Latest news with #CentralBusinessDistrict
Bloomberg
7 days ago
- Bloomberg
Squeaky-Clean Singapore Steps Up Crackdown on Vapes
Hi, it's Audrey in Singapore, which has some of the world's strictest drug laws — and where vapes are coming under closer scrutiny. But first… Vapes are already banned in Singapore. But you can still walk around sometimes and see locals casually flouting the rules, puffing on their devices — also known as e-cigarettes — at restaurants or outside on their lunch hours in the central business district.
Yahoo
17-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Singapore luxury condos' early struggle shows boom's limits
By Low De Wei (Bloomberg) — A large-scale luxury development in Singapore sold only a tiny fraction of units when it started accepting bookings, reflecting the struggles of the priciest segment in the city-state's otherwise stratospheric property market. The W Residences Marina View condominium began pre-sales last Saturday, and buyers booked only two of its 683 units over the weekend, according to people familiar with the matter who asked not to be identified sharing private information. The complex is located in the heart of the country's central business district, a short walk from skyscrapers that house global financial institutions and multinational companies. The units' preview prices started from about S$3,200 ($2,491) per square foot, which means the cheapest one-bedroom units were advertised for S$1.8 million. Five-bedroom units were priced at S$11.6 million and up, according to marketing materials seen by Bloomberg News. The project's weak debut shows how property developers face an uphill challenge trying to attract wealthy home-buyers to luxury towers in Singapore's iconic business district, which lines its downtown waterfront. The government in 2023 doubled already hefty taxes on foreigners' property purchases, while locals have gravitated to suburban private homes that are closer to schools and other amenities. Last weekend, LyndenWoods, a mass-market condominium project about 9 kilometres (5.6 miles) from the downtown luxury residence, sold over 94 per cent of its 343 units in a single day, despite new curbs that were added in early July. Average pricing was about S$2,450 per square foot. Overall private home prices in Singapore have climbed roughly 40 per cent over the past five years. However, apartment prices within the so-called core central region – which covers the CBD and other high-end neighbourhoods – have lagged behind, with a smaller increase of about 19 per cent. The W Residences Marina View is being built by IOI Properties Group Bhd, a Malaysian developer that paid S$1.5 billion in 2021 for the site. The project will be managed by Marriott International. A spokesperson for the developer said there was 'strong interest' from individuals who were invited to its private previews, and 'it's natural that buyers are taking a measured approach amid a wave of new launches' in the area. The 99-year leasehold development has yet to be built, and buyers could pull out in the early stages of a sale if they pay a fee. 'Developers are likely to be more cautious and recalibrate their land acquisition plans following the poor demand' for properties in the prime city centre, said Nicholas Mak, chief research officer at property portal 'They will avoid a price war at all costs.' A nearby high-end residential project called Skywaters Residences, which is part of a broader development backed by Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. and local developer Perennial Holdings Pte, has sold just two of its 190 units since it launched more than a year ago. One 7,761-square-foot apartment sold for S$47.3 million, while the other smaller unit went for S$30.9 million. Such prices are comparable with mansions in land-scarce Singapore. Local property giant City Developments Ltd., which is building another 'ultra-luxury development' in the business district, hasn't set a launch date for its Newport Residences project, which will feature serviced apartments and 246 residential units. Developers have largely refrained from offering major discounts, betting that they can still attract wealthy locals and foreigners who have residency in Singapore, granting them lower property levies. More stories like this are available on ©2025 Bloomberg L.P.
Bloomberg
16-07-2025
- Business
- Bloomberg
Singapore Luxury Condo's Early Flop Shows Property Boom's Limits
A large-scale luxury development in Singapore sold only a tiny fraction of units when it started accepting bookings, reflecting the struggles of the priciest segment in the city-state's otherwise stratospheric property market. The W Residences Marina View condominium began pre-sales last Saturday, and buyers booked only two of its 683 units over the weekend, according to people familiar with the matter who asked not to be identified sharing private information. The complex is located in the heart of the country's central business district, a short walk from skyscrapers that house global financial institutions and multinational companies.
Independent Singapore
12-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Independent Singapore
‘I thought toilet got ghost': TikTok user says she saw something scary at bathroom at CBD
SINGAPORE: A woman who has been sharing her creepy encounters on TikTok for the past few years recently talked about the time when she was new at work at a building in the Central Business District (CBD) and may have had a ghostly encounter in the bathroom. In her July 8 (Tuesday) video, Olivia Ong, who goes by @oliviaonqq on the platform, did not specify which building in the CBD area she had been working in at the time but did say that the company she worked for shared bathrooms with other firms. @oliviaonqq Replying to @🌈 ᵥₐᵥₐᵥᵣₒₒₘ👼🏻✨️ yes mam hahahs new horror story is up!! #horrortok #horror #horrorstory #cbd #office #officelife #corporatelife #paranormal #horrorstories #storytime #story #sg #sgtt #sgtt #sgtiktok #sgfyp #fy #fypシ #fyppppppppppppppppppppppp #scary #scarytiktoks #eerie #creepy #toilet #haunted ♬ Creepy and simple horror background music(1070744) – howlingindicator It seems that the bathroom in question already had a reputation for being 'dirty.' Many women working at the building would go to the toilet two by two, but as Ms Ong was new at the time and really needed to urinate, she went on her own. At the time she used the bathroom, she wrote that the sensor normally controlling the lights was not working, but there were windows, so it was not completely dark. When she went into the cubicle and closed the door, however, she saw a pair of shoes right outside, and while this caused Ms Ong to get 'super scared,' because she really needed to use the bathroom, she did not just run out, like maybe others would have done. She looked down the whole time, however, because she was afraid of seeing a ghostly apparition if she looked up. Ms Ong then devised a plan to hold the door open with one hand while making a fist with her other hand, saying, 'Because if I need to fight a ghost, I need to fight a ghost.' She then opened the door and came out swinging, but since no one was there, she quickly washed her hands and ran back to her office. When she got there, she told her colleagues all about her experience. Ms Ong ended her video by saying: 'So next time when your boss asks you why so many people need to go to the toilet at the same time, you just tell them, 'I thought toilet got ghost'.' This was Ms Ong's eighth 'horror story,' with the first dating back to 2022. Her video has received a lot of comments, including those who've also claimed they've seen ghosts in toilets. 'Sis, this made me remember the time I was taking pictures of myself while waiting for my friend to use the toilet (in sec school) and the ghost was in the picture with me. The picture spread through the school, and we had a morning assembly about not 'distributing fake info.' Like, Sir, do you think I want to be in a selfie with a ghost???' one wrote. 'A lot of buildings in the CBD area are haunted. I worked in one building in 1993. Toilet haunted. I resigned a month later,' added another. One commented, 'Wait, something like this happened to me in sec school, but instead the 'thing' ran across my cubicle and I could hear and see the shoes from the bottom gap, and when I opened, almost immediately there was no one.' This caused Ms Ong to reply: 'Omggg feel bad to say this, but I'm happy we're on the same boat HAHAHAHAHAHA if not so lonely sia.' /TISG Read also: Ghost or glitch? Resident claims CCTV motion detector goes off—but captures nothing
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Travel + Leisure
08-07-2025
- Travel + Leisure
Our Readers' 10 Favorite Hotels in New Orleans of 2025
Few cities in America do hospitality quite like New Orleans. It's in the city's DNA, deep as the Mississippi River, exuberant as an impromptu second line—unbelievably resilient no matter what gets thrown at it. In all its diverse neighborhoods, NOLA's irresistible joie de vivre marches on. And whether our readers visited for a bachelorette party, business convention, or the Super Bowl, they found hotels brimming with rich history, ebullient style, and the kind of service you remember long after check-out. How Voting Works Every year for our World's Best Awards survey, T+L asks readers to weigh in on travel experiences around the globe—to share their opinions on the top hotels, resorts, cities, islands, cruise ships, spas, airlines, and more. Nearly 180,000 T+L readers completed the 2025 survey. A total of more than 657,000 votes were cast across over 8,700 properties (hotels, cities, cruise lines, etc.). Hotels were classified as either resort hotel, city hotel, inn, or safari lodge based on their location and amenities, and they were specifically rated on the criteria below: Rooms/facilities Location Service Food Value For each characteristic, respondents could choose a rating of excellent, above average, average, below average, or poor. The final scores are averages of these responses. The first view upon arrival at The Windsor Court. The Windsor Court What Readers Loved This year's favorite properties in New Orleans are located primarily in the Central Business District and the French Quarter—the city's historic heartbeat of tourism. The sole exception is the Pontchartrain Hotel (No. 7). One reader described it as being 'perfectly located in the heart of the Garden District,' and also noted that it has a great jazz bar. Readers also paid particular attention to the classics this year, like The Roosevelt New Orleans, a Waldorf Astoria Hotel (No. 3), whose resplendent building dates back to 1893. About the Hotel Monteleone (No. 2), one reader wonders, 'Can you really say you've been to the Crescent City without a turn at The Carousel Bar?' And taking first place, steps from the River, is The Windsor Court, which has been hosting guests in style since the '80s. 'This is the hotel to make your stay in New Orleans the best,' a reader says. 'Quintessential NOLA.' The Winner The Windsor Court The Windsor Court's main lobby. The Windsor Court Situated near the riverfront in the Central Business District, this posh 1984 classic wins on amenities, from the wonderful pool stretching 65 feet long, to the museum-worthy art collection. But it's the staff that really cements the Windsor Court's status as a New Orleans legend. 'The level of service is unmatched, from the doormen, front desk, housekeeping, and the staff in the bar and restaurants,' one reader said. Another, who traveled with their family, recalled, 'They treated the children as honored guests.' T+L Reader The level of service is unmatched, from the doormen, front desk, housekeeping, and the staff in the bar and restaurants. — T+L Reader The Full List 1. The Windsor Court Reader Score: 94.96 2. Hotel Monteleone Reader Score: 90.15 3. The Roosevelt New Orleans, A Waldorf Astoria Hotel Reader Score: 88.39 4. Omni Royal Orleans Reader Score: 88.00 5. The Ritz-Carlton, New Orleans Reader Score: 87.64 6. Four Seasons Hotel New Orleans Reader Score: 87.56 7. Pontchartrain Hotel Reader Score: 87.50 8. Bourbon Orleans Hotel Reader Score: 83.24 9. JW Marriott New Orleans Reader Score: 80.44 10. Hyatt Regency New Orleans Reader Score: 80.00
