Parkroyal Collection Marina Bay’s $45 mil transformation
By Charlene Chin
/ EdgeProp Singapore |
SINGAPORE (EDGEPROP) - When the newly rebranded Parkroyal Collection Marina Bay completes its revamp in 1Q2021, the hotel will be the first “garden in a hotel” in Singapore, touts Pan Pacific Hotels Group (PPHG). Formerly known as Marina Mandarin, the hotel offers 575 guest rooms across 21 storeys, boasting 611,648 sq ft of floor space.
In April 2019, the acquisition of the remaining interests in Marina Centre Holdings gave UOL Group and United Industrial Corp full control of Parkroyal Collection Marina Bay. This in turn “gave us a lot of opportunity”, shares Liam Wee Sin, group chief executive of UOL Group. Liam wants to rebuild and rebrand the former Marina Mandarin into another green hotel, following the success of Parkroyal Collection Pickering (formerly Parkroyal on Pickering), which opened in 2013.
Trees will be planted on the first floor of the hotel atrium, and will reach as high as the fourth floor (Credit: Pan Pacific Hotels Group)
Focusing on greenery
The overhaul of Parkroyal Collection Marina Bay, which will cost $45 million, will see a core focus on greenery. Renovation works are already ongoing, with major works slated for March and beyond, shared Choe Peng Sum, CEO of PPHG, at the launch of the Parkroyal Collection brand on Jan 7. Already, guests who are staying in the hotel will be greeted by a soaring, 13m-high green landscaped wall, designed to create a panoramic 180- degree view of a forest.
The existing 21-storey atrium – designed by world-renowned architect John Portman – will be retained and improved upon. PPHG intends to transform the area into a lush garden, with sculptural pavilions that light up in the evenings.
The reception desk will be decked with elements of natural timber, and the carpet will emulate green moss (Credit: Pan Pacific Hotels Group)
Trees will be planted on the first floor of the hotel, and will reach as high as the fourth floor. A sky bridge will be built on the fourth floor, linking guests across the atrium. “When you walk through, it’ll be like a treetop-walk experience,” says Choe. Pavilions, inspired by birds’ nests, will be placed throughout the forest canopy. These are comfortable, private nooks in which guests can relax.
Choe likens Parkroyal Collection Marina Bay’s new design to “a different world”. The front desk will be decked with elements of natural timber, and the carpet will emulate green moss. The ethos behind the design is for a guest to “get lost in nature – even in a hotel”, he says.
Choe likens Parkroyal Collection Marina Bay’s new design to ‘a different world’ (Credit: Pan Pacific Hotels Group)
The transformation of Parkroyal Collection Marina Bay extends to its exterior as well. The 25m swimming pool, filled with mineral water, has already been fitted with 1,380 fibre optic lights that morph the space into a galaxy of twinkling stars at night and in the early morning. An outdoor shower deck will be built against a green wall, “enlivening [the] shower experience”, says PPHG. Meanwhile, the hotel ballroom will open up to a private cocktail area, which overlooks the garden in the atrium.
The restaurant will also be redesigned. Formerly called “AquaMarine”, it will adopt a new halal concept and be renamed “Peppermint”, featuring open kitchens and greenhouse-inspired private dining areas.
Other renovation works will include 20,000 sq ft of function spaces and all the guest rooms in the hotel.
The 25m swimming pool is fitted with 1,380 fibre optic lights that morph the space into a galaxy of twinkling stars at night and in the early morning (Credit: Pan Pacific Hotels Group)
Riding on Parkroyal Collection Pickering’s success
Parkroyal Collection Marina Bay, once completed with its refurbishments, is likely to ride on the success of Parkroyal Collection Pickering. Located in the CBD, the latter hotel has bagged numerous awards for its design focus on sustainability. Designed by architect WOHA, it has over 161,459 sq ft of greenery with over 50 plant varieties. The vertical gardens at Parkroyal Collection Pickering blend seamlessly with its glass facade. Six sky gardens are cantilevered at every fourth level between the blocks of guestrooms.
Other sustainable features include reduced reliance on air-conditioning. Two-thirds of the hotel corridors are naturally ventilated, says PPHG. Besides this, the gardens are watered by rainwater through a rainwater harvesting system. The system switches to Singapore’s recycled water when there is insufficient rainwater. Meanwhile, light and motion sensors in the rooms help manage energy consumption.
Located in Singapore’s CBD, Parkroyal Collection Pickering has bagged numerous awards for its design focus on sustainability (Credit: Pan Pacific Hotels Group)
The meandering curves of the hotel’s exterior are intended to promote a sense of relaxation. To that end, one entire floor is dedicated to wellness facilities, which include an infinity pool, fitness centre, two-storey waterfall and a garden walk that stretches 300m.
Even the eateries are not exempt from the hotel’s core focus on sustainability. Lime restaurant offers a plant-based menu, featuring seven vegan dishes that are paired with vegan wines. The outdoor garden is used to grow herbs locally for the restaurant’s produce.
Parkroyal Collection Pickering comprises 367 guestrooms in 16 storeys across 320,894 sq ft of floor space.
Choe believes that demand from millennials has shaped a new market in the hospitality sector (Credit: Samuel Isaac Chua/ The Edge Singapore)
Catering to millennial demand
Overall, Choe believes that demand from millennials has shaped a new market in the hospitality sector. “The growth of millennials is getting very, very strong, and that will give rise to another brand of hotels, which is what I call ‘lifestyle’,” Choe tells EdgeProp Singapore.
These hotels will have a lot of activities with community at its core, catering to the younger crowd, he observes. “It [the trend] is going to explode in the market,” he says.
Choe adds: “This trend will start to grow – we don’t have a brand so far for that, but it doesn’t mean we won’t be looking at a completely new lifestyle brand.”
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