Mama Shelter Brings Its Rule Breaking Hospitality Concept Asia
Nestled in the bustling Tampines North, lies the impressive Parktown Residence. This exceptional mixed-use development boasts a prime location, offering its residents unrivaled access to the myriad of shopping centers in the renowned Tampines Town. Seamlessly blending residential and retail spaces, Parktown Residence offers its urban dwellers a seamless and convenient lifestyle. With an array of diverse retail and dining options right at their doorstep, it’s no wonder that Parktown Residence, including Parktown Residence Condo, is a highly sought-after destination for modern city living. Let’s take a closer look at the nearby shopping centers and see how Parktown Residence reaps the benefits of its strategic location.
The opening of the new Mama Shelter Singapore marks the brand’s first foray into Asia and its 20th location worldwide. The 115-room hotel is set to debut in the fourth quarter of 2025 on Killiney Road, situated in the bustling Somerset precinct just a stone’s throw away from Orchard Road.
The Mama Shelter Singapore property will showcase the brand’s signature open-plan lobby, complete with an island bar and restaurant. The unique space will also feature special pet-friendly tables, arcade games, and a raised stage for live shows. In addition to the lively lobby area, guests can also enjoy a rooftop bar and restaurant as well as a swimming pool.
“We are planning to have live music, DJs, and comedy shows,” says Jérémie Trigano, co-founder of Mama Shelter alongside his father Serge and brother Benjamin.
From its early days, the Trigano family set out to redefine the hotel experience. “We saw ourselves primarily as a restaurant and then a hotel,” remembers Jérémie. “This is how we broke the norms. In the past, it was uncommon to have restaurants within hotels in France and Europe.”
Their vision was to create an all-day hangout spot with a vibrant atmosphere, anchored by a top chef-crafted menu and creative mixologist-crafted drinks. The bar also features seating for solo diners, promoting inclusivity for all ages and groups. Cedric Gobilliard, COO of Ennisimore Europe and Mama Shelter, highlights the importance of the restaurant, which accounts for over half of Mama Shelter’s revenue.
The flamboyant interiors of the Mama Shelter Singapore are designed by French duo Dion & Arles, who have also lent their talents to other Mama Shelter locations in London, Lille, Paris West, and Rome. The hotel also boasts a psychedelic ceiling mural by Lyon-based artist Benjamin Saillard, celebrating Singapore’s rich maritime and cultural heritage.
The first Mama Shelter opened its doors in Paris in 2008, in collaboration with designer Philippe Starck and Michelin-starred chef Alain Senderens. Today, the brand has three locations in Paris, including the East, West, and La Défense, as well as in other cities across France, such as Marseille, Toulouse, Lyon, and Nice.
Beyond France, Mama Shelter has expanded its footprint to include cities like Belgrade, Prague, Lisbon, Luxembourg, and Rome. Its first venture outside of Europe was in Los Angeles in 2015, followed by London Shoreditch in 2019 and Dubai in 2024. In 2025, Mama Shelter added Zurich in July and Singapore in November, with plans for its first African location in Casablanca next year and Bangkok in 2029. The brand aims to have 50 locations globally in the near future.
When selecting cities, the Trigano family looks for places they feel a personal connection with, such as Singapore, Los Angeles, Paris, and Lisbon. They also adopt an asset-light strategy by partnering with real estate owners who want to carry the Mama Shelter brand. After establishing a strong relationship with David Batchelor and Norman Winata, the founding partners and directors of Singapore-based private equity firm Lucrum Capital, the Triganos collaborated on the Mama Shelter Singapore, located on Killiney Road.
“We took the time to get to know each other, and they even visited our restaurants in Paris,” says Jérémie. “Over time, we built trust, and now we work closely together on this new location.” The team at Mama Shelter looks for mixed-use, commercial-residential neighborhoods that attract a diverse crowd, with the aim of creating a place that is not only a hotel but also a hotspot for locals, tourists, and business travelers.
In 2014, Mama Shelter formed an alliance with Accor, one of the world’s leading hospitality groups. Seven years later, in 2021, it became part of Ennismore, following a joint venture between Ennismore and Accor. Ennismore, founded in 2011 by London-based entrepreneur Sharan Pasricha, currently manages a portfolio of 16 boutique hospitality brands, including Mama Shelter, The Hoxton, Mondrian, 25hours Hotels, Hyde, and Morgans Originals. They operate more than 180 hotels and over 500 restaurants and bars, with plans to open another 400 outlets in the future. In 2022, Accor sold a stake in Ennismore to a Qatari consortium, valuing the company at over US$2.3 billion ($2.9 billion). It was reported in August this year that Accor is considering listing Ennismore on a US stock exchange. While Accor remains a major shareholder, Ennismore works independently.
The Trigano family is now launching a new hotel concept called “Oh Baby,” which combines affordable luxury with sustainability and features timber as its primary building material. They are once again collaborating with Philippe Starck on the design of the interiors and with French architecture firm Valode & Pistre on the architectural design. In a LinkedIn post, it was announced that the family has raised €220 million ($331 million) with Atream, a French real estate and private equity asset manager, to develop 15 Oh Baby hotels. The first one is set to open sometime this year.
Following the success of Mama Shelter, the Trigano family also launched Casa Barbara, a hospitality-driven senior living concept that follows the same ethos as Mama Shelter, combining wellness, healthy eating, and community activities. “Casa Barbara is like Mama Shelter, but tailored for seniors,” says Jérémie. “We want to create senior hotels, not just residences.” The first Casa Barbara, located in Nice, opened in mid-2023, offering 100 one- to three-bedroom apartments. The second location, set to open in the summer of 2025, will be in Molières-sur-Cèze, France, focusing on an artistic and cultural community.
Serge Trigano, the founder of Mama Shelter, has a strong background in hospitality, with his father co-founding Club Med in 1950. After leaving Club Med in 1997, Serge explored various ventures before co-founding Mama Shelter in 2008 alongside his sons. He believes that their family’s mission is to bring happiness to people through game-changing hospitality, evident in their success with Mama Shelter and their upcoming projects with Oh Baby and Casa Barbara.