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New staycations options this holiday season

SINGAPORE - If you haven’t noticed, there has been a flurry of new hotels opening in Singapore this year, from Sofitel So (which took over the old Ogilvy Building and welcomed its first guests in March) to homegrown beauty company Adonis’ first hotel, which officially opened at Purvis Street two weeks ago.

SINGAPORE - If you haven’t noticed, there has been a flurry of new hotels opening in Singapore this year, from Sofitel So (which took over the old Ogilvy Building and welcomed its first guests in March) to homegrown beauty company Adonis’ first hotel, which officially opened at Purvis Street two weeks ago.

And there will be more to look forward to in the next two years. Hotel Patina, occupying the former site of the old Capitol Theatre, is set for a soft launch in the middle of next year. In 2016, the Intercontinental Hotel Group will open its trendy boutique brand Hotel Indigo in Joo Chiat, while the United Kingdom’s biggest hotel operator, the value-for-money Premier Inn chain, has announced its Singapore debut with a brand new building on Beach Road.

Singapore Tourism Board’s director for hotels, Heng Li Lang, previously told TODAY that an estimated 12,700 new rooms are expected from now till 2018. “With Singapore’s transformation and tourism growth over the past decade, demand for hotel rooms has risen and more hotels are being built,” she said

All this just means more options for travellers coming in as well as those in Singapore who love nothing more than a quick weekend staycation. Premier Inn Asia Pacific senior vice-president of development, Erik Van Keulen, said there’s room (pun fully intended) for more hotels here, pointing out how new developments such as the Sports Hub and Project Jewel pour more visitors into Singapore. Indeed, even for the newest kid on the block, Adonis Hotel, occupancy rates have been in the healthy range of 75 to 80 per cent since its soft launch in July.

But since we’re going into the school holidays and festive season at the moment, here are some of the newest hotels you might want to check into for bragging rights — before the next one comes along.

BEST FOR CHRISTMAS SHOPPING: Hotel Jen Orchard Gateway

Get your Christmas shopping done before anyone else by waking up in the heart of the action. It’s hard to beat Hotel Jen Orchard Gateway in terms of location — it’s right next to 313 Somerset and Orchard Central and the new Orchard Gateway. The hotel lifts even give direct access to the malls. That makes lugging the shopping bags back to your hotel room that much easier (no need to struggle with them on public transport).

It also boasts all sorts of facilities, including a fantastic rooftop infinity pool with cabanas you can chill out in, as well as Obee bamboo bicycles so you can ride to nearby attractions such as the Botanic Gardens. Every room comes with complimentary Press Reader access — in case all you really want to do is to stay in bed and read the 2,500 newspapers and magazines available on it.

For the festive season, Hotel Jen Orchard Gateway is also offering rooms starting from S$290++ a night. It comes with two commemorative ez-link cards valued at S$10 nett each with a map to places of interest in Singapore as well as dining credits of S$60 for use in the hotel.

Hotel Jen Orchard Gateway is at 227 Orchard Road, #10-01. http://www.hoteljen.com

BEST FOR HERITAGE INDULGENCE: Adonis Hotel

What does a beauty company know about operating a hotel? Lots, it seems. The late grandmother of Adonis Hotel’s director, Andrew Wang, used to run a Hainanese bakery, Nam Tong Lee, out of a shophouse in Purvis Street and would put up new Hainanese immigrants in her spare room until they found their footing.

Wang’s mother, Ann Lee, who founded Adonis Beauty, decided to honour that legacy by returning that shophouse unit to its “hospitality roots”. The shophouse, which was previously leased out to restaurants, underwent a transformation with an extension built to become a modern boutique hotel with 19 rooms.

“We are able to offer a fuss-free succinctness while providing comprehensive services and amenities that would exceed one’s expectations of a typical boutique hotel experience ... delivered with a personal touch and attention to detail,” Wang said. “Our background as a long-standing homegrown brand in service and wellness also gives quality assurance for a premium hospitality experience.”

While the rooms are generally well-appointed with touches such as a free mini bar and Nepresso machines, it’s the suites you should splurge on.

The Photographer Suite is a sexy, duplex studio reminiscent of a New York- style studio; while the Explorer Suite, meanwhile, is a sumptuous, spacious corner decked out in a four-poster bed and lots of natural lighting from the shophouse window. Those who want more privacy can take the Artist Suite, which occupies the entire top level. It has an outdoor balcony complete with a tub to soak in the heritage of the area. And in case you’re wondering, there are Adonis toiletries (including a facial wash and soft peeling gel) in each room for an extra treat. Room rates start from S$185++ for a Quaint room, and from S$488++ for the suites.

Adonis Hotel is at 13 Purvis Street. Visit http://www.hoteladonis.com for more info.

BEST FOR CHILLAXING: One Farrer Hotel & Spa

If you, like many Singaporeans, love nothing more than eating, sleeping and zoning out with a massage thrown in for good measure, we believe One Farrer Hotel & Spa is for you. The spanking new property, boasts a hotel-within-a-hotel concept comprising Urban Hotel, Loft Apartments and Skyline Hotel & Sky Villas. It has been opening in phases since September and is almost fully operational. You can check into its Urban Den and Skyline Hotel rooms to luxuriate in Frette linens, plush “Sleep Well” beds, pillow menus and in-room shopping with 300 products. Six Sky Villas will also be opened from next month with luxe touches such as lava rock grills and jacuzzis.

But perhaps, what’s more impressive is the nine different F&B outlets the hotel has for guests, which include a 24/7 restaurant, a modern deli, a cooking studio you can dine in and even a confectionery (opening next month). If that’s not enough, there are restaurants by external operators such as Nam Nam in the same building too, so you never need to leave the place to eat.

Those who need further pampering can opt for a staycation festive package, the Urban Escape, priced at S$528 per room for two nights’ stay in the Urban Den that includes S$50 worth of spa credits. There is also a Cook/Rejuvenate promotion where you get a 90-minute cooking class followed by a 30-minute spa treatment for S$100 per person.

One Farrer Hotel & Spa is located at 1 Farrer Park Station Road. http://www.onefarrer.com

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