The Le Meridien Changi is now the Le Meridien Changi Village.

Then:
http://www.asia-discovery.com/singapore/lemeridien-changi/view.jpg

Now:
http://www.lemeridien.com/owshare/lemeridien/worldwide/pictures/s/sg1669-1.jpg
http://www.lemeridien.com/owshare/lemeridien/worldwide/pictures/s/sg1669-2.jpg

The chocolate brown facade is no more.It is replaced by clear glass and white facade featuring pop-out glass balconies in shades of purple, blue, yellow, orange, lime and pink.


Year built - 1980
Year renovated - 2003
Number of rooms - 380
Number of suites - 11
Number of floors - 9
Function rooms - 14

The balconies were designed by DP Architects and are part of the $45 million renovation of the 19-year-old hotel, which began in November 2002. Its wrap-around dark brown glass windows have been changed to clear glass, and its cane furniture replaced with minimalist wood and aluminium decor.

A hundred more rooms were added to the existing 280 in the hotel, which is being renamed Changi Village Hotel, and its swimming pool was moved from the sixth level to the rooftop. It will also have a 6,000-plus sq ft spa.

It looks so good in the rendering. Hope it is in real life!

Another makeover indeed :cool:

Another hip hotel indeed. :cool:

location sucks though but overall I see the makeover as helping Changi Airport in small ways, as is the promotion of East Coast Food Centre for those on transit.

It helps to promote the alternative form of entertainment at nearby Changi Village thou. :D

Itis actually rather odd for a hotel to be at such an ulu place.But ,it is close to the airport.

Itis actually rather odd for a hotel to be at such an ulu place.But ,it is close to the airport.
Yeah lah....but there is no direct bus service from the airport to this one either?! :D

Really?

I did not know!:D

Really?

I did not know!:D
Yeap. In a sense they should have jointly promoted themselves, and I am wondering what is stopping them. Maybe this hotel isnt good enough..hahahaa

i'm sorry being a wet blanket but the rendering looks terrible and cheap :/ the colours are too weak

Maybe it is aimed at locals?

no lar.. for tourists stopping over at changi for the night rite?

For 'in transit' passengers who might rest here for a few days?

um i think just overnight..

actually this was closed for many years? how come it toook so extremely long to do the renovations?

Closed? Its always been open.


Yup its a hotel for passengers overnight or for a few hours (like if the flight got delayed).

is it? i thought it was closed for renovation like before 2000..?

hmm..I think there was a renovation but it cant have been more than a year..

For 'in transit' passengers who might rest here for a few days?
They might as well stay at the transit hotel within Changi what...

Got meh?

Got meh?
Yes there is one of coz....

btw this thread looks like it should be in the projects section....

But it is completed already.


And ,there used to be a small hotel inside the Kepple Railway Station.Wonder what happened to it.

Station Hotel? I heard it was haunted. It closed down I think.

location sucks though but overall I see the makeover as helping Changi Airport in small ways, as is the promotion of East Coast Food Centre for those on transit.

Location sucks? Does it mean Rasa Sentosa Shangri-La also sucks? Depends on what you are looking for in a hotel. If your idea of a good hotel is near shopping malls, then Orchard Road hotels are for you. If you like resort setting rustic hotels, then Changi Village Hotel is ideal. Try going up to the roof-top swimming pool and have a panoramic view of the South China Sea. Which other hotel gives you that.

To the other posters, it was closed for about 2 years for this major renovation and addition of more than 100 rooms.

I don't think Meridien is managing the hotel now.

But the issue is most dont even noe there is a nice view from there? They do need more publicity and promotion then.

Anyway, welcome to the forums. :wave: :D

RC ,I KNOW it was closed down several years ago ,just not sure why.

RC ,I KNOW it was closed down several years ago ,just not sure why.
Which are you talking about now? Le Meridien or the railway one?

The hotel inside the Railway Station was closed for many years now ,but why?;)

Location sucks? Does it mean Rasa Sentosa Shangri-La also sucks? Depends on what you are looking for in a hotel. If your idea of a good hotel is near shopping malls, then Orchard Road hotels are for you. If you like resort setting rustic hotels, then Changi Village Hotel is ideal. Try going up to the roof-top swimming pool and have a panoramic view of the South China Sea. Which other hotel gives you that.



Perhaps. But lets face it. For most tourists intent on checking out Singapore, its location cannot be too ideal.

