Life's a Bentley for ultra-rich in Singapore hotel

By Neil Chatterjee

SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Taxi fares have gone up this week and the ordinary public and even bankers are complaining it is now a bit pricey to get a cab in central Singapore.

But for the ultra-rich staying in the city-state there may be no need to wait for a ride.

The St Regis Singapore, a new five-star hotel, opened its doors on Saturday with a fleet of customized Bentley limousines to ferry guests around.

The hotel is already fully booked until after Christmas. The Lady Astor suite, available at S$1,100 ($755) a night, comes with a 24-hour butler for the room as well as a round trip to the airport in one of the Bentleys.

The cars have deep-pile carpets for weary feet and a wine cooler in the arm-rest.

"I think people are looking for the experience, not just luxury," said David Campbell, director of sales for St Regis in Singapore.

The St Regis is the first internationally branded luxury hotel to open in Singapore for 11 years, setting up competition against the likes of colonial-era Raffles. Global hoteliers are busily investing in Asia to tap growing regional wealth.

Visitor arrivals in Singapore have reached a record this year and the government is developing tourism as it tries to wean itself off manufacturing because of competition from cheaper factories in China.