Bayside Hotels Fully Booked For Year-End Celebrations

Source : Channel NewsAsia, 27 December 2007

A brand new year is just days away, and almost all hotels overlooking the Marina Bay area are fully booked.

Last year, over 160,000 people ushered in 2007 as sparks lit the skies over Marina Bay.

The crowds are expected to return once again this year, and thousands more are set to welcome the new year in cosier settings.

Ritz Carlton Hotel said its 264 rooms overlooking the bay were booked by November, despite the price tag of at least S$600, which is about S$100 more compared to last year.

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Ritz Carlton's hotel manager Carsten Fritz said, "What we have experienced this year is that the bookings have been made far in advance, especially our suites and our club rooms. I would say one to two months earlier than usual."

"We see an increase in Japanese travellers... Now Euro is hitting 1.54... to the US dollar, so a lot of travellers from Europe are also coming into Singapore," Fritz added.

But it is Singaporeans who are making up the bulk of guests who have booked rooms at the six major bayside hotels.

At the Fullerton, rates start at S$688 per night, and most have already been taken.

Rooms at The Oriental start at S$700 and all have been booked.

Swissotel has over 200 rooms with views of the fireworks, priced at S$338 and above, and they are fully booked.

All rooms facing the harbour at Pan Pacific (left) have also been snapped up.

Marina Mandarin still has a few left, but they cost at least S$500. The hotel's marketing communications director, Lim Ee Jin, said, "Very interestingly, we're seeing a lot of rooms without the fireworks view that are being booked this year compared to last year, probably because they have their own party plans as opposed to being in the room to watch the fireworks.

"There could be parties in town or (a) party within the hotel itself where we have a balloon drop at the stroke of midnight."

And the next peak season for hotels in the area will be September 2008 when Singapore hosts its first Formula One race, which will also be the world's first night race.

All the hotels by the bay have already started gearing up for the F1 race next year.

Swissotel said rooms facing the Formula One circuit will cost about S$1,500 per night and guests must stay a minimum of five nights. Others, such as Marina Mandarin, are also offering similar packages. - CNA/ac