Originally Posted by
callmedtop
Interesting that two of the best choices in SIN appear to be the R-C or the IC, both brands I don't typically associate with true luxury.
Very true - at least within Asia this depends so much on the city though. I suppose the higher yield the market, the higher the market quality benchmark and the more likely the chain puts the investment in the property needed to make it good.
R-C Hong Kong I think pretty clearly luxury (even if the location isn't great), IC Hong Kong arguably so as well. R-C Tokyo well regarded although there's intense seriously competition at the top end of that market.
Unlike say Jakarta or KL where the R-C and IC properties are ... ugghhh... or Manila where the Peninsula and IC properties are ... ughhh....
Singapore maybe somewhere in the middle... fairly high yield yet competition is thin despite the presence of (old, dated) MO, FS, SL etc.
Originally Posted by
callmedtop
I'm going to be in SIN next year for the first time for a couple of nights on the way to Indonesia. Have been considering the R-C vs. Fullerton Bay but will also add the IC in the mix.
IC has a very different feel to it, which I find much more classically luxurious than the R-C or Fullerton Bay. They have done a beautiful job of the fitout making it feel kind of historical while still chic and modern. I would only recommend the Shophouse Suites at the IC though, not the tower rooms. The Club lounge people will take very good care of you from checkin to checkout.
One thing I'm not sure if it has been mentioned before is that R-C gets a lot of big tour groups which does lower the tone a bit. And Fullerton Bay has a lot of tourists wandering around and the lobby areas are totally open to the public so despite the spectacular (ly expensive) fitout it doesn't feel as exclusive as it should.
Originally Posted by
callmedtop
I also wonder if Patina will ever open, as it looks quite special.
Patina does look special and would certainly be unique in the Singapore market. if it ever opens. Unless/until we one day see an urban Aman in Singapore one day
(actually whatever you think of the urban concept, an urban Aman in Fort Canning Park has potential to be quite special!)
Perhaps Patina will raise the market standard and force the other older luxury properties in town to step up their game.
There are however some fairly major challenges in Singapore around finding the kind of staff who really want to work in hospitality and can make a luxury hotel into perfection - the brilliant staff at the R-C/IC and a few other club lounges are a fairly rare exception to this rule.