Qantas has officially opened its newest First Lounge, a luxury space spread over 1,000 sqm at Singapore’s Changi Airport.
The new First Lounge will operate in tandem alongside the airline’s existing International Business Lounge, providing capacity for 240 customers and a bespoke offering for Qantas’ First Class passengers and top tier frequent flyers.
The new build was designed by Australian designer David Caon in collaboration with Kelvin Ho of architecture and design firm Akin Atelie and features a number of Singaporean influences across the look and feel of the lounge as well as the food and beverage offering.
Qantas Group CEO Alan Joyce said the opening of the new lounge is a reflection of the airline’s extensive premium investment in the region.
“Since our A380 flights have returned to Singapore, we’ve seen an increase in demand for premium travel which has also translated to an increase in the number of travellers enjoying our lounge hospitality.
“This is our fourth Qantas First Lounge, and each time we build an entire new lounge facility from scratch, we speak to our frequent flyers to get a better understanding of how customers like to spend their time in the lounge and tailor it accordingly. Our customers told us their key priorities when travelling through or from Singapore is space to relax and do some last-minute work, a quick shower, and a meal before departure so they can maximise their sleep onboard.”
An open kitchen will serve up a Rockpool a la carte seasonal menu designed with Singapore’s vibrant dining culture in mind.
The lounge also features a cocktail bar with lounge seating, serving French champagne, seasonal spritzes, unique cocktails inspired by Singapore, like a Calamansi Mojito – made from the local Calamansi fruit, Singaporean and Australian beer – and a variety of Australian wine. View Singapore First Lounge Menu here.
Non-alcoholic healthy beverages such as kefir and kombucha, barley water and a Rockpool ‘House Lemonade’ are available, along with all day barista service with Vittoria coffee and a selection of savoury bar snacks and fruit.
Wellness continues to be a major inspiration and the new Qantas First Lounge brings the outside in. Live greenery features throughout the lounge to soften the space and bolster the atmosphere, while the use of natural materials and colour palettes is designed to help relax customers.
A unique faux ‘skylight’ in the shower suites and lounge area will replicate natural daylight and help adjust the body clock as customers transition through multiple time zones.
Business travellers have the choice to work in an open, communal setting or individual lounge chairs with high dividers. USB and charging ports are located throughout the lounge, with wireless printing, Wi-Fi and TV screens for customers to stay charged and connected.
The new premium space is Qantas’ fourth First Lounge across its global network, joining Sydney, Melbourne, and Los Angeles. The opening is part of the multi-million-dollar investment for customers on its Singapore services and complements the expanded Qantas International Business lounge at Changi, which combined now offers seating for more than 800 customers.
Katrina Group Ltd has launched their first affordable luxury line of co-living hotels in Singapore. Launched through their hospitality arm ST Hospitality Group, ST Signature Chinatown co-living hotel will be closely followed by a wide roll-out in Singapore and the APAC region.
This marks Katrina Group Ltd’s first major expansion after the acquisition of Straits Organization Pte. Ltd. With the business travel market expected to grow to US$1.7 trillion by 2023 from about US$1.3 trillion in 2017, and Asia-Pacific being the largest business travel market (42%) in the world1, this new affordable luxury line of co-living hotels puts the Group at the forefront of a growing industry.
ST Signature challenges conventions and has invented a new class of experience. The brand’s philosophy ofliving large goes beyond one's typical definition of decadence. While the interiors and fittings are luxurious and of high quality and the restrooms carry toiletries from The White Company UK, the brand is guided by the philosophy of sustainable indulgence, taking their guests beyond aesthetic luxury to appreciate the legacy of the Singapore story, illustrated by award winning photographer, Edwin Koo.
The stories told by his photography series Singapura Seasons, exemplify the attitude behind the brand – it is all about building and preserving a legacy that will stand the test of time.
The property has been designed to maximise on space, ensuring that no square-inch is wasted. The intelligentlydesigned “S-shape” of the space saving interlocking cabin design, provides pockets of space to facilitate co-working and networking and helps cut down on the property’s carbon footprint.
