Singapore’s largest hospitality operator ramps up local offerings while exporting hospitality management services to the region
SINGAPORE– With extensive property enhancement programmes, plans to export its hospitality management expertise, and an aggressive review of services to match changing travellers’ needs, Far East Hospitality, Singapore’s largest and fastest growing hotels and serviced residences operator, is keeping its grasp firmly on the pulse of the region’s fast growing hospitality landscape.
The home-grown hospitality management company gave an update today on its local and regional plans. Singapore-centric efforts for the next 6-8 months include new properties, completion of refurbishment works for existing properties, and plans to enhance services for bookers, travel consultants and emerging groups of travelers. On the regional front, Far East Hospitality is in exploratory discussions to manage hotels in various markets across the region.
“With tourist arrivals in Singapore expected to rise 6.6% annually from now till 2015, we continue to fortify our stronghold here. We have been able to stay resilient through the economic cycles by keeping a strong presence in the mid-tier to upscale sectors. Moving forward, we will build on this to stay relevant to today’s travellers. We are also actively looking to build and expand our portfolio,” said Mr Arthur Kiong, Far East Hospitality’s Chief Executive Officer.
Far East Hospitality is the hospitality management business of Far East Orchard, a listed company under Far East Organization. Its portfolio in Singapore comprises eight hotels and nine serviced residences with a combined inventory of more than 3,400 units as well as the Sri Tiara residences in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Through its four brands – Oasia, Quincy, Village and Far East Collection, Far East Hospitality offers a diverse emporium of short and long-term accommodation options islandwide for business and leisure guests.
Far East Hospitality will manage East Village Hotel, the flagship Village hotel which will officially launch by the first quarter of 2013. It will offer guests the intimate experience of exploring the richness of the Katong precinct. Far East Orchard is also redeveloping Plaza Atrium, a former commercial building in Kuala Lumpur, into a serviced residence property.
Far East Hospitality is the first hospitality operator in Singapore to target medical tourism with a three-month tie-up, until December 2012, with local medical providers. Available at Oasia Hotel, travellers looking to incorporate health and wellness checks can take advantage of the medical facilities located around the hotel.
Corporate travel remains a strong market for Far East Hospitality. For corporate travelers, dedicated resources have been set up to support travel consultants. Bookers too can look forward to an enhanced reward programme by November 2012.
To cater to business travelers and to enhance the convenience for tech-savvy guests, free wifi will be progressively rolled out among its hotels. The one-stop stayfareast.com website will be enhanced to provide better value and a more intuitive shopping experience for those who prefer to book their accommodations online.
The successful listing of the Far East Hospitality Trust by parent company Far East Organization has underscored the group’s experience and expertise in hospitality management. Far East Hospitality has received keen overseas enquiries on its capabilities and intends to actively leverage on opportunities to expand its footprint into the region.
“There has been substantial interest, especially in our award-winning boutique Quincy, as well as the city-friendly Oasia concepts, to invite us to replicate, and export our home grown world class Singapore hospitality. We are the first in Singapore to create a hospitality style that is pragmatic, demands excellence, efficiency and is immaculate, just as Singapore is,” said Mr Kiong.
The Quincy Hotel has come up tops as Singapore’s best luxury boutique hotel in the World Luxury Hotel Awards 2012. The Business Traveller Asia-Pacific Awards 2012 also recognized the hotel as one of the top 3 Best Boutique Hotels in Asia-Pacific.
Photo caption: Oasia Hotel Singapore.
Luc Citrinot a French national is a freelance journalist and consultant in tourism and air transport with over 20 years experience. Based in Paris and Bangkok, he works for various travel and air transport trade publications in Europe and Asia.
