Hotel of the week: Hotel Jen Tanglin, Singapore - TravelMole


Hotel of the week: Hotel Jen Tanglin, Singapore

Friday, 28 Feb, 2016 0
 
On my frequent trips to Singapore I tend to gravitate as far away as possible from the glitzy malls of Orchard Road. This is purely a defence mechanism to ensure I return home solvent having skillfully resisted the temptation for an epic retail blowout. I normally seek out a stay in a boutique hotel in Little India or perhaps a shophouse style hip hostel close to Chinatown. But this time I found myself drawn back to The Orchard Road area. For this I have to thank Hotel Jen. ‘Jen’ is the new face of Traders Hotels, a well known name with a long history in Singapore and Asia Pacific. It is itself part of the Shangri-la Hotels and Resorts. It is not only a new brand refresh but a wholly new and quite unique concept. It is fronted by the virtual persona Jen, ‘a professional hotelier and all-time lover of life, travel and discovery.’
 
 
It is an enticing idea that I was itching to see for myself. The 565-room Hotel Jen Tanglin is essentially a brand new hotel (courtesy of an extensive SGD45 million makeover) and first impressions were quite striking. There is quirky Instagram-worthy artwork on show, something that is right up my street. It’s an oddly compelling mix of pop art style graffiti and a healthy obsession with the humble bicycle (see photo below). Echoing what was to become an overriding theme during my weekend stay, check-in was swift and informal, and within minutes I was stretching out in my 17th floor room which was to be my Singapore home for the next two nights.
 
The Club Room I stayed in featured Hotel Jen’s new palette of rich brown, yellow and golden hues. The view overlooking the pool was a delightful surprise, framed by a large bay window. The very functional layout is an obvious nod toward the hotel’s core business travel clientele with versatile desk space and connectivity. However there is much to like for leisure travellers too. There is a stylish mixture of textures at play, with intricate mosaic style tiling, warm fabrics and a splash or ornate gold. While there was still the just-new feel to the room following the transformation from Traders, it certainly wasn’t lacking in character.  After a fairly arduous flight over to Singapore the huge ‘floating bed’ effortlessly eased away those travel aches and pains.
 
 
For me it’s often those little touches that make all the difference and the warm and inviting Hotel Jen persona comes shining through on the in-room literature and post-it note style messages. There is definitely a concerted focus on personalization and I imagine it is something time poor, travel weary business travellers can also relate to.
 
Just steps away from the room was the bright and airy Club Lounge, an alternative spot for morning breakfast or cocktails and canapés in the evening. There was a constant quiet hush throughout my weekend stay, which I imagine becomes much more business like during the working week. I’ve seen the recent trend for ‘residential style’ hotel executive lounges which can sometimes feel a little overbearing and cluttered. Not so at Hotel Jen, which keeps things simple and subtle.    
 
There are two main onsite eateries at Hotel Jen – the poolside Ah Hoi’s Kitchen and J65 located at lobby level. The latter is a large open plan signature social hub that elevates itself beyond Singapore’s crowded hotel dining scene with a quirky mix of vibrant art. My much anticipated Sunday Champagne Brunch at J65 didn’t disappoint. It is a comprehensive and cultured affair covering all the bases. An extensive carvery, show kitchen and mountains of fresh seafood were all artily presented buffet style. Note to self: next time go easy at breakfast and don’t even think about a blow-out meal later in the evening.
 
 
The lobby level itself, when considering the number of rooms, is incredibly compact with most of the ground floor taken up by J65, and an adjacent ‘on-the-go’ café and snack bar. The fuss free open layout makes for a relaxed, intimate social hub and gathering spot with a soundtrack of hushed chatter.  
 
The hotel’s second floor is where flustered folks go to unwind after a heavy business session or a retail blow-out. The expansive open air pool offers respite from the heat and hubbub of city life and is fringed by a well equipped gym and spa. An early morning dip was just the tonic following the previous day’s gluttony although my energy levels didn’t quite extend to a workout in the gym this time. 
 
The hotel has its own unique brand of quirky style, coupled with textbook contemporary comforts. It is a place that will surely add a little spice to a staid business meeting and I can imagine the hotel will fast become a go-to spot for small scale creative events and fashionable social gatherings. It is located on Cuscaden Street, itself a quiet thoroughfare, yet just minutes’ stroll from the Orchard Road malls. Hipster haven Dempsey Hill is also within a brisk 20 minute stroll of the hotel.
 
In a world of impersonal cookie-cutter experiences that the big hotels seem to specialize in, it’s comforting to have a new best friend in ‘Jen’ during a visit to the Lion City.
 
 
by Ray Montgomery
 


 

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TravelMole Editorial Team

Editor for TravelMole North America and Asia pacific regions. Ray is a highly experienced (15+ years) skilled journalist and editor predominantly in travel, hospitality and lifestyle working with a huge number of major market-leading brands. He has also cover in-depth news, interviews and features in general business, finance, tech and geopolitical issues for a select few major news outlets and publishers.



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