Hotel Phoenix Fold Its Wings

Source : TODAY, Thursday, August 2, 2007

Staff and Guests in Teary Farewell



FINAL FAREWELL: Managing director of Hotel Phoenix, Mr Noel Hawkes,
(left) thanks the hotel’s last in-house guest, Mr Christian Ion (right).


MORE than 6 million guests, 6.5 million meals served and 30 million pieces of laundry later, Hotel Phoenix bid its last guest goodbye in a teary farewell yesterday afternoon.

French businessman Christian Ion — who stayed at the 35-year-old hotel whenever he visited Singapore over the past 17 years — was the last guest to check out.

Said Mr Ion, who was rewarded with a free night’s stay: “It’s very emotional, they (the staff) have become family. Wherever I go now, it will never be like this. It’s been a home away from home.”

In May, TODAY had reported that the hotel was closing for a major refurbishment. It was a poignant moment too yesterday for long-time staff of the 392-room hotel, many of whom gathered at the Phoenix Garden Café for a staff-only farewell party at which management cleared plates and refilled glasses as frontline service staff sat back and relaxed.

Bell captain George Chia, who began his career at the hotel when it first opened in 1972, was near tears as he hugged another regular guest goodbye.

“He gave us his address and number and told us to visit him,” said the 56-year-old, who had turned down jobs in the past to continue at the hotel.

“Here, colleagues became family and guests became friends. And I was lucky to work for a management that listened and gave staff opportunities. Where else will I find a place like this?” he added.

OCBC Bank — which owns Hotel Phoenix along with the adjacent Specialists’ Shopping Centre — declined to reveal its plans for the properties. However, the bank has submitted a development blueprint to the Government, and expects a response within the next few weeks.

Earlier media reports suggested that the big plan was for a 20-storey retail-cum-hotel complex,designed by renowned Tange Associates, on both freehold sites, located next to the Somerset MRT station.