[Hotel Review] - Conrad Centennial (Executive Suite), Singapore (18 - 19 Oct 14)

Location

Conrad Centennial is located next to the Millennia Walk Shopping Mall and Suntec City Shopping Mall. It is within minutes walk from Marina Centre Shopping Mall. The hotel is a great place to stay for those who prefer a convenient location and links to shopping malls and subway stations.

Hardware

I checked into the Executive Suite or the Chancellor Suite as named by the hotel. The suite was huge, measuring a good 104 m sq. As I entered the somewhat classic looking suite, decked out with several pieces of artwork, a corridor leads the way into the suite. To the right of the corridor is where the powder room is located. This room equipped with a toilet bowl and a sink, which can double up as a second toilet. This suite allows one to entertain visitors and allow visitors to use the toilet without intruding into the sleeping area of the suite. To the left of the main entrance of the suite is another door, which can be opened using the same keycard as with the main door. This door leads to the sleeping area of the suite.

Chancellor Suite 

Powder Room

Some Artwork in the suite

Past the door that leads into the bedroom, on its left is where one can find a rather spacious wardrobe. The generously spaced 2 compartment wardrobe is sufficient for 2 pax to unpack their one's week's clothing into. One can find more storage space on the other compartment with 4 drawers for one to unpack into. To the right of the door, opposite the wardrobe, a marble laden bathroom greets guests. The spacious bathroom has a generous countertop on the sink area. Further into the bathroom, at the end of the bathroom, is the bathtub. Next to the bathtub is the walk-in shower. Tucked to the right of the door to the bathroom is where one will find the toilet bowl. The orange lighting in the bathroom, coupled with the marble material used to decorate the bathroom, gives one a feel of class in the bathroom.

Wardrobe

Walk-in Shower and toilet 

Sink and Bathtub

Passing the bathroom the area opens up into the bedroom. A cabinet housing a LED TV, nicely stowed away when not in use. There are a couple of drawers on the base of the cabinet where one can store more stuffs in. There is a dresser on the right of the entrance to the bedroom, with 3 drawers guests can ensure more storage space in the whole suite to stow away more items. Right across the room, by the window, is where one can find a study desk. The study desk has all the amenities where one needs to do some work. Next to the study desk is where a single seater couch lies. Placed at angle facing the TV, this is where one can relax into while watching TV or simply read a book. The centrepiece of this area of the suite is the king bed. The bed is placed opposite the TV for guests to lie onto while watching TV. The sleep quality on the bed is excellent, with extremely comfortable linens, one can be ensured with a good night's sleep. The hotel also provides a menu of pillows for one to choose from should the standard issued pillows does not fit one's liking. This area of the suite is large with ample storage spaces, this part of the suite does not feel claustrophobic and the space in this part is rather generous.

King Bed in the bedroom

View from the bedroom

Exiting the bedroom into the main part of the suite, after the powder room, is where one can find the lounge area. Decked out with a 2 seater couch and a couple of arm chairs, this lounge area is where can relax and enjoy either the view from the floor to ceiling window behind the couches or watch a show on the 46" LED TV.  Beside the couch, one can find a side table, where the hotel has placed a complementary place of tropic fruits and a couple of boxes of chocolates for guests to enjoy. In front of the couch is a coffee table. Placed opposite the couches is where one will find a cabinet with the TV on top of it. There is also a Nespresso Coffee machine on the same table top as the TV. Beneath the TV is where one can find a DVD player, which doubles up as radio. The entire suite was decked out in classical music from one of the radio stations to give guests a relaxing feel upon our entry to the suite. In the same cabinet, one can find a mini bar well hidden from sight. There are a few drawers where glassware for one to enjoy drinks from the mini bar.

Lounge Area

Lounge Area

Complementary Chocolates

Huge TV

Further to the right (from the main door) of the lounge area is where the dinning area is located. This is a large area, where one can entertain guests for in-room dinner. The large round dinning table, with 6 dinning chairs allows one to just do that. The one thing good about this suite is the bedroom can be isolated from the general area, which allows one to entertain guests without compromising one's privacy. In this area, one can enjoy the views of the nearby Suntec City shopping mall and a glimpse of the Kallang area. This is also where one can find a Chinese-themed cabinet with more storage space or simply for decoration. I would reckon the cabinet fits into the decor of the entire suite, despite being the only furniture with a  Chinese-theme. One on corner of the suite, next to a door which allows the suite to be converted to a 2 Bedroom suite, is another desk area for one to do their work on without entering the bedroom.

