This Hotel GM has 1,080 Rooms in Singapore to Fill Come Jan 2022
Cedric Nubul, general manager, Hilton Singapore Orchard
Artist impression of one of five F&B concepts at the new Hilton. Source: Hilton Hotels
By Raini Hamdi, September 19, 2021
Hilton Hotels has appointed Cedric Nubul as general manager of its largest hotel in Asia-Pacific, the new Hilton Singapore Orchard, which is taking reservations for January 1 onwards.
The property, currently the Mandarin Orchard, is undergoing a S$150 million (US$111 million) renovation. It offers 1,080 “botanical-inspired” rooms, five F&B concepts and 16 event spaces, including two pillarless ballrooms.
Competition for roomnights, F&B dollars, and wedding and meeting revenues will be aggressive along Singapore’s famous shopping belt, Orchard Road. Hilton has a 50-year-history there with the property that’s iconic for the giant Chinese warrior statues guarding it. This will be rebranded a Voco hotel, IHG’s “premium” brand. It is also taking reservations for January 1 onwards.
A new brand always has some “novelty” factor. Voco Orchard Singapore is smaller, 423 rooms versus the more than 1,000 rooms at the new Hilton, owned by OUE, which will expect a lot of Hilton. This is the first time OUE is appointing outside management for the hotel.
The pressure is also higher as Hilton is opening its largest hotel in Asia-Pacific when it’s still uncertain if Singapore will fully open in 2022.
It’s no surprise that Hilton has brought in one of its decorated stalwarts for the job. Nubul has worked with the chain for more than 20 years, knows how to work the system and get the best out of the asset. He also has a strong experience in hotel conversions, Hilton said.
Nubul’s career as GM over the past eight years traversed the Caribbean and Colombia. He also previously worked across France, Spain, Italy, Maldives, and Malaysia. In the Americas, he was Hilton’s General Manager of the Year and won the President’s Excellence in Leadership Award.
“Hilton Singapore Orchard will set a new bar for hospitality in Singapore from day one of our opening,” Nubul vowed.
Meanwhile, IHG too will be fighting tooth-and-nail for performance, the Voco Orchard being its first Voco hotel in South-east Asia and owned by Singapore tycoon Ong Beng Seng of HPL. Aside from 423 rooms, it has four restaurants and bars, and 12 meeting rooms.
IHG did not announce a renovation plan to go with the rebranding, just a “smooth transition” to Voco. But a spokesperson said the hotel will undergo “staggered renovation”. A capex splurge during the pandemic is unlikely; it’s more of a smart nip-and-tuck and off you go. After all, the idea for Voco is quick conversion, with IHG highlighting its “conversion-friendly” nature as being attractive for owners, particularly in this crisis. IHG said it signed and opened 50 Voco hotels in 20 countries since the brand debut in 2018, its fastest-ever brand expansion.
Hilton can expect its former place to be a worthy competitor.
