European luxury hotelier Kempinski Hotels has been appointed by Perennial Real Estate Holdings to run The Capitol Kempinski Hotel Singapore at Capitol Singapore. Just last month, Kempinski launched the beautifully restored Gran Hotel Manzana Kempinski La Habana in Cuba and it beggared belief that the luxury capitol of Southeast Asia had not yet been home to a Kempinski hotel. Now, it has.

Luxury hotelier Kempinski will run Perennial’s hotel at Capitol Singapore

In terms of heritage, the new Capitol Kempinski Hotel Singapore is no slouch to its Kempinski La Habana counterpart. Capitol Theatre, one of a trio of heritage buildings, was commissioned in 1929 by Persian businessman Mirza Mohammed Ali Namazie of the prominent Namazie family. Together with Shirazee, an Indian-Muslim community leader and the South African brothers, Joe and Julius Fisher, Capitol Theatre became one of the premier neoclassical design cinemas run by First National Pictures.

“Combining the rich heritage of Capitol Singapore with the finest traditions of European hospitality, The Capitol Kempinski Hotel Singapore is set to become a landmark destination which will redefine service standards and create exquisite guest experiences.” – Pua Seck Guan, CEO of Perennial

The interior of a Kempinski hotel will typically adopt the geographical and cultural flavour where its situated, like this offering in sandy Dubai.

Capitol Building, where The Capitol Kempinski Hotel Singapore will be housed, is historically known as Namazie Mansions. Completed in 1930 by architecture firm Keys & Dowdeswell and built as an extension of Capitol Theatre, with the same eclectic neo-classical aesthetic. After a series of dramatic turns and cancelled projects, local newspaper – The Straits Times, reported that the Capitol Building will be redeveloped along with its stretch of adjoining buildings – Capitol Theatre, Capitol Centre and Stamford House in 2009, by 2011, the mixed use multiplex became known as “Capitol Development”. Today, Capitol Singapore is home to the Capitol Piazza, an integrated luxury shopping and dining destination with the high end condo – the Eden Residences Capitol.

The Capitol Kempinski Hotel Singapore will comprise 157 guest rooms and suites, situated within the restored Capitol Building and Stamford House. According to Perennial Real Estate Holdings, the Kempinski’s first hotel in Singapore will also feature an international restaurant under the helm of a Michelin-starred chef.

Interestingly, the Capitol Building and Stamford House were refurbished and scheduled to reopen as a six-star hotel known as The Patina, Capitol Singapore by the end of 2015, however, the launch was mired in delays and disputes. When Perennial Real Estate announced it was taking full ownership of Capitol Singapore from Chesham Properties’ for S$129 million, over 15 hotel groups made their pitch of the iconic hotel. Earlier May 2018, Perennial completed their acquisition of Chesham’s 50% and Kempinski was selected shortly thereafter.

The Capitol Kempinski Hotel Singapore’s full range of services will be made available over the course of several phases towards the end of 2018, starting with the hotel’s services in September 2018