Dinning area

Dinning Table

More Artwork

Staying in the Executive Suite entitles its guests the access to the Executive Lounge. The lounge is a great place to wind down and relax, with refreshments available. The spacious lounge is bright and the floor to ceiling windows allow plenty of natural light to enter the lounge, making it more lively. There are a few good spots in the lounge. The one that I particularly like is that which faces the Marina Bay area. It looks into the bay area and the financial centre of Singapore. The only flaw with this view is the nearby hotel only offers partial view of the bay area. Nonetheless, this is still a great spot to relax in. There are food available at certain times of the day. The evening cocktail is when one will find more food options put up for guests to grab a bite with.

Executive Lounge

Snacks on offer

Snacks on offer

View from the Executive Lounge

View from the Executive Lounge

View from the Executive Lounge

Heartware

The service I received during my stay at Conrad this time round was impeccable. 4 outstanding staff that I have encountered during my say attested to the core principle of the hotel and what made Conrad a hotel worth coming back for. The first staff was Minh, the Assistant Front Office Manager. I arrived at the hotel and wanted to check in at the lounge instead of the reception, I approached the concierge, where Minh happened to be there. She went all way to ensure that I was well taken care off from the little non-intrusive gestures. I approached the front desk with the purpose of gaining access to the lounge, Minh escorted me all the way up to the 31st floor lounge area. She even offered to lend a hand with my baggage, which I declined. She ensured that I knew where to go and that her colleague at the lounge knew my purpose of visiting them.

The next staff that displayed outstanding service standards is Michelle, the Lounge Manager. I did not realise her position in the hotel until the day of my checking out, when she introduced herself. Michelle processed my check in swiftly and not wanting to let me wait for longer then I should. Michelle also took the initiative to engage in a conversation. She also reassured me to call the lounge should I need any assistance. Close to the time of my checking out, I received a call in the suite. It was Michelle who called and enquired how my stay in the hotel has been thus far. She also took notice that I did not appear at the lounge and showed concern if I was alright. It seemed that she felt relieved to find out that I have probably missed her during my visit to the lounge. It is during this phone call that I realise she is the Lounge Manager.

My suite was kept in a tip top condition by the hardworking background housekeeping staff. Theresa ensured that all the supplies were promptly topped up and the suite was maintained to the highest standard. From the way my suite was being maintained by Theresa during turn down in the evening and the make up room the next day (despite my checking out at 6pm on the same day), the suite was never in a shabby condition. Most hotels do not offer make up room on the day of checking out, even if they do, they would make up the room with the bare minimum standard which seem to echo the room will still be made up after the guest has checked out. None of these attitude was portrayed by Theresa. It can be seen that on the day of checking out, the suite I was staying in was made up to the same condition as when I first checked in.

On the next day, I woke up rather close to the time where the breakfast service ends. I quickly freshen up myself and found that I have only 15 mins to go when I reached the restaurant by the pool for breakfast. I apologised to the staff there - Grace, whom told me to take my time, and don't rush. Her reassurance cannot come in a better timing. I was served coffee and egg and had a hearty breakfast. Despite being the last guest to enter the restaurant and despite the need to prepare the restaurant for lunch service, I was not even pressured by Grace or any of the other staffs at the restaurant. Grace kept the food at where they were for guests and only cleared them when I was done eating.

The lounge staff was fantastic this time round when I stayed with Conrad, which is a stark difference from my last stay in Conrad. The staffs were warm and was seen in engaging with guests. The staffs will always look out for the seat with the best view every time I visited the lounge. In one particular instance the lounge was full, the lounge staff housed me at the meeting room, which is isolated from the lounge. Despite the spatial distance, staffs at the lounge popped by frequently to clear my plates and checked if my drinks needed topping up. I had a chance to chat with Siti, who was very knowledgable in travels and hotel stays.

Overall

I had a very pleasant stay in Conrad this time round. The suite assigned had really great views and the sleep quality is excellent. The suite is large enough for one to host up to 5 other guests, and the very fact that the bedroom was segregated from the lounge and dinning area makes hosting business meetings possible. The decor of the suite looks timeless and yet not tired. However as with my previous comments on this hotel, in terms of electronics there are some room for improvements. The powerpoint outlets seem limited and was positioned in inaccessible areas of the suite. The input to the TVs also needs upgrading to HDMI port instead of the existing VGA port. In terms of service, the hotel staff truly understands what customer service is all about. The staffs gave me a feel that they are willing to go all way out to ensure customers are comfortable during their stay with Conrad. Conrad has the hit the right note in terms of both hardware and software with customers, coupled with the convenient location, Conrad is an ideal spot for both business and leisure travellers.