Betel Box >> Corporate Brief & Media Kit

Corporate Brief & Media Kit :
Betel Box Backpackers Hostel -
Facts & Figures

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Welcome to Betel Box Backpackers Hostel! We hope that you have enjoyed your visit to our hostel and have gained some knowledge about the trends of budget tourism into Singapore and to our community.

The Betel Box Backpacker Hostel in Singapore is located in the heart of Geylang Serai, Joo Chiat and Katong- Crossroads of Malay, Peranakan, Eurasian, Indian and Chinese cultures of Singapore. We are a short walk away from East Coast Beach and next door to some of the most popular eateries in Singapore.

1. What is a Backpackers’ Hostel?

Backpacker Hostels are usually associated with dormitory styled bedrooms with bunk beds and shared facilities. While backpackers usually are not able to afford luxuries during their travels, this does not mean they do not appreciate culture, heritage, religion, nature, arts and foods. To reinforce this, a large majority of backpackers are university graduates and there is a trend of mid-careers travellers seeking hostel type accommodations.

The core of a successful backpackers’ hostel is that of its community and its communal environment. Backpackers are keener to meet with local people and more inclined to learn about the history and culture of a community.

Good travel experience leads to repeated visits in the future when these travellers would become established in their careers and have a higher disposable income.

 

Key Statistics

 

Customers
• Over 15,000 travellers over 4 years of operations
• Over 80 nationalities
• Top nationalities are British, German, Dutch and Australians
• Median stay is 3 nights

Operations
• Only dormitory accommodation
• First guests arrived on 3 Dec 2003
• Owner operated
• 60 beds
• Top hostel by travellers on hostels.com (source: http://www.hostels.com/)

Website Presence
• Average 1200 individual visitors per day (40% within Singapore)
• Some 300 images in our gallery and some images viewed over 10,000 times
• Over 1,000 guestbook entries

Services
• Free breakfast
• Free internet access
• Free guided activities with licensed guides
• Free use of lockers and linen
• Free use of Fitness Centre

 

 

2. Driving international awareness to tourism in Singapore

The Betel Box Hostel has been in operation for more than 4 years and has welcomed over 15,000 individual travellers from over 80 nationalities through our doors. For over 4 years we have maintained a top 2 ranking of hostels in Singapore; rated independently by travellers; currently in top position scoring 87% level of satisfaction. (Source: hostels.com, 27 Aug 2007)

Changi International Airport has maintained its position as a strategic international travel hub and with the introduction of budget airlines, air travel has become accessible to most budget travellers. However, the travel experience is not just about shopping centres and themed resorts. Travellers, especially backpackers, are seeking depth of culture and history in their selection of destinations.

The current boom in budget accommodations is just another piece in the travel infrastructure. Taking it forward, sustenance of tourism growth must be met with the promotion of culture and heritage which is uniquely identifiable to Singapore.

The Betel Box Hostel is committed to promoting Singapore as a destination to backpackers. This translates to creation of our web based guides and galleries. Our website sees a daily average of over 1200 visitors and our most popular section on the website is the photo gallery.

3. Reinforcing international awareness to the unique identity of Joo Chiat/ Katong

Joo Chiat, also known as Katong, is the only conservation area in Singapore that has significant representation from all cultures and races inherent of Singapore. This aspect alone deserves promotion as it provides travellers, especially short-stay travellers, a well-rounded introduction to what is Singapore.

The Betel Box Hostel is committed to promoting Joo Chiat, Katong and Geylang Serai to visitors to Singapore. Our weekly free guided foodwalk goes beyond gastronomy discovery and covers architecture, social studies as well as sight seeing. This walk has been very popular not just to our guests but also to travellers reading about our foodwalks from the internet.

Key highlights of the foodwalks include experiencing different cuisines from various popular food stops such as Kim Choo Bak Chang, Katong Laksa, Katong Banana Leaf Indian Restaurant, Dunman Food Centre etc. Moreover, detours into various places of worship such as Sri Senpaga Vinayagar and housing estates such as Haig Road Estate and Marine Parade Town Centre were well received as it provided insights into the lifestyles of Singaporeans.

4. Growth potential of the district, its businesses and the Betel Box

Katong/ Joo Chiat as a conservation landmark and tourist destination is long overdue and our commitment to the district has led to personal involvement with the Katong Heritage and Business Association and other Joo Chiat Community initiatives.

The hostel is run by Travellers for Travellers; we are of similar personalities and interests as our guests.

We hope that our growth will be met with renewed interests from our community.

5. Conclusion and Thank You!

We hope that this visit to the Betel Box has been meaningful and hope that you have acquired some practical knowledge of budget tourism and the potential of our community to travellers.

Best regards,


Tony Tan

Thursday, 27 December 2007

Guests Comments


Thanks Tony and Mark for the superb wonderful place. Comfortable common room, clean dinning area, free Internet, healthy breakfast, cool bed, everything is so nice. Without Betel Box, I don't think I would stay in Singapore for 5 days. I particularly like Tony's famous foodwalks (although the 4+ hour walk gave me a lot of "water pot" on my feet). If you guys drop by Hong Kong sometime, feel free to leave me a message :)
Kitty Chiu, Hong Kong


From the moment we arrived at 4am four days ago to the time we're leaving tonight, I've enjoyed every minute of this place! Great price, lovely fresh & healthy breakfast, air-con!!! hurah! and all the wondeful advice & food tours. You guys are probably the best in the business. Expand to New Zealand and everywhere else so everyone can enjoy travelling as much as I have! Keep on trucking Tony + Mark!
Hannah & Kirstine, United Kingdom


hey thank you tony for inviting me to your famous walkfood. being the only local to turn up for the walk, i was kind of nervous, to be honest. but the people in hostel were so friendly so no problem. i truly enjoyed myself and felt almost like a tourist, like the rest. a lovely evening.
several highlights (for me) of the walk: passing by the president residence, going inside an indian temple, and walking from joo chiat to east coach beach. these are the things, that i'm quite ashamed to say, i did for the very first time in my 25 years in singapore.
i have to mention robert this swedish chap who was so into eating fish parts. we were having indian fish head curry and he actually ate the eye ball, the tongue and the teeth. he wanted to eat the brain too but couldn't find it. everyone had a good laugh.
the walk took about six hours plus and if you are unfamiliar with joo chiat and east coast area, you'll be amazed at how much you will learn from the walk.
MuseTing, Singapore


Thank you for your nice reception and walk in Singapore, for me this little stop was one of the nicest moment of my journey, your hotel is a good place to rest and meet other, carry on with this project. I wish you all the best for your business and other projects!
Magali Krakenberger, France


How are you guys doing? i don't know if you remember me from way back in january, but there is good chance that you do.. I'm proud to say that i was part of the first ever food tour!! stingray and paranikan food was excellent! anyways i was just thinking about all the great places i've been and i'd like to let you know that yours is Asia's best!
Anyways along the way there have been good and bad accomodation. but the best was yours, and after reading over the guestbook i see that everyone agrees with me. I hope you are still doing well and having a blast, i envy you for running such a great place.!! keep it up. Take care
Ian, Canada


I love this place! It's a clean hostel with friendly staff. Every day another party! I'll come back!!
Sharon Bronsdijk, The Netherlands

 


 

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