Hotels
Understand how Singapore elevates its hotel industry through strategic development and capability enhancement.
Last updated 6 February 2025
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About the Hotel Industry
The hotel industry is a cornerstone of Singapore’s tourism sector, contributing approximately 20% of total tourism receipts. With over 450 properties comprising more than 73,000 rooms, the dynamic industry is characterised by diverse hospitality offerings which are supported by around 30,000 individuals.
Singapore Tourism Board (STB) collaborates with government agencies, the Union, the Singapore Hotel Association (SHA) and hotel stakeholders to drive innovation and resilience.
Key initiatives include:
Partnering with hotels to reinvent business models and strengthen industry capabilities to meet evolving traveller needs.
Capturing demand through fresh hotel concepts, driving sustainability as a core strategy, raising productivity through technology, and developing a future-ready workforce.
STB also supports the Hotels Licensing Board (HLB) in maintaining a relevant and pro-business licensing and regulatory environment that enables the dynamic industry to thrive.
Grants & Incentives
Find out how to future-proof your hotel business and perform a self-assessment to diagnose your hotel's current state of transformation with the Tourism Transformation Index (TXI).
Licensing
Premises with four or more rooms to carry out the business of providing accommodation as a hotel are required to possess a valid hotel licence issued by the HLB. For more information, please visit the HLB website.
Resources
View the following resources related to the hotel industry
Hotel Statistics | Industry News |
Regulations | Useful Links |
Cess Collection for the Formula 1 Singapore Grand Prix
The Singapore Tourism (Cess Collection) Act 1972 is an Act for the collection of cess from tourism event establishments for the promotion of tourism. Strategic tourism events include the Formula 1 Singapore Grand Prix (F1), which brings significant economic benefits and enhances Singapore’s international branding.
Cess contributions from hotels
Hotels are required to contribute cess in relation to the F1 event as they are expected to benefit from increased revenue due to higher room rates and/or higher occupancy rates brought about by the tourism event. This contribution supports the staging of the F1 event in Singapore.
Categorisation of hotels and cess rates for F1 2024
Following STB’s review of hotels’ performance over past F1 events, non-trackside hotels shall be categorised into two sub-tiers based on their locations.
Gazetted hotels specified in the Cess Order will be required to pay the following cess rates for the Formula 1 Singapore Airlines Singapore Grand Prix 2024 (“F1 2024”).
Category | Cess rate payable |
|---|---|
Trackside hotels | 30% |
Non-trackside hotels located in the central area* | 20% |
Non-trackside hotels located outside the central area | 15% |
All gazetted hotels will receive written notification closer to the commencement date of the F1 2024 regarding the cess requirement, cess rate payable and due date for payment.
*Central Area refers to the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) Central Area boundaries under the current Master Plan. It includes the following Planning Areas: Downtown Core, Orchard, Newton, Rochor, Outram, Singapore River, Museum, River Valley, Marina East, Marina South, Straits View. Planning areas not listed here are outside the Central Area. Please refer to URA SPACE for details.
Cess rates for F1 2025
With effect from 2025, all licensed hotels will be liable to pay cess. The expansion in coverage considers hotels’ performance over past F1 events. Hotels will be notified of the cess rates for F1 2025 in early 2025.
For more information on the mechanics of cess, please refer to the Guide for Tourism Event Establishments (Hotel Industry). Please note that this Guide will be updated when the Cess Order is published closer to F1 2024.