A maze, site inspection or game?

Singapore, July 2017 - Given the honour to launch Singapore's newest integration lifestyle hub with 772 guest rooms, 2 hotel brands, 14 dining outlets, 10 function spaces and 4 sports facilities, I felt thrilled to tell the story.

But how do I embed a multitude of information into one's brain? Let's gamify it! Create different stations where the game master distributes "golden tokens". At the end of the show, the tokens form part of a bigger puzzle.

The Process

There were so many elements and intrigue details but the one underlying message remains. The hospitality industry is all about people and it’s services – the shape of the complex itself is designed to form the Chinese character 人 which meant “people”.

I'm not an artist, but I'm blessed and surrounded by people who are great at their craft. There were three people who came to mind - the man who doodles, the man who prints on metal and the man who can put up a performance.

After identifying a few locations, I snapped some interesting elements for the artists.

The beauty of being part of a pre-opening team is that you get to witness the rise of a magnificent building from ground zero. The detailing of every tile and mess, just to create a beautiful end product.

Or in the wise words of our construction team... "Erection in progress". Well said.

The Product

The overall look had to replicate the glitz and glamour of the hotel's interior. The game stations were broken down as follows:

1. The Summer Rain - As you step into the hotel lobby, a modern chandelier drapes over the check in counters. The "rain" illuminated by light symbolises the frequent rainfalls in sunny Singapore.

2. Milkyway - The function room fire was designed as a campfire site where people mingle and gaze under the stars.

3. Wood Rings - The design of wood rings on the carpet of the guest floor symbolises that we are in the midst of a lush urban rainforest. The building stands in this rainforest like a big tree. When you inspect a big tree diagonally, wood rings appear.

4. Fitness Facilities - The waves in the puzzle symbolises the leisure facilities such as the swimming pool.

5. Kerosene Lamp - The design of the guest rooms are inspired by colonial black and white houses. Kerosene lamps were an essential item in olden Singapore.

6. Large signboards - On the streets of olden Singapore were advertising signboards and these designs were replicated in the second hotel lobby.

With 6 different tokens in hand, the base layer is provided to help solve the puzzle. It was amusing to see how to kids solved the puzzle much faster than the adults who attended the site inspection show. Yes, show. Instead of a typical sales pitch, we had dancers, magicians, performers lead the way in showcasing part of the hotel. Here's a short summary video.

When people remember your story or retell your story, it makes you feel like you must have done something right. Thank you for those who believed in me.