In terms of reputation, the Swissôtel The Stamford, has a well-established name. Ranked among the best in town, it is located immediately on top of a subway station with underground access to the Suntec City Convention Centre and the Fountain of Wealth. Within the complex where the hotel is located is a shopping mall and nearby one can find anything from cheap eateries to high end restaurants, supermarkets to post office and the library as well as the CBD are just down the road.
When entering the hotel via the lobby it is immediately clear that the operators have taken a different approach, one that puts the guest first. While it is possible to have staff to assist with checking in, there are several computer terminals where arriving guests can manage their check in themselves. This solves the issue of having to wait for staff to check hotel guests in and also let’s people decide if they are just not in the mood for chit chat upon arrival. Personally, I like to have a word with the staff, but others may prefer to just handle the check-in themselves as part of the experience.
The room type for this stay was the “Vitality Suite”. This room is very much in line with the philosophy focused on general well-being and enjoying a high quality of life. First launched in March 2012, Swissôtel’s Vitality programme is inspired by travellers’ desires to maintain their mental and physical wellbeing as comfortably and easily on the road as they would at home. One of the most obvious manifestations of this philosophy is the gym that can be found in the room. Yes, that is right, the vitality suit offers guests a full workout without leaving the room. Now, that may seem a bit nerdy, but I would this highly motivating and practical. Sometimes you just don’t want to change, take the lift and get to the gym shared with others. In the vitality suite you can work in your sports attire and when the emails are all done just stand up and get a workout done.
The stunning view in this corner unit is another thing that mesmerised. Overlooking Marina Bay looking to the right and viewing the expanse of Singapore facing straight while sitting at the desk, working, there is an immediate flow of air an inspiration when opening the doors to the balcony. The room itself is spacious and allows for a separation of the various areas: gym, workstation, living room and bedroom. While it is one big room, the segmentation and design of the space makes it feel like there are indeed several rooms. The workstation features an electric height adjustment, which allows the user to instantaneously settle in and get things done.
Technology plays a big role and the air conditioning switches off when the balcony doors are opened. There are different light settings for the room and all lights are motion activated. This adds to an extremely satisfying experience. When getting up at night, there is no fumbling for switches and the light is only activated in the immediate area where one is moving, thus a partner still sleeping would not be hit with the full glare of the room light if one occupant would have to go to the bathroom. The TV is the size of a small swimming pool and is mounted on a bracket, so it flips out to offer maximum viewing pleasure from the various areas within the room. Dyson supplied the hair dryer and a standing fan for even more comfort enhancement.
Just like the hotel lobby offers various options to check in, hotel guests seem to have a choice for about everything. Besides the in-room gym, there is a shared one, which is fairly large and extremely well equipped. There is a tennis court and a swimming pool which is nearby the spa, in which one can get pampered. And if that isn’t one’s cup of tea, there is a printed guide that has jogging routes handy in the room.
I am huge on breakfast and I will always make it a point to eat before starting the day. Of course, the Swissôtel The Stamford offers culinary delights to set you out on the right course for the day, but again, it does so by offering different venues. The main breakfast room is a modern-designed and light flooded room that gets a bit of hubbub going in the morning as tourists and businesspeople prepare for a day on the road. Clean lines, light colours and a slightly industrial design dominate this area. However, right next to it is a “kampong” themed locale. Lending design elements from the villages found in the older Singapore, this is a more cosy, smaller and less corporate looking venue for a first meal of the day. While the selection and variety of the foods served is identical, the ambience is totally different; each with its own appeal.
Most of the time, when I travel, I am looking forward to heading back home. In the case of the stay in the Swissôtel The Stamford however, I wish I had the opportunity to stay a little longer. Many may claim that they are a home away from home, but this time around, I would love to take some of that Swissôtel The Stamford home. For instance, the motion sensors that ensure that I get safely through the room at night. Or the gym. Or maybe the balcony with the breath-taking view, whereby Swissôtel The Stamford is one of the few, if not the only hotel in Singapore that has balconies that are accessible from the room.
ABOUT SWISSÔTEL THE STAMFORD, SINGAPORE
Swissôtel The Stamford is part of the Swissôtel Hotels & Resorts group. The hotel provides a wide range of amenities from a luxurious range of 1,252 guestrooms and suites, 15 restaurants and bars including Equinox Complex, Singapore’s most exciting dining and entertainment complex. It also houses the 70,000 sq ft Raffles City Convention Centre which comprises 31 meeting venues with technologically advanced business facilities and services. One of Southeast Asia’s tallest hotels and conveniently located in the heart of Singapore, Swissôtel The Stamford boasts panoramic views of Singapore, Malaysia and nearby islands of Indonesia. For more information or reservations, please call +65 6338 8585, visit www.swissotel.com/singapore-stamford or contact your local travel professional.
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