Singapore hotels cashing in on pickleball craze to attract guests and boost revenue

SINGAPORE – Some hotels in Singapore are cashing in on the pickleball boom, offering courts and lessons to entice guests to play the popular paddle sport on their premises.

By addressing issues like the difficulty of booking courts and

noise complaints from residents

in HDB estates, these hotels not only provide a solution for players, but also tap into new revenue opportunities.

The Fullerton Hotel and The Fullerton Bay Hotel in May added a pickleball court on the rooftop of One Fullerton, their two-storey waterfront development, offering players a chance at games with a scenic view of the iconic Marina Bay Sands.

Novotel and Mercure Singapore on Stevens, which operate as a dual-hotel complex with shared facilities, have also repurposed their underused outdoor tennis courts into pickleball courts, which are now managed by gym franchise Anytime Fitness.

Since the courts were made available to both in-house guests and the public in February, bookings have gone up by 30 per cent.

More than half of the bookings came from non-staying guests, and demand is particularly high during evenings and weekends, said Mr Piotr Kupiec, general manager of the two hotels.

There has been a steady increase in the number of inquiries, including one regarding the pickleball courts’ floor surface area to determine whether the area is suitable as a tournament venue, he said.

A couple who held their wedding at Novotel Singapore on Stevens also requested to have their photo shoot at a pickleball court as both of them are pickleball enthusiasts.

Similarly, Four Seasons Hotel in January converted one of its outdoor tennis courts into two smaller courts – one for pickleball and one for padel, a paddle sport that combines elements of tennis and squash.

Since then, total bookings across all three sports have increased by 37 per cent, said Mr Peter Draminsky, the hotel’s regional vice-president and general manager.

In August, Four Seasons also hosted its first two-day pickleball and padel tournament, which was organised by owner and director of tennis management company 40XV Ken Smith.

At these hotels, in-house guests are charged between $35 and $40 an hour for pickleball court bookings, while the public pays between $35 and $60 an hour.

For lower rates, players can book the courts during off-peak hours, which typically fall on weekdays – from noon to 4pm – when demand is lower.

In-house guests enjoy complimentary rental of pickleball paddles and balls, as well as shoes, shorts and shirts from the hotels.

At Four Seasons, players are also given complimentary access to the hotel’s steam, sauna, shower and changing room facilities.

Players can book private or group lessons, or add hitting partners at extra cost.

For instance, in-house guests can secure a 60-minute private one-on-one coaching session at Four Seasons that costs $150.

Novotel and Mercure Singapore on Stevens offer theirs at $100.

They also offer group and corporate bookings.

More than 10 non-staying guests were seen occupying three of the four courts available at level two of Mercure Singapore on Stevens, when The Straits Times was there around 6pm on Sept 23.

Mr Kevin Ho, 37, said he is glad to be able to secure a court at the hotel.

“Once more people find out, I think it’s going to be hard,” said the training manager at Skechers, who has played pickleball at other venues in Kent Ridge and Kallang.

He added that slots elsewhere are usually available only in the afternoon, which is not ideal as players have to bear with the scorching heat.

Seen playing with three colleagues, Ms Judy Tan, who works in business development, said: “It’s like a social thing for us after work – burn some calories before we go for a beer.”

Ms Tan, who is in her late 40s and picked up the sport in 2024, said the hotel is centrally located so it is easier for her group to gather there.

“It’s not easy to book a court because the sport is very popular now,” she said, adding that she prefers booking a slot at the hotel, rather than counting on luck, since securing a court in the HDB estates is on a first come, first served basis.

She is also more assured that her group is less likely to face noise complaints if they play at the hotel.

The hotels also reported an uptick in food and beverage sales, owing to more visits from the pickleball players.

At the Fullerton hotels, non-staying players must spend at least $20 at their hotel-operated dining outlets, shop or spa before they can book a court.

Meanwhile, Four Seasons’ food and beverage revenue has gone up since its repurposed courts were launched as guests can order drinks courtside via the hotel app or dine at its Pool House restaurant after their game, said Mr Draminsky.

Similarly, food and beverage outlets at Novotel and Mercure Singapore on Stevens such as Winestone, Food Exchange and L’Aperitif have seen an up to 10 per cent increase in customer traffic during peak play periods.

There is also a modest but steady rise in stay requests from players taking part in pickleball tournaments at Novotel and Mercure, said Mr Kupiec.

Looking ahead, he added that the hotel may integrate pickleball into celebration, birthday and corporate packages, and host tournaments that combine play with pool access and dining experiences.

“By bringing pickleball into our precinct, we’re not just offering a sport. We’re creating a resort-in-the-city experience where play, dining, wellness and community come together,” he said.