Singapore’s Fullerton Hotels & Resorts will look at opportunities beyond Sydney, and beyond Australia, as the upmarket hotel group mulls expanding its collection of heritage-focused properties to new markets.
In Sydney this week to oversee the work commencing on the exterior remediation process of the historic 1874-built General Post Office (GPO), is General Manager of Fullerton Hotels and Resorts, Cavaliere Giovanni Viterale. Currently home to The Westin Sydney, the five-star hotel will be rebranded in October as The Fullerton Hotel Sydney, the Singaporean company’s first move outside the city-state.
Speaking exclusively with LATTE, Viterale confirmed Fullerton has been wanting to grow beyond Singapore for “quite a number of years”.
“We’re always looking at regions and locations to make sure that the Fullerton brand can expand into the right cities around the world. We are in fact, constantly looking for opportunities. If there’s anything that we think fits into our brand and location, we will definitely look at it,” Viterale told LATTE.
He confirmed Hong Kong was being closely evaluated. Although GPOs and buildings with history are of strong appeal, Viterale said it wasn’t fundamental.
“We are looking at properties that not necessarily have to be heritage”.
Viterale said Australia is the number one market in Singapore for Fullerton Hotels, where it has operated The Fullerton Hotel (since 2001) and The Fullerton Bay Hotel (opened in 2010).
“It’s been that way for at least the last 10 years. Typically, the average stay for Australians is 2 – 2.5 nights, but visits are not restricted to the rooms,” Viterale says, with Aussies enjoying the property’s Sunday brunches and dining facilities, as well as the complimentary historic guided tours on offer.
Fullerton Hotels & Resorts are affiliated with Preferred Hotels & Resorts.
Read more about the remediation work taking place at The Fullerton Hotel Sydney in LATTE‘s exclusive one-on-one interview with Viterale, here.