Northstar

www.travelweekly-asia.com 18 | ITB ASIA OFFICIAL DAILIES hotel grapevine CARLTON HOTEL CAPTURES THE BUZZ IN BRAS BASAH Carlton Hotel Singapore's facade. By Ian Jarrett Carlton Hotel Singapore - the largest independent hotel in Singapore – saw the completion of refurbishments in the Main Tower and Executive Wing in February this year. Carlton Hotel's new look showcases 940 guest rooms, 13 function rooms, two Club Lounges, fully-equipped meeting and event spaces, four food and beverage outlets, a swimming pool, gym, spa, and salon. The newly-refurbished rooms include Sealy Posturepedic beds, complimentary high-speed wi- fi, Internet Protocol televisions, spacious work desks, Herman Miller chairs and standing rain showers. Carlton Hotel Singapore is strategically situated in the heart of the civic district within the Bras Basah precinct with several MRT stations nearby. Hotel wine and dine options include the award-winning Wah Lok Cantonese restaurant, Café Mosaic for an array of international cuisines, Tuxedo Cafe & Pâtisserie for freshly baked pastries, or Gravity Bar for a selection of drinks and live music. Four Points by Sheraton Riverview SHERATON POINTS THE WAY IN ASIA PACIFIC S heraton Hotels is pushing ahead with growth of the Four Points by Sheraton brand in Indonesia, with the recent opening of a property in Jakarta, Thamrin. Since the brand debut with the opening of Four Points by Sheraton Bali, Kuta in July 2015, Four Points by Sheraton has expanded its footprint in Indonesia with six operating hotels (Jakarta, Surabaya, Bandung, Makassar and two in Bali (Kuta and Seminyak), and another three set to open within the next two years. Vincent Ong, senior director, brand management, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Asia Pacific, said Four Points by Sheraton offered "uncomplicated and honest brand positioning". "From essentials like fast and free Wi-Fi throughout the hotel, to the brand's iconic Best Brews where guests can always enjoy a crisp local craft beer at the hotels' signature restaurant, Four Points is designed for the smart, independent traveller seeking honest service and a great travel experience." In Singapore, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide has debuted the Four Points brand with the opening of Four Points by Sheraton Singapore, Riverview. Owned by Keck Seng Hotel Pte Ltd, Four Points Singapore, Riverview features 476 guest rooms. "The opening of Four Points Singapore, Riverview is set to meet the increasing demands for mid-market accommodations in Singapore, with all the essentials done right," said Shirley Wong, general manager, Four Points Singapore, Riverview. The Four Points brand boasts Starwood's largest and fastest growing development pipeline with more than 70 additional hotels in the pipeline; and more than 20 slated to open before 2017 across Asia Pacific. BY IAN JARRETT RWS BEEFS UP OFFERINGS FOR EXPERIENTIAL EVENTS By Esther Faith Lew With an increasing number of corporate planners looking for unique event venues, Resorts World Sentosa (RWS) steps up upgrades to key facilities, promotes culinary finesse events and offers special promotions that add value to MICE packages. Adventure Cove Waterpark is currently undergoing renovations, to be completed this month. The upgrading will facilitate the hosting of evening events that combine fun with networking. Hard Rock® Hotel Singapore has also undergone a revamp of the lobby and Rock Bar to enhance guest experience. Said Kimberly Vodopich, assistant vice president – MICE & corporate sales, "We want to drive awareness that RWS is a premium MICE destination to the Greater China and South-east Asian markets. And we want to provide clients with essential meeting space and venue options that are different from any hotel in Singapore." RWS aims to gain traction in attracting business from China, Indonesia and South-east Asia. To cater to these markets, Vodopich said that adding value by packaging events with attractions and dining experiences is key. Golf and spa experiences are also popular options with planners. "We can offer an array of selections within one destination: world-class golf courses, 27 attractions, 7 spas, 14 hotels, 3 theme parks, and a wide range of 210 different food and beverages outlets to choose from. We believe with Sentosa Harbourfront Business Association as RWS's partner, we are a destination within a destination in Singapore, and this is our main value differentiator," says Vodopich. Recent wins for RWS include exhibitions and conferences such as SIBCON 2016 and SWITCH, while upcoming events this month are HelloWorld, AMEX TPN GM CONFERENCE and Honeywell Summit.

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