Grand Hyatt Singapore’s New Wellness Strategy
Conceived during the pandemic, the gardens at Grand Hyatt Singapore aim to be a “life force.” All photos by Chantal Arnts
By Raini Hamdi, 12 November, 2024
When I think of Grand Hyatt Singapore, what comes to mind is wellness. Before, it was food.
I never associated the hotel as a place to restore the mind and body, in fact quite the opposite. It always drew out the hedonist in me, be it over-shopping on Orchard Road, or over-indulging at Mezza9, its restaurant that forever imprinted Hyatt as an innovative F&B player in my mind. When Grand Hyatt Singapore opened Mezza9 some 25 years ago, the open-kitchen concept serving nine different cuisines was a novelty, its decor as tasteful as the food.
A recent stay at the hotel shows a deeper foray into the wellness market. This starts right at the lobby, which has a minimalist, Zen-like atmosphere, unlike lobbies that jump onto the “social” craze today. Here, no guests could be seen mingling with one another – probably because not a single chair was available to sit on.
Closed in 2022 for a major renovation, the hotel re-opened in July following the completion of Phase 1, which features a reimagined Terrace Wing and refreshed dining concepts. I was excited to see it; Grand Hyatt Singapore holds a lot of memories for me, as it does for many Singaporeans.
I arrived for my stay after a hectic hotel investment conference. As I made my way to my room, a Garden Studio, I began to feel lighter as the scenery delightfully switched from a city hotel to a beautiful nature resort. I dropped my luggage in my room, as I couldn’t wait to follow the rest of the path, which was surrounded by lush greenery, gentle waterfalls, koi ponds and well-placed alcoves for private lounging. It was restful just following the way, which eventually opened to a hydrotherapy wellness pool, a 25-meter swimming pool and a lawn area for meditation, yoga and pilates.
Landscape designer Grant Associates UK, which led a team to design the 54 hectares of Bay South, Gardens by the Bay Singapore, partnered with Tokyo-based interior architects Strickland and NAO Taniyama Associates on the urban oasis at Grand Hyatt Singapore. Conceived during the pandemic, their focus was to create wellness gardens infused with a “life-force” that nurtures hotel guests, and promotes urban biodiversity.
Well, it certainly did wonders for me. Did I mention there was also a gleaming well-equipped fitness center (26 various machines) steps away from my room? For a fitness enthusiast like me, that’s grand. During my stay, I felt calmer, happier, in one simple word – well.
My Garden Studio room was a picture of serenity. It’s very “aman” (tranquil in Malay or Bahasa), in fact reminded me of an Aman room with its minimalist design, high-quality materials, luxurious bedding, modern comforts and, at 60-sqm, is spacious with high ceiling. There are only five Garden Studios and, from my experience, this new room type is a perfect resort hideaway, with city delights at the doorstep if you want them. The main problem for me was its faint lighting, although romantic couples may disagree.
The Terrace Wing has a total of 292 rooms, from an entry-level 42-sqm room to three Presidential Suites each spanning 252-sqm.
F&B evolution
It’s a pity Mezza9 is gone, although in F&B evolution, that’s probably necessary. Replacing Mezza9 is Le Pristine Singapore, the first in South-east Asia, helmed by Michelin-star chef Sergio Herman.
Thankfully, Pete’s Place is still standing. The Italian restaurant, an institution for families and friends in Singapore, has retained its rustic charm and cosiness, yet there’s a modern vibe to it. I dined there twice and it was livelier than ever before, and the service and food were better.
Two other favorites, StraitsKitchen, serving popular Asian dishes, and BRIX, a nightclub and bar with a live band, made a comeback.
Guests could also enjoy seafood on ice and BBQ dishes by the pool at Oasis Bar, which has an air-conditioned indoor area and outdoor seating.
The Grand Wing renovation is expected to be completed next year. But it’s already clear the transformation has positioned Grand Hyatt Singapore as a contender in the huge wellness market while retaining its stronghold as a five star leisure and corporate hotel in an enviable location.
The hotel has just launched a Grand Vitality membership, which gives members unlimited access to classic group classes; thermal-hydro facilities such as sauna, steam room, contrast therapy shower and air lounge hydro pool. Members also get free access to the outdoor wellness pool, semi Olympic-size lap pool, fitness center and outdoor cabanas in the gardens.
Available in one, three, six or 12 months, membership fees start from S$380 (US$284) excluding tax.
If you hear that I’m on a month”s break, you know where to find me.
