Momentus Hotels & Resorts evolves to cater to changing demands

The newly-launched serviced apartment in Balestier is the first serviced apartment by the Momentus Hotels & Resorts brand, and houses 99 units, including studio apartments and one- and two-bedders (Photo: Momentus Hotels & Resorts).

Nestled in the heart of the medical hub in Novena is the Momentus Serviced Residences Novena, which was recently opened by the subsidiary of Chip Eng Seng Group, Momentus Hotels & Resorts. Previously known as 12 On Shan, the building at 12 Shan Road was purchased by a joint venture led by Roxy-Pacific, with partners Macly Capital and LWH Holdings, from Singapore-listed company TA Corp for $86.5 million in March last year.

Launched last month, Momentus Serviced Residences Novena offers a mix of 99 studio apartments occupying 398 sq ft, and one- and two-bedroom units which take up between 366 and 861 sq ft. It is also strategically located near medical centres and shopping malls, and is easily accessible via Novena MRT Station.

The property’s studio apartments occupy 398 sq ft, while the one- and two-bedders take up between 366 and 861 sq ft (Photo: Momentus Hotels & Resorts).

This is the second property under the Momentus Hotels & Resorts brand, and its first serviced apartment. In March, the brand launched its first hotel, Momentus Hotel Alexandra, located in Alexandra Central Mall at 323 Alexandra Road in Bukit Merah. The 442-key hotel was previously operated as Park Hotel Alexandra by Park Hotel Group, which is owned by CEL-Alexandra, a subsidiary of Chip Eng Seng Group. The group closed the hotel last year for refurbishment and rebranding.

Stake in ‘fiercely competitive’ hospitality industry

In view of the rising travel demand and changing traveller preferences, particularly after Covid-19, Momentus Hotels & Resorts has sought a slice of the pie by expanding its hospitality services and venturing into serviced apartments. This diversification into the serviced apartments sector allows the brand to cater to a broader range of customers, says Angeline Tan, senior vice president of Momentus Hospitality and vice president of Chip Eng Seng Hospitality. This is especially so for travellers who are seeking extended and more immersive stays.

Evolving to changing demands and being able to offer a diverse range of accommodation options is pressing in a vibrant city like Singapore, whose hospitality industry is – in Tan’s words – “fiercely competitive” and has shown “extensive growth”.

“Momentus Hotels & Resorts understands the ever-evolving needs of modern travellers, ranging from short work stays to medical tourism, as well as expatriates transitioning in and out of Singapore,” she says.

‘Home away from home’

To create a more hospitable accommodation for travellers, the brand’s serviced apartment has been dedicated to providing guests with a “home away from home” that caters to their daily requirements. The serviced apartment’s strategic location offers the convenience that one can typically expect to find close to home, from medical facilities, including six hospitals, to shopping malls and parks. Its close proximity to the Novena MRT Station, just about an eight-minute walk away, also offers visitors the opportunity to easily access iconic destinations, such as Orchard Road and Raffles Place shopping malls. Describing the serviced apartment as an “urban oasis” in the heart of the city, Tan says that it intends to offer guests a space where “relaxation and rejuvenation seamlessly co-exist”.

The serviced apartment is operated by Chip Eng Seng Group’s subsidiary Momentus Hotel & Resorts, and previously housed the 12 On Shan serviced apartment (Photo: Momentus Hotels & Resorts).

Besides location, guests can also enjoy the wide range of amenities that are available at the serviced apartment development, which caters to guests of all ages and diverse lifestyles. These facilities include a swimming pool, fitness room, outdoor terrace, barbecue area and rooftop garden. Guests can enjoy these facilities and their apartments’ modern design, which comes in neutral colour palettes and with modern furnishings to fulfil the aesthetic demands of travellers. Outside of the private confines of the apartments, guests can soak in the sights of lush green spaces that surround the building. Green spaces constitute 40% of the development. This has earned the building the maximum points for greenery under URA’s Green Mark scheme.

Green spaces constitute 40% of Momentus Serviced Residences Novena, earning the property the maximum points for greenery under the Green Mark scheme (Photo: Momentus Hotels & Resorts).

Moving forward, Tan says that the brand will continue to adapt and grow in the direction of global trends and evolving preferences of travellers. At the same time, the brand will commit to creating memorable experiences for its guests. In more concrete terms, Momentus Hotels & Resorts will expand its accommodation portfolio to grow into six properties in the next three years, with an increased focus on sustainability initiatives and seamless integration of technology solutions, she adds.

In a press release dated Sept 21, the brand says that it has set its sights beyond Singapore, with plans to expand the brand’s presence across the Asia Pacific region in the near future. For the newly-launched Novena serviced apartment, the brand hopes that it can meet the demands of travellers and achieve a minimum 70% occupancy rate by the end of the year.