunctional enough for the new leisure traveller.
What’s new: Revamped East Wing with bar, lounge and library-reception
The East Wing was relaunched in late April after a nine-month renovation, together with the refreshed Commonwealth cluster of eight meeting spaces. The wing now showcases a new Republic bar and lounge inspired by sumptuous homes. Alongside it, the new reception zone for guests has the look of a grand residential library with books for browsing.
Beyond physical changes, the Republic dining concept conveys stories of Singapore and the experiences of the 1960s. In contrast to Colony in the adjacent West Wing, which serves heritage cuisines and alludes to Singapore’s colonial past, Republic represents the next milestone, when Singapore became a nation in 1965.
In that light, the Republic’s global cocktail menu includes a Singapore section of drinks inspired by the Singapore Girl, the Merlion and home-grown band The Quests. Also within the bar are six standalone “Home Bars”, detailed with handcrafted red Venetian glass, where bartenders play host. This mirrors the opulent home parties of the 1960s.
The hotel celebrates its 25th anniversary this year, so the renewal and revelry are well timed.
What’s new: Contemporary rooms with vintage elements
The heritage hotel is constantly upgraded to stay ageless. About a third of its 233 rooms and suites were refurbished in the latest round which wrapped up in February, after being delayed by the pandemic.
Built in 1900 as the Teutonia Club for German expatriates, the tower of the hotel was gazetted as a national monument in 1989.
Keeping in mind this storied past, architect Ernesto Bedmar has preserved the hotel’s timeless appeal while delivering a fresh, contemporary aesthetic in the rooms. The decor focuses on clean lines and a light, earthy colour palette for a soothing ambience. The white quartz and white leather in the furnishings are stylish. Natural wood and fabrics, including handwoven jute rugs, soften the look of each room.
Herringbone parquet floors are a classic match for the high ceilings. Nostalgic black and white photographs of local scenes from yesteryear – the works of Singapore-based French multidisciplinary artist Gilles Massot – adorn the walls.
Guests have the option of using ceiling fans for natural ventilation. These are existing fans with a classic look, though many were touched up during the redesign.
To go greener still, the rooms of the sanctuary fringing Orchard Road are now lit by energy-saving LED options.
What’s new: A stylish rebrand
KeSa House, formed from 10 restored shophouses painted a vivid turquoise, reopened in March after a hiatus. The Chinatown hotel – along with Wanderlust in Little India – is now under a new brand, The Unlimited Collection by Oakwood.
The pandemic is turning out to be an opportune moment for renewal. With Oakwood focusing on branding to differentiate the hotels and carried out some refurbishments, he adds.
KeSa House’s green values are evident. The hotel key card is encased in a see-eat-do area guide that is artfully folded like a tiny map that doubles as a card case.
Guests use a QR code to access services in the hotel, including check-in and check-out payments and can even order food to their rooms from next-door Olivia Restaurant and Lounge with a QR code.
Refillable bottles are in every room. Guests go to a shared kitchenette where Nordaq filters dispense still or sparkling water.
Designed by the iThink Consulting Group, the 60 contemporary rooms have a calming colour palette of white oak, emerald hues and anthracite grey. But each space has a unique layout, some with skylights.
Mr Roy Liang, Oakwood’s regional general manager for Singapore, Malaysia and Vietnam, says: “The Unlimited Collection by Oakwood is designed for the independent traveller who seeks to celebrate life through discovering new experiences, one who is always looking for new stories on each journey.”
What’s new: Rooms and a revamped spa
Four Seasons Hotel Singapore debuted its Hypoallergenic Room Collection in January. Besides anti-allergy pillows and bedding, hardwood flooring and roller blinds also minimise dust and mould.
Taking a leaf from the nearby Singapore Botanic Gardens, the contemporary interiors of the two rooms are in cool greens and blues.
More rooms may be converted if global travel returns to near pre-pandemic levels, says Mr Peter Draminsky, regional vice-president and general manager of the hotel. Meanwhile, the Four Seasons Spa is being beautified this month.
What’s new: New restaurants and a total transformation
Refurbishments are not only about painting rooms a new colour. Hotel spaces are also being reconfigured for safe distancing while movable furniture allows easier disinfection, for instance.
Also, hotels make sustainability sexy. This is happening at the Pan Pacific Hotels Group’s Parkroyal collection, where The Parkroyal on Beach Road revealed a new lobby late last year, along with the refurbished Ginger restaurant and Club 5 bar, where menus are influenced by the Kampong Glam enclave. The hotel’s 100 sustainable artworks include eco-designer Didier Ng’s Teatime Teethtime Tradetime collection that upcycles a worn-out tingkat enveloped in old bus tickets.
Next, the Parkroyal Collection Marina Bay reopened in December after a $45 million transformation that highlights a fantastical four- level indoor forest and urban garden. New amenities have continued to be rolled out, including a fancy club lounge and spin-bike studio in the last couple of months.
Hygiene and wellness have become main concerns of guests in these pandemic times, and as such, measures range from anti-viral walls to rooftop farms supplying herbs, fruit and edible flowers to the in-house restaurants, bars and spas, like at Parkroyal Collection Marina Bay.
What’s new: Environmentally-friendly upgrades
At the Pan Pacific Orchard, plans are being made to emerge in 2022 as a zero-waste tropical skyrise. The hotel has already completed renovations that show off sky gardens, spacious suites and aqua fitness equipment in April.
The hotel will also be fitted with a rainwater harvesting system and a compactor that turns food waste into compost to fertilise its sky gardens.
Ms Cinn Tan, the group’s chief sales and marketing officer, says “Looking to the long term, when international travellers return, we want to be ready to welcome the new generation of travellers with their modern lifestyles – which we foresee will include a greater appreciation of nature and a focus on sustainability.”
Text: Lee Siew Hua/The Straits Times with additional reporting by Karen Fong