Resort with rooms made out of upcycled public buses to open at Changi Village in April 2023

SINGAPORE — A resort made out of 20 public buses from SBS Transit that are no longer in service — touted as the first in Southeast Asia that will use upcycled buses as guest rooms — will be built in Changi Village and open its doors to the public in April 2023. 

The tentatively named “The Bus Resort” will occupy over 8,600 square metres of land at the vacant state land next to Changi Village Hawker Centre.

Speaking to the media during the resort’s groundbreaking ceremony on Sunday (Aug 28), Dr Maliki Osman, grassroots adviser for Siglap, said: “This unique project is one where we demonstrate the green and sustainability elements of new developments.”

He added that it is a “wonderful opportunity” to recreate and rejuvenate Changi Point, an area that used to be known only for its beaches. 

“It is part of our East Coast Plan initiative to look at how to create vibrancy to East Coast, and how we use some of these activities and initiatives to profile our green plan,” Dr Maliki said. 

He gave the assurance that mature trees planted at the field where the resort will later occupy will not be cut down. The resort will also not affect the animals and ecosystem, but rather enhance them, he said. 

The resort is the brainchild of travel company WTS Travel, which partnered with LHN Group, a real estate management service provide, and Sky Win Holding, an investments holding group, in this initiative.

The buses were purchased from SBS.

Each room will have an interior of around 28sqm and an exterior of about 15sqm, which includes a barbecue pit. 

Mr Philip Raj, the hospitality consultant for WTS Travel, said that the rooms are “well-furnished” and “does not make you feel like you are in a bus”. 

According to WTS Travel managing director Micker Sia, each room will be priced at around S$300 to S$400 a night.

There will also be a place within the resort for activities such as pilates, yoga and other mindfulness-focused experiences.

Mr Raj said the idea came about while he was brainstorming with Mr Sia for possible projects around two years ago, when the Covid-19 pandemic had severely limited business opportunities. 

"He said WTS has a fleet of buses and those are going to be decomissioned. What can we do with that? Can we turn them into a hotel? And bingo, we got it. The idea originated from there," said Mr Raj. 

Speaking at the event, Mr Sia said that the hotel will “plug into the vibrant Changi Village ecosystem of F&B, retail stores and attractions such as the Changi Village Hawker Centre —which is undergoing renovations right now, Changi East Boardwalk, Changi Chapel & Museum and the floating kelong”.