By circumventing a traditional room layout, the architects of ST Signature have created an area that is spacious enough to be comfortable and small enough to reduce their carbon footprint. This intelligent design extends to the interactive elements of all their services, including the use of a multitasking and versatile chat platform to perform almost an entire line of services that are typically provided by a concierge.
ST Signature Chinatown has a total of 26 Cabin S (single cabins), 11 Cabin M (double cabins) and 3 Cabin L (triple cabins).
ST Signature has also incorporated a concept kitchen called Cook Lab at their premises. This social kitchen space is powered by Miele kitchen appliances and will enable guests to express their culinary prowess or simply share a meal together, should they wish to do so. The Cove, Lawn and Patio are also spaces for mingling. The entire space is designed around groups of people coming together as well as private areas, for when you just want some quiet me-time.
On top of the comfort and indulgence one can expect in the private cabins, there is also a unique blend of custom-built technology solutions and communal spaces within the hotel to facilitate the choice of being social when preferred. The clever design enables guests to be “alone, together” under one roof. Guests can interactwith others both online, using their web-app, or offline, in the comfort and convenience of their communal areas.
ST Signature Chinatown is the first co-living hotel concept with smart Chat-InTM technology. Guests checking into the hotel will be amongst the first here in Singapore, to experience this unique hospitality check-in solution that was innovated by ST Signature. This unique self check-in technology enables guests to check in and check out of the hotel quickly and efficiently.
The plus point is that guests can check in 24 hours before arrival, and then go straight to their room for the speediest check-in experience. With a simple click of a button, guests will be informed of their room number and access pin. This technology makes checking out of the hotel just as simple, taking out the stress and waiting time normally associated with hotel check-ins and check-outs.
This unique chat platform enables online communication amongst the guests staying at the property. Similar to the common group chat feature, guests can share their travel findings and organise outings with other guests through the chat platform without divulging personal information. They can also browse through and purchase e-tickets to various tourist attractions without having to physically queue at the ticketing booth.
ST Signature also offers a chat-based concierge to assist the Community Hosts to provide a higher level of service that is more personalised and attentive, ensuring the guests’ needs are taken care of from the time they check-in until they leave.
Raffles Singapore is delighted to officially announce their highly anticipated reopening, heralding an exciting new chapter in the iconic property's rich history and heritage. A flagship property within Accor, the world’s leading augmented hospitality group, Raffles Singapore is now welcoming guests and visitors, following the iconic hotel’s careful and sensitive three-phased restoration, which began in February 2017.
“There are few hotels in the world whose names have become virtually synonymous with the cities in which they are located – and none more so than the Raffles Hotel in Singapore. The newly restored Raffles will provide an experience like no other,” said Christian Westbeld, General Manager, Raffles Singapore. “It is our wish and desire that our guests will continue to create treasured memories at the hotel, while rediscovering what makes it so special – the distinctive architecture, heritage and legendary service.”
The meticulous restoration led by acclaimed interior designer Alexandra Champalimaud was also supported by Aedas, a leading global architecture and design firm. Together, the designers created a refreshed social haven that delivers a compelling mix of culture, beauty and gentility. Exquisite new suite categories, vibrant lifestyle experiences and exclusive dining concepts are designed for international visitors and Singaporeans to meet, stay, shop, dine and celebrate.
Discerning travellers can expect new levels of unrivalled comfort and inimitable service with enhanced suite experience, brought to life by the fabled Raffles Butlers, while enjoying the new and reimagined spaces at Raffles Singapore.
The revitalized Raffles Singapore offers luxurious all-suite accommodations, across nine distinct suite categories: State Room Suites, Courtyard Suites, Palm Court Suites, Personality Suites, Residence Suites, Promenade Suites, Studio Suites, Grand Hotel Suites and Presidential Suites. Residence, Promenade and Studio suites, are the three latest additions to the hotel’s existing line-up. The total suite count increases from 103 suites to 115 suites.
