ACCOR has clinched a deal for what’s likely to be a second Sofitel in Singapore and the property in question is the Sentosa Resort & Spa, which was snapped by the Royal Brothers Holdings in August last year.
Royal Brothers also owns the 134-room Sofitel So Singapore, which is opening in May. It paid a premium for this landmark building along Robinson Road, which is the former Ogilvy Centre. It is understood to have forked out easily above S$200 million (US$158.6 million) for the 215-room Sentosa Resort & Spa, an established, well-designed hotel whose origins could be traced back to Amanresorts’ Adrian Zecha and company, and which later became The Beaufort Singapore.
Sources said it is likely that the Sentosa resort property will be branded as a Sofitel, not a So. An official announcement will be made on April 16.
News of Accor’s new property on Sentosa Island was broken by TTG Asia at this year’s ITB Berlin. Sofitel So Singapore will work hand-in-hand with its new sister hotel and direct MICE traffic there, given its existing MICE facilities (TTG Asia e-Daily, March 18, 2014).
