HOTELS in Singapore are already enjoying strong bookings in the lead-up to the Formula One (F1) Singtel Singapore Grand Prix, which pulls into town from September 13 to 23 (TTG Asia e-Daily, July 22, 2013).
Lim Ee Jin, director of marketing communications of the trackside Fairmont Singapore Swissôtel The Stamford, said: “Booking pace at both hotels has been noticeably strong and we expect to run full (houses) at both hotels over the race weekend, as we have similarly experienced in past years.”
She added that room rates at both hotels have been kept “highly competitive” as in past years, and rates for the F1 season take into account the 30 per cent government levy imposed on all trackside hotels. Circuit-facing guestrooms at Fairmont Singapore and Swissôtel The Stamford are priced from S$1,150++ (US$905++) and S$1,350++ per night respectively.
At Pan Pacific Singapore, panoramic rooms starting from S$1,100++ per night are close to selling out, said spokesperson Nathalyn Fong. “Most of the room bookings are by foreigners, and we have managed to secure more group business this year as compared to the last two years.”
Non-circuit facing hotels are riding the wave of demand as well. Mark Bulmer, general manager of Carlton City Hotel, said the hotel is “definitely picking up business for the F1 period”. Deluxe rooms at the hotel are going for S$350-$400++ per night, compared to the current opening rate of S$258++.
Austin Watkins, director of marketing, Four Seasons Hotel, Singapore, said the hotel is “nearly full” and all suites have been snapped up for the season. Rates, while similar to last year’s season, are still 20 to 35 per cent higher than normal.
According to a survey by Hotels.com, the number of searches for Singapore staycations for the F1 weekend rose 42 per cent year-on-year.
While 2013 marks the sixth year of the event, Alicia Seah, senior vice president of marketing PR, CTC Travel, said there is still “strong hotel demand” from F1 supporters, fans and crew members. “Most of the prime-location hotels are fully booked and there is also high demand from locals who want to soak in the atmosphere of the event.”
However, GTA’s head of sourcing (Asia), Alex Tan, noted: “F1 definitely brings hotels business, but it also chases away genuine tourists who want to explore the real Singapore but are not willing to pay the extra money for their rooms during this time.”
Singapore hotels report roaring business for F1 weekend
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