A luxury hotel constructed from repurposed buses debuts in Singapore, offering a unique inside look.

• Southeast Asia's first resort hotel to repurpose decommissioned buses into guest rooms is The Bus Collective.
• In Changi Village, Singapore, twenty former public buses have been transformed into luxurious hotel rooms for retired individuals.
• Bookings are now open for the resort hotel, which will open on Dec. 1, with rates starting at 398 Singapore dollars.

Riding a Singapore bus only costs a dollar, but sleeping in one costs 398 Singapore dollars.

Southeast Asia's first resort hotel, The Bus Collective, transforms decommissioned public buses into lavish hotel rooms.

Renovated buses owned by SBS Transit, Singapore's public transport operator, were given a new purpose in the hospitality sector through a project that refurbished 20 vehicles.

The resort hotel is now officially open and bookings are available on its website starting from Dec. 1.

A look into the resort

The collective of buses is situated in Changi Village, Singapore, occupying a total area of 8,600 square meters.

The property is situated close to popular attractions such as the Changi Village Hawker Centre, Changi East Boardwalk, and Changi Chapel & Museum.

The resort hotel offers seven unique room categories, each with distinct in-room amenities. Rates begin at SG$398 ($296) and some rooms feature a bathtub and king-sized bed.

The Pioneer North room at the resort hotel has handrails in the toilet and shower area for senior guests, as stated by a representative.

The Hamilton Place room is equipped with an external accessible restroom and a ramp leading up to the room's entrance, she stated.

The website of the resort stated that each room measures 45 square meters and can accommodate three to four guests. Despite being entirely refurbished, some original features such as the steering wheel, driver seat, and windows remain in the retired buses.

The representative stated that while recreational activities are not available on the property, The Bus Collective will be organizing guided tours which guests can book at the resort hotel's experience center.

A biking trip around Pulau Ubin, an island off the coast of Singapore, is one of the tours offered. This tour costs SG$99 per person and includes a two-way ferry transfer to and from the island. Additionally, guests can enjoy a guided food tour and sailing at Changi Sailing Club.

The inspiration behind the project

WTS Travel & Tours, a Singaporean travel agency, founded The Bus Collective with its partners LHN Group, a real estate management services group, and Sky Win Holding, an investment holding group headquartered in Singapore.

WTS Travel and partners aimed to demonstrate how tourism, nature, and environmentalism can coexist and create unique and thrilling experiences, according to Micker Sia, managing director of WTS Travel, as stated in a CNBC interview.

He stated that the project's objective is to establish a precedent for eco-conscious practices in construction and hospitality, thereby setting a new standard for sustainable luxury.

Sia stated that although The Bus Collective is currently only operational in Singapore, it has the potential to expand in the future and resonate with audiences in other locations within the Asia Pacific region.