In addition to refurbishing guestrooms and function venues, a number of deluxe hotels have introduced new concepts and enhanced facilities for meetings and business events.
Grand Hyatt Singapore
Mezzanine-level function rooms have been converted into The Gallery, the first event space of its kind in Singapore. It comprises a sub-divisible main salon seating 360 delegates for a conference and 240 guests for a banquet, and two ateliers that serve as breakout rooms, together with a lounge and loft-kitchen.
Francis Poulose, director of Poulose Associates, who organised the Asian Masters press conference for American Express, says: “The Gallery is upping the ante for social parties and meetings, with its sophisticated space, inspirational loft-kitchen and culinary artistry. The dedicated team of butlers delivers a high standard of service, and my guests thoroughly enjoyed themselves.”
Miele has also hosted a party for its top clients at The Gallery. Strong bookings for corporate meetings are coming in from large FMCG brands and banks, and gala events such as charity balls.
Marina Bay SandsAll 242 Club rooms and 230 luxury suites have opened and are available for MICE programmes. The 218-seat Club at Marina Bay Sands, and its executive-floor lounge at the Sands SkyPark, opened in November. All seven celebrity chef restaurants are also open and available for private group bookings. CUT, db Bistro Moderne, and Pizzeria & Osteria Mozza are located at the theatre node, while Sky on 57 is at Tower 1 of Sands SkyPark.
Sands Theatre has already staged top acts and will host Broadway musical, The Lion King, from March. Groups are eligible for discounts of up to 15 per cent. The Grand Theatre also opens in March and will stage performing arts and gala events, seating up to 2,155 people over three levels. The ArtScience Museum opens this month and will feature international touring and marquee exhibitions in its 21 gallery spaces, which total 5,000 sqm.
Raffles City Convention Centre/Fairmont SingaporeMore than US$3 million has been spent over the past 12 months on improvements to the Stamford Ballroom, Raffles Ballroom – now renamed Fairmont Ballroom – and smaller meeting spaces such as the Mercury Room. The RCCC foyer and Executive Conference Centre have also been upgraded. Work included new wall fabric and coverings, new carpets, furniture and lighting.
The Executive Conference Centre now features a satellite conference system and other high-tech enhancements. It also has a dedicated conference and banquet team plus a separate banquet kitchen. In addition to the physical upgrade, one event coordinator with a large accounting firm says RCCC scores highly in terms of convenience: “It’s suitable for both foreign and local participants, in terms of accommodation and accessibility.”
Ritz-Carlton Millenia, SingaporeAll 608 guestrooms and suites have had a complete makeover giving them a new, contemporary look while still retaining the sophisticated elegance that guests expect. Room renovations were completed in January. Meanwhile work is still underway at the Ritz-Carlton Club Lounge, which is being extended. A boardroom with natural daylight is also being added. Together with its focus on guestroom design and décor, the hotel has installed energy saving lights, intelligent protocol phones, and iPhone or iPod docking stations at writing desks.
The hotel’s little-known function area tucked away at sub-ground level has attracted financial institutions and luxury brands for cocktail parties and dinners. Referred to as The Marquee, this large, air-conditioned tent holds up to 250 people and can be decorated to suit different themes.