Rooms
My King Bed Suite affords a spacious living room – great for social catch-ups (with safe distancing and until 22.00) – and a separate bedroom with a bathroom complete with a bathtub.
As a conversion property, the suite is a strange – but not jarring – juxtaposition of old and new. The bathroom features dated marble fittings, a steam function for the shower (a first for me!) and round knobs on doors, alongside plush yellow armchairs, polished wooden cabinets and gold light fixtures.
Having stayed in a range of properties, I am always appreciative when there is a USB charging port or wireless charger at my bedside. I’m glad to report voco Orchard Singapore had both. The king-sized bed was comfortably firm, and contributed to the best eight-hour sleep I had in weeks.
I have no complaints about the high-speed Wi-Fi, large desk and comfortable Herman Miller chair that made my time at work pass quickly, and I think that business travellers will feel very much at home here.
In line with its green ethos, a number of sustainable touches have also been incorporated into the rooms, including bamboo toothbrushes, high-quality linens crafted from recycled materials, and eco-friendly friendly Apotheke shampoo and soap in refillable dispensers.
MICE facilities
There is over 1,850m2 of meeting and social event spaces, spread across 17 flexible function rooms ranging from the Grand Ballroom for 500 guests to the rooftop Panorama Room with scenic views over the city.
Club guests should definitely take advantage of the Club Lounge on Level 22, as it’s a perfect space for business guests to hold small meetings at, or have a quiet spot to concentrate on their work.
From 17.30 to 19.30, club guests will also have the opportunity to sample one of the newly-created voco Orchard Singapore cocktails, which tap into the history of Orchard Road and tie into the property’s Stay Interesting philosophy.
Other facilities
Recreational facilities include a well-equipped 24-hour gym, and a small pool on the rooftop and seating lounges, a holdover from Hilton Singapore.
There are four F&B options at the hotel: the one-Michelin-star Iggy’s, D9 Cakery, the Opus Bar & Grill, and il Cielo on the rooftop. All are open except for il Cielo, which is currently undergoing a menu revamp from its previous Japanese-Italian inspired plates to a full-fledged Italian menu.
Dinner was taken at the Opus Bar & Grill, where the crispy crab cake – lump crabmeat, mango wasabi mayo, grapefruit salad – started my meal on a promising note.
For my main, I chose the 250g 150-day grain fed Angus tenderloin, and I was delighted with the perfect medium-rare state it was delivered in. Every slice was juicy, and sported charred edges with a cherry-red centre.
Opus Bar & Grill is big on sides, with over 10 varieties ranging from spiced salted egg yolk fries to smoked risotto. I opted for the over-the-top fries (foie gras fat, black truffle puree, parmesan), which was a great carb option. The creamed spinach was, unfortunately, too watery and fell flat.
Opus Bar & Grill offers breakfast service. However, due to Covid-19 limitations, I opted for an in-room breakfast instead. My order – a piping hot and hearty breakfast plate filled with hash browns, scrambled eggs, bacon and sausage – was delivered in 20 minutes.
Service
Most of the staff have been held over by the previous management, which is a good sign as these individuals are familiar with the property’s ins and outs. Checking in was swift, and all staff members I encountered were polite and top-notch. The F&B manager at Opus was also receptive to my feedback, and we traded steakhouse recommendations in Singapore.
Verdict
Voco Orchard Singapore is a boon for business travellers who want a comfortable place to rest while staying within easy reach of both the CBD and the shopping road belt, while corporate groups will be assured of ample space for their meetings or small conferences.
This may be IHG’s newest kid on the block, but it sure knows how to deliver on the Brand’s hospitality from the heart.
No. of rooms 423
Contact details
sinor.resvn@ihg.com
www.ihg.com/voco/hotels/us/en/singapore/sinor/hoteldetail
Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam’s reiteration of the region’s adherence to a “dynamic zero” regime on February 8 has added to the worries of local tourism players, who have had their business disrupted by Omicron infections since January 7.
All local tourism activities, such as Hong Kong Tourism Board’s Spend-to-Redeem Local Tours programme as well as cruises to nowhere, have been suspended.
Holiday World Tours, managing director, Paul Leung, told TTGmice that business had started to pick up in late-2021, thanks to the return of cruises. “Now, everything is halted. We are not sure what the future holds. Perhaps nothing will materialise before June,” Leung lamented.
While there is the Come2HK travel scheme that allows quarantine-free entry for non-Hong Kong residents coming from China’s Guangdong province or Macao, Leung said Hong Kong travel agents have benefited very little from it.
The situation would continue to be tough for tourism and MICE players well into 2023, even if all barriers were lifted tomorrow, opined Destination China, general manager and owner, Gunther Homerlein.
He said: “It is the perfect storm of all bad press Hong Kong received prior to Covid – during the political strife – and during the pandemic. Hong Kong has not yet had a chance to reposition herself.”
Arrivals to Hong Kong went from 55,912,609 in 2019, when the destination experienced social unrest, to 3.57 million and 91,000 in 2020 and 2021 respectively.
Homerlein said local tour operators might have made some money, “but most of us who specialise in international business had little or nothing”.
“There is noting that has been done by the government or Hong Kong Tourism Board to help, support or give the industry hope,” he remarked.
Referencing the Rediscover Singapore voucher programme by the Singapore government and the Singapore Tourism Board, Homerlein said: “It was a well directed and managed programme that allowed the industry not only to thrive, but survive. It also encouraged the development of a lot of very good new products.”
Among hotels, Hong Kong’s stance on Omicron has resulted in banquet business losses. Dine-in services after 18.00 have been banned since mid-January.
A spokesperson with Hyatt Centric Victoria Harbour Hong Kong said the property has responded with a relaunch of its Dinner Box Buffet and In-room Safe Buffet, both of which have been popular with guests. These will remain available until March 4.
For now, Hong Kong’s SME agencies will continue to receive financial aid from the government. The fifth round of the Anti-epidemic Fund, announced on January 14, commits about HK$3.6 billion (US$470.9 million) to supporting initiatives such as the Green Lifestyle Local Tour Incentive Scheme and payouts to eligible tour service coach drivers, travel agency staff and licensed agents.
The sixth round of subsidy, confirmed by chief executive Lam on February 8, will amount to HK$26 billion.