New Singapore hotel offers 'pay what you want' rates

The fastest bidder wins when it comes to rooms at the new Ibis hotel in Singapore.

Customers can log onto the hotel's website (www.paywhatyouwant.com.sg) during designated sales periods and name their price for available rooms ahead of the hotel opening on February 12, Hiro Inoue, Ibis Singapore marketing director, said on Thursday.

He said bids have gone as high as 100 dollars (A$102) but that any price offered -- even one dollar -- would be accepted, subject to availability.

Singapore's average hotel room rate in December was 217 dollars, according to the local tourist board.

"Given the current economic turmoil people are seeking deals, which is adding to the appeal of the promotion. But regular travellers are also seeking value accommodation," Inoue said.

Several thousand visitors have registered since the promotion began on Wednesday, and the first days' rooms were sold out in minutes with bookings coming from all over the world, he added.

The Ibis Singapore says it is the first "international economy hotel" in the city-state. Ibis is part of French hotel and business services group Accor, which has close to 80 hotels across six continents.

However, the company has no plans as yet to use the bidding system for its other hotels, Inoue said.

The Singapore Tourism Board reported a 1.6-per cent decline in visitor arrivals in 2008 as the global economic crisis hit the Asian travel industry.

LNK

New Singapore hotel offers 'pay what you want' rates

New Singapore hotel offers 'pay what you want' rates

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