The Raffles Arcade has been newly outfitted with a charming Raffles Boutique and various bespoke retail brands. Guests and locals will also delight in exploring the worldly restaurants and bars at Raffles Singapore, including restaurant collaborations with Chef Anne-Sophie Pic, of the three-Michelin star Maison Pic in Valence, France; venerable French Master Chef Alain Ducasse; and Chef Jereme Leung, known for his innovative Chinese cooking. At the refreshed Long Bar, travellers will continue to enjoy the hotel’s most famous cocktail, the original Singapore Sling, along with the timeless tradition of tossing peanut shells on the floor.
First opened in 1887, and declared a National Monument a century later by the Singapore Government in 1987, Raffles Singapore has through the years, gained both local and international recognition as an oasis for the well-travelled. It is a national treasure among Singaporeans who deeply value its historical significance and unique heritage. The last restoration was conducted from 1989 to 1991 where the hotel closed for two and a half years.
Singapore’s Keong Saik neighbourhood will have a new social heartbeat when the new 45-room Hotel Soloha boutique hotel is unveiled in mid-August 2019.
Cruising along Keong Saik Road and Teck Lim Road, which exude the charming vibe of yesteryear, one is immediately transported to a magical space as one traverses the blue panel doors of Hotel Soloha. These Dokodemo Doors of Fantasy reveal a world urban jungle chic and tropical modernism splashed in amazing technicolour. Witty and bold interiors, artisanal furnishings, underscored by a cool vibe, Hotel Soloha’s burst of colour is a stark contrast to the earthy tones that define the neighbourhood.
Hotel Soloha aims to create a destination hotel that not only fits into Keong Saik’s charming self but is also a modern interpretation of a Singapore that is bold, stylish and cultured. You won’t find a single metal grille gate or repurposed cinema seat here. Instead, our team, exposed to the ways of cosmopolitan Singapore through the years, has internalised Singapore’s culture; that has informed the way they conceptualise and design the property’s interiors and spaces. The property will also stock a curated selection of artisanal products that are perfect as souvenirs and fit well in cabin baggage. Hotel Soloha is the perfect start to experience what Keong Saik and Singapore have to offer.
Keong Saik, one of Singapore’s heritage and cultural epicenters, retains the beauty of yesteryear Singapore with its rows of shophouses across a network of roads. Today, it is home to a good number of bars, restaurants and shops, making it a destination that is layered with culture, gastronomy, energy and personality. Culturemaker and tastemaker Hotel Soloha’s entry to the area contributes to that spirit of Keong Saik and strengthens it – it is a breath of fresh air and the neighbourhood’s new social heartbeat.
Hotel Soloha is designed by interior design firm Avalon Collective and architect ASOLIDPLAN. The artworks featured in the hotel lobby, lift-shaft and rooms are done by local artists, Ethrisha Liaw and Danielle Tay.
In a joint announcement, Accor Group and Royal Group have shared that the all-villa Raffles Sentosa Resort & Spa will be built on Sentosa Island and is set to open in 2022.
Designed by international design firm Yabu Pushelberg, Raffles Sentosa Resort & Spa's villas will range from 260 sq m for the one-bedroom villas to 450 sq m for the four-bedroom villa, all with their own private pool and terrace area.
The new hotel will see a new interpretation of the iconic Raffles brand, said Mr Peter Wilding, managing director of Royal Group.
Part of dnata and owned by the Emirates Group, Marhaba Lounge at Changi Airport Terminal 3 is available to all ticketed passengers in any class and on any airline for a small fee.
The 24-hour Marhaba Lounge can accommodate more than 130 passengers.
Established in 1991, the Marhaba brand is part of the Dubai National Air Transport Association (dnata), a major air services provider. It offers airport meet and greet services in Dubai and now operates 12 departure airport lounges in various airports around the world.
Whether you choose to relax in their dnata Lounge at Terminal 1 or to chill out in the brand new Marhaba Lounge in Terminal 3, you’ll find a quiet space to unwind before your flight.
