[ad_1]
SINGAPORE – Many hotels and serviced apartments are experiencing strong demand for the end of the year school holidays, with some hoping to be sold out.
This is before school formally ends next weekend and before the distribution of $ 100 SingapoRediscovers coupons, which will be issued starting next month.
The coupons, which will be given to Singaporeans over the age of 18, are intended to encourage spending on local attractions to support the tourism industry.
But it seems that families need little encouragement. Many are already spending money on expensive stays with extras like yacht trips.
Ascott Orchard Singapore and lyf Funan Singapore, which are serviced residences, expect to operate “close to 100% occupancy” during the year-end school holidays, says Ervin Yeo, managing director for Southeast Asia at The Ascott Limited.
Hotels like Fairmont Singapore and Crowne Plaza Changi Airport are also seeing an increase in demand from families.
Many families are splurging on luxury packages and high-end room categories.
Mr. Lee Richards, Vice President of Operations (Southeast Asia) at Millennium Hotels and Resorts, points to a willingness to shell out vacations with unique features, amid the pent-up demand for travel during Covid-19.
M Social and Orchard Hotel, which are managed by Millennium Hotels and Resorts, offer a popular Yacht-cation escape package, starting from $ 1,380 ++ at M Social and $ 1,600 ++ at Orchard Hotel for two.
At Amara Sanctuary Resort Sentosa, demand for its pool villas and suites has been higher than for its smaller rooms, says Ms. Dawn Teo, Senior Vice President of Amara Hotels and Resorts. This is in part because families prefer the comfort of a private pool.
Ms. Cinn Tan, director of sales and marketing for Pan Pacific Hotels Group, which has eight properties here, notes that families prefer the larger space of the serviced suites, which have a separate living room and kitchenette.
In response to this, hotels like InterContinental Singapore are courting families with kid-friendly features like bunk beds with adventure-themed slides, which launched earlier this month.
The growth in family stay bookings, ahead of the highly anticipated SingapoRediscovers coupon disbursement, shows that Singaporeans may be planning their stays for long-term stays, or for multiple rounds, say hotel industry experts.
Since these vouchers are valid until June next year, Singaporeans might be looking to use these vouchers for stays “a little later,” says Peter Draminsky, regional vice president and general manager of the Four Seasons Hotel Singapore.
He says he’s seeing more segregation within the market for families, such as “a growing trend for mother-daughter vacations.” His hotel, which also offers pet stays for guests and their furkids, is among a growing number of hotels here that offer stays with varied appeal.
[[nid:505926]]It’s not just families that are driving the demand for end-of-year holidays. The boutique Amoy hotel, managed by Far East Hospitality and geared towards millennials, is fully booked for the next month.
Guillaume Places, hotel manager at Hotel G Singapore, says December is likely to be the best performing month for his hotel, whose target audience includes “millennials looking for instagrammable experiences.”
Their packages include #BURGERSINBED, with two burgers to enjoy in the hotel room.
This article was first published in The times of the strait. Permission is required for reproduction.
