Rebranded PARKROYAL COLLECTION Marina Bay wins with ‘Garden in a Hotel’ concept

By Nur Hikmah Md Ali

/ EdgeProp Singapore |

October 13, 2023 11:40 AM SGT

The new brand places an emphasis on incorporating iconic designs as well as eco-friendly and sustainable practices (Photo: UOL Group).

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The refurbishment and rebranding of the PARKROYAL COLLECTION Marina Bay hotel by the UOL Group and Pan Pacific Hotels Group have been highly successful, evidenced by its recent recognition with the People’s Choice award in the inaugural hotel category at the EdgeProp Singapore Excellence Awards 2023.

Unlike the other awards, which are determined by a panel of judges, the People’s Choice Award is based on online voting by the general public. This year, 9,000 votes were received.

Formerly known as the Marina Mandarin hotel, the property underwent a $45 million renovation and reopened in December 2021 as the 583-room PARKROYAL COLLECTION Marina Bay. The hotel has a “Garden in a Hotel” theme and emphasises eco-friendly and sustainability practices, and wellness.

The successful rebranding of PARKROYAL COLLECTION Marina Bay follows that of PARKROYAL COLLECTION Pickering, which opened its doors in 2013. PARKROYAL COLLECTION Marina Bay offers a diverse range of amenities, including an all-day dining restaurant, an inviting atrium bar, a picturesque rooftop poolside bar, a spacious garden ballroom, and even a rooftop farm.

The atrium is home to a lush garden with sculptural pavilions that light up in the evenings, simulating a tree-top experience (Photo: UOL Group).

The property is located at 6 Raffles Boulevard, in the heart of the CBD and Marina Bay. It is a 10-minute walk from the MRT stations at City Hall, Promenade and Esplanade, and has good accessibility to local attractions, such as the Suntec City Convention Centre and The Esplanade. The hotel itself is located within Marina Square Shopping Centre, which offers guests easy access to dining and shopping options.

Committed to the environment

UOL Group collaborated with architectural firm FDAT Architects to incorporate biophilic designs into the development. It was done to align with the brand’s dedication to environmental sustainability. Guests can enjoy lush greenery all across the development, including a 13m-high landscaped wall that greets visitors at the entrance lobby, designed to evoke images of a forest. The hotel has a total of 2,400 tropical trees and shrubs.

The sky bridge on the fourth floor spans the hotel’s atrium (Photo: UOL Group).

At the entrance, guests are greeted by a reception desk that is decked with elements of natural timber and a carpet that emulates green moss. The first floor has trees that reach as high as the fourth floor, where guests can access a sky bridge that spans across the hotel’s atrium. The atrium is home to a lush garden with sculptural pavilions that light up in the evenings, simulating a tree-top experience. This includes four freeform pavilions that look like bird cages. The experience is enhanced by the natural light that enters the property in the day, and a curated light show at night. The atrium also has a bar and lounge pods for guests to enjoy.

Guests are greeted by a reception desk that is decked with elements of natural timber and a carpet that emulates green moss (Photo: UOL Group).

The decision to refurbish PARKROYAL COLLECTION Marina Bay instead of demolishing the building is in itself a testament to the hotel’s dedication to the environment. The property has also implemented energy-saving measures, including the installation of low-flow shower heads that reduce water flow from 27 to nine litres per minute. Motion sensors have been installed in guestrooms and public areas to power down lights and air-conditioning units when guests are not present. On top of this, the hotel has installed 210 solar panels, reducing the property’s overall energy consumption by 1.4%. All glass in the property is double-glazed, and low-emissivity skylight in the building filters natural daylight into the hotel, reducing energy consumption.

Guests can enjoy lush greenery all across the development (Photo: UOL Group).

At the roof of the hotel is one of the largest urban farms in the CBD. The rooftop farm has over 60 varieties of vegetables, herbs and edible flowers. These supply 20% of the hotel’s farm-to-table offerings across its eateries, contributing to its food resilience and the freshness of its food. The hotel also processes used coffee beans to be used as compost at the farm.