Ascott’s Judy Wong Reveals How Blended Travel Is Redefining Premium Hospitality and Business Stays in Singapore

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With the blended travel market projected to hit $1.7 trillion by 2032, how is this shift redefining the benchmark for premium urban hospitality in Singapore?

Blended travel is changing the way we think about the guest experience in Ascott properties across Singapore. We are seeing guests move more fluidly between work, leisure and longer stays, which means a premium urban stay needs to support more than location or polished service alone. At properties such as Oakwood Premier Raffles Place Singapore, this means creating an experience that gives guests comfort, flexibility and ease throughout the day. Whether they are moving between meetings, downtime, wellness routines or city exploration, our focus is on ensuring the property supports the different purposes of their trip within one seamless stay.

Why are today’s modern business travellers increasingly choosing residential-style layouts over traditional formal hotels?

From what we see in Ascott properties across Singapore, business travellers are increasingly looking for stays that give them more flexibility in how they use their space and time. Proximity to the business district remains important, but guests also want the ability to maintain their routines, work comfortably and unwind in an environment that feels less transient. At Oakwood Premier Raffles Place Singapore, this is reflected in the residential-style layouts, which are shaped by Oakwood’s “Home + Beyond” philosophy. The aim is to offer the comforts of home, elevated through hotel-style service, so guests can feel more settled during their stay.

How does Oakwood Premier Raffles Place successfully blend a relaxed, communal atmosphere with the high-productivity needs of a major financial district?

Oakwood Premier Raffles Place Singapore is located in the heart of the CBD, and many of our guests are here with demanding schedules. From the moment they arrive, the lobby is conceived as a refined “living room”, creating a warmer and more familiar first point of arrival. Beyond this, spaces such as Oak Reserve for Club guests, the Yoga Deck and the Garden Barbecue area give guests more varied settings to pause, connect, recharge or host during their stay. This balance is important to us. We want every guest to have a productive base in Raffles Place, while also having somewhere calm and familiar to return to at the end of the day.

How is the property utilising smart in-room tech and hybrid spaces to ensure guests can seamlessly transition from high-intensity work to downtime?

For us, technology is most effective when it is frictionless for guests. We believe that technology should enable, not complicate the guest experience. At Oakwood Premier Raffles Place Singapore, guests can manage pre-arrival and in-stay requests through the ASR App, while Wi-Fi 6 connectivity across shared and workspaces supports those who need to stay productive throughout the day. In-room, sensor-based automation also helps reduce unnecessary energy use, reflecting how technology can support both convenience and more responsible stays.

At the same time, the property is designed with spaces that help guests move naturally between work and downtime. Select rooms have dedicated workstations and comfortable living areas, with stowaway tables that offer added flexibility, whether as an extension of the work desk or dining table, or tucked away to create more open space for simple in-room stretching or workouts. Spaces such as Oak Reserve also offer a quieter setting for focused work, informal conversations or a pause between meetings. The aim is to make each transition feel seamless, whether guests are preparing for the day, taking a call, resetting after work or winding down in the evening.

What specific features at the new Raffles Place property are receiving the most positive feedback from travellers looking to maintain their everyday routines?

With Oakwood Premier Raffles Place Singapore, our focus has been on creating a stay experience that supports the everyday routines of today’s travellers from the outset. This comes through in residential-style rooms, dedicated workspaces and kitchenettes, especially for those staying longer or balancing different needs in one trip. The Oak Room also supports the morning routine with a comfortable breakfast setting before guests move into meetings or city plans. The property is also equipped with fitness amenities such as the gym, outdoor fitness facilities, 400m jogging track, swimming pool and a 50m sprint track, to help guests maintain familiar routines while away from home. Our Oakwood brand initiatives also offer a suite of additional experiences across various guest touchpoints – from welcome moments to in-room offerings and signature programmes which blend work, leisure and local connection. Refreshed quarterly, they are designed to guests to feel at home and support them in maintaining their daily fitness and reset routines.