Posted by the TTG Asia, on 10 July 2023

A glimpse of Pan Pacific Hotels Group’s (PPHG) Parkroyal Collection property portfolio will easily conjure visions of an alternate universe where lush, leafy giant structures dominate the skyline.

This is the result of the brand’s decision to make iconic and biophilic design a cornerstone of its architectural direction. Its first biophilic hotel, Parkroyal Collection Pickering in Singapore, is such a success that both its design and sustainable achievements have earned it numerous awards, media coverage and social media posts.

Parkroyal Collection Marina Bay in Singapore, the second property to open under the brand, is no shadow of its sister. Its sky-lit indoor atrium – said to be South-east Asia’s largest – is home to more than 2,400 plants, trees, shrubs and ground covers.

When Parkroyal Collection Kuala Lumpur opened in June 2022, it carried the brand’s biophilic design promise, with a vertical garden facade and roof terraces showcasing 1,208m² of plants and trees.
‌
The fourth development to come in 2026, the Parkroyal Collection Faber House in Singapore, will be another one to watch for fans of biophilic design.

The 250-key hotel will form part of an 18-storey development in the heart of Singapore’s shopping belt. Its stellar address aside, the hotel will draw eyeballs with its façade of intense outdoor greening and cascading water features, bringing much needed greenery to the district packed with malls.

“But these are more than just aesthetics,” said Choe Peng Sum, PPHG’s CEO, during a panel discussion hosted under the Hospitality Conference 2023 by 
SHATEC – The International Hotel & Tourism School (Singapore) earlier in March.

“All that greenery gives these properties a different quality of air and cools the air naturally. Reducing just two degree Celsius without the use of air-conditioning means substantial energy savings,” he explained.

Furthermore, with these properties adopting stringent environmentally sustainable operations, such as waste and water management, beyond their pretty biophilic features, Choe emphasised that going green is a sensible business move.

Citing an example, Choe said securing the Green Mark Platinum certification from the Singapore Building and Construction Authority for his company’s soon-to-launch Pan Pacific Orchard resulted in a S$120 million (US$90 million) green loan, up to three per cent additional gross floor area – which he said could mean an extra floor of guestrooms, and cash incentive to lower upfront cost of energy efficiency retrofits.

Indeed, PPHG’s sustainability efforts flow through its entire portfolio. It works closely with parent company UOL Group and respective hotel owners to determine the ideal design for the property, and if possible, incorporate environmentally friendly systems.

A PPHG spokesperson told TTG Asia: “To invest in complete biophilic design with environmentally-friendly systems is not cheap, and not easy – it is crucial to have the hotel owners’ buy-in and to believe in the returns, both in long-term cost savings and in securing strong brand equity.”

To read the full report, visit the following link.