Singapore’s first Formula One (F1) night race (September 26-28 ) is turning out to be quite the moneyspinner for hotels and travel agents - in Malaysia, that is.
Some visitors who are flying in for the big event have found an alternative to the inflated room rates at Singapore hotels, by booking five-star hotels across the Causeway where prices work out to a mere fraction of what is being charged here.
Johor Baru-based travel agency, New Asia Holidays, has been receiving calls from interested parties as far away as Europe since February this year. The travel agency has organised a special four day-three night F1 travel package, complete with daily return transfers between Johor Baru and the race circuit in Singapore.
Starting at $800 per person, the tour package boasts the option of both high-end hotels like the five-star Hyatt Regency Johor Baru as well as more affordable accommodation and even sightseeing tours.
According to general manager Raaj Navaratnaa, ‘response has been very good’, with 350 confirmations to date, although he expects numbers to run into 550-600 once September rolls in. Slightly over 60 per cent of the confirmed bookings so far hail from European countries and regions such as Germany and Scandinavia, while close to 30 per cent are from Australia. Bookings from the region such as Malaysia and Thailand have been softer, he added.
To avoid heavy traffic, New Asia Holidays has chartered private buses and will be ferrying its customers via the Tuas link. It is also working on obtaining special group ‘clearance from Malaysian Immigration,’ said Mr Navaratnaa, which he believes will come through.
Meanwhile, over at the five-star Puteri Pacific JB, bookings have started to come in recently from both individuals and groups. Rooms are going at RM500++ (S$209) per night, with a minimum of three nights, which is still vastly cheaper than the rates charged by some of the local hotels. At this point, the Puteri Pan Pacific has 300 rooms taken up - an occupancy rate of about 60 per cent.
The Hyatt Regency JB is offering a four day-three night package at a rate starting from RM395++ per night, excluding transportation. General manager Richard Simmons said the hotel is ‘optimistic’ for higher than average occupancies, especially taking into account that generally, ‘the rate falls during Ramadhan.’
The Mutiara Johor Baru currently has a take up of 72 rooms for the F1 period. Fifty-two of its superior rooms (RM270++ per night) and 20 deluxe rooms (RM310++ per night) have been paid for so far. According to the hotel, all bookings are made by Malaysians. ‘Majority of rooms are booked for a duration of four nights stay from 25 Sept onwards. Walk-in guests will pay the same rate,’ said Lily Tham, marcom manager, adding that enquiries have been pouring in since early April.
While the current occupancy level for that weekend hovers above 20 per cent, the Mutiara is forecasting 80 per cent daily occupancy from F1 bookings alone from Sept 22 till 28. Mutiara JB has 332 rooms and suites in total.
However, Patrick Fiat, general manager for Singapore’s Royal Plaza on Scotts, pointed out that staying in JB during the F1 week would also come with a heavy price to pay. You have to ‘factor in traffic jams and the distance…plus service standards’ might not be up to snuff, Mr Fiat said.
Royal Plaza on Scotts, which is a non-trackside hotel, currently has an occupancy of about 55 per cent for its 511 rooms. Rooms at the Royal Plaza are going at $960 per night with a minimum of two nights, about three times its corporate rate and nearly double its rack rate of $500 plus.
In Singapore, hotels have not been filling up as quickly as previously anticipated, although BT understands from some hotels that the pace is picking up.
Over at trackside hotel the Fullerton, bookings have been ‘definitely going up,’ said a spokesperson. Non track-view rooms start at $2,000 per night, while track-view rooms are going at close to $3,000. The Fullerton has not lowered its rates since they were launched, the spokesperson said.
No comments:
Post a Comment