S'pore hotels see occupancy rate of over 80% in Sept despite challenges

Republic remains region's top choice for meetings amid strong S$, high costs

- Alyssa Woo

Even as tourist arrivals to Singapore are picking up, the hospitality sector faces headwinds, such as rising land costs and a strong Singapore dollar.

High costs for limited land space and construction works will eventually lead to smaller hotel rooms, similar to those already found in Hong Kong and Japan.

That makes space efficiency a major focus for hospitality companies in the Singapore market, said Mr Andrew Langdon, chief development officer for Asia at Accor.

"Absolutely, it has to. Land prices keep going up, and construction costs keep going up. Room sizes are getting compressed, so too are the public space and the back of the house," he said.

"But people don't mind staying in a small room as long as the quality and design is there. (Previously) we would only see that trend usually in Tokyo and Hong Kong, and now we're seeing that in Singapore."

Room sizes for newer hotels are indeed smaller than those in hotels that opened a few decades ago.

Regular guest rooms at Four Seasons Hotel in Orchard, which opened in 1994, range from 49 sq m to 58 sq m and suites from 155 sq m to 199 sq m. At Pullman Singapore Orchard, which opened in 2022, regular rooms are between 26 sq m and 38 sq m, while suites range from 48 sq m to 116 sq m in size.

On Nov 21, Accor's flagship premium hotel brand, Pullman Hotels and Resorts, announced its Transforming Room, a concept hotel room located in Pullman Singapore Orchard.

Based on research into consumer behaviour and business traveller needs, this one-off room has modular interiors and features for guests to customise via an app: The bed can be moved to create space for workouts, dining or work, and the lighting and room scents can be adjusted. A wall-sized screen can be used for entertainment or work presentations.