Drumming up for success at the grand opening.
Conrad Singapore Orchard hosted its grand opening with an 'Orchard
Fusion' cocktail celebration, to mark its public debut on 31 January
2024.
The event, attended by representatives from Pontiac Land Group,
Kajima Development, and Hilton, was graced by Olivier Lim, chairman of
the Singapore Tourism Board, as the guest of honour. Lim delivered a
speech emphasising the hotel's significant role in enhancing Singapore's
tourism landscape. Around 350 VIPs from the worlds of hospitality,
fashion, culture, and culinary were present to experience immersive art,
gastronomy, and nature.
Anita Kapoor, a celebrated media personality, hosted the evening,
introducing speeches from key figures such as Kwee Liong Keng, chairman
of Pontiac Hotel, and Alan Watts, president, Asia Pacific, Hilton. Their
speeches underscored Conrad Singapore Orchard's vision of redefined
luxury hospitality.
Kwee, reflecting on the hotel's evolution, said: “40 years ago,
Pontiac Land Group and Kajima Development jointly developed this hotel
site. The world-renowned architect John Portman was appointed as the
architect. This hotel was the first atrium hotel in Singapore, and
Portman’s first overseas project. To maintain the classic beauty of this
hotel, we decided to modernise it. We’ve renovated the building to be
more energy efficient and environmentally friendly, and improved our
guests’ comfort and experience by refreshing the guest rooms, F&B
outlets, and common areas.”
Watts said: “Conrad appeals to the conscientious traveller who seeks
to explore the world, encounter purposeful service and truly experience a
destination’s interpretation of luxury. We are proud to partner Pontiac
Land Group and Kajima Development to reimagine this iconic hotel and
see Conrad Singapore Orchard take its rightful place as one of the
Garden City’s very best luxury offerings."
The celebration spotlighted the hotel's remarkable transformation,
from its skylit atrium to the inviting lobby, all aligned with the
'Orchard Fusion' theme. This transformation emphasised the hotel's
harmonious blend of nature and urban elegance with art and floral
installations.
The cocktail reception featured bold artistry from Conrad Singapore
Orchard’s team of culinary artisans, with edible art installations. The
hotel’s award-winning destination bar Manhattan presented a pop-up with
signature craft cocktails.
Sunny meetings at Conrad Singapore Orchard.Diverse entertainments, including roving artists, hoop and stilt
performers, and a modern jazz duet with ballerinas, enlivened the
atmosphere. The night also featured 'Curiosity Cube', an art
installation by local art collective GastroGeography of Singapore, who
also presented each guest with a unique botanical illustration as a
parting gift. The celebration ended with an afterparty at Manhattan.
The 445-key hotel has seven sun-lit meeting rooms with over 1,500 sqm
of event spaces and 14 event venues. Its Royal Pavilion Ballroom seats
500 pax for banquets.