ALL PACKED AND STILL NOWHERE TO GO. That’s us right now with the new Covid-19 variants and surges in infection dashing our hopes of vacationing abroad. One silver lining is the hospitality industry pivoting its operations to cater to the local market. Although they cannot replace the experience of gallivanting abroad, staycations can satisfy our need to break the monotony of the daily humdrum.
“The modern guest is looking for authentic encounters. The Clan Hotel Singapore bears this in mind. This modern luxury hotel has plenty of nostalgic stories to share,” Arthur Kiong, the CEO of Far East Hospitality Management, said at the launch.
The Clan Debuts
The new hotel is the first of The Clan brand by Far East Hospitality group. Situated at the crossroads of culture and commerce within the Far East Square precinct, it offers guests curated touch points and services that will unveil nuggets of local culture and stories of the vicinity’s history. In fact, its very name reflects the history of clans around Amoy Street where our forefathers helped Chinese settlers make Singapore their home.
Signature to the hotel are the Master Series (18 Grand Premier and 60 Premier rooms), offering customised services to discerning guests. The Master Series experience starts even before arrival at the hotel, with personalised services like airport check-in, luggage forwarding and luxury airport transfers. This service is currently extended to staycationers who are picked up from their doorsteps – a gesture that makes The Clan experience more special and luxurious.
Design Sensibilities
Another nice gesture is the all-day tea service at the hotel lobby. It affords tranquil moments in a space that is rich in icons of Singapore history and culture, alongside commissioned artworks by The Clan Collective programme that involves local cultural figures, artists and craftsmen. Proudly displayed among these is a collection of bespoke umbrellas, which represent The Clan manifesto of shelter and care. Just as the clans of yore took care of our forefathers, The Clan Hotel Singapore is committed to taking the best care of its guests.
Mementos of a bygone era are also displayed throughout the hotel’s spaces, while its 324 guestrooms carry the theme through with modern interpretations of oriental design. The bedside lamps, for example, are modernised lanterns that blend with the chic contemporary styling. Clever design isn’t confined to aesthetics but extends to practical features, such as making filtered water on tap available in all rooms in lieu of bottled water.
The Food Connection
Aligned with the idea of supporting clan members, the hotel works with heritage names in Singapore’s restaurant and street food scenes. Taking pride of place on levels four and five is Qin Restaurant and Bar, a dining concept by the Tung Lok Group. The name Qin, which means relation, is spot on, but better than a good name are dishes that keep guests craving for more, such as the Chilli Crab Crostini, which delivers the flavours of the classic chilli crab on a bed of avocado, pomelo and herbs.
As an extension of The Clan Collective idea, the hotel collaborates with a network of streetfood vendors, delivering favourite local dishes such as satay and bak kut teh to its guests in bespoke tiffin carriers and food warmers.
Guests can eat to their heart’s content without guilt. But should they want to work it off, there is a rooftop pool and gym. And while the latter offers state of the art equipment, it also has something of heritage value – wing chun sparring posts for guests to channel their inner Bruce Lee.
See full gallery at www.theclanhotel.com.sg.
Explore other Far East Hospitality properties here.
Longing to travel abroad, see our picks of Asian destinations when borders reopen.
