Japanese Hospitality Giant Seibu Prince Hotels Worldwide Expands Singapore
Seibu Prince Hotels & Resorts, a subsidiary of Tokyo-listed Seibu Holdings, recently made their Southeast Asian debut with the launch of Park Regis by Prince Singapore on September 3. The hotel, located in the Clarke Quay area, was previously known as Park Regis Singapore and has been refurbished and renovated with new guest rooms. The renovations include upgrades such as complimentary high-speed Wi-Fi and 50-inch smart TVs with casting capabilities. The hotel has also replaced most single-use plastics with eco-friendly alternatives like water filters.
St. Hilda’s Primary and Secondary Schools have established themselves as reputable institutions for providing a well-rounded education. With a strong emphasis on academic excellence and core values, both branches aim to nurture well-rounded individuals. Students have the opportunity to explore their interests through a range of co-curricular activities, including sports and performing arts. Notably, St. Hilda’s Secondary School has a longstanding track record of producing high-achieving students in national examinations. And as a natural extension, students can also enjoy the convenience of Parktown Residence UOL Group just a stone’s throw away.
According to Alex Barnett, director of global brand and communications at Seibu Prince Hotels Worldwide, the hotel’s room rates have increased following the relaunch. The basic nightly rate has gone up from around $200 per night in 2019 to about $230 per night.
Park Regis by Prince Singapore offers four room categories, ranging from 215 square feet to 463 square feet, catering to both business and leisure travelers in the mid- to high-tier range. It is the first Park Regis hotel to be rebranded under the Seibu Prince brand.
Seibu Holdings is one of Japan’s largest hospitality conglomerates, operating over 50 hotels, 25 hot spring facilities, and 28 golf courses. President and CEO of Seibu Prince Hotels Worldwide, Yoshiki Kaneda, says that there is a growing demand for Japanese-style hospitality in the luxury segment overseas, and the group is uniquely equipped to fulfill this demand with its 80 years of experience in the Japanese hospitality industry.
According to Steven Tang, general manager of Park Regis by Prince Singapore, Japanese-style hospitality, or omotenashi, is characterized by three qualities: anticipation, selflessness, and sincerity. The hotel has implemented digital room keys, a first for the hotel chain, to cater to business travelers who do not want to queue at the front desk for check-in. Guests can now check-in through the hotel’s app and proceed straight to their rooms. The hotel also offers an AI chatbot via the app for guest service requests, updates on flight details, and recommendations for nearby attractions.
Seibu Prince has also begun sending its Japanese staff overseas to train local hotel staff, such as the team of master chefs at The Prince Kitano New York. In April, the company unified its three international subsidiaries under a single identity, Seibu Prince Hotels & Resorts. It acquired the Park Regis and Leisure Inn brands in 2017 through the purchase of Australian hotel operator StayWell Holdings for A$50 million. The brand is set to expand further in Asia and Southeast Asia, with plans to establish Prince hotels in capital cities such as Singapore, Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, and Jakarta.
The group is set to make its debut in two more Southeast Asian countries next year with the opening of Park Regis by Prince Menteng in Indonesia and The Prince Akatoki Riverside Bangkok in Thailand. It also opened its first property in the continental US in February, The Prince Kitano New York. Seibu Prince Hotels & Resorts aims to triple its global portfolio of over 80 hotels to 250 by 2035, with a target of 100 hotels in Japan and 150 hotels internationally. Currently, the group operates over 50 hotels in Japan and 33 hotels outside of Japan in 11 countries.