Changi Airport Group (CAG) has awarded SGX Mainboard-listed OUE Limited (OUE) the tender for the lease and development of a new hotel to be located at Changi Airport Terminal 2 (T2). To be named Hotel Indigo Changi Airport, this will be the first zero-energy hotel in Singapore, expected to be fully operational by 2028.
A zero-energy hotel (aka a net-zero hotel) is built on the principles of sustainability and achieves energy self-sufficiency.
In a media release, Lee Seow Hiang, Chief Executive Officer of CAG, said, “The hotel concept proposed by OUE was the most compelling and [it] promises to be the first zero-energy hotel in Singapore, and possibly the first for an airport hotel in the world.”
The statement added: “With travel demand continuing to soar and passenger traffic growing beyond pre-COVID levels, the new hotel will elevate the hospitality offerings at Changi Airport. It will serve our visitors well with its differentiated facilities and convenient access to T2.
“We congratulate OUE on being awarded the tender and look forward to a close partnership in the coming years to bring the idea for Hotel Indigo Changi Airport to life.”
Brian Riady, Deputy Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director of OUE, said, “We are very honoured to be awarded this opportunity to develop a new hotel at Changi Airport, a globally renowned aviation hub that is synonymous with innovation and excellence.”
He added: “We look forward to continuing our long-standing partnership with CAG, and to introducing fresh and innovative hospitality concepts to visitors of Changi Airport.”
Hotel Indigo Changi Airport features
- The 255-room, 163-metre-long hotel will feature innovative design elements and modern facilities, including a rooftop day club, bar and infinity pool offering panoramic views of the runway, airport boulevard and skyline.
- With layers of lush rainforest and hanging epiphytes stretching over seven storeys, its design will be centred around the concept of a “Floating Forest”.
- The new hotel will complement the existing hotels on Changi Airport’s landside, including YOTELAIR at Jewel Changi Airport and the award-winning Crowne Plaza Changi Airport located at Terminal 3, which is also owned and leased by OUE Group.
- With sustainability as a core component, Hotel Indigo Changi Airport aims to achieve operational energy neutrality by incorporating sustainability features such as solar photovoltaic panels, hybrid cooling systems, naturally ventilated corridors and rainwater-harvesting technology aimed at reducing environmental impact while enhancing overall guest comfort and well-being.
“By combining energy-efficient design with low-energy operations while maximising on-site solar energy generation, Hotel Indigo Changi Airport marks a major milestone for OUE, as we continually strive to find more sustainable ways to conduct our business,” said Riady.
The tourism sector in Singapore has seen a rebound from pandemic levels and is expected to continue to attract visitors as the country remains a key destination for leisure and MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions).
Singapore visitor arrivals surged 115 per cent to 13.6 million in 2023 from 6.3 million in 2022, with tourism receipts estimated to be between SGD 24.5 billion and SGD 26 billion.
The strong tourism recovery is expected to continue, with both international visitor arrivals and tourism receipts to climb further in 2024, according to the Singapore Tourism Board.