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SINGAPORE - For the price of an economy-class ticket to Paris, you can now enjoy a first-class staycation at the Raffles Hotel Singapore.
Pay for one night in its The Suite Life package and the second is on the house, with a free suite upgrade, early check-in and late check-out, as well as $100 in credits to spend at its food outlets, spa or boutique. Room rates start at $795++.
If you are on a budget, co-living space lyf Funan Singapore's The Ultimate Local Vacation deal is hard to beat. You get a night's accommodation in a One of a Kind studio from $108++ and can check out at 6pm and enjoy discounts at shops in Funan mall downstairs.
Now that staycations are allowed under phase two, hotels are enticing travel-hungry Singaporeans with the next best thing - a fun-filled escape from the confines of home, but with stringent safe management practices to prevent the community spread of Covid-19.
Such practices include reducing capacity and intermingling, rigorous cleaning and disinfecting regimens and screening guests before entry.
Still, demand is expected to be strong because of the week-long school holiday, which started today, as well as two upcoming long weekends on July 31 for Hari Raya Haji and on Aug 9 for National Day.
A total of 47 hotels have received official approval to offer room stays as of last Friday. They range from the three-star Hotel NuVe in Bugis to luxury brands such as The St Regis Singapore, as well as more unusual ones such as lyf and One°15 Marina Sentosa Cove.
Many hotels, including W Singapore - Sentosa Cove, The Fullerton Hotels and Resorts and Singapore Marriott Tang Plaza Hotel - are already reporting healthy bookings and numerous inquiries.
Far East Hospitality, which runs 23 hotels and serviced apartments locally, has been receiving more than 80 inquiries daily via calls, social media and its websites. Its chief executive officer, Mr Arthur Kiong, says bookings are especially popular with couples and families celebrating anniversaries and birthdays.
The pent-up demand does not surprise Associate Professor Detlev Remy at the faculty for the hospitality business degree programme at the Singapore Institute of Technology. He forecasts high demand as "most people want to enjoy a different setting or environment" after being cooped up at home during the circuit breaker period.
In fact, analysis of global sentiment surveys shows that people all over the world are now opting for short-stay holidays, he adds.
He expects the staycation scene to evolve, with more Singaporeans booking longer staycations and hotels bundling attraction and food offers with accommodation to create "real holiday experiences" that guests will come back for.
Far East Hospitality's Mr Kiong adds that while hotel staff are as excited as their guests at the reopening, there is also the responsibility of enforcing precautionary measures while ensuring its customers enjoy a "quality stay".
"Balancing these will be the challenge for all hoteliers and guests."
https://www.straitstimes.com/lifest...-dangle-sweet-deals-for-singaporeans-eyeing-a
