Room with a view: new hotel for Singapore Changi

Singapore Changi is to get a new hotel next to Terminal 2, which is expected to be completed and fully operational by 2028.

Changi Airport Group (CAG) and SGX Mainboard-listed OUE Limited (OUE) announced the news today, with OUE awarded the tender by CAG for the lease and development of the facility, which will be known as Hotel Indigo Changi Airport.

CAG CEO, Hiang Seow Lee, said: “The hotel concept proposed by OUE was the most compelling and promises to be the first zero-energy hotel in Singapore, and possibly the first for an airport hotel in the world.

“With travel demand continuing to soar and passenger traffic growing beyond pre-COVID levels, the new hotel will elevate the hospitality offerings at Changi Airport.

“It will serve our visitors well with its differentiated facilities and convenient access to T2. We congratulate OUE on being awarded the tender and look forward to a close partnership in the coming years to bring the idea for Hotel Indigo Changi Airport to life.”

While deputy CEO and executive director of OUE, Brian Riady, enthused: “We are very honoured to be awarded this opportunity to develop a new hotel at Changi Airport, a globally renowned aviation hub that is synonymous with innovation and excellence.

“We look forward to continuing our long-standing partnership with CAG, and to introducing fresh and innovative hospitality concepts to visitors of Changi Airport.”

It is stated that the new 255-room, 163-metre-long hotel will feature innovative design elements and modern facilities, including a rooftop day club, bar and infinity pool offering panoramic views of the runway, airport boulevard and skyline.

CAG reveals that “with layers of lush rainforest and hanging epiphytes stretching over seven storeys, its design will be centred around the concept of a ‘Floating Forest’.

The new hotel will complement the existing hotels on Changi Airport’s landside including YOTELAIR at Jewel Changi Airport and the award-winning Crowne Plaza Changi Airport located at Terminal 3, which is also owned and leased by OUE Group.

CAG notes that with sustainability a core component, Hotel Indigo Changi Airport aims to achieve operational energy neutrality by incorporating sustainability features such as solar photovoltaic panels, hybrid cooling systems, naturally ventilated corridors and rainwater-harvesting technology aimed at reducing environmental impact while enhancing overall guest comfort and wellbeing.

“By combining energy-efficient design with low-energy operations while maximising on-site solar energy generation, Hotel Indigo Changi Airport marks a major milestone for OUE as we continually strive to find more sustainable ways to conduct our business,” adds Riady.

The tourism sector in Singapore has seen a rebound from pandemic levels and is expected to continue to attract visitors as the country remains a key destination for leisure and MICE.

In 2023, Singapore visitor arrivals surged 115% to 13.6 million from 6.3 million the year before with tourism receipts estimated to be between S$24.5 billion and S$26 billion.