Category Archives: General

More hotel butlers at your service

Posted on 7 Oct 2009 | Comments Off on More hotel butlers at your service

Growing competition spurs hotels to provide personalised service

By Tessa Wong
Trainer Anthea Tan, 30, teaching Shatec trainee butlers Albbey Barcia Afable (left), 27, and Jeremy Kim, 24, how to pack a suitcase at St Regis hotel. Shatec yesterday launched a new three-month-long module to train butlers, to meet growing demand for such services. — ST PHOTO: AZIZ HUSSIN

IN A bid to gain an edge over the competition, hotels in Singapore have ramped up their butler services.

Instead of just shining shoes or making reservations, the butlers of today attend to a guest’s every need.

They will scour stores across the island for a favourite brand of shampoo, troubleshoot problems with a guest’s Blackberry or PC, and even fill a room with balloons for an extra special birthday touch. Continue reading →

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Standing tall

Posted on 6 Oct 2009 | Comments Off on Standing tall

Eight conserved buildings have been singled out for URA’s Architectural Heritage Awards.

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It was once the tallest building in South-east Asia. Now, dwarfed by modern skyscrapers that twist towards the heavens, the 20-storey Ascott Singapore Raffles Place hardly qualifies as a skyscraper.

But what the building, located in Finlayson Road in the Central Business District, lacks in height by current standards, it certainly makes up for in history.

The 54-year-old building was one of eight honoured at the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) Architectural Heritage Awards last night.

Senior Minister of State for National Development and Education, Ms Grace Fu, announced the winners at the People’s Association Headquarters, which was among the recipients of the annual award for conservation.

The People’s Association building is the former Victoria School, which has produced many famous students including President S R Nathan and past presidents Yusof Ishak and Devan Nair. The building in King George’s Avenue was built in 1933. Continue reading →

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