Retailers, hoteliers looking forward to SEA Games boost in 2015

SINGAPORE: Singapore is no stranger to hosting major sports events, having most recently hosted the inaugural Youth Olympic Games in 2010.

The Orchard Road Business Association said shops along Orchard Road enjoyed a three to five per cent boost in sales during the YOG, and they are optimistic of a similar spike when the 2015 SEA Games rolls around — especially since it will coincide with the Great Singapore Sale.

Steven Goh, executive director of ORBA, said: “I think this is a good opportunity to target these regional travellers. In the past two years, we see an increase in Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, Philippine as well as Malaysia — neighbouring countries’ visitors are visiting Orchard Road quite often.

“I would estimate that it will be at least two or three times more (in 2015) and this will be good for us that we can work ahead and plan special privileges and promotions to target this group of visitors.”

This could come in the form of tie-ups among businesses to offer packaged promotions that include shopping, dining and hotel stays.

With the games in Singapore, local residents may decide to stay home during the mid-year holidays, instead of travelling — and retailers said they are bracing themselves for the increase in shoppers.

Dr Jannie Chan, president of the Singapore Retailers Association, said: “Manpower shortage is always a problem even on an ordinary day — so if we expect more, it depends on where we can get more manpower, which seems unlikely. So we just have to find out how we can train our staff to serve better and be more productive and efficient.”

The SEA Games could bring a boost to the hotel industry — come 2015, it is likely there will not be an athletes village for the 7,000 athletes and officials coming to Singapore. Instead, organisers are thinking of housing them in hotels in the central area or near the new Sports Hub in Kallang.

Margaret Heng, executive director of the Singapore Hotel Association, said: “It all depends — during the period when the delegates come to Singapore, the two weeks period, whether there are any other competing events taking place. If there isn’t, then I think it might just be about the same.

“That means generally, June is a good month for the industry. So it’s quite hard at this point in time for me to say that it will go up by 10 percentage points or five percentage points, but I do see it to be a healthy month for the industry.”

With an additional 10,000 hotel rooms expected to come on stream by 2015, the Singapore Hotel Association believes that supply will meet demand, even during this peak period.

Ms Heng added: “Some of them are near where the Sports Hub is and there are some of course, around the fringe in the area, and some in Beach Road itself. So it’s quite near to the Sports Hub area.”

Retailers, hoteliers looking forward to SEA Games boost in 2015