Singapore’s award-winning ‘great theme park of global travel’ looks forward to semblance of normality
When Jewel opened its doors in April 2019, the 10-storey entertainment and shopping complex adjoining Singapore’s Changi airport was expected to receive 40m-50m visitors in its first year.
Accessible by local visitors and airport transit passengers alike, the S$1.7bn (US$1.2bn) complex — which features the world’s largest indoor waterfall, a rainforest-themed garden and a giant trampoline-like “bouncing net” — exceeded the 50m figure within six months, and hopes were high for a buoyant 2020. Then Covid-19 struck.
Changi, like most commercial airports, has become eerily quiet due to Covid-19 travel restrictions. Its passenger traffic dropped almost three-quarters in the first eight months of 2020 compared with the same period in 2019, and two of the airport’s four main terminals have been shuttered.
Changi drops from 7th to 58th on busiest airport list, now serving 1.5% of usual passenger volume
Covid-19 has decimated Changi Airport's business. Compared to pre-pandemic times, the airport is now serving just 1.5 per cent of its usual passenger volume and 17 per cent of the total number of flights.
It has also plummeted to be the 58th busiest airport for passenger traffic, down from the seventh, and now has direct flights to just 49 cities in the world.
In revealing these numbers on Tuesday (Oct 6), Transport Minister Ong Ye Kung said in Parliament that global travel restrictions have caused a "deep crisis" for Changi Airport Group (CAG) and national carrier Singapore Airlines (SIA).
Changi Airport Terminal 4 to close from May 16, following Terminal 2's 18-month closure
With global travel coming to a near standstill around the world, Changi Airport has announced that it will be temporarily suspending all operations at Terminal 4 (T4) from May 16.
This includes all flights, which will operate out of Terminals 1 (T1) or 3 (T3) instead, as well as stores and restaurants. Affected airlines include Cathay Pacific and Korean Air, which will be operating from T1 in the meantime.
The shuttle bus service to T4 will also be suspended.
read more
Singapore to shut Changi’s Terminal 2 for 18 months due to COVID-19
Singapore will shut Terminal 2 of the Changi Airport as part of a cost-cutting move due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which has seriously affected the country’s tourism industry.
All operations at the terminal, including retail, will be suspended for 18 months starting May, Transport Minister Khaw Boon Wan reportedly announced in Parliament today. He also hinted at more closures, noting that only one terminal has so far been enough to handle the traffic at the airport.
Airlines operating at the terminal will be transferred to Changi’s remaining three terminals next month. Singapore Airlines will operate from Terminal 3. “We will save on running costs – for the airport operator, retail tenants, airlines and ground handlers,” The Straits Times quoted him as saying.
Boarding gates at Changi Airport's Terminal 4 Changi Airport Group
With global travel coming to a near standstill around the world, Changi Airport has announced that it will be temporarily suspending all operations at Terminal 4 (T4) from May 16.
This includes all flights, which will operate out of Terminals 1 (T1) or 3 (T3) instead, as well as stores and restaurants. Affected airlines include Cathay Pacific and Korean Air, which will be operating from T1 in the meantime.
The shuttle bus service to T4 will also be suspended.
read more
Singapore to shut Changi’s Terminal 2 for 18 months due to COVID-19
The departure hall of Changi Airport’s Terminal 2. Photo: Muhammad Hasbi
All operations at the terminal, including retail, will be suspended for 18 months starting May, Transport Minister Khaw Boon Wan reportedly announced in Parliament today. He also hinted at more closures, noting that only one terminal has so far been enough to handle the traffic at the airport.
Airlines operating at the terminal will be transferred to Changi’s remaining three terminals next month. Singapore Airlines will operate from Terminal 3. “We will save on running costs – for the airport operator, retail tenants, airlines and ground handlers,” The Straits Times quoted him as saying.
read more
Jewel Changi Airport reduces F&B rent by 50% as S’pore restaurants anticipate losses
To help restaurants in Singapore during this critical period, the Restaurant Association of Singapore (RAS) has reached out to landlords to write off their F&B tenants’ rent.
