WTS Travel & Tours has announced plans to open The Bus Collective, a new resort hotel in Singapore, on December 1, 2023, as reported by TheStraitsTimes.
This venture marks WTS Travel's entry into the hotel industry, in collaboration with the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI) and the Singapore Land Authority (SLA).
The Pro-Enterprise Panel of MTI assisted WTS in locating an appropriate venue for this concept and helped in the negotiations with SLA and the Singapore Tourism Board.
The resort hotel will comprise rooms constructed from 20 retired Scania public buses, formerly in service under Singapore Bus Services (SBS) Transit.
Situated on an 8,600m² property adjacent to Changi Village Hawker Centre, these buses have been transformed into luxury suites.
Each room, spanning 45m², will feature preserved elements from the buses, such as driver seats, windows and steering wheels.
The hotel will also offer various room layouts, with options including bunk beds and a wheelchair-accessible toilet located just outside the room.
This property will be the first resort hotel in Southeast Asia to be built using repurposed buses.
WTS Travel & Tours managing director Micker Sia said: “They are still in good condition, so why should we just scrap them? Why are we throwing things away when we are able to recycle?
“There are so many things that we can use. Even (the bus seats), we are thinking of converting those seats into office chairs.”
The property will provide guests access to history and nature tours, such as exploring Changi Beach on a trishaw and Pulau Ubin on a bicycle.
Guests at the resort will also be able to enjoy bicycle and shopping tours at Jewel Changi Airport, as well as sailing at Changi Sailing Club.
The reservations have become available starting on November 1, with room rates starting at $398 per night for a three-guest accommodation with a king-size bed, sofa bed and bathtub.
According to the managing director, the hotel currently has a team of 20 employees, with plans to hire additional staff.
