Brought to you by PARKROYAL on Beach Road
For business and leisure travellers keen to experience the unique cultures and authentic local culinary flavours of Singapore up close, they can stay at the refreshed PARKROYAL on Beach Road, strategically located in the culturally rich precinct of Kampong Gelam.
Beyond being the financial hub of South-east Asia, the city-state provides captivating sights and sounds at every turn, from iconic spots to hidden gems, for the curious to discover.
Immerse in local cultural & heritage
At check-in, hotel guests are greeted with a sense of kampong spirit and community as they enter the revamped social lobby of PARKROYAL on Beach Road.
Evoking rustic charm with natural textures and vibrant hues of woven materials, granite tiles and brushed gold accents, the remodelled space now serves multiple purposes – as a concierge, check-in area and working corner.
Guests are also encouraged to socialise with fellow travellers at the chic couches placed amid the lush selection of palms and tropical plants.
Within close proximity to the hotel, the eclectic mix of cultural, heritage and lifestyle offerings at Kampong Gelam awaits.
Over there, travellers can visit a religious mosque, enjoy coffee at a hipster cafe, and buy an exquisite Persian rug from a speciality store, all in the same locale.
Venturing into the back alleys of Haji Lane and Arab Street, retail therapy comes in the form of quirky boutiques, offering independent Asian fashion labels, delightful homewares and one-of-a-kind furniture.
Business travellers will be heartened to know two of Singapore’s state-of-the-art convention venues, Sands Expo & Convention Centre and Suntec Singapore Convention & Exhibition Centre, are also nearby for easy access and convenience.
Neighbouring horticulture attraction, Gardens by the Bay, and performing arts centre, Esplanade – Theatres by the Bay, provide more refreshing options for nature lovers and culture vultures respectively.
Savour authentic flavours
Hotel guests can explore Singapore’s foodscape with the best of local delicacies served at the hotel’s delectable mix of F&B options.
The all-day halal-certified kitchen, Ginger, helmed by executive chef Vincent Aw, celebrates the rich flavours and heritage of the city-state’s culinary fare from chilli crabs to prawn mee.
Designed by Singapore-based Australian designer, Emma Maxwell, the award-winning stunning interiors are a reminder of Singapore’s bountiful flora and fauna – the ginger flower, Simpoh Lak, and Freycinetia Javanica – are artfully woven into the wallpaper and soft furnishings.
The hotel also houses Singapore’s pioneering Sichuan restaurant, Si Chuan Dou Hua Restaurant, famed for its exquisite Sichuan and Cantonese cuisine. The connecting Tian Fu Tea Room, which carries a selection of over 30 types of premium Chinese teas, provides the ideal prelude or end note to a hearty meal.
The 1920s-inspired cocktail bar, Club 5, introduces an interesting variety of concoctions, drawing inspiration from the unique flavours and spices of South-east Asia.
Thoughtful hotel amenities
The property’s 346 refreshed rooms are elegantly furnished with warm, soothing tones, with the corridor walls on the Club floors, decorated with artwork by local artists, with creative pieces also displayed in the PARKROYAL Club Deluxe and PARKROYAL Club Premier Rooms.
Well suited to host corporate events and weddings alike, the hotel also boasts seven stylish meeting and events spaces, including two pillarless ballrooms with high ceilings – the Sky Ballroom and the Grand Ballroom.
Level 4 is home to the hotel’s Wellness Floor where the award-winning St. Gregory spa, gymnasium and fitness studio, as well as the property’s half-Olympic-sized outdoor swimming pool and Poolside Café and Bar.
Kung Teong Wah, general manager, said: “Following a tasteful refresh, PARKROYAL on Beach Road is ready to welcome travellers from around the world to discover the property and its vibrant surroundings. We hope that all our guests, whether here for business or pleasure, will connect with their inner explorer during their time with us.”
Find out why PARKROYAL on Beach Road appeals to both leisure and business travellers alike here.
Cochrane joins Minor Hotels from Accor Hotels where he served as senior vice president of talent & culture – Turkey, India, Middle East & Africa.
Hong Kong’s tourism industry has clawed back 49 per cent of pre-pandemic traffic for the March 2023 period, with daily arrivals hitting 82,0000 for the same month.
This compares with a weaker 32 per cent of pre-pandemic traffic and just 16,000 daily arrivals in February 2023.
Speaking at Hong Kong Tourism Board’s (HKTB) annual Tourism Overview on March 30, executive director Dane Cheng said a major rebound would happen in 2H2023, allowing the destination to meet its arrival target of 25.8 million by the end of the year.
The event, themed, Striding Forward in a Steady Recovery, reflects HKTB’s confidence.
Cheng said: “Our estimated 26 million arrivals would equate to 40 per cent of pre-pandemic traffic. I think we may do better, but there are a lot of factors at play.”
He shared HKTB’s four strategic focuses for recovery: driving strong recovery across all travel-related sectors; strengthening Hong Kong as an event capital; developing the Greater Bay Area for tourism and multi-destination tourism; and maintaining close partnership with the trade and enhancing the service quality.
Citing an example for the fourth focus, Cheng said training is being provided to more than 1,500 tour escorts and guides, to arm them with better cultural and heritage knowledge.
More details on source market performance were provided during the market update sessions. Short-haul markets in South-east Asia has returned to 47 per cent of pre-pandemic numbers, with Thailand leading the way, followed by Singapore and the Philippines.
HKTB will conduct travel trade missions to Kuala Lumpur and Manila this May, followed by Jakarta and Bangkok in July, to deepen engagements and secure more business conversions.
The China market is expected to recover gradually for a start. The market has returned to 51 per cent of pre-pandemic traffic in March, with 64,000 visitors per day. Arrivals from Guangdong province dominate, as air access from other parts of China to Hong Kong remains limited. At press time, only 40 per cent air of pre-pandemic air capacity is back, with connections between Hong Kong and 26 Chinese cities. Before, Hong Kong had flights to 43 Chinese cities.
HKTB noted strong pent-up demand among Chinese travellers, especially those aged 20 to 39. It aims to convert same-day travellers to overnight guests via immersive travel experiences offered by new and improved attractions and infrastructures.
While HKTB chairman Pang Yiu-kai is confident in Hong Kong’s tourism recovery, he acknowledged that the journey would be progressive.
“We believed that the ramp-up period is typical in other destinations, and so are the issues faced by our travel trade. It would take time (for transportation to resume) due to lack of labour.”