The hotel inside the Railway Station was closed for many years now ,but why?;)

Maybe it isnt as profitable as how many people depend on the KTM Railways these days or need to be near it? Just hazarding a guess of course;)

Perhaps. But lets face it. For most tourists intent on checking out Singapore, its location cannot be too ideal.

BIG assumption - tourists. Did you know that before it was closed down and was managed by Meridien, 3/4 of its clients are corporate clients? That they managed to get ARR better than most Orchard Road hotels of the same class?

If you are a corporate, what better setting to have a retreat, off-site or strategic planning session than Changi? If a family wants to have a quiet weekend, but not the hassle of going to Malaysia or Batam, where better and more convenient? Of course, make sure your young kids don't wander out of the hotel at night. But then again, why not? Why overly protect them? Tell them what transvestites, transexuals are, and why they are what they are, and why they do what they do. Can be very educational instead of bringing them to Pattaya.

People jump to conclusion before establishing the facts. Good view - why didn't they publicize themselves, HW asked. Well, they have not officially open.

Yup, I was speaking in the context of tourists when I replied to this thread. I guess its a big assumption to associate hotels with tourists :)

But as you have kindly elaborated, it sure will be a crowd puller with all else.

btw I think the Rasa Sentosa is more tranquil in its setting. No roar of jet engines that can be heard quite loudly at Changi Village.

$0.02

I still think that the Le Meridien Changi Village is aimed at locals .

I still think that the Le Meridien Changi Village is aimed at locals .

Let's be a little precise about this. The title of this thread is wrong. The management contract with Le Meridien and the Far East Group was terminated when the hotel was closed for renovation. I am not aware that the management contract has been resumed or a new one concluded. Hence, the name is now Changi Village Hotel, as seen in the last paragraph of your first post. The "Village" is to capitalize on the hip concept - and rustic connotation of Changi Village and the Village (not sure which - is it Greenwich Village?).

You are right - the hotel used to cater mainly to the locals, and not the tourists. The bulk are the local corporates. The best kept secret is that there are many corporations and MNCs based in the Loyang Industrial Park nearby, and this hotel is the natural choice for these companies and the guests and HQ staff who visit Singapore.

wow confusedcious you seem so knowleadgable!

The Hotel is inside the Le Meridien website.;)

MAY 20, 2004

Changi hotel re-opens early for wedding

Request by Changi resident prompts former Le Meridien Changi, now Changi Village Hotel, to open a week early after makeover

By Tan Hui Yee

THE former Le Meridien Changi hotel, which has been closed for renovation for the last 19 months, is re-opening a week ahead of schedule - so a 59-year-old Changi resident can hold his wedding there.

Financial planner Patrick Low, who lives in the area and calls sleepy Changi Village his 'playground', wanted to hold his wedding there because he likes its new look, which has pop-out glass balconies in shades of purple, blue, yellow, orange, lime and pink.

So he called the hotel in March to ask if he could use the venue on Saturday, before its planned June 1 re-opening. He explained that he wanted to celebrate his marriage to executive secretary Maggie Ong, in her 40s, there.

Far East Organization, which owns the place, agreed.

Said the hotel's general manager, Mr Fong Kah Seng: 'We did our utmost to accommodate him as that was the date he preferred.'

A major concern was getting the food and liquor licences in time.

Mr Low, who paddles his canoe to Pulau Ubin a couple or so times a week, said: 'If they'd said no, I would probably have postponed my wedding. But I would still have done it there.'

He is not the only person who is fascinated by the balconies - so are the village's shopkeepers. Said Ms Grace Lim, in her 30s, who has a liquor shop in Changi Village: 'It's more lively now.'

The balconies were designed by DP Architects and are part of the $45 million renovation of the 19-year-old hotel, which began in November 2002. Its wrap-around dark brown glass windows have been changed to clear glass, and its cane furniture replaced with minimalist wood and aluminium decor.

A hundred more rooms were added to the existing 280 in the hotel, which is being renamed Changi Village Hotel, and its swimming pool was moved from the sixth level to the rooftop. It will also have a 6,000-plus sq ft spa.

The area - best known for its nasi lemak, laid-back watering holes and jetty which serves as a departure point for journeys to Pulau Ubin and Johor - is slowly changing.

A 1.2km boardwalk has been built nearby along the coastline where Changi Sailing Club and Changi Beach Club stand; a 1.5km footpath and cycling trail fringed by greenery along Netheravon Road will be ready by next year; and a new ferry terminal is expected to be ready later this year.

