Ravi Chandran
Knight Frank Singapore on Oct 17, announced the launch of Hotel Compass, a freehold hotel comprising a total of 49 rooms, for sale by public tender. Knight Frank is the exclusive marketing agent for Hotel Compass.
Hotel Compass is an 8-storey hotel with a site area of 436.90 sq m (approximately 4,703 sq ft). Under the 2014 Master Plan, the site is zoned “Commercial/Institution” with a Gross Plot Ratio of 2.8 and has a Gross Floor Area of approximately 1,486.4 sq m (approximately 16,000 sq ft). Hotel Compass is located in close proximity to Aljunied MRT station on the East-West Line and Mountbatten MRT Station on the Circle Line. Hotel Compass is within a 20-minute drive from both the Central Business District and Changi International Airport.
Mr Ian Loh, Head of Investment and Capital Markets, Knight Frank Singapore, says, “Hospitality is a very well sought-after asset class in Singapore, and the hotel is ideal both for investors and end-users with its palatable sale quantum. Furthermore, the property is only a short drive to the rejuvenated Paya Lebar commercial hub, where hotel guests can enjoy a wide array of leisure, entertainment and dining amenities at the upcoming PLQ Mall, SingPost Centre, Paya Lebar Square and Kinex Mall.”
Ms Sharon Lee, Head of Auction and Sales, Knight Frank Singapore, shares, “There will be no Additional Buyer’s Stamp Duty and Seller’s Stamp Duty payable for the commercial property, with both foreigners and companies eligible to purchase the asset. This presents a rare opportunity to acquire a standalone hotel and commercial building with high visibility from the main road and in a locale with rich architectural heritage.”
The guide price for the Hotel Compass is S$23 million to S$25 million, with the tender set to close on Friday, 1 November 2019, at 2.00 pm.
A recent JLL report said that Singapore hotel investment volumes set for new high of S$2.5 billion in 2019. Singapore hotel investment volumes will be buoyed by increasing tourist arrivals, infrastructure developments and limited hotel supply.
Singapore is on course to close out 2019 with record high hotel transaction volumes of S$2.5 billion with a number of deals expected to close before the year ends, according to JLL.
“According to the “Destinations 2030: Global Cities’ Readiness for Tourism Growth” report by JLL, it ranked Singapore as a city with one of the most balanced dynamics in terms of readiness for future tourism growth. This includes established infrastructure, and potential for travel and tourism growth, which is evident with the string of new tourism initiatives recently laid out by the government. In anticipation of the future tourism growth, the expansion of Changi Airport will see the construction of the new Terminal 5, which will significantly increase the airport’s current capacity from 82 million to 135 million when completed in the 2030s.”
The latest research from the global real estate consulting firm reveals that Singapore’s hospitality industry has seen an uptick in properties changing hands, including the sale of existing assets and land sites, totalling approximately S$1.7 billion so far this year.
“Hotel supply in the next three years is expected to remain relatively limited, growing at a compound annual growth rate (“CAGR”) of 0.7% from end-2019 to end-2022. By comparison, the future supply growth is anticipated to be slower than the 4.2% CAGR registered during the three-year period from end-2015 to end-2018, emphasising the potential for further upward trading performance.”
Singapore hotel investment volumes set to benefit from the Republic being viewed as a safe haven destination by investors.
“Despite ongoing geopolitical uncertainty, there remains a strong weight of global capital seeking opportunities in what our investors perceive as safe haven destinations. As a key global gateway city, Singapore remains high on our clients’ radar, largely supported by its positive trading performance, strong visitor arrivals and new tourism initiatives,” explains Nihat Ercan, Managing Director, Head of Investment Sales Asia, JLL Hotels & Hospitality.
“Overall, the hotel sector remains resilient with market-wide RevPAR remaining relatively unchanged y-o-y at SGD 186 as at YTD July 2019, according to the STB. Notably, occupancy reached at 93.8% in July, the highest ever recorded in a month since STB began tracking market-wide trading performance in 2005.”
In September, JLL advised OUE Limited in an agreement to sell Oakwood Premier OUE Singapore at S$289 million, the largest hotel transaction in Singapore to date this year. The buyers are joint venture firms formed by Hong Kong financial services firm AMTD Group and hotel operator Dorsett Hospitality International, a subsidiary of Hong Kong-listed property giant Far East Consortium International.
“This deal represents the unwavering investor confidence in Singapore,” says Mr Ercan. “The city’s hotel sector remains resilient with average room rates per night and occupancy levels staying positive. Notably, occupancy registered at 93.8 per cent in July 2019, the highest monthly level since 2005.”
With the island nation attracting more than 11.1 million visitors in the first seven months of 2019, tourism is expected to continue to support hotel trading performance. Major inbound source markets showing notable year-on-year growth during the period include China (+5.2 per cent), Japan (+7.3 per cent), the Philippines (+6.0 per cent) and the U.S. (+11.5 per cent), according to Singapore Tourism Board’s latest figures.
The local government has also put in place several infrastructure developments, including plans to introduce new attractions at The Greater Southern Waterfront, the expansion of Marina Bay Sands and Resorts World Sentosa, as well as a new eco-tourism hub in Mandai, and an integrated tourism development at Jurong Lake District.
Singapore hotel investment volumes set to rise with the overall outlook for Singapore’s tourism sector being positive.
