Looking for opulence – Singapore Style?

When the St Regis in Singapore opens in December, it will not only be the first St. Regis Hotel in South East Asia, but also the first international luxury hotel to open in Singapore in 11 years

Superbly located in the heart of the city state on Orchard Road, David Campbell, Director of Sales said that the St. Regis, Singapore will be immediately positioned at the very top of the market, offering the refined, timeless elegance and peerless service that are synonymous with the St. Regis name for the first time in South East Asia.

Since its opening over a century ago by American businessmen, inventor, novelist and philanthropist John Jacob Astor IV, the St. Regis, New York has become a true legend.

Over a hundred years later, it is still earning stellar international accolades – most recently voted number one hotel in the world by the readers of Institutional Investor magazine.

The fine legacy of the St. Regis name is now carried by a small and exclusive group of prestigious hotels, of which St. Regis, Singapore will be the thirteenth in the world and the third in Asia.

“St. Regis, Singapore will follow in the legendary footsteps of the group’s flagship in New York to take its place among Asia’s finest hotels,” said General Manager Yngvar Stray.

“It is the first St. Regis hotel to open in South East Asia and also the first new internationally branded luxury hotel to open in Singapore in 11 years. Singapore is also the Asia Pacific headquarters for Starwood Hotels & Resorts, so this new hotel will serve as an important showcase for the chain,” he said.

Amid Singapore’s sharp economic growth, the development of large scale integrated resort projects, and the introduction of Formula One’s first ever night race, St. Regis, Singapore will provide the country with the ultimate in luxury hospitality, with anticipation already running high in Singapore for the city’s most exclusive new address, the St. Regis Residences, which are next to the hotel tower, fetching the city’s highest ever real estate prices when they were released for sale last year.

Designed by internationally acclaimed architects Wilson & Associates, the St. Regis Hotel, Singapore features 299 luxuriously appointed guestrooms and suites, [pictured left an Executive Room] all generously proportioned with plush furnishings evoking a sense of timeless elegance.

The hotel will feature many firsts for Singapore and the region, including the country’s first ballroom that features two large skylights, the first premium Remede Spa outside of the United States, and a fleet of customized Bentleys for transportation.

Taking its cue from the artistic heritage of the St. Regis Hotel in New York, the St. Regis Hotel, Singapore will also house one of the largest and finest private art collections in Asia.  Over 40 original pieces by world famous artists such as Joan Miro, Marc Chagall, Fernando Botero, Le Pho, Fernand Leger, Gu Gan, Chen Wen Hsi, Georgette Chen have been painstakingly selected to complement the elegance of the hotel’s graceful interiors. As an avid supporter of the arts, St. Regis Singapore is also a sponsor of the 10th anniversary of Asian Art in London (Nov 1-10, 2007), a leading and significant art event in Europe.

A hallmark of the St. Regis brand is bespoke service, with ever-present yet unobtrusive personal butlers catering to every guest’s unique tastes and preferences. St. Regis will be the only hotel in Singapore to offer butler service to every guest.

[Picured below an Executive De Luxe bathroom]

In one of Asia’s leading business capitals, over 1,500 square meters of event space is incorporated, including the grand John Jacob Ballroom – named after the founder of the St. Regis New York, which can accommodate up to 1,000 guests and which is the only ballroom in Singapore to feature skylights.

Remede Spa, the first outside of the United States as well as the first in Asia, will set new standards of excellence for urban spas in the region and offers a wide range of customized revitalizing experiences inspired by the finest ancient rituals of the bathing art.

Some of its unique features include a sensorial lounge with an aquarium, heated wave loungers, infrared heated marble bed, ice fountain, cedar wood sauna, Singapore’s first Warm Jade signature massage and all guests will be pampered with champagne and floral scented truffles in addition to special blended tea.

Overlooking an outdoor swimming pool, the Fitness Centre is fitted with a wide range of state-of-the-art cardio and exercise equipment, complete with personal trainers. Also available is an indoor air-conditioned tennis court and an outdoor court.

Dining at the St. Regis Hotel, Singapore will be a stylish affair, ranging from modern French cuisine by celebrated chef with a three-Michelin-star background at Les Saveurs to delicate Cantonese dishes prepared by master chefs at the chic contemporary Yan Ting Chinese restaurant.

For lighter options, LaBrezza, a trendy Mediterranean terrace restaurant, will serve flavourful recipes from across the Mediterranean region, while rare and prestigious vintages will be served at the elegant Decanter that houses over 1,500 labels and 3,000 bottles of fine wine, many of which are only available in the wine bar.

The Astor Bar, named after John Jacob Astor will offer a relaxing venue for the famous St. Regis creation Bloody Mary and its unique local blend Chili Padi Mary while The Drawing Room will offer The new Singapore property joins a select portfolio of St. Regis hotels in locations, which include New York, Washington D.C., Monarch Beach, San Francisco, Aspen, Houston, Fort Lauderdale, London, Rome, Bora Bora, Beijing and Shanghai.

You have go to stay there, it is fabulous – for more information on the St. Regis Hotels Singapore, please visit http://www.starwoodhotels.com/stregis/property/overview/index.html?propertyID=1533

A Special on location in Singapore report by The Mole

The Mole was a guest of Singapore Tourism Board