The Government also plans to build a waterfront promenade fronting Changi Creek, near the current ferry terminal.

Meanwhile, some shopkeepers, like Ms Lata Kalwani, 42, who runs a military surplus store in Changi Village, are looking forward to the hotel's re-opening, in the hope that it will bring back business.

She has barely had a handful of customers since it closed. She said: 'I'm waiting for it to open, to see if I can carry on my business. I don't want to close this shop. It's very peaceful here.'

http://straitstimes.asia1.com.sg/mnt/media/image/launched/2004-05-20/h11.jpg
Nowhere else will do but the new-look hotel, says Mr Low, who lives in the area. If the hotel had not opened early, he would have postponed his wedding. -- CHEW SENG KIM

May 28, 2004
Hey uncle, you guys really rock!

By PHILIP LEE

POSH Chinese wedding dinners in five-star hotels have a tendency to be humdrum affairs.

In fact, I have found that the more posh they are, the stiffer the atmosphere becomes.

People dressed to the nines behave accordingly – they mind their Ps and Qs to the letter.

They indulge in desultory small talk, smile decorously, sit and eat daintily, do the traditional yam seng, and then leave.

All the dry-ice smoke, the live classical music, the lighting and the efflorescence of multi-hued blooms in the banquet hall do little to give such occasions the eclat that I often look forward to but hardly ever find.

Such a dinner is almost always the anticlimax to an event which should be one of life’s most enjoyable for it celebrates the union of two people, usually young, in love, and in the throes of egregious happiness.

But a wedding dinner I attended at the Changi Village Hotel (formerly Le Meridien Changi) last Saturday was outstandingly different.

It was one of the liveliest and among the most enjoyable.

And it sizzled with speeches, jokes, wisecracks, poetry reading, and song and dance without the need for opulent trappings.

And guess what? The people who made it all happen were a group of senior citizens in their late 50s or early 60s.

The only young people whooping it up were the groom’s nephews and nieces, who wowed the guests with a cha-cha display, and two young women who read a Kahlil Gibran poem.

But what really struck me after a night of continuous merriment was this: What an energetic, witty, fun-loving, clever group of elderly folks we have here. What livewires. They are even more sprightly than the young ’uns at other dinners.

A Caucasian school teacher, who was among the guests, came on stage to say: “I have been to many weddings dinners in my many years in Singapore, but I have never attended one as enjoyable as this one.”

She added: “Oh dear, I am going to cry.”

A young woman approached me after it was over, at a little past midnight, to say: “You uncles really, really rock!”

The man who made the event happen was Yale-educated financial planner Patrick Low, pushing 60, who wed executive secretary Maggie Ong, in her 40s – his second marriage, her first.

Three thoughts spring to mind about the revelry, and this is why I have featured it this week.

First, I think all local employers, especially those in the human resources departments, some of whom have fixed ideas about the mental and physical capabilities of elderly people, should view the videotape of the event to see for themselves how much verve and vigour people in their 50s and 60s still have.

It will also show them how young the elderly mind can be, and how nimble.

Most of the night’s speeches created laughter for their witty, at times cheekily cutting, remarks.

Mr Low, smiling gamely through it all, got as many toasts as roasts.

There were no fewer than 12 speeches, but no one seemed bored. None were dry drones, although a few did go on a bit.

The second thought: How nice to see a 60-year-old marry a forty-something woman.

This brings to mind the many single women over 35 who almost always tell me when we talk about their single state: “Aiyah, I am already an auntie lah. Who would want to marry me?”

I only hope there are others who, like Maggie, the bride, will keep their hopes alive and keep the faith that being 30 or 40 does not always mean being jettisoned from the Love Boat.

Maggie and Patrick met and grew to love each other over many games of tennis with a group of friends in a span of two years.

So, to the many singles who are resigned to their self-perceived fate and who stay at home too much, I say: Get off your behinds and go find some activity group to mingle with. Who knows what’ll happen?

And stop thinking negative thoughts about being over the hill. Sometimes the descent on the other aside can be more fun than the arduous ascent.

The third thought has something to do with the hotel.

It was not due to open for a week, and yet when approached to hold the dinner, Far East Organisation, which owns the place, sportingly agreed to get things ready for Maggie and Patrick.

