Grand Copthorne Waterfront Hotel is celebrating 20 years of award-winning hospitality in great style with an additional eight awards. The International Hotel Awards 2019 recently conferred five prestigious awards on the vibrant riverside hotel in various luxury categories, including Luxury Hotel and Luxury Convention Hotel. Meanwhile, it was also recognised for innovative recruitment, and its fifth consecutive Excellence in the Built Environment, as well as by Her World Bride for its signature solemnisation ceremony at The Promenade alongside the Singapore River, a charming location for wedding receptions or solemnisations with bespoke experiences to make each guest’s day all that more personal.
Asia Dreams talked to General Manager Farid Alain Schoucair about the hotel’s achievements.
Q: You must be very proud of the wide-ranging nature of the awards the hotel has won recently. How do you keep Grand Copthorne Waterfront Hotel relevant in today’s rapidly changing world?
A: Millennium Hotels and Resorts are embracing technology, being the first to launch the delivery robot AURA, as well as AUSCA, the world’s first egg-cooking robot. We constantly listen and adapt according to our guests’ needs. Travellers in the past were far less discerning than travellers today. The modern guest looks at how hotels differentiate themselves, transforming with the times in areas like innovation, social media and technology, as well as demanding personalization. We use data analytics to gather guest preferences, such as their favourite scent or pillow softness, before they arrive to improve processes. We also place importance on social media because it has not only transformed how we connect with friends and family, but also how guests search for travel recommendations and reviews.
Q: For new guests who haven’t stayed with you before, what would be the top three things you would advise them to try?
A: In December last year, Grand Copthorne Waterfront Hotel launched a year-long campaign Live Like a Local, offering hotel guests complimentary weekly neighbourhood tours and monthly cultural activities. This includes a half-day tour with Tour East Singapore through one of Singapore’s oldest housing estates, Tiong Bahru, as well as monthly activities like chocolate carving and terrarium making.
We are also very proud of our Italian restaurant Grissini. The dedicated culinary team lead by Italian Chef Mirko Vince has put together a thoughtfully crafted menu which features all-time favourites with a twist, along with new creations prepared in the josper grill-oven that are set to please the most discerning of palates.
Nestled along the scenic Singapore River, we are actually a resort in the city being close to many attractions and business facilities, while located in a serene environment. I would recommend any guest take a stroll or enjoy some food and wine along the river.
Q: Could you share with us the hotel’s most recent, or up and coming, innovations?
A: There are plenty of exciting things coming up that I shall keep you in suspense for now, but Millennium Hotels & Resorts has launched the Stay Like A Millionaire campaign which applies to anyone making a booking on our brand website and makes them eligible to enter the lucky draw to win 1 million points, which equates to up to 55 free nights. If you register for the free My Millennium membership, you get 10 percent off your booking for stays up to 30 September 2019.
Themed Live Like a Local, Grand Copthorne Waterfront Hotel Singapore aims to provide MICE delegates with an authentic local experience through thoughtfully designed touchpoints throughout their stay, from a welcome drink concocted using ingredients representative of multi-ethnic Singapore, to an in-room Live Like a Local Survival Kit comprising traditional snacks and sweets, so MICE delegates can look forward to immersing themselves in all things local.
We will also be celebrating our 20th anniversary this October, so stay tuned to our website and social media platforms for more updates!
Grand Copthorne Waterfront Hotel
392 Havelock Road
Singapore 169663
T: (+65) 67330880
E: enquiry.gcw@millenniumhotels.com
