The Phase 1 launch of the four-star hotel and meeting facility Connect@Changi (C@C) on February 18 has kicked off the Connect@Singapore scheme to reopen Singapore’s borders by providing a “bubble” environment for high-level executives to do business face-to-face once they touch down in the city and test negative for Covid-19.
C@C, which offers an integrated “test-stay-work-meet” experience for Singapore residents and international travellers, occupies the former Singapore Expo Hall 7 which was repurposed into a Covid-19 care facility. C@C opened with 150 hotel rooms and 40 meetings rooms which can accommodate between four and 22 participants.
There will be 660 guestrooms and 170 meeting venues when Phase 1 is completed by May 2021, and the facility can host 1,300 business travellers at any one time when it is fully completed later this year.
Billed as the first of its kind in the world, C@C room rates start at S$384 (US$290) inclusive of three meals daily, mini-bar, room amenities, Wi-Fi, airport transfers and Covid-19 tests required during the stay, according to its press release.
The pilot purpose-built accommodation to facilitate safe meetings between business travellers from across the globe is being developed by a local consortium led by Singapore-headquartered global investment company Temasek and includes The Ascott Limited, Changi Airport Group, Sheares Healthcare Group, SingEx-Sphere Holdings and Surbana Jurong.
Aloysius Arlando, chief executive, venues of SingEx-Sphere, told TTGmice, demand is expected to come from senior official meetings, MNC corporate meetings, business negotiations, document signing, legal consultations and wealth advisory service companies.
He said Singapore-based heads who have not met critical overseas staff face-to-face in a year, one-on-one or in a “board meeting environment” would be potential customers.
The consortium is bullish about demand from the US, Europe and Asia for the facility, which took 14 weeks to be repurposed again between Christmas and the Lunar New Year.
Arlando said: “Phase two details are now being worked out and all options are being looked at to determine what we can cater for as more people get vaccinated.”
C@C, he added, offered a “new advantage” to Singapore Expo to be the vehicle to restart the economy, revive the country’s aviation hub position and provide an “overnight” solution to hold high-value business meetings with border restrictions still in place.
Unlike air travel bubbles, green lanes and reciprocal travel corridors which broke down due to subsequent waves of Covid-19 infections and new virus variants, C@C was a permanent bubble and safe meeting venue, Arlando noted.
Advanced MedTech Holdings, a global medical technology leader, will be one of the first companies to conduct business activities at Connect@Changi.
Lee Weikang, senior director, business development, said the Singapore-headquartered firm plans to hold its first in-person global senior leadership meeting of up to 30 business executives at the facility – its first since the pandemic began early last year.
Additional services for C@C guests include tax and duty-free shopping, food delivery by Changi Eats and a personalised online shopping concierge service.
Bookings can be made at www.connectatchangi.sg/ or through the Connect@Changi mobile app.
Crystal, which manages a range of luxury cruise lines, now requires all guests to be fully inoculated with a Covid-19 vaccine at least 14 days prior to their cruise, with proof of vaccination to be provided before embarkation.
The updated health and safety protocols also specifies that guests must have received both doses of the vaccine if recommended by the manufacturer by that timeline.
The compulsory vaccine requirement augments the company’s comprehensive Crystal Clean+ 4.0 measures, which includes negative Covid-19 tests for both guests and crew, pre-boarding temperature checks at the terminal, a nimble mask policy, social distancing, enhanced cleaning and disinfection measures, reduced capacity and more.
“We are encouraged by the progress being made with the Covid-19 vaccines and what this means for our Crystal Family and the travel industry as a whole as we eagerly look forward to exploring the world again,” said Crystal’s interim president and CEO, Jack Anderson in a press statement.
“We know that peace of mind is the greatest luxury, and the vaccine requirement is simply the best way to ensure the safest possible Crystal Experience for all on board. This sentiment is underscored by conversations with our guests and travel partners and a recent of (study) that revealed that more than 80 per cent of respondents would cruise if a vaccine were required,” Anderson added.
As of February 18, the company has voluntarily paused operations through May 2021 for its River fleet, into June for its Ocean ships, through August 1 for Crystal Esprit and through August for Crystal Endeavor, allowing most travellers sufficient time to get fully vaccinated before sailing resumption.
Crystal’s crew are expected to be vaccinated as well when the company resumes sailing, subject to their age and/or the availability of vaccines in their home countries.
“As part of the company’s Crystal Clean+ 4.0 measures, crew members will be tested for Covid-19 prior to leaving their home location to join the ship and must receive a negative result. They also will take a test at embarkation; quarantine for seven days upon arrival; be tested again at the end of that seven-day period and must receive a negative result before beginning their duties,” Anderson noted. “When vaccines are widely available, it will be a requirement of employment for crew, which must be completed at least 14 days prior to service.”
Crystal will continue to evaluate and update its health and safety protocols according to the latest scientific data and expert guidance.