This meant rushing to get the banquet hall, the foyer, some guest rooms, the kitchen, the lounge and other related areas ready.

I am sure the hotel did not make too handsome a profit from the dinner, but it gained immeasurably for its willingness to please a client. And it also scored with its flexibility in tweaking construction schedules.

And I dare say the hotel staff on duty that night will be unlikely to see another shindig quite like this for a while.

And oh, did I mention that the band, The New Notes, as well as the master of ceremonies, were none-too-young men either?

A simple modern hotel located in the rustic corner of singapore......:yes:

http://www.feo.com.sg/landmark/3q2004/img/cs_pix01.jpg

The new Changi Village Hotel welcomes guests to a brand new experience. Nestled amid the lush tropical greenery of Changi Village, the 380-room hotel has been transformed into a hip and modern destination while retaining the rustic charm of the laidback district it is named after.

With its close proximity to Singapore Changi Airport, Singapore Expo and the business clusters in eastern Singapore, Changi Village Hotel is the natural choice for business and leisure travellers who prefer a relaxed environment, away from the hustle and bustle of the city. It is also a convenient stopover, where travellers worn out by the rigours of extended travel can kick back in between flights.

Changi Village Hotel is truly a haven in eastern Singapore. The hotel has a resort feel with a trendy, minimalist chic design evidenced throughout the property.



Upon arrival, guests are greeted by a gleaming glass facade with multi-hued glass balconies. Complementing the sleek lines of the hotel and helping it blend in with its breezy surroundings is the verdant foliage of thoughtfully landscaped gardens. The landscaping, which includes soothing water features, also extends to the interior of the hotel.

Tastefully outfitted with top quality furnishings, Changi Village Hotel features a discreetly modern interior décor. The result is a welcoming destination for both corporate events and relaxing getaways.

http://www.feo.com.sg/landmark/3q2004/img/cs_pix02.jpg

For Corporate Retreats
Changi Village Hotel, with its uniquely designed meeting facilities, is ideally placed for corporate retreats and out of town meetings/seminars. It has clusters of function and meeting rooms that open to views of nature and tastefully designed landscaping, thus creating a relaxed and distinctive ambience seldom found in urban hotels. Busy business executives will enjoy this convenient getaway to re-charge and energise.

For the discerning business traveller
Changi Village Hotel is well equipped to cater to the needs of the most discerning guests.

Business travellers and corporate clients will appreciate the comprehensive range of business facilities, which include a business centre, 13 meeting rooms and a 300-seat ballroom.

The hotel also has two floors dedicated to the business traveller. Located on the sixth and seventh levels, the corporate guestrooms here have their own exclusive breakfast and business lounge, accentuated by personalised secretarial services.

Where comfort is not compromised
Changi Village Hotel has the ambience of an international village and its 380 elegantly furnished guestrooms offer a seamless blend of contemporary comfort and old world charm.

Hip and rustic custom furnishings perfectly complement the modern amenities, which include in-room Internet access and coffee/
tea-making facilities. In addition, all the guest bathrooms are indulgent getaways in
themselves, with stylish glass walls that allow natural light in.

Tempting treats
The food and beverage outlets in the hotel will serve up a variety of local and international cuisines.

From the hip café, Saltwater, and modern Japanes restaurant Ryan’s Washoku on the ground floor, to Italian fine dining at La Cantina’s in Venezia on the rooftop, the eateries will cater to every palate. Guests will also have a choice of indoor or alfresco seating.

Besides eateries, there will also be an outdoor cigar and wine bar and a trendy lounge, Vau, where guests can enjoy cocktails and music.

Relaxation and pampering
Changi Village Hotel has a host of recreational facilities that will conjure wonderful, memorable experiences. Guests can rejuvenate and pamper themselves with luxurious spa treatments in a rooftop spa pavilion, while enjoying the panoramic views of the tranquil eastern shore.

The sprawling rooftop recreation area, with its infinity-edge swimming pool and jacuzzi, beckons swimmers and sunbathers. Guests can also get a good workout in the fully equipped gym.

Gateway to fun
The hotel’s proximity to Changi Beach and the boat jetty brings guests within easy reach to nearby islands like Pulau Ubin, where a world of tropical rural idyllic charm awaits.

Sun seekers can soak up the rays on Changi Beach, while adventure sports enthusiasts can indulge in kayaking and jet skiing in the clean coastal waters. A stone’s throw away from the hotel is Changi Village, where guests can explore the quaint little shops offering everything from fishing rods to handcrafted wooden furniture.

