Amara Undertakes Its Biggest Asset Refurbishment Singapore Over 20 Years
Amara Holdings, a renowned hotel and property developer, is nearing completion of the extensive renovation of its 38-year-old flagship hotel, Amara Singapore, by September. The past 12 months have been dedicated to updating the 389-key hotel located at 100 Tras Street in Tanjong Pagar.
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The first phase of refurbishments was completed in April, with all rooms receiving upgrades including sustainable features such as energy-efficient air-conditioning, motion sensor lighting, and in-room filtered water taps. The interiors were designed by renowned hospitality design firm Studio HBA, a division of Hirsch Bedner Associates, taking inspiration from the eclectic Tanjong Pagar neighbourhood.
The revamped Amara Singapore incorporates elements from the area’s traditional hawker stalls at Tanjong Pagar Plaza, built in 1976, as well as the 19th century conservation shophouses and heritage trees in nearby Duxton Plain Park. COO of Amara Holdings, Dawn Teo, who is also the daughter of CEO, director, and substantial shareholder Albert Teo, wants the hotel to be the social epicentre of the neighbourhood.
Dawn explains that the redesigned Amara Singapore caters to the new trend of “bleisure travelers” who combine business and leisure travel. The hotel also caters to meetings, incentives, conventions, and events in the CBD, with the ballroom and function rooms undergoing renovations in May to cater to this market.
This latest refurbishment of the Amara Holdings’ flagship hotel is not just a routine asset enhancement exercise for the company, but a reinvigoration of their commitment to luxury and innovation while honoring their roots as one of the first hotels in the Tanjong Pagar area to cater to business travelers. Teo Joo Lai, the founder and builder of Amara Singapore, opened the hotel in May 1986. The name “Amara” means “eternity” in Sanskrit.
Dawn is the first member of the fourth generation to join the family business, with her father taking over after Teo Joo Lai’s passing in 1988. Her great-grandfather, Teo Teck Huat, founded the company in the 1930s. Originally a construction company known as Teo Teck Huat Group, they were involved in projects such as the former Cathay Cinema on Orchard Road. Amara Holdings was listed on the Singapore Exchange in 1997 and remains listed today.
In 2000, the original Amara Singapore underwent a major renovation, including the addition of a 12-story corporate office block. In 2011, the former Amara Shopping Centre was revamped and rebranded as 100 AM, with anchor tenants including Muji, Daiso, and FairPrice Finest. With upcoming residential projects in the CBD, Dawn expects increased foot traffic on weekends at 100 AM. The group’s flagship resort hotel, Amara Sanctuary Sentosa, underwent a comprehensive renovation in January and officially reopened in June.
The group has hotels in Bangkok and Shanghai, with Amara Bangkok opening in 2015 and Amara Signature Shanghai, their first five-star offering, opening in 2018. The 343-room hotel is adjacent to 100 AM Shanghai, a 113,021 sq ft commercial complex with an office tower and retail mall. The property was acquired in 1996, and the hotel group is now selectively looking at expansion opportunities in key gateway cities in the Asia Pacific region.