‘BLEISURE’ AND THE PULLMAN PULL
On launching the first Pullman in Singapore, Kerry Healy, chief commercial officer of Accor’s Premium, Midscale & Economy division in Middle East, Africa, Turkey and Asia Pacific said: “The reality is, [we aim to] open about one hotel a day as Accor. There are over 40 brands under Accor and Pullman is a brand that we’ve been driving very hard across Asia Pacific. We’re always looking to bring in new brands where it makes sense, with the right opportunity and right location. So when this opportunity came up on Orchard Road, it was a no brainer.”
The shopping and entertainment district of Orchard Road is the perfect location for the Pullman brand, Healy added. “Pullman is really about work-life balance. It’s about removing those lines between work and play. It very much speaks to the entrepreneurial mindset. It doesn’t necessarily mean you have to be a digital nomad, but just in terms of how you like to travel, what you like to do when you’re in a destination and the way in which you structure your workday.”
The pandemic has accelerated the desire among many to combine business travel with leisure purposes in order to get more out of a destination, Healy added. “We see the term ‘bleisure’ a lot, where more people are working remotely or have the flexibility to work from anywhere. At Pullman Singapore Orchard, you’re in the heart of the city, at the heart of a shopping and dining zone.”
In the second half of 2023, the brand will also launch Pullman Singapore Hill Street – its second property in the country. Pullman Singapore Hill Street will comprise 336 rooms, 14 suites, an executive lounge, event spaces as well as leisure facilities. These include a fitness gym, outdoor pool as well as a Japanese izakaya and Mexican restaurant. In addition, the rooftop bar will offer views over Fort Canning, the Singapore River and St Andrew’s Cathedral.
Other notable Pullman openings coming up in the Asia-Pacific region include Pullman Hai Phong in Hanoi, Vietnam, and Pullman Auckland International Airport in New Zealand, both opening in 2024. Pullman Jakarta International Airport is scheduled to open in 2027.
