Redefining Luxury: The Impact of the World's 50 Best Hotels on Singapore's Thriving Hospitality Scene
Singapore’s thriving tourism industry accounted for about 4% of its gross domestic product in 2019. With the reopening of borders in 2022, Singapore’s recovery has been faster than expected. According to Accela Group’s recent blog post, the tourism industry is predicted to return to pre-pandemic levels by the end of 2024. The little red dot welcomed 465 new hotel rooms to the market in 2022 including Citadines Connect City and Garden Pod @ Gardens By The Bay Centre, Hotel Telegraph, Pullman Singapore Orchard, voco Orchard Singapore and Vibe Hotel Singapore Orchard.
In 2023, visitor numbers are expected to double just in time for the launch of exciting new concepts, such as the co-living boutique hotel Owen House, the all-villa Raffles Sentosa Resort and Spa, the shophouse-style Mondrian Singapore Duxton and the old-world India-inspired boutique property The Serangoon House.
Singapore is on track to be included in the prestigious World's 50 Best Hotels Awards list, which recognises exceptional hotel experiences worldwide. With the expansion of hotel and resort offerings, Singapore’s hospitality sector is once again thriving.
Rising Trends in Hospitality
Singapore's hospitality industry is embracing trends that offer guests new and enhanced experiences to meet their growing demand for novelty and eco-consciousness.
Some of these concepts include:
Experiential Food and Beverage (F&B)
Hotels are further differentiating themselves through experiential F&B options. Take, for example, The Grand Hyatt Singapore which offers a ‘Farm to Table’ experience whereby guests harvest fresh produce used to create personalised dining experiences.
Conscious Luxury
Values-led luxury travellers who seek eco-friendly hospitality experiences also have a growing selection of accommodations to choose from, such as the luxury urban oasis Pan Pacific Orchard. The property is set to open in May 2023 with a host of sustainability features including a food composting compactor, rainwater harvesting system, and recyclable water system.
Tech-enabled Hospitality
Singapore’s hospitality industry has long embraced cutting-edge technology to enhance guest experiences and streamline operations. The W Singapore at Sentosa Cove has set the baseline since 2012, having been recognized by Forbes as one of the world’s most “teched-out” hotels. Many recently launched and soon-to-launch hotels allow guests to use smartphone apps to check in, choose rooms, and unlock room doors. Virtual concierge services are becoming increasingly popular and chatbots provide guests with personalized recommendations for local attractions and other experiences.
The Impact of the World’s 50 Best Hotels
The launch of the World’s 50 Best Hotels in September 2023 will produce an influential ranking of the world’s top hotels. This list is determined by a panel of travel experts and industry insiders and will undoubtedly unlock benefits for Singapore's hospitality industry. Some of these benefits include:
Empowering small/boutique hotels: The list is hand-picked by experienced travellers, which means that a privately owned boutique hotel stands as much chance of being recognised as any luxury resort. This ‘people’s choice’ aspect will empower smaller hospitality businesses to stand up alongside industry behemoths.
Reinforcing integrity: An independent panel of hospitality enthusiasts carries out the ranking and review process. This approach reinforces the integrity of the awards, which are not influenced by advertisers or the media. Rather, they focus solely on the quality of experience.
With competition heating up in Singapore's hospitality and experiential travel space, it is more important than ever for businesses to go the extra mile with marketing and PR. Accela Communications has ten years of experience providing public relations, strategic communications, and event management services to a portfolio of hospitality and F&B clients across Asia.
Overall, the future looks bright for Singapore's tourism industry. If you want to learn more about how Accela Group Communications can help your business stay ahead of the competition in the hospitality industry, contact us at [email protected].
