Six Senses Hotels Resorts Spas enters Singapore
Industry players assert that classic
luxury players remain bastions in
hospitality and, when compared to
younger contenders, their position
shines even brighter. Notably,
HotelsCombined registered tripling
demand for traditional luxury hotels in
Singapore in 2017.
Nico Heath, co-founder and director
of Lightfoot Travel, remarked that the
old-school, grand dame hotels of the city
still hold a place in the hearts of even
modern travellers, and that “there is
certainly still place for the older brand
of luxury (as) luxury means something
different to everyone”.
One reason for this is that they
have perfected the art of “anticipating
and exceeding guest expectations in a
consistent manner”, opined Mark Wong,
vice president Asia-Pacific, Small Luxury
Hotels of the World. They are also
investing more into their hardware and
software, including having top-of-the-
line products and fittings, new in-room
amenities and F&B offerings, observed
Wong.
The veterans are not resting on their
laurels, but are following their younger
competitors closely.
The Fullerton Hotel, which sits
in a historic Palladian building, for
example, has equipped its guestrooms
with Samsung tablets housing the
Tapendium Digital Concierge Solution,
on which guests can browse and
request the hotel’s in-house services,
order room service, book hotel
restaurant tables and spa treatments,
and research Singapore’s tourist
attractions and events.
While some hotels are keeping up
with gadgets and gizmos, others have
undertaken complete refurbishments.
Conrad Centennial Singapore has
completed renovation works on 487
guestrooms and 24 Centennial Suites,
which now marry contemporary design
with Asian touches, topped with smart
functions including a motion sensor
for in-room lighting and one-touch
automatic drapes.
The hotel has also beefed up its Hilton
Honors app to feature Digital Key guest
services, and enhanced its back-end
processes using robotics.
But the pièce de résistance of the
‘new’ Conrad that reflects a desire to
innovate is its new junior ballroom, The
Pavillion, which is glass-enclosed to
enable guests enjoy pool views amidst
the city. Spanning 234m 2 , it is equipped
with the best-in-class AV systems,
including a videowall, and seats 140
guests banquet-style, ideal for small
elegant weddings, receptions or intimate
events.
“We are committed to providing
our guests with the finest service and
facilities, and to do that we needed to
evolve…It was befitting to undergo
a major redesign to stay relevant and
competitive,” said Heinrich Grafe,
general manager, Conrad Centennial
Singapore.
Meanwhile, the iconic Raffles Hotel
Singapore is undergoing a highly
Raffles Hotel Singapore all set to re-open soon after renovations
TTG Asia luxury | May 2018 23