From sky-high thrills to land-based attractions and waterborne outings, Singapore brims with unique venues and experiences for groups.
Acrophobics beware: Singaporeans have a head for heights. Taking advantage of many of Singapore’s unique off-site venues requires a long elevator ride up or a capsule ride around, in the case of the Singapore Flyer (www.singaporeflyer.com), the world’s largest giant observation wheel, rising over 450 feet high.
The Flyer’s 28 capsules not only boast 360-degree views of the ever-evolving Singapore skyline, but also host anything from meetings to networking sessions.
“The capsules’ spacious nature allows guests to fit in a projector for presentations, meetings and product launches or be set up in a boardroom style or a table for 10 for a fine-dining lunch or dinner onboard using our Full Butler Sky Dining experience,” says Jeff Tan, senior sales and marketing director for the Singapore Flyer. “For a more casual session with the plush quotient still intact, there are three special Sky Bar-themed capsules where guests can choose to indulge in a flute of Moet & Chandon champagne, a Singapore Flyer signature cocktail or the iconic Singapore Sling.”
For larger groups, guests can opt for alternate venues such as the 300-seat Megu Event Hall, the Sky Deck for up to 250, one of two Bayview function rooms with views of Marina Bay, or the Greek Theatre amphitheater.
“The Flyer Lounge is another unique venue for its intimate and classy settings, with an alfresco area that opens out to the Marina Bay skyline,” Tan says.
Each of the venues allows guests to customize their packages.
“With the Singapore Flyer being a transit hub to key tour operators such as Duck & HiPPo and City Tours Singapore, guests can choose to bundle components of Sky Land Sea for their events,” Tan says. “Namely, Sky, represented with a scenic flight atop the Flyer; Land, an open-top bus tour around the city; and Sea, a leisurely river cruise down the Singapore River.”
Aside from the Singapore Flyer, rooftop venues throughout Singapore lead groups to dizzying heights.
“Since the coming on of Marina Bay Sands, we’ve been getting a lot of requests from groups who want views,” says Janet Tan-Collis, chief executive of East West Executive Travellers, a Singapore-based DMC.
Marina Bay Sands (www.marinabaysands.com) is home to Sands SkyPark, which soars some 656 feet above the ground and spans 14,500 square feet of space. The Sands SkyPark Public Observation Deck is available for groups and overlooks the nightly Wonder Full sound and light show. The Sands SkyPark also features Sky on 57 restaurant, Ku De Ta club lounge and a 500-foot infinity swimming pool.
Singapore is filled with rooftop bars and restaurants.
“A lot of private clubs like China Club and Tower Club have views,” Tan-Collis says.
The members-only China Club Singapore (www.chinaclub.com.sg) sits atop the 52nd floor of The Capital Tower building, located in the Central Business District. The China Club is surrounded by 52-foot-tall glass walls with views across Singapore. Groups can arrange lunch or dinner at the Pavilion Rooms, drinks at Long March Bar or networking options in the private rooms.
Tower Club (www.tower-club.com.sg) on the 62nd and 64th penthouse floors of the Republic Plaza building, offers a selection of 11 private dining and meeting rooms with picture windows taking in 360-degree views of downtown and Marina Bay.
Groups can also utilize 1-Altitude (www.1-altitude.com), an all-in-one venue. The open-air Gallery & Bar on Level 63 sits 925 feet above street level, granting unobstructed 360-degree views of the Singapore skyline and beyond to the Indonesian island of Batam. Venue 282 on Level 61 not only shows sports news and matches on its LCD screens, but also offers an indoor interactive golf simulator that is available to groups.
At the Fullerton Bay Hotel (www.fullertonbayhotel.com/dining-en.html), The Lantern rooftop bar takes in views of Marina Bay and features couches, champagne and a resident Latin band. The Fullerton Building, built in 1928, previously served as Singapore’s general post office. Its Lighthouse restaurant also offers views and group options.
Helipad (www.helipad.com.sg), a two-story rooftop bar and dance club, overlooks the Singapore River and bustling Clarke Quay, a restaurant and nightlife hub. The recently renovated, 6,000-square-foot club is available for corporate events.
