Cover Amara Singapore’s third-generation owner Dawn Teo on finding her way to the hospitality industry
Amara Singapore’s third-generation owner Dawn Teo on finding her way to the hospitality industry
1 / 1
Following the announcement of the hotel’s newly refurbished rooms, we speak to Amara Singapore’s third-generation owner as she shares her experience joining the family business
In this series, Tatler speaks to second-generation entrepreneurs about their business journeys. They share more about stepping out on their own, life lessons learnt through business and how they hope to keep their family legacy alive.
For many Singaporeans, Amara Singapore needs no introduction. Opened in 1986, the hotel was one of the few properties in the Tanjong Pagar area built to serve business travellers. While the neighbourhood was once dominated by shipping businesses, it now boasts skyscrapers alongside shophouses lined with cocktail bars and restaurants. Over the years, the pioneer hotel has been evolving in tandem with the neighbourhood. Although Amara Singapore has been running for over 30 years, you may not recognise it if you step inside the hotel today.
In response to the evolving preferences of today’s travellers, Amara Hotels & Resorts is undergoing a comprehensive brand redesign for its two flagship Singapore properties—Amara Singapore and Amara Sanctuary Sentosa—in hopes of introducing a new lifestyle concept to the hospitality landscape. Today, Amara Singapore dons a neutral colour palate and is furnished with contemporary rooms, an online check-in system and more.
Read more: Legacy Building: Camel Nuts’ Poh Shih Yin on modernising her family’s heritage brand
Above Amara Singapore's new lobby bar
Amara Singapore's new lobby bar
1 / 1
The progressive redesign, set to be completed by September 2024, is overseen by Dawn Teo, the senior vice president of Amara Hotels & Resorts and third-generation owner of Amara Singapore. “Our aim is to foster a more social atmosphere at both properties. [For example], our rooms have been designed with guests’ needs in mind. Each room at Amara Singapore features a work lounge to segregate work and rest while the suites and villas at Amara Sanctuary are planned to create moments of bonding,” she says.
While Teo was never pressured into joining the family business, she was always surrounded by it growing up. It’s no surprise that she found herself back in the hospitality industry 14 years after starting her career in banking. After all, she had been immersed in the development of Amara since its inception.
Above Amara Singapore's Club Room
Amara Singapore's Club Room
1 / 1
A sense of purpose
Instead of visiting playgrounds and parks, Teo’s childhood was filled with weekends spent at various construction sites with her dad. “This offered me a unique window into his world of work,” she shares, adding that these moments weren’t just about bonding but also made up an integral part of her upbringing.
As her parents gave her the freedom to pursue her aspirations and establish herself in her chosen industry, she began her career in investment banking and wealth management before venturing into entrepreneurship when she co-founded the visual arts centre Objectifs in 2003.
Growing up with the family business, she always felt a deep connection to it and eventually found her way to Amara in 2015. “I realised I wanted to be a part of building a business and felt a calling to channel that energy towards our family’s business. Hospitality is in my blood,” she explains adding how she began to prioritise contributing to the growth and history of her family business.
On top of spending time with her dad at construction sites, Teo also has memories of her grandfather toiling over plans of Amara since the beginning. Memories of watching her grandfather and father opening the first Amara Hotel in Singapore further motivated her to want to continue her family’s legacy. Her desire to serve her family’s legacy further prompted her to transition to hospitality.
Above Instead of visiting playgrounds and parks, Teo’s childhood was filled with weekends spent at various construction sites with her dad
Instead of visiting playgrounds and parks, Teo’s childhood was filled with weekends spent at various construction sites with her dad
1 / 1
Slow and steady
Joining the industry in her 30’s was challenging but Teo seized the opportunity to seek experts, peers and colleagues to ask questions and have a better understanding of the hotel industry. On top of her “kind tutors”, she shares how joining the family business also gave her “intimate familiarity with the business across decades”.
For Teo, working in the family business is a marathon, not a sprint. “It’s not about chasing this quarter’s earnings but about keeping the legacy for generations to come,” she adds. Over the years, she has learnt the importance of having a “delicate balance between honouring tradition and history, while also evolving to meet the demands of today’s world”—and one of the ways to do so is through good communication, especially across the different generations.
“It is always important to respect your seniors and elders and for them to take the time to understand the mindset of younger workers,” she says, adding how both she and her family recognise and uphold this mutual respect.
Working with family has many merits—for Teo, it’s the ability to bond with her dad. The duo would have “constant conversations” while gathered for a meal, with discussions flowing from new projects to reminiscing about their family’s history.
One of her most memorable experiences was the recent design exercise for the transformation of Amara Singapore. “We had a chance to dive into the plans of the original hotel from the 1980s and to meet with the architect to discuss his vision of then-Tanjong Pagar. Having the chance to relive those moments in time was indeed memorable and a magical bonding experience for my dad and me,” she says.
It has been nine years since she joined her family’s business yet her passion for hospitality remains as strong as ever. “I am driven by a desire to honour heritage and tradition while embracing innovation and growth in this dynamic industry,” she muses.
Keeping the pace
Looking ahead, Teo hopes Amara will continue to grow alongside the industry and the neighbourhood. For example, following the physical refresh, Amara also hopes to introduce various activities in and around the hotel to “immerse our guests in our charming neighbourhood”. The new series of experiences is the response to an increase in guests who seek bleisure experiences that blend work and play.
Amara is also constantly keeping up with technological advancements like digitalisation while remaining dedicated to offering exceptional service. Rather than viewing technology as a standalone feature, Teo shares how they view it as a tool for facilitating smooth experiences instead.
From embracing local communities to introducing holistic and memorable experiences, there’s plenty in the works for Amara and we’re just seeing the start of it. While Amara has been running for 38 years, it’s only just the beginning and we’re sure to see Teo making waves in the industry while keeping her family legacy alive.
Topics
Amanda Goh was the former senior writer for Tatler Singapore.
