[top photo: Rather than going overseas, Ms Ivy Wong (left), 33, and Ms Rhynn Loh, 25, both staff at Orchard Hotel, took advantage of the hotel's weekend promotion, where they paid to stay on Friday and got the weekend for free.]

By Leow Si Wan

THIS year's Great Singapore Sale is not just about bargain buys and retail therapy. Hotels, too, are getting in on the act, dangling exclusive deals to get consumers to stay at their premises.

And a check with 16 such hotels revealed that Singaporeans particularly are lapping up the special treats.

The Regent Singapore has seen 80 per cent of its bookings taken by Singaporeans for its Early Bird Special promotion that started late last month. Guests pay above $188 for a Superior room inclusive of a buffet breakfast for two - a discount of more than 30 per cent from the usual rack rate.

At Rasa Sentosa Resort, 75 per cent of bookings for its Fantastic Family Fun package were snapped up by Singaporeans - for between $178 and $240 per adult for one night's stay.

Hotels are hoping the retail event of the year will breathe life into an industry winded by the recession - average hotel occupancy rates in April fell 11.9 percentage points to 71 per cent, compared to the figure in the same period last year. Average room rates fell below the $200-a-night mark for the first time since July 2007, plunging 27.4 per cent to $186.

April also marked 11 straight months of declining visitor arrivals - 780,000 foreigners visited Singapore that month, a 6.1 per cent drop compared to the figure in the same period last year.

Ms Lim Ee Jin, assistant vice-president of marketing communications and public relations at Meritus Hotels & Resorts, said it made sense to offer the deals now: 'As the Great Singapore Sale period coincides with the June school holidays, we foresee a strong demand for local hotel stays, especially with more Singaporeans opting to stay in Singapore instead, due to the current economic slowdown and the ongoing global Influenza A (H1N1) outbreak.'

The Meritus Mandarin is offering a Sweet Suite Deal, where guests get a complimentary night and $50 food and beverage credit for use in its restaurants.

Hospitality expert Carl Kjellqvist said the recession could bode well for the hospitality industry, by forcing it to become more innovative and to look for new markets.

The managing partner of Focus Hospitality said: 'Every situation is an opportunity and players who adapt will survive.'

The result, he added, is likely to be competitive and realistic prices that benefit consumers.

'With so many new shopping centres, Marina Bay Sands, Resorts World at Sentosa and other developments, there will be more reasons for Singaporeans to enjoy more of Singapore,' he said.

And hotels have pulled out all the stops to keep punters happy.

St Regis and Hilton hotels are offering a free night's stay, while others such as Shangri-La Hotel are giving steep discounts. Its tower wing deluxe room, usually priced above $1,000, now goes for above $298.

The Ritz-Carlton and the Sentosa Resort & Spa have added new family packages to their line-up - the former comes with tickets to the museum or the movies, while the latter's school holiday deal includes single rides on the Sentosa Luge.

The Fairmont's tai-tai, or lady of leisure, package includes tennis or yoga sessions and evening cocktails.

Ms Ivy Wong, 33, assistant human resource and training manager at Orchard Hotel, which is part of Millennium & Copthorne International, took advantage of her hotel's weekend promotion, where she paid to stay on Friday and got the weekend for free.

She checked in with her colleague last Friday and checked out yesterday.

'The promotion rates are even lower than staff rates. I didn't find it too awkward to be served by people I know - rather, it's good to see familiar faces,' she said.

But not all consumers are as keen to take up the deals here.

Mr H. Zheng, 28, an engineer, said: 'I used to stay in hotels during special occasions like anniversaries. It is like being away, yet you don't need to pay much.

'But now that it's a trend and there are so many Singaporeans in the hotel, I think I will avoid such places. I don't see the point.'

siwan@sph.com.sg

This article was first published in The Straits Times.

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