Pan Pacific Singapore marks 40 years of hospitality

FOR THOSE OF A CERTAIN vintage, Pan Pacific Singapore feels like a time-lapse of Singapore’s hotel scene, from its debut in the newly minted Marina Square of the mid-1980s till today.

Step inside now, and you’re reminded of your youthful awe staring up at John Portman’s futuristic (for the 80s) towering atrium, and riding up its “bubble” lifts just for the thrill of it.

Forty years and several transformations later, the 790-room Pan Pacific Singapore stands firmly in the present, all set for its next chapter in luxury hospitality. It’s planned a series of celebrations to mark its milestone year, while taking guests down memory lane at the same time.

Key developments over the years include “the launch of the 519 square metre Ocean Ballroom in 2000, expanding the hotel’s portfolio of meeting venues and reaffirming our ambition to be the city’s preferred destination for meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions”, says general manager Melvin Lim. 

Fans of its buffet restaurant Edge would be surprised to realise that they’ve been feasting on its massive Asian and international spreads since 2012, when it opened as part of a major transformation.

That makeover included refurbishing over 280 rooms and relocating its Pacific Club Lounge from the 33rd to the 38th floor, so guests could enjoy a panoramic view of the city. That was also the year its iconic floating pods were introduced in its first-floor atrium, becoming its trademark design feature.

In 2018, its stalwart Japanese restaurant Keyaki – loved for its outdoor koi pond and traditional cuisine – introduced a garden pavilion that would be a magnet for romantic wedding celebrations.

Its most recent transformation took place in 2023, with a refreshed lobby, rooms and ballrooms. It also marked the debut of its all-day-dining venue Pacific Emporium, serving local favourites, and destination cocktail bar Plume.

But a 40-year history isn’t without some star-struck moments. The hotel served as a location for the 1988 comedy Carry On Hotel, which starred the likes of Jacky Cheung, Kent Cheng, Cherie Chung and Eric Tsang.

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Lim points out that some of the 515 staff at Pan Pacific Singapore have been there since its pre-opening days. Their long service, he adds, reflects “the strong sense of family that defines our culture”.

It also had its fair share of awards, regularly pocketing top honours as best business or city hotel. Most recently, it was named Best International City Hotel at the 2025-2026 International Hotel Awards. In 2024, it achieved GSTC Certification – the global standard for sustainable travel and tourism, in recognition of its commitment to eco-friendly practices.

Celebrations galore

Sharing is caring, and restaurants including Edge, Keyaki and Hai Tien Lo have rolled out a host of S$40 dining offers to celebrate.

Edge is offering a weekday lunch priced at S$40++ that would otherwise be S$72. Savour its signature dishes, from Singapore laksa with yong tau foo to slow-roasted beef sirloin, from now till Nov 15.

Until Dec 30, Chinese restaurant Hai Tien Lo – which has been around since Day One – takes the celebrations further, with special deals on wine when you dine on its menu of traditional Cantonese cuisine with a modern twist.

Pick from Changyu Noble Dragon N158 or Changyu Riesling at S$40++ while savouring deep-fried iberico pork ribs or steamed sea perch fillet with aged preserved radish.

Keyaki, meanwhile, offers a good-value teppanyaki set lunch for S$40++, limited to the first 12 guests each day. Start with appetisers such as foie gras terrine in rice waffles and pick a main course of Hokkaido pork, chicken or wagyu.

If you want to immerse yourself in Pan Pacific Singapore’s long history, book its 40th anniversary staycation package, which includes breakfast for two at Edge and a welcome drink at Plume. The package is priced from S$400.

Forty years may be a long time, but for Pan Pacific Singapore, it’s just the beginning of a brand new adventure – and it’s inviting everyone to join the ride.