F1 in Singapore:M'sia Hotels the way to go...

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Singapore F1 a blessing for hotels - in Malaysia, that is

Singapore's first Formula One (F1) night race in September is turning out to be quite the money-spinner for hotels and travel agents - in Malaysia, that is.

 

Some visitors who are flying in for the 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 from 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 (JB) 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.

 

The agency's general manager, Mr Raaj Navaratnaa, said that 'response has been very good', with 350 confirmations to date, although he expects numbers to run into 550 to 600 once September rolls in.

 

Slightly over 60 per cent of the confirmed bookings so far hail from European countries and regions, 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.

 

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$208++) per night, with a minimum of three nights.

 

That is still vastly cheaper than the rates charged by some of the hotels in Singapore.

 

The Hyatt Regency JB is offering a four day-three night package at a rate starting from RM395++ per night, excluding transportation.

 

The Mutiara Johor Baru currently has a take-up rate of 72 rooms for the F1 period.

 

A total of 52 of its superior rooms (RM270++ per night) and 20 deluxe rooms (RM310++ per night) have been paid for so far.

 

However, Mr Patrick Fiat, general manager of 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.

 

One has to 'factor in traffic jams and the distance', he said, and service standards might not be up to expectation.

 

In Singapore, hotels have not been filling up as quickly as previously anticipated, although The Business Times understands from some hotels that the pace is picking up.

 

Over at trackside hotel the Fullerton, bookings have been 'definitely going up', said a spokesman.

[Apollo]

posted liaoz

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oops...sorry...mods pls delete as seen fit.