In a press conference today (Feb. 13), RAS praised Jewel Changi Airport for being the first establishment in Singapore to offer rental rebates to restaurants in the mall.
The mall has reached out to restaurant tenants to offer them a 50 per cent reduction on gross rent. This was done even before RAS reached out to Jewel Changi Airport. This, according to Tan, will go a long way in “saving livelihoods of employees”.
read more
Retail sales not all sparkling at Jewel Changi Airport despite the crowds
Jewel Changi Airport may often be crowded but this has not translated into strong sales for all tenants.
Nine months after the opening of the 10-storey development, which boasts more than 280 shops and food and beverage outlets, some retailers say business has been slow.
read more
Retail outlets at Jewel Changi Airport performing poorly despite large volume of visitors
Building at a cost of S$1.78 billion, Jewel at Changi Airport first opened its doors last April, and has become an “instantly recognised icon” in Singapore, said Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. In fact, Jewel has helped bolster Changi Airport’s reputation and competitiveness, said Mr Lee, adding that it has enhanced the appeal of the airport as a tourist destination itself.
Just six months since its opening, Jewel has seen over 50 million visitors, said Changi Airport Group (CAG) in a statement, with Mr Lee saying Singaporeans are “rightly” proud of the complex. CAG added that Jewel has had as many as 300,000 local and international visitors a day. However, about nine-months after launching the 10-storey development, which houses more than 280 shops and food and beverage shops, some retailers express that business has been down.
According to an article published by The Straits Times (ST), retail outlets at Jewel are finding it difficult to reach their sales target. In fact, sales staff from eight out of the 17 outlets that the news sites spoke to said so.
read more
RETAIL OUTLETS AT JEWEL CHANGI DOING POORLY DESPITE HIGH HUMAN TRAFFIC
Not only does it have the world-famous gigantic waterfall aka HSBC Rain Vortex that some would even call the main highlight of the place. But it also hosts popular stores such as Pokemon Centre, Burgers & Lobsters, Birds of Paradise and A&W. Not forgetting a multitude of attractions such as the Shiseido Forest Valley, Canopy Park, Mirror Maze, Topiary Walks and Sky Nets, among others.
This should all translate to massive crowds and good business, right? I mean what could go wrong? Retail Outlets At Jewel Changi Not Doing Well Despite High Human Traffic
Apparently quite a few things can go wrong.
It has been nine months since Jewel Changi Airport opened its doors with more than 280 shops and food and beverage outlets. Despite the massive crowds, stores have revealed that business has been slow.
read more
Jewel effect wearing off? Some F&B outlets at Changi Airport say business has dipped, after initial boost
Some said business has become worse, while others said the initial boost from the opening of Jewel Changi Airport has waned.
That was the response from 12 food-and-beverage outlets across the four terminals at Changi Airport that TODAY spoke to, about a month after Jewel officially opened its doors to the public on April 17.
Jewel is located at Terminal 1, and connected via link bridges to Terminals 2 and 3. Visitors from Terminal 4 will have to take a shuttle bus to Terminal 2, and then take the link bridge. It is home to 112 food-and-beverage outlets, with new-to-Singapore brands like Shake Shack drawing snaking queues.
read more
Jewel, PM Lee's Symbol Of Bold Dreams, Is Now A Failing Project Just A Few Months On
During the official opening ceremony of Singapore's newest, biggest mall, the Jewel at Changi Airport back in October 2019, PM Lee refuted claims by Singaporeans and visitors alike that Jewel gives a sense of coldness and being an impersonal structure. Instead, he said quite confidently that Jewel is now the "Symbol of Bold Dreams".
And now, just four months on from that declaration, reports in the national papers stated that retail sales at Jewel are not sparkling, despite the large crowd that gathers there most days. In fact, the whole narrative of the Jewel can be summed up by this couple of paragraphs in the Straits Times itself:
"Jewel Changi Airport may often be crowded but this has not translated into strong sales for all tenants. Nine months after the opening of the 10-storey development, which boasts more than 280 shops and food and beverage outlets, some retailers say business has been slow."So, PM Lee's symbol of bold dreams is just a nightmare for retailers who has set up shop there. Only nine months on from the opening of Jewel, they have reported dipping sales, even amongst the F&B outlets, which was overcrowded with long snaking queues in the first few weeks of the opening. Experts said this was to be expected, as the initial curiosity about the new mall dies down. But to have dipping sales, even when the crowd are still flocking to the Jewel?
read more
Jewel Changi Airport not a ‘cold, impersonal’ infrastructure, it’s a symbol of bold dreams: PM Lee
When Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong was mulling over his National Day Rally (NDR) speech back in 2013, there was feedback that talking about plans to replace the open-air car park outside Terminal 1 into a shopping complex named Jewel was not a good idea.
“We did some message testing, but the focus groups were not enthusiastic. Some thought it was unwise to end the speech with infrastructure projects — too cold, impersonal,” Mr Lee said.
However, he eventually decided to press on and the plans for Jewel and Changi Airport’s Terminal 5 were unveiled during his rally speech.
read more
Jewel Changi nets 50 million visitors in first six months; hosts grand opening
Approximately 50 million locals and foreigners visited Changi Airport’s resplendent mixed-use complex Jewel Changi Airport (Jewel) in the first half of this year, Chief Executive Hung Jean has announced.
The 10-storey, 135,700sq m Jewel was officially opened on Friday (18 October) by Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong after opening its doors to the public in April.
On a site tour the following month, TRBusiness reported that 600,000 people alone paid a trip to Jewel on Good Friday in Singapore (19 April) and Jewel continues to handle around 300,000 per day.
read more
Jewel Changi Airport sees 50m visitors since opening six months ago
Changi Airport's latest attraction, Jewel, has attracted about 50 million visitors since it opened six months ago.
The figure, which includes repeat customers, has surpassed Jewel's initial target of drawing 40 million to 50 million visitors yearly.
Since opening in April, Jewel has drawn international acclaim and become an icon Singaporeans are proud of, said Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong at a ceremony to officially open the 135,700 sq m complex.
read more
Jewel Changi Airport sees 50m visitors since opening six months ago
Changi Airport's latest attraction - Jewel - has attracted about 50 million visitors since it opened six months ago.
The figure, which includes repeat customers, has surpassed Jewel's initial target of drawing 40 million to 50 million visitors yearly.
Since opening in April, Jewel has drawn international acclaim and become an icon Singaporeans are proud of, said Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong at a ceremony to officially open the 135,700 sq m complex.
read more
Jewel an 'instantly recognisable icon' that has made Changi Airport more competitive: PM Lee
The official opening of Jewel Changi Airport on Oct 18, 2019. (Photo: Hanidah Amin)
Jewel Changi Airport has become one of Singapore's "instantly recognisable icons" since it opened a few months ago, helping to bolster the reputation and competitiveness of the airport, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said on Friday (Oct 18).
It has also enhanced the appeal of Changi Airport as a tourist destination in itself, he said, noting that foreign leaders he has spoken have "gushed" over the S$1.7 billion complex. "Last year 65 million travellers used the airport, including those on transit," he noted.
"I am confident that with Jewel, this year Changi will break that record," Mr Lee said at the official opening of Jewel on Friday, which also marked the 10th anniversary of Changi Airport Group.
read more
Some retail outlets at Jewel Changi Airport can’t meet sales targets despite large crowds
Jewel at Changi Airport first opened its doors in April 2019, welcoming up to 300,000 visitors per day. However, less than a year after the iconic development was opened to the public, a number of retailers have given feedback that business has been slow.
Changi Airport Group’s press release in Oct. 2019 wrote that Jewel attracted about 50 million visitors, including repeat customers, in its first six months, surpassing its initial target of drawing 40 million to 50 million visitors yearly.
But it is unclear how much of the visitor traffic translated to foot traffic for retail stores located in Jewel.
read more
So fast some Jewel Changi Airport retailers reporting slow business...
Those shops only cater to tourists.
For singaporeans, we go there see see look look, take photos, go eat and go home.