Catch up on work using their business services, or simply enjoy a meal and a drink from their buffet and full service bar.
Join them in the lounge before you fly from Changi Airport to enjoy:
Open 24 hours daily
Free Wi-Fi
Large selection of international cuisine, including local favourites
Following a multimillion-dollar asset enhancement programme spanning nine months across key facilities within the hotel, Orchard Hotel has unveiled an enhanced 360° guest experience with reimagined dining, events and lodging offerings. Upgraded areas include the hotel’s 260 Grand Deluxe Rooms, Grand Ballroom, Conference Centre, Lobby, The Orchard Cafe and Bar Intermezzo.
The storied history of Orchard Hotel traces back to late 1950s, where it began as a humble four-storey, 34-room hotel, complete with The Golden Venus – home to popular tea dances and emerging musicians of the 1960s. Redeveloped in the 1970s to cater to the tourist boom, the old building was eventually demolished in 1978, and the first inkling of the 656-key, twin-tower Orchard Hotel Singapore as it exists today took its place.
A brand new arrival experience welcomes guests through an enlivened lobby interior. The hotel's iconic clock tower is now brought to the modern age with a contemporary chandelier-inspired art sculpture, flanked by two upgraded dining and drinking destinations. The Orchard Cafe renews its legacy as a local dining icon with a vibrant new style and Signature Class buffet showcasing heritage-inspired creations and chef-curated classics. Bar Intermezzo inherits an air of sophistication with new, inviting interiors and contemporary botanical-influenced cocktails that toast to Orchard Road’s past. Overlooking the lobby from the second floor is Cantonese fine dining stalwart Hua Ting Restaurant, which was also given its own extensive makeover in 2018.
New and improved event solutions for every occasion come on the back of 11 refurbished conference and function rooms and spaces – now each more versatile than ever. A key highlight includes one of Singapore’s largest pillar-free grand ballrooms—occupying over 10,000 square feet and six metres high—refitted with a luxurious fresh new look, two floor-to-ceiling LED walls (a first in Singapore), statement lighting, state-of-the-art audio-visual capabilities, an impressive foyer lined with floating Orchid-inspired chandeliers, and exclusive spaces carved out for various uses. The conference centre has also been redesigned with five intimate meeting rooms and upgraded meeting facilities. Event planners will now have the luxury of choice with creative catering options from the hotel’s four award- winning culinary concepts—Hua Ting Restaurant, The Orchard Cafe, Mon Bijou and Bar Intermezzo—as well as a Halal-certified kitchen, ensuring that all tastes and diets are catered for.
260 Grand Deluxe guest rooms in the hotel’s Orchard Wing have also been given a facelift. Each well-appointed room has been elegantly designed to provide maximum comfort and the best of living styles at every turn. With today's sophisticated traveller at heart, the newly refurbished rooms are now equipped with upgraded amenities including Handy smartphone that offers unlimited mobile data to make local and select international calls; six USB ports and both wired and wireless high-speed internet to ensure 24/7 connectivity; and a Smart TV loaded with a variety of channels to keep them plugged into current affairs. Unwind after a long day of shopping along the famed Orchard Road in the modern comforts of the new Grand Deluxe room – put on a bath in the luxurious Japanese soaking tub (select room configurations), or call for one of 12 signature spice-based cocktails from Bar Intermezzo to be delivered right to your room.
Refresh, relax and rejuvenate at Asia's first YOTELAIR which will be opening their doors next month at Jewel Changi Airport.
Whether you’re staying for a few hours or overnight, YOTELAIR Singapore Changi Airport is just the place for a restful respite. Perfect for the busy international traveller and transit passengers, enjoy flexible check-in and check-out timings with their self check-in kiosks. Inspired by luxury first class aircraft design, their Singapore airport hotel cabins are affordable, comfortable and smartly designed with adaptable spaces, providing all the amenities you need, and nothing you don’t. You can also enjoy their 24/7 signature Club Lounge overlooking Jewel's iconic rain vortex.