Pullman Singapore Hill Street wins Best Upscale Hotel with homage to locomotive heritage

By Nicholas Lam

/ EdgeProp Singapore |

November 7, 2024 5:30 PM SGT

The Pullman Singapore Hill Street Hotel has been crowned the Best Upscale Hotel development (Credit: Pullman Hotels and Resorts)

The Pullman Singapore Hill Street has been awarded the Best Upscale Hotel Development at the EdgeProp Singapore Excellence Awards (EPEA) 2024. The hotel opened in October 2023. Pullman is one of the brands under Accor, one of the world’s largest hospitality groups.

The five-star Pullman Singapore at Hill Street is located on the site of the former SingTel Telephone House complex. In 2018, Singapore-based developer EL Development acquired the 23,326 sq ft site on Hill Street and transformed it into a 10-storey hotel. This project marked EL Development’s first venture into hospitality.

The architecture, landscape and interior design were crafted by the Singapore-based multinational firm DP Architects. The firm skillfully incorporated elements from the surrounding civic and cultural district into the hotel’s façade. For instance, the exterior’s terracotta hues pay homage to the traditional roof tiles of colonial- era buildings in the area.

The hotel features a range of communal facilities, including a 25m swimming pool, a children's pool, a jacuzzi and poolside cabanas(Credit: Samuel Isaac Chua / EdgeProp Singapore)

Heritage meets hospitality

Pullman Singapore Hill Street is the first property under the Pullman Hotels and Resorts brand to incorporate design elements from its roots in luxury railway travel. AccorHotels has adopted the hotel as its flagship Pullman Hotel globally, setting the design template for other Pullman hotels.

The Pullman brand was originally named after George Pullman, a 19th-century innovator and engineer who developed the first luxury sleeper cars for the US locomotion industry.

The interior design of Pullman Singapore Hill Street references railway travel in several ways. The hotel features a replica Pullman Sleeping Cabin near its main entryway, while floor-to-ceiling installations made of vintage luggage carriers decorate the lobby. The carpets along the corridors and lift lobbies also reference Singapore’s railway map.

The hotel’s 350 guest rooms, which are modelled after private sleeper cabins, also feature railway-inspired design elements, such as natural wood and worn metal fittings.

The hotel lobby features floor-to-ceiling installations made of vintage luggage carriers (Credit: Samuel Isaac Chua / EdgeProp Singapore)

Old meets new

The guest rooms at Pullman Singapore Hill Street blend modern smart systems with oldworld charm. Upon entering, integrated technology automatically opens the night curtains, activates the television and sets the air-conditioning to a predetermined temperature. Guests can then tailor the room settings to their individual preferences.

When guests leave the room, in-room sensors automatically revert to an energy-saving mode that turns off the lights and television and adjusts the air conditioning.

Rooms are also equipped with a Grohe faucet, which can dispense both filtered drinking water and tap water for washing. This eliminates the need for the hotel to provide bottled water, thereby reducing the environmental impact of hotel operations.

Room sizes start at 269 sq ft for the Deluxe and Executive types, while the Studio Suites offer more space at 355 sq ft. The hotel also allows guests to combine a Studio Suite with an adjoining Executive Room or a Deluxe Room equipped with a Murphy bed. The room with the Murphy bed can be transformed into a living and working area, offering flexibility for business travellers who prefer a dedicated workspace.

Rooms with a Murphy bed can then be converted into a living and work area (Credit: Samuel Isaac Chua / EdgeProp Singapore)

Dine, unwind, discover

The hotel features three in-house dining options: Madison’s, an American deli-style eatery; El Chido, a vibrant Mexican-themed bar; and Moga, a contemporary Japanese Izakaya and cocktail bar. Guests can dine in the comfort of their rooms.

Guests can contact the hotel’s reception to request laundry services and specify their preferred pillow type — soft, medium or hard. On the third floor, the hotel offers a range of communal facilities, including a 25m swimming pool, a children’s pool, a jacuzzi, pool cabanas and a 24-hour indoor and outdoor gym.

The executive lounge is also on the third floor. It is equipped with a bar and seating for guests to work or relax. However, entry to the executive lounge is reserved for premium members of the AccorHotels loyalty programme or guests staying in a premium room at the hotel.

The executive lounge can be found on the third floor, equipped with a bar and seating for guests to work or relax (Credit: Samuel Isaac Chua / EdgeProp Singapore)

Situated on Hill Street, Pullman Singapore Hill Street offers guests exceptional connectivity to some of the island’s most famous landmarks, including St Andrew’s Cathedral, the National Gallery and Chijmes. The property is also conveniently located within walking distance of several public transport hubs, such as the City Hall MRT Interchange on the North-South and East- West Lines and Bras Basah MRT Station on the Circle Line.

Read also: Village Hotel Sentosa: The crowd favourite

Given its exceptional connectivity, distinctive design and high standard of service, it is clear why this year’s panel of EPEA judges awarded Pullman Singapore Hill Street the Best Upscale Hotel Award for 2024.

Tags:

EPEA 2024

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