TO A backdrop of declining numbers of tourists visiting Singapore, another hotel, the Park Hotel Clarke Quay, has opened this month.
Like many others operating in this less-than-stellar climate, the 336-room four-star hotel at Clarke Quay is dangling a special package chockful of freebies. -- ST PHOTO: LIM SIN THAILike many others operating in this less-than-stellar climate, the 336-room four-star hotel at Clarke Quay is dangling a special package chockful of freebies.
Many hotels, including another one which opened recently, have rolled out similar value-added promotions.
Far East Organization's boutique hotel, Quincy, opened in March with a $208++ flat rate covering all its services, such as three meals, Internet use, and limousine pickup from the airport.
The offers are a sign of how anxious hotels are for their share of a shrinking pie.
For the 10th straight month, visitor arrivals in March were down compared to the same period last years.
The downward trend forced hotels to slash their average room rate to $196 in March. It marked the first time in nearly two years the average room rate has dropped below $200.
Despite such worrying signs, the Park Hotel Group remains optimistic.
Based on the 'strong' booking response from leisure and business travellers alike, the group's director Mr Allen Law forecast an 80 per cent occupancy by August. In comparison, the average hotel occupancy rate for March was 74 per cent.
'Clarke Quay is an area which a lot of tourists want to visit, and there are not many hotels there. We think we've hit a good market segment,' said Mr Law.
Read the full story in Friday's edition of The Straits Times.
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