InterContinental Singapore is a luxury hotel, enviably located in the arts and heritage precinct of the city. Nestled within the historic Bugis District, guests are offered a unique insight into early Singaporean life. The heritage-inspired design reflects the authentic ambience of a welcoming Peranakan home, and the hotel’s service combines Singapore’s renowned efficiency with warm personal engagement and gracious style, as inspired by the region’s Straits Chinese ancestors.
Bugis, also known as Bras Basah district, is where Singapore’s budding arts are found and is home to numerous museums, art institutions and monuments. Bugis Junction, Singapore’s first glass-covered, air-conditioned shopping street, is also just around the corner. The area is served by an efficient subway network known as the Mass Rapid Transit, with the Central Business District, Suntec Singapore International Convention and Exhibition Centre and many other shopping and entertainment attractions nearby.
Since opening its doors in 1995, InterContinental Singapore has maintained a strong reputation for outstanding service and was recently selected as the Best Luxury Hotel in Singapore, 2012, by Business Destinations.
Culture and charm
The Malay term ‘Peranakan’ (pronounced as Per-rar-na-kan) meaning ‘child of,’ was coined to describe the descendents of the early Chinese community who settled in Singapore, Malacca, Penang and Java in the early 17th century. Known as ‘nyonyas’, the ladies, or ‘babas’, the gentlemen, they are typically a mixed parentage of Chinese men and native women.
Today, the Peranakan culture is still very much part of Singapore’s living heritage. Showcasing a rich blend of Chinese and Malay cultures with influences from the Dutch, British, Indonesians and Portuguese, they have brought about a hybrid of language, food, fashion, architecture and lifestyle.
Located within the old Peranakan quarters in Bugis, the décor and ambience of InterContinental Singapore is greatly influenced by this rich heritage.
Tradition meets comfort
Tailor-made for a luxurious retreat, each of the 403 rooms and suites is framed with old Singaporean detail and offers subtle elegance alongside modern amenities with complimentary internet access. Taking inspiration from the private homes of old Peranakan families, who used to live on the upper floors of the historic Bugis, the signature Shophouse Rooms and suites feature intimate touches of the local heritage, while providing the latest in modern amenities; all in a contemporary, luxurious setting.
This all blends perfectly with special touches inspired by the Straits Chinese culture.
The modern aspects blend seamlessly into the décor, while the latest technology ensures that guests can stay connected effortlessly. Alternatively, you can simply relax in this charming, exclusive retreat, while the hotel’s dedicated professionals meet your every need.
Other services include an outdoor swimming pool, a 24-hour fitness centre with personal trainers, room service, a business centre, laundry and valet services.
Exclusive benefits
Specially designed to cater to the needs of discerning travellers, the Club InterContinental Lounge is an elegant enclave reflecting the heritage and style of early Singapore. This spacious, residential-style lounge features timber floors, rich fabrics and a fascinating collection of art and artefacts, as well as the latest technology.
Whether it is personalised business support, high-speed wireless connectivity, or a well-appointed boardroom to host private meetings, the Club InterContinental Lounge is ideal for business travellers who appreciate exceptional services in an exclusive environment.
For guests seeking local knowledge and insight, a well-stocked library comprising a comprehensive range of titles, spanning genres from business and lifestyle to history and culture, including an extensive collection of Peranakan literature, is available. Guests also enjoy an exquisite array of speciality breakfast items, afternoon tea, evening cocktails and canapés as well as a selection of premium coffee and tea available all day.
Tickling the taste buds
The hotel features three award-winning restaurants − Cantonese, International, and Japanese − a lounge and a bar, each one offering an enticing array of cuisine.
Located at lobby level, the all-day dining restaurant Olive Tree features an international selection from numerous continents, and offers sumptuous buffet breakfasts, lunches and dinners, in addition to à la carte selections.
Man Fu Yuan is one of Singapore’s finest Chinese restaurants, serving classic Cantonese cuisine created especially for the restaurant by a Hong Kong master chef and complemented by warm and personalised, yet unobtrusive service in an elegant, contemporary setting. With an impressive menu of signature dishes, delicate hand-crafted dim sum and tea-infused specialities made with fine, fresh ingredients, the dining experience is enhanced further by a unique tea-pairing service. The newly refurbished restaurant has a seating capacity of 100 in the main dining room, with four private rooms and four semi-private rooms accommodating a further 72 people. This is the perfect venue for business luncheons, family reunions or intimate dinners.
Start the afternoons with cups of freshly brewed tea from home-grown luxury tea label TWG Tea, paired with tempting menus at the elegant Lobby Lounge, an oasis within the hotel. If you fancy something stronger, you can round off the day with a drink at the Victoria Bar, which serves an extensive array of wines, boutique beers and whiskeys.
Business functions
Recognised as ‘Asia’s Leading Meetings and Conference Hotel’ by the World Travel Awards, InterContinental Singapore creates occasions of success and offers the ideal venue for the city’s most prestigious social, political and corporate events. The hotel prides itself as a specialist in the meetings and events market, delivered by a highly trained team focused on understanding guests’ needs and staging events that are tailored to individual requirements.
Offering over 10,848 square feet of elegantly furnished conference and function space, InterContinental Singapore features a range of meeting spaces to accommodate events for as few as four delegates, to as many as 600. The pillarless Grand Ballroom, with its majestic panelling and crystal chandeliers, allows unlimited creative possibilities, while the Malacca Room and the Bugis Vault are ideal for smaller-scale functions. Enhanced by sophisticated audio, light, high-speed internet facilities and on-site technical support, every detail is taken care of by the team, so meeting planners can focus on getting the most out of their events.
Exclusive to InterContinental Meetings, the Insider Collection is a suite of five components providing a range of delegate experiences that are closely linked to the destination, to create a truly engaging, personalised experience. These are carefully chosen to energise delegates with locally inspired and authentic connections.
Greener living
InterContinental Singapore has committed itself to providing guests with enriching travel experiences, responsibly guided by the values of geo-tourism and incorporating concepts and practices of sustainability.
Key efforts to reduce its carbon footprint include using energy-saving light bulbs in all guest rooms, and LED lighting in the hotel’s signature Cantonese restaurant Man Fu Yuan, fitted during its renovation. This, in addition to measures to reduce waste output and water usage, has helped the hotel to achieve 80 percent savings in energy consumption.
The hotel introduced a herb garden to enhance the green environment within, adding a unique dimension to the whole, luxurious experience. Situated near the pool area on the third floor of the hotel, guests are encouraged to stroll through the garden and enjoy the variety it has to offer.
The hotel’s efforts towards responsible business have led to prestigious accolades including the ‘2012 Green Mark GoldPLUS’ award from the Building and Construction Authority of Singapore, the ‘Singapore Green Hotel Award 2011’ from the Singapore Hotel Association and the ‘Star Performer, Silver Certified 2012’ award from EarthCheck.
Further information: email: singapore@interconti.com; www.intercontinental.com/singapore
