Hotels
Understand how Singapore elevates its hotel industry through strategic development and capability enhancement.
Last updated 22 May 2026
About the Hotel Industry
Hotels in Chinatown Precinct
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.
Disability Inclusion Playbook for the Hospitality Industry
Developed through collaboration between SG Enable, The Ascott Limited, and disability inclusion specialists Colorful Earth, with support from World Sustainable Hospitality Alliance and Valuable 500, this playbook is one of the first comprehensive guides designed specifically for the global hospitality industry.
Disability inclusion drives business growth whilst meeting evolving guest expectations. With over 1.3 billion people worldwide living with disabilities, inclusive practices unlock new market opportunities and can enhance a hotel’s competitive position. The guide provides implementation-ready practices across five key pillars - Inclusive Spaces, Inclusive Digital Interfaces, Inclusive Hiring, Inclusive Training, and Inclusive Programmes.
Suitable for operators of all sizes, from boutique properties to global brands, download the Disability Inclusion Playbook for the Hospitality Industry and start building more inclusive guest experiences today.
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 2025
Hotels specified in the Cess Order will be required to pay the following cess rates for the Formula 1 Singapore Airlines Singapore Grand Prix 2025 (“F1 2025”).
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% |
*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.
2025 Formula 1 Cess Collection
The Formula 1 Singapore Airlines Singapore Grand Prix 2025 has been specified in the Singapore Tourism (Cess Collection) (Formula 1 Singapore Airlines Singapore Grand Prix 2025) Order 2025 as a tourism event. Tourism event establishment such as hotels, that are specified in the Cess Order, are liable to pay cess.
Cess is levied on all taxable transactions connected with the Formula 1 Singapore Airlines Singapore Grand Prix 2025 and is payable by the operator of the tourism event establishment.
All tourism event establishments are required to return to the Singapore Tourism Board the signed and completed Cess Returns Form, which can be obtained from the link below, and cess payment for the Formula 1 Singapore Airlines Singapore Grand Prix 2025 by 5 December 2025. Please refer to the Guide for Tourism Event Establishments (Hotel Industry)[as of 18 September 2025] before completing the Cess Returns Form.
Documents for F1 2025 cess may be referred to as follows: