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SINGAPORE: Singapore is hoping to leverage on its solid infrastructure and hotel industry to attract firms keen to test out new technologies. The aim is to help keep its hotel sector ahead of the curve and boost its tourism industry.
Tourism in Singapore has seen a slowdown in recent months as consumers tightened their belts in the credit crunch.
Asia currently accounts for 30 per cent of the world's high net worth individuals. This number is estimated to be growing at a pace of nine per cent per year.
Industry watchers said that Singapore is an ideal location to try out the hotels of tomorrow.
Robert Mcintosh, director, Asia Pacific, CBRE Hotels, said: "Singapore has a great opportunity to develop new ideas. You've got a great infrastructure here, great technology and the right type of people here to do things.
"And with government support, there are lots of different ways to develop hotels of the future that could work out of Singapore."
Combining hospitality with healthcare is one of the future hotel developments the Economic Development Board (EDB) is looking at.
This could bring hotels, nutritional companies, or even hospitals together, as increasing numbers of patients look for recovery alternatives.
Other developments include environmentally-friendly and high-tech features.
At the moment, hoteliers in Singapore may be limited to the type of interior they can offer to their guests. But as the EDB looks to work with a number of companies on projects such as ambient technologies, paintings and even rooms could change depending on guest preference.
Evon Phua, deputy director, consumer business, EDB, said: "We've got hotels that have opened up their facilities to work with consumer electronic companies to test out ambient technology. So it will be a high-tech environment to test out new consumer electronics - wiring out the new hotel so that's the new technology." - CNA/vm
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