Shop and buy? Nay, too expensive for me.
read more
Desite the hype and crowd, some retailers say sales are slow at Changi Jewel!
Jewel Changi Airport may often be crowded but this has not translated into strong sales for all tenants. Nine months after the opening of the 10-storey development, which boasts more than 280 shops and food and beverage outlets, some retailers say business has been slow.
When The Straits Times visited Jewel recently, sales staff at eight out of 17 shops surveyed said meeting sales targets has been challenging. Stores that offer unique concepts or are exclusively located at Jewel seem to be doing better than retail chains that have multiple outlets in more accessible areas of Singapore.
A retail manager at a basement-level fashion store, who declined to be named, said the store has not been meeting its sales target for the last three months. She said: "Though business picked up in December because of the school holidays, sales are still not that great. Many people come here to eat and look at the waterfall rather than actually shop."
read more
Some Jewel Changi Stores Have Less Human Traffic Flow Than The Waterfall, Slow Sales Reported
Jewel Changi opened in April 2019 to much fanfare. The main attraction was of course — the waterfall, which saw Singaporeans and tourists alike flocking to the airport to marvel at it.
The crowds might have seemed like a boon for the shops at Jewel, but reality is setting in for some of them. According to The Straits Times (ST), 8 out of the 17 shops they surveyed said that hitting sales targets was tough.
A retail manager at a shop said that many people do not go to Jewel to shop. Instead, their objective is to eat and look at the waterfall. She told ST about how her shop has not been hitting their sales target for 3 months. She added that while the December school holidays helped business, sales are “still not that great”.
read more
Restaurants on level 5 of Jewel Changi Airport hit hard by requirement to stay open till 3am
One restaurant has resorted to creating a special “midnight high tea” menu, while some outlets have tried to close early despite the risk of being fined by Jewel Changi Airport Development.
Restaurants on level five of Jewel Changi Airport are required to remain open until 3am daily, but they are having issues meeting this condition because they have few or no customers after midnight. The restaurants' managers believe there are two reasons for this: What they have on their menus and their location on the topmost level — this means their patrons are either visitors to the Canopy Park, which opened on Monday (June 10), or people who would not mind going out of their way to visit restaurants in that part of Jewel.
The Canopy Park's opening hours are 9am till 3am. From July 10, some attractions will close at 10pm, but others will continue to stay open till 3am.
read more
A 'Wondrous World' @ Jewel Changi Airport
Jewel Changi Airport, the $1.7 billion investment to help secure Singapore's premier air-hub position, welcomed its first public visitors yesterday.
After the project was first announced by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong in his National Day Rally speech in 2013, it took four years to transform an open-air carpark into a 10-storey complex with shops, leisure attractions and facilities for travellers and visitors. Over six days, from 1pm yesterday to 10pm on April 16, about 500,000 people who had signed up for free preview tickets are expected to visit.
When the 135,700 sq m Jewel, with more than 280 shops and restaurants, opens its doors to all from April 17, travellers will be able to access an early check-in lounge serving passengers of 26 airlines, including Singapore Airlines, SilkAir and Scoot. This covers 60 per cent of all departing flights.
read more
Spate of Mishaps at Crown Jewel
Toddler dies after standing mirror falls on her in fashion store at Jewel Changi Airport
An 18-month-old toddler died in hospital on Friday (Aug 23) after a standing mirror fell on her inside fashion store Urban Revivo at Jewel Changi Airport.
A spokesman for Jewel Changi Airport said that the accident had occurred because a full-length mirror in the store had fallen and injured the child.
Staff on-site administered first aid to the child while waiting for the paramedics to arrive.
read more
related:
A 'Wondrous World' @ Jewel Changi Airport
The 'Sparkle' at Jewel Changi Airport
Spate of Mishaps at Crown Jewel
Changi Airport May Increase Fees To Build Terminal 5
Changi Airport to increase fees for departing passengers
Singapore’s best hawker delicacies @ Changi Airport
World's Best Airport 2020
World's Best Airport 2019
World's Best Airport 2018
