Fragrance Group and Global Premium Hotels, both owned by billionaire Koh Wee Meng, are poised to significantly expand their hotel portfolio in Singapore with the addition of three new properties by 2027. These developments are strategically timed to capitalize on the booming travel industry, which is experiencing a strong resurgence after the pandemic. The new hotels will contribute 1,347 rooms to Koh’s existing holdings, bringing the total to 3,547 rooms across 28 hotels by 2027.
The expansion will be spearheaded by a partnership with Accor, a renowned French hotel chain with a long-standing relationship with Fragrance Group and Global Premium Hotels. Among the new properties, Movenpick Singapore will be the most prominent, boasting a substantial 808 rooms. Located in Tanjong Pagar, near the bustling Raffles Place business district, this hotel will be the largest Movenpick in the entire Asia Pacific region upon its opening in 2027.
To complement the traditional hotel experience, the same location will also feature Movenpick Living Singapore, offering 37 rooms specifically designed for extended stays. This option caters to both business travelers seeking a comfortable home-away-from-home and leisure travelers looking for a longer-term stay.
Adding to the mix, a 502-room Handwritten Collection hotel on Waterloo Street, close to the popular Orchard Road shopping area, is scheduled to open in late 2025. This will be the second property under the Handwritten Collection brand, following the successful launch of Hotel Faber Park Handwritten Collection last year.
Koh, whose net worth is currently estimated at $1.6 billion, began his journey in the hotel industry in the mid-1990s. At the age of 33, he established his first Fragrance Hotel in Singapore’s red-light district, marking the beginning of a successful hotel empire. Today, the majority of his wealth is derived from his hotel ventures spanning Singapore, Australia, and the U.K.
This latest expansion underscores Koh’s commitment to the hospitality industry and his confidence in the continued growth of Singapore as a leading tourist destination.
