MARINA MANDARIN SINGAPORE6, Raffles BoulevardMarina Square, SingaporeTel: +65 6845 1000Fax: +65 6845 1001
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General Manager Tony Cousens |
Delivering world-class hospitality is an art, and the five-star Marina Mandarin Singapore has got it down to pat – it is the only member of The Leading Hotels of the World (the hospitality industry’s equivalent of the Michelin) in Singapore.
The 19-year old hotel closed last year in May and re-opened in September after an extensive S$25mil (RM58mil) refurbishment programme.
“The Marina Mandarin is raring to go, elevating the art of pampering international business and leisure travellers to greater heights,” said general manager Tony Cousens.
“Malaysia continues to be an important market as there are many corporate companies here that conduct business in Singapore,” he said.
“We are also keen to tap into the leisure market as discerning travellers have always considered Singapore a good destination for shopping and other recreational activities.”
Members of the press were invited for a first-hand experience of the personalised treatment at their spanking new Meritus Club Floors.
“Think of it as flying First Class, if you will,” said Cousens.
When we arrived, cheong sam-clad guest services executives welcomed and escorted us up to the Meritus Club Lounge for express check-in.
The rooms were stylish and well-appointed. Who can resist the luxury of a freshly made cup of gourmet coffee from the in-room Nespresso coffee machine?
Or a rejuvenating hot shower from the powerful six-jet shower, or a good night’s sleep on a plush Simmons 13in mattress with its body-contouring feature?
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From top to bottom: the Deluxe room exudeswarmth, the mineral swimming pool, the MeritusClub Lounge. — Pictures by Marina Mandarin |
Other distinctive features that won us over were the Plasma television and one-touch “mood” lighting control panel.
Personally, I liked the spacious executive writing desk with its hidden compartment containing multiple-pin socket-points that can accommodate any type of electronic gadget and seamless plug-and-play broadband Internet connectivity. There was even a lacquer amenity box containing Internet and audio-visual cables.
The Marina Mandarin is a strong supporter of the Singaporean arts scene.
“Besides commissioning Singaporean and Asian artists to produce art pieces for the Meritus Club rooms, suites and lounge, the hotel provides them with a platform to showcase their creative work at strategic spots,” said Cousens.
The hotel also has its own artist-in-residence, Sandra Lee, ensconced in its fourth floor gallery. The Kuala Lumpur-born lass can be seen diligently working, even as her collection titled Did Ever You See Such A Thing In Your Life, is being displayed.
The hotel is often the official “home” for performing artists, pop stars and theatre luminaries who call on the Lion City.
Art certainly permeates almost everything that the hotel does. We spent our first evening at the Club Lounge, admiring the city’s skyline whilst relishing artfully produced cocktails and canapés.
For dinner, the Ristorante Bologna team captivated us with gracious service and rustic Italian specialities.
The following day, Chef Tan Yong Hua’s exquisite Cantonese dishes imbued subtly with Sichuanese and Shanghainese flavours proved unforgettable.
The lavish seafood buffet at AquaMarine was something to write about, too, especially on Sundays when fine bubbly flows freely as part of its Champagne Brunch.
Since the Club Lounge boasts its own dedicated kitchen, you can always count on a superb breakfast of freshly made waffles, and bacon and eggs. For health-conscious eaters, choice picks include fresh and dried fruits, cereal and muesli, gourmet breads, smooth and fruity yoghurts, cold cuts, Tasmanian cheeses and Eastern staples like porridge and Japanese miso.
Fitness buffs will undoubtedly give the thumbs-up to the Fitness Club and the 25m mineral water pool open around the clock. Forget about swimming in chlorinated water, the pool water here is purified by the NASA-patented Carefree Ionisation system, so feel free to dive right in.
Opting for something less strenuous, we retreated to St Gregory’s Spa where the art of wellness is taken seriously.
The spa has a selection of foot reflexology, facials, body treatments and massages for both men and women. We emerged from a 50-minute Well-Being Massage splendidly revitalised, having submitted to a body brushing session and a head-to-toe essential oil massage.
But if it’s retail therapy that you desire, note that the hotel is connected to Marina Square Shopping Mall and linked by a pedestrian bridge to the Suntec Convention and Exhibition Centre. Culture vultures will want to take in the arts scene at the nearby Esplanade where there are always free public performances.
The weekend in Singapore passed all too swiftly but the good memories linger on. Whether you’re going down south on business or for leisure, let the Marina Mandarin pamper you. They do it very well.
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General Manager Tony Cousens |
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