While waiting for border restrictions to ease, hotels in Singapore are putting a creative spin on room packages to attract staycationers seeking more than a change of scenery.
From fitness classes that cater to active holidaymakers to eco-centric stays big on sustainability, local hotels have something for every kind of staycationer.
Villa Samadhi Singapore launched in May the Green Fingers Experience staycation package, where eco-warrior guests can enjoy a first-hand gardening experience by planting a baby fruit tree within the grounds of the villa, and naming the tree.
“The initiative follows our ethos of conservation and it’s aimed at families to educate parents and children on the importance of preserving the environment,” said June Rashid, group director revenue & strategy at Samadhi Retreats.
“Our approach is steeped in the belief that we can create a sustained value for our guests and our communities, while creating a positive impact and giving back to the environment that we live in.”
Local families make up the majority of the 35 bookings to date, with the rest being expat couples, Rashid said, adding that bookings took a hit during Singapore’s Phase 2 Heightened Alert restrictions.
She added that it’s the first time the hotel has launched a package like this as the management wanted to do something “different and unique”, and launching a green staycation package seemed natural and fitting as the property is nestled in the greenery of Labrador Nature Reserve.
Meanwhile, local pet owners looking for an island escape with their fur-kid has the choice of a luxury option in Capella Singapore. For S$1,450 (US$1,080) per night, pet owners can treat their fur babies to the ultimate pampering experience with the hotel’s Pet Spa-cation package that includes a spa session for feline and canine pals at upscale pet grooming salon Petpawroni.
The package also comes with a welcome basket containing premium treats and toys from Addiction Pet Foods, alongside amenities such as a pet bed and drinking water.
The hotel decided to launch the Pet Spa-cation package as it “saw overwhelming interest in (its) pet-related packages, with up to 30 per cent in products mix attributed to locals who want their pets to join them for staycations”, said Fernando Gibaja, general manager. Since its July launch, the hotel receives on average four to five bookings per month for its Pet Spa-cation package, favoured by couples and families.
According to Gibaja, the pet package has encouraged longer stays at the property. “On average, our guests would stay for a minimum of two nights for ample time to enjoy their island getaway and spa session for their fur-kid,” he said.
When it comes to capturing staycation demand, Millennium Hotels and Resorts leaves no stone unturned, with a diverse collection of curated offerings at its M Social Singapore property.
Guests can learn how to be mixologists with the Mix & Stay package or create their own aromas with the Bottled Up Happiness deal. The Art Jamming offer brings out the artistic side of guests with an art jamming class at MySpace, the hotel’s event space overlooking the Singapore River.
In July, the hotel soft launched the Spin-cation package, the first-of-its-kind in Singapore, where fitness enthusiasts can partake in an intense, full-body cardio workout on a bike. Despite “good interest” in the spin session, it has since been put on hold due to tightened measures around indoor sports and exercise activities, said Paul Er, vice president (sales, Asia).
Since the launch of these unique staycation options, M Social Singapore has seen an approximately 20 per cent increase in bookings, which has also helped generated spend at the hotel’s F&B outlet Beast & Butterflies, according to Er.
“We have also received more long-stay enquiries coming from returning foreign students pursuing their studies and corporate guests working on projects in Singapore,” he added.
Similarly, Fairmont Singapore has released different packages targeting diverse segments of staycationers. For instance, mothers looking for a respite can recharge with an aromatherapy massage at the Willow Stream Spa and afternoon tea at Anti:dote when they book the Mumcation package.
“When staycations opened up again in Phase 2 (in July 2020), we expected competition will be stiff. We knew we had to create a compelling difference and to sell experiences rather than just bed and breakfast,” shared Vivian Tung, spokesperson for Fairmont Singapore.
Starting with its Mumcation package launched last September, the hotel stepped up “to create product differentiation through strategic segmentation and targeted profiling by customer groups”, said Tung.
She added that the Mumcation package “fast became a competitive edge for us (to differentiate ourselves) from run-of-the-mill hotel staycations that were already flooding our small domestic market” and “continues to be one of our best-selling packages to date”.
Since then, Fairmont Singapore has rolled out other tailored packages such as Spa-cation, Glamp-cation, Paw-cation, Miffy Staycation, and Sustainable Staycation which comes with eco-friendly bathroom amenities and a guided tour of the hotel’s rooftop Aquaponics Farm.
The newest addition to the hotel’s staycation offers is the Mancation, where men and their mates can bond over a bespoke whisky tasting session courtesy of Glenmorangie and Ardbeg at Anti:dote, a shave or haircut at Truefitt & Hill, and a four-course dinner with craft beer pairings at SKAI.