Another group-friendly venue, LeVeL33 (www.level33.com.sg), located in the penthouse of the Marina Bay Financial Centre, is the world’s highest urban craft brewery.
New Asia Bar (www.swissotel.com) at the Swissotel The Stamford Singapore towers 71 floors above the city skyline and can be used by groups.
Another popular rooftop is The Terrace at the Screening Room (www.screeningroom.com.sg) on Ann Siang Hill, according to Jasmine Ho, events director for The MasterPlan, a Singapore-based events consulting company. The Screening Room’s different floors each sport varying themes and offer a fusion of film, food and nightlife.
Groups can take advantage of Making Movies @ The Screening Room, an interactive, video-based team-building experience for groups of up to 30 people. During the course of one half-day session, team members plan, rehearse and act out a series of three- to five-minute acting segments, which are videotaped, edited and then screened for the group.
Ho also books groups at ION Sky (www.ionorchard.com/en) in the ION Mall on Orchard Road, soaring 715 feet high and featuring two floors that span 12,000 square feet, including an observatory with 360-degree views, an event space and celebrity chef Luke Mangan’s Salt Grill & Sky Bar restaurant. ION is also home to an art gallery.
Stepping down from the rooftops, the Lion City offers plenty in the way of offbeat options, not too surprising for a place whose symbol, the Merlion, is a mythical creature with the body of a fish and the head of a lion.
“Groups always want to see the Merlion,” Ho says. “I always recommend they take the river cruise, which is one of Singapore’s better tours.”
Singapore River Cruise (www.rivercruise.com.sg) offers river taxis for charter, passing the Merlion statue, Clarke Quay, Boat Quay and Robertson Quay.
Another water-bound option, the luxury yacht Nymphaea (www.yacht-singapore.com) is a 108-foot floating villa moored in Sentosa. The yacht cruises Singapore’s Southern islands and anchors at St John’s island for a gourmet lunch, dinner or cocktail service. The yacht, which holds up to 50 for a cruise or 60 for a dockside event, is equipped with projectors, kayaks, fishing rods and a karaoke machine.
Singapore’s liveliest annual event, the F1 Singapore Grand Prix in September, caters to VIPs with its Singapore Formula 1 Paddock Club (www.f1corporate.com/f1-races/singapore), featuring private lounges, complimentary champagne and views from atop the pit lanes. The club is also available other times of year.
Two different hospitality options are available for the Paddock Club: a dedicated private suite catering to groups of 100 or more, as well as shared suites that offer greater hosting flexibility. The Paddock Club, located in the Pit Building, also offers access to the Pit Lane and the Paddock Club Lifestyle Area, with entertainment, bars and a spa. Groups can also use the Temasek Suite for launch events and parties.
For a more serene setting, the Singapore Botanic Gardens (www.sbg.org.sg), founded in 1822, boasts the famed National Orchid Garden. Burkill Hall, built in 1866, overlooks the orchid expanse and can be used for receptions. Another option, the Botany Centre’s function hall and function room are open to groups and offer access to nearby Swan Lake and the Saraca Stream Walk.
Siloso Beach on Sentosa Island (www.sentosa.com.sg/en) features the Sapphire Pavilion, offering ocean views and accommodating 800 for a sit-down function or 1,000 standing. Another option is the Sentosa Pavilion, which sits on the edge of the scenic Serapong Golf course at Sentosa Golf Club.
According to Ho, the clubhouse at the ninth hole was converted to venue space.
“Incentives can play to the 9th hole then have a cocktail break for networking and continue playing until the 18th hole, where they can have dinner,” Ho says.
Groups can also use the Glass House, standing on the tranquil eastern coast of Sentosa Island within Sentosa Cove, replete with a backdrop of the South China Sea.
Meanwhile, East West Executive Travellers can arrange team-building options such as cooking classes and wine-pairing instruction.
“We can go to a hawker stall and bring wines,” Tan-Collis says. “We take European or North American wines and focus on the discovery of the Asian palate over the wine tasting.”
The company can also arrange corporate social responsibility events such as batik painting or bicycle making, donating the materials or finished works to a charity such as Boys Town communities in nearby Malaysia.