Urban Redevelopment Authority’s Identity Plan
The new hip Changi Village Hotel fits right in with the Urban Redevelopment Authority’s Identity Plan to revitalise the East. The sleepy community of Changi Village is set to become a vibrant cove over the next few years. Besides the new 1.2 km seaside boardwalk hugging part of the scenic Changi coastline completed in September 2003, Changi Village is expected to have low-rise housing for those who want to live by the sea, new outdoor eateries, more restaurants, a landscaped promenade and a new ferry terminal.

Le Meridien Changi Village(20/12/04):

The exterior

http://img78.exs.cx/img78/6466/dscn369910zv.jpg

http://img78.exs.cx/img78/3446/dscn372815zf.jpg

http://img78.exs.cx/img78/2710/dscn370619jr.jpg

^
The interior

The lobby
http://img78.exs.cx/img78/6422/dscn370312cy.jpg

The lift lobby
http://img78.exs.cx/img78/9209/dscn370218nw.jpg

The restuarant
http://img78.exs.cx/img78/4532/dscn370516va.jpg

Cafe
http://img78.exs.cx/img78/6505/dscn371019wj.jpg

The banquet room
http://img78.exs.cx/img78/9674/dscn371112cn.jpg

http://img78.exs.cx/img78/825/dscn371319th.jpg

The Atrium
http://img78.exs.cx/img78/8641/dscn372717mc.jpg

Swimming pool on the top floor:

http://img100.exs.cx/img100/662/dscn371817br.jpg

http://img100.exs.cx/img100/3918/dscn371919aw.jpg

http://img100.exs.cx/img100/8795/dscn372414br.jpg

Restaurant on top
http://img100.exs.cx/img100/859/dscn372613xk.jpg

The view from the pool
http://img100.exs.cx/img100/3641/dscn372011gp.jpg

:eek2:

GORGEOUS!

you stayed there? looks like you almost had the entire hotel to yourself!

:eek2:

GORGEOUS!

you stayed there? looks like you almost had the entire hotel to yourself!

Haha....no lah.....just paying it a visit today since I'm quite curious how it's become........:yes:

Feels like a resort kind of hotel to me.......:yes:

Very rustic feel for the whole area though.....

http://img93.exs.cx/img93/7051/dscn369714pv.jpg

yes..the last pic... :drool:

yes..the last pic... :drool:

Haha.....but I dun think I really the view to the right......cos reminds me of something greenish......:lol:

but how even more enjoyable that you can now put ur feet up and relax with a drink while others are sweating away (so evil) :yes:

so which u prefer..this one or Gallery Hotel?

but how even more enjoyable that you can now put ur feet up and relax with a drink while others are sweating away (so evil) :yes:

so which u prefer..this one or Gallery Hotel?

Muahaha.....hmm....how come I never think of that?? (the evil part):lol:

For Le Meridien, I think the pool and view wins hands down...........:yes:

Can't compare the service since i didn't stay in this.....but i think gallery's service is quite average......nothing to scream about.......:yes:

:eek2:

Very nice! :okay:
Like Gallery...

:eek2:

Very nice! :okay:
Like Gallery...

The view is much nicer than Gallery though......:yes:

Gallery looks pretty 'cheap', don't you think so?
Or is it just me? :? :lol:

Gallery looks pretty 'cheap', don't you think so?
Or is it just me? :? :lol:

Cheap?? Yeah when compare to Shangri-la that is......:lol: :jk:

Aye...if you didnt stay there, how you get all those views one ah?? :eek:

Aye...if you didnt stay there, how you get all those views one ah?? :eek:

Seems like the public can access the pool level(top level with the view) cos there is a restuarant at the top.......plus I never show any pictures of rooms wat.....I dun think I want to spend S$100 plus on a hotel room when my home is a S$1.20 bus ride away........:lol:

the architecture seems funky indeed :cool:

Can see Pulau Ubin also........

http://img159.exs.cx/img159/5112/dscn371713wg.jpg

This modern, laidback hotel was featured on CNA's Audition Me lately......:yes:

Would be good if we could get some night pictures of it.....:yes:

hmmm...I can imagine that it is lighted up in neon colours at night, like the Gallery.

I wonder if the view from the pool has changed, as the beach looks a bit sparse in the last pic on post #43

I guess so......:yes: