logo
Gourmaze brings the first 'food-themed treasure hunt' from London to Singapore

Gourmaze brings the first 'food-themed treasure hunt' from London to Singapore

Gourmaze , a unique experience with a combined treasure hunt and culinary tasting tour, will officially launch in Singapore on May 17, 2025. London's award-winning self-guided food adventure offers its participants a new and exciting way to explore Singapore's Chinatown.
This launch comes at a time when more people in Singapore, whether locals or tourists, are becoming hands-on in exploring the city, with interactive activities such as Bubble Planet and Harry Potter: Visions of Magic growing increasingly popular.
As such, activities have now become a trend. Gourmaze gives locals and tourists an innovative approach to discovering hidden spots in Chinatown through puzzles, storytelling elements, and delicious food. Photo: Gourmaze The success of Gourmaze
Gourmaze has earned over 500 five-star reviews and a Traveller's Choice Award after its three successful years in London. The company has now made more than $1.7 million SGD in revenue and has supported small food businesses in the UK with over $600,000 SGD.
Now, Gourmaze in Singapore would be the first outside of London. It is supported by a grant from the Singapore Tourism Board.
Holly Mennear, co-founder of Gourmaze, stated: 'We've found that many locals often see Chinatown as more of a tourist spot, but they're always surprised by how much there is to discover. Most of the time, even the lifelong residents would still be shocked to find hidden corners they've never visited just a few blocks away… Our aim is to create moments of joy, connection, and discovery for everyone, whether you're a tourist or a local. We believe food is the perfect way to bring people together and help them experience the city in a new light.' Photo: Gourmaze How Gourmaze works
The Singapore Maze is an exciting 'Tasty Treasure Hunt' in Chinatown designed for teams of up to six players. In the course of three hours, teams will follow WhatsApp clues and riddles to uncover hidden stories and solve puzzles related to the area's history. As they go on their journey, they will get to taste sample surprise dishes from six carefully chosen local eateries known for their flavorful food and cultural importance.
Moreover, each clue will lead to a different stop–a traditional pasty shop, a hawker stall, or a secret durian location. The route will be approximately 1-2 kilometres, which suits all ages and fitness levels.
The Gourmaze experience is also completely self-guided, allowing every participant to enjoy the adventure at their own speed without needing a tour guide. Clues are made to be interactive puzzles and riddles that will help players explore their surroundings while also learning.
Holly further remarked, 'Trials have already been run, with feedback praising its seamless integration of food, fun, and history, and its ability to surprise even seasoned locals. We're super excited to welcome everyone to explore and treat your tastebuds with the best of what Chinatown has to offer!'
This new and fun-filled challenge is perfect for families, friends, or corporate teams looking for a memorable bonding experience.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Blackpink's Jisoo shot new music video in Singapore's Rainforest Wild Asia
Blackpink's Jisoo shot new music video in Singapore's Rainforest Wild Asia

New Paper

time3 days ago

  • New Paper

Blackpink's Jisoo shot new music video in Singapore's Rainforest Wild Asia

South Korean singer and actress Jisoo from K-pop girl group Blackpink shot the music video for her new song Your Love in Singapore's Rainforest Wild Asia, in partnership with Singapore Tourism Board (STB) and Mandai Wildlife Reserve. The two-minute 54-second clip, released on Aug 12, sees her singing amid a lush tropical rainforest, as well as the man-made cave system in Singapore's fifth wildlife park. She is also filmed in Cavern Restaurant, a cavernous 150-seat air-conditioned restaurant and one of the eateries within the attraction. Also making an appearance are langurs, one of the animal species that inhabit Rainforest Wild Asia. Your Love is a single from Jisoo's debut solo mini-album Amortage, which was released on Feb 14. In March, the 30-year-old was in Singapore for an appearance at Amortage at Far East Malls, a pop-up concept store celebrating the album release. Jisoo will be back in town with her fellow Blackpink bandmates to perform at the National Stadium on Nov 29 and 30 as part of their highly anticipated Deadline world tour. The music video is also a collaboration with local dance talent agency Jam Republic, which oversaw the overall operations and logistics during filming, and Jisoo's agency Blisoo. Ms Serene Tan, STB's director, North Asia, says in a statement: "Together with Mandai Wildlife Group, one of our key partners in this collaboration, we aim to showcase Singapore's unique landscapes and attractions, including its lush green spaces and immersive wildlife experiences. "Jisoo's emotional performance brought Singapore's natural beauty to life, and we hope that leveraging her global influence, we can introduce K-pop fans and visitors around the world to the unforgettable experiences that only Singapore can offer, and inspire them to experience them for themselves." South Korean singer Jisoo from Blackpink shot the music video for her song Your Love in Rainforest Wild Asia, Mandai Wildlife Reserve, Singapore, in partnership with Singapore Tourism Board and Mandai Wildlife Reserve. PHOTO: SCREENGRAB FROM JISOO/YOUTUBE Ms Jean Choi, chief sales and marketing officer at Mandai Wildlife Group, adds in a statement: "This project is a great opportunity to creatively showcase Mandai Wildlife Park and show people a different side of Singapore that they might not have expected. Mandai Wildlife Park is a visually striking and memorable experience, and we expect it to resonate strongly with South Korean travellers who value emotional storytelling and Instagrammable photos." Rainforest Wild Asia will be hosting the Your Love Meets The Wild campaign, an immersive rainforest adventure that includes special trails that recreate scenes from the music video and visits to stone chambers inspired by real caves. The campaign will run from Aug 13 to Oct 5. Jisoo is the latest pop star to film a music video in Singapore in partnership with STB this year. In May, K-pop boy band BTS member Jin released the shot-in-Singapore music video for his single Don't Say You Love Me that featured scenes filmed in local spots such as National Gallery Singapore, Gardens by the Bay, Singapore Flyer and Goldhill Plaza. British band Coldplay's Man In The Moon MV, released in February, features the quartet performing on a custom-made floating stage in Marina Bay. Besides prominent places such as Jewel Changi Airport and S.E.A. Aquarium, it also features heartland spots, such as an HDB estate in MacPherson.

Singapore hotel room rates dip in Q2 as demand softens, supply grows
Singapore hotel room rates dip in Q2 as demand softens, supply grows

Business Times

time31-07-2025

  • Business Times

Singapore hotel room rates dip in Q2 as demand softens, supply grows

[SINGAPORE] Year-on-year falls in Singapore hotel rates and occupancy for the second quarter of 2025 were the result of dampened travel sentiment combined with new hotel rooms, industry watchers said on Thursday (Jul 31). In the second quarter, Singapore hotels posted an average room rate (ARR) of S$263.83, down 1.1 per cent from the year-ago period's S$266.89, Singapore Tourism Board (STB) data showed on Thursday. The highest ARR within the quarter – at S$267.98 – was recorded in May, when Lady Gaga performed four shows at the National Stadium, in what was her only concert stop in Asia on her Mayhem Ball tour. But that was still a year-on-year fall, by 1.1 per cent from May 2024's S$270.90. The May 2025 ARR was also only a touch higher than April's S$265.77 and June's S$257.27, both of which were down 1.2 per cent year on year. Other hotel industry indicators also dipped on a yearly basis. Revenue per available room (RevPAR) fell 1.7 per cent to S$205.15, from S$208.77 in Q2 2024. Year-on-year declines were recorded across April, May and June. Maybank analyst Brian Lee said: 'The fall in ARR and RevPAR in Q2 could reflect increased cost-consciousness among travellers, given global economic uncertainty, which could have led travellers to opt for more budget-friendly accommodation.' BT in your inbox Start and end each day with the latest news stories and analyses delivered straight to your inbox. Sign Up Sign Up Singapore hotels' average occupancy rate stood at 77.76 per cent in Q2 2025, down from 78.22 per cent in the year-ago quarter. The drag came mainly from June, because April and May recorded marginal improvements. The June decline was in line with the dip in visitor arrivals, led by the month's drop in Chinese tourists, Lee noted. DBS analyst Geraldine Wong said: 'New room supply meant a more competitive operating landscape for existing hoteliers.' This increased supply was noticeable within Orchard Road and the Central Business District precinct, she said, highlighting the re-opening of Grand Hyatt Singapore and the launch of The Standard, Singapore, which came after Q2 2024. This growth in supply is evidenced by the rise in available room nights, pointed out Wong Xian Yang, head of research for Singapore and South-east Asia at Cushman & Wakefield. There were 5.9 million available room nights in Q2 2025, up 2.4 per cent from the year-ago quarter. As for demand, the US-tariff-related uncertainty may have led to delayed or cancelled travel plans and less willingness to spend, both for business and leisure travel, observers said. 'The strong Singapore dollar did not help as well,' DBS' Wong added. Overall room revenue, which reflects room supply, gained 0.6 per cent on the year to S$1.22 billion in Q2 2025, from S$1.21 billion. Year-on-year room revenue was slightly higher in April and May, but June's takings were lower. Across all measures, May was the best-performing month in the quarter. More visitors The slower hotel data came as international visitor arrivals (IVA) rose 4 per cent to 4.02 million in Q2 2025, from 3.87 million visitors in Q2 2024. This was led by a 7.6 per cent jump in IVA in May to 1.37 million tourists, followed by April's 4.5 per cent increase to 1.4 million. In contrast, June 2025 had a 0.3 per cent slip in tourist arrivals to 1.25 million. China remained the top IVA source in the quarter, with 646,699 tourists, though this was down 2.1 per cent year on year. Lee believes that the decline could reflect competition from more affordable destinations such as Vietnam and Japan. The other top source countries in Q2 2025 were Indonesia (640,279), India (385,788), Malaysia (321,909) and Australia (297,878). The number of visitors from these four locations increased year on year; Malaysia and Australia recorded double-digit growth. An STB spokesperson noted that Malaysia recorded the highest IVA growth in June, at nearly 21 per cent. 'This strong performance was boosted by Malaysia's school holiday period, which fell later this year,' the spokesperson said. The school break was from May 29 to Jun 9, compared with May 25 to Jun 2 last year. June 2025 also had long weekends due to public holidays, including the Malaysian king's birthday on Jun 2 and Hari Raya Haji on Jun 7, 'while overall outbound travel was supported by robust economic indicators and a stable ringgit', the spokesperson said. 'The growth also reflects our regional office's efforts to promote Singapore, such as a collaboration with global fintech company Wise in May 2025 to encourage Malaysians to do more and spend more in Singapore,' the spokesperson added. Stepping down quarter on quarter Sequentially, hotel and arrivals data worsened for the quarter as a whole. At S$263.83, ARR in Q2 2025 was lower than the S$272.92 in Q1. Room revenue, at S$1.22 billion, was down slightly from the preceding quarter's S$1.28 billion. RevPAR fell quarter on quarter to S$205.15, from S$219.84. Occupancy, at 77.76 per cent, fell short of Q1 2025's 80.55 per cent. The 4.02 million IVA in Q2 was also lower than the 4.31 million posted in Q1. Looking ahead, the STB spokesperson pointed to 'more exciting offerings', including the opening of Resorts World Sentosa's Singapore Oceanarium , as well as familiar events such as the Formula 1 night race. These are on top of other upcoming concerts as well as meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions (Mice) events. DBS' Wong expects earnings improvement in H2 to be more gradual. It will be driven by a stronger Mice calendar, 'especially with concert spikes now out of the picture', she said. Besides major events such as the World Aquatics Championships and the night race, inbound tourism from China is seasonally stronger in July and August, she added. Cushman & Wakefield's Wong believes that while IVA will continue to grow moderately, 'hotel room rates are stabilising at current levels'. He expects the ongoing macroeconomic uncertainties to weigh on travel demand, adding that the strong currency 'may deter budget-sensitive travellers' despite Singapore's continued popularity regionally. For the full year, STB expects to receive 17 million to 18.5 million international visitors, contributing S$29 billion to S$30.5 billion in tourism spending. The Republic welcomed 8.33 million visitors from January to June.

Singapore room rates dip in Q2 as demand softens, supply grows
Singapore room rates dip in Q2 as demand softens, supply grows

Business Times

time31-07-2025

  • Business Times

Singapore room rates dip in Q2 as demand softens, supply grows

[SINGAPORE] Year-on-year falls in Singapore hotel rates and occupancy for the second quarter of 2025 were driven by dampened travel sentiments combined with new hotel rooms, industry watchers said on Thursday (Jul 31). In Q2, Singapore hotels posted an average room rate (ARR) of S$263.83, down 1.1 per cent from the year-ago period's S$266.89, Singapore Tourism Board (STB) data showed on Thursday. The highest ARR within the quarter was recorded in May – when Lady Gaga performed four shows at the National Stadium, marking her only concert stop in Asia on her Mayhem Ball tour – at S$267.98. But this still marked a year-on-year fall, down 1.1 per cent from May 2024's S$270.90. The May 2025 ARR was also only a touch higher than April's S$265.77 and June's S$257.27, both of which were down 1.2 per cent year on year. Other hotel industry indicators also dipped on a yearly basis. BT in your inbox Start and end each day with the latest news stories and analyses delivered straight to your inbox. Sign Up Sign Up Revenue per available room (RevPAR) fell 1.7 per cent to S$205.15, from S$208.77 in Q2 2024. Year-on-year declines were recorded across April, May and June. 'The fall in ARR and RevPAR in Q2 could reflect increased cost-consciousness among travellers given global economic uncertainty, which could have led travellers to opt for more budget-friendly accommodations,' said Maybank analyst Brian Lee. Singapore hotels' average occupancy rate stood at 77.76 per cent in Q2 2025, down from 78.22 per cent in the year-ago quarter – though this was dragged largely by June, as April and May marked marginal improvements. The June decline was in line with the dip in visitor arrivals, led by the month's drop in Chinese tourists, Lee noted. DBS analyst Geraldine Wong said: 'New room supply meant a more competitive operating landscape for existing hoteliers.' This increased supply was noticeable within Orchard Road and the Central Business District precinct, she said, highlighting the re-opening of Grand Hyatt Singapore and the launch of The Standard, Singapore – which came after Q2 2024. This supply growth is evidenced by the rise in available room nights, pointed out Wong Xian Yang, head of research for Singapore and South-east Asia and Cushman & Wakefield. There were 5.9 million available room nights in Q2 2025, up 2.4 per cent from the year-ago quarter. As for demand, US-tariff-related uncertainty may have led to delayed or cancelled travel plans and less willingness to spend, both for business and leisure travel, observers said. 'The strong Singapore dollar did not help as well,' DBS' Wong added. Overall room revenue – which reflects room supply – gained 0.6 per cent on the year to S$1.22 billion in Q2 2025, from S$1.21 billion. April and May 2025 reported slightly higher room revenues year on year, but June takings were lower. Across all measures, May was the best-performing month in the quarter. More visitors The slower hotel data came as international visitor arrivals (IVA) rose 4 per cent to 4.02 million in Q2 2025, from 3.87 million visitors in Q2 2024. This was led by a 7.6 per cent jump in IVA in May to 1.37 million tourists, followed by April's 4.5 per cent increase to 1.4 million. In contrast, June 2025 had a 0.3 per cent slip in tourist arrivals to 1.25 million. China remained the top IVA source in the quarter, with 646,699 tourists, though this was down 2.1 per cent year on year. Lee believes that the decline could reflect competition from more affordable destinations such as Vietnam and Japan. The other top source countries in Q2 2025 were Indonesia (640,279), India (385,788), Malaysia (321,909) and Australia (297,878). The number of visitors from these four locations increased year on year, with Malaysia and Australia recording double-digit growth. An STB spokesperson noted that Malaysia recorded the highest IVA growth in June, at nearly 21 per cent. 'This strong performance was boosted by Malaysia's school holiday period, which fell later this year,' the spokesperson said. This holiday spanned May 29 to Jun 9, compared with May 25 to Jun 2 last year. June 2025 also had long weekends due to public holidays, including the Malaysian king's birthday on Jun 2 and Hari Raya Haji on Jun 7, 'while overall outbound travel was supported by robust economic indicators and a stable ringgit', the spokesperson said. 'The growth also reflects our regional office's efforts to promote Singapore, such as a collaboration with global fintech company Wise in May 2025 to encourage Malaysians to do more and spend more in Singapore,' the spokesperson added. Stepping down quarter on quarter Sequentially, hotel and arrivals data worsened for the quarter as a whole. At S$263.83, ARR in Q2 2025 was lower than the S$272.92 in Q1. Room revenue, at S$1.22 billion, was down slightly from the preceding quarter's S$1.28 billion. RevPAR fell quarter on quarter to S$205.15, from S$219.84. Occupancy, at 77.76 per cent, fell short of Q1 2025's 80.55 per cent. The 4.02 million IVA recorded in Q2 was also lower than the 4.31 million posted in Q1. Looking ahead, the STB spokesperson pointed to 'more exciting offerings', including the opening of Resorts World Sentosa's Singapore Oceanarium , as well as familiar events such as the Formula 1 night race. These are on top of other upcoming concerts as well as meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions (Mice) events. DBS' Wong expects earnings improvement in H2 to be more gradual. It will be driven by a stronger Mice calendar, 'especially with concert spikes now out of the picture', she said. Besides major events such as the World Aquatics Championships and night race, she also noted seasonally stronger inbound tourism from China in July and August. Cushman & Wakefield's Wong believes that while IVA will continue to see moderate growth, 'hotel room rates are stabilising at current levels'. He expects the ongoing macroeconomic uncertainties to weigh on travel demand, adding that the strong currency 'may deter budget-sensitive travellers' despite Singapore's continued popularity regionally. For the full year, STB expects to receive 17 million to 18.5 million international visitors, contributing S$29 billion to S$30.5 billion in tourism spending.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store