Raffles Hotel Sold !!!
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Originally posted by BillyBong:
The thing is, you dont own any national landmarks or logos--all this belongs to the government. So what can you do if somebody wants to buy over it from the government?
Let's put it in another way. Assume a prospective buyer puts in a bid to buy our national stadium with the promise of modernisation, or a takeover bid of SIA was proposed by some Malcom Glazer wannabe.
We might wind up watching live matches of our national team, yet feel as if we were on away soil. Or fly SIA only to realise it is no longer our national carrier but a media mogul's private collection.
Allow all our national assets to be bought up and we set a dangerous precedence for foreign investors. One day we will wake up and the only thing that reminds us of national pride is the [b]HDB flat we sleep in at night.
Does that comfort you?[/b]
Anyway, we do have a stake in the government.
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Perhaps you are not aware that when the former westin stamford first opened its doors to patrons, it was acknowledged internationally as the tallest hotel in the world. That put us on the map of hospitality and hotel management. And for many years served as an icon of tourism in Singapore.Originally posted by shade343:To BilliyBong:
Whats wrong with relinquishing Westin Stamford to Swissotel?
Selling it meant that we gave up that recognition, rather easily as i recall during the mass buy up of westin stamford along with merchant court and other 5* hotels to the swissotel chain of management. -
\Originally posted by BillyBong:Perhaps you are not aware that when the former westin stamford first opened its doors to patrons, it was acknowledged internationally as the tallest hotel in the world. That put us on the map of hospitality and hotel management. And for many years served as an icon of tourism in Singapore.
Selling it meant that we gave up that recognition, rather easily as i recall during the mass buy up of westin stamford along with merchant court and other 5* hotels to the swissotel chain of management.
But it was sold to a Singapore Company which is RHL... -
You are indeed correct. I do not own it. The government owns it. But it is the people the government answer to. And it is the people who will react to unilateral decisions which undermine our national heritage, especially if it is made in the pursuit of mere profit at the expense of national pride.Originally posted by shade343:The thing is, you dont own any national landmarks or logos--all this belongs to the government. So what can you do if somebody wants to buy over it from the government?
Anyway, we do have a stake in the government.
Sadly, this mercenary trait is rampant in mergers and acquisitions. Cultural ethics has no sway in business dealings. -
Well...since you cant do anything about the "lack of cultural ethics", why waste your time voicing out over it? Its going to change nothing.Originally posted by BillyBong:You are indeed correct. I do not own it. The government owns it. But it is the people the government answer to. And it is the people who will react to unilateral decisions which undermine our national heritage, especially if it is made in the pursuit of mere profit at the expense of national pride.
Sadly, this mercenary trait is rampant in mergers and acquisitions. Cultural ethics has no sway in business dealings.
If you are a RHL shareholder, just take your dividends and be happy with it
If you are not a RHL shareholder, why dont you form the next government and look into this "lack of cultural ethics"?... assuming you still feel strongly over this issue. -
Originally posted by BillyBong:
so, big deal.
Let's put it in another way. Assume a prospective buyer puts in a bid to buy our national stadium with the promise of modernisation, or a takeover bid of SIA was proposed by some Malcom Glazer wannabe.
We might wind up watching live matches of our national team, yet feel as if we were on away soil. Or fly SIA only to realise it is no longer our national carrier but a media mogul's private collection.
Allow all our national assets to be bought up and we set a dangerous precedence for foreign investors. One day we will wake up and the only thing that reminds us of national pride is the [b]HDB flat we sleep in at night.
Does that comfort you?[/b]
money talks. mouth don't -
Strange. Raffles international hotels & resorts appears locally owned but check out its managing staff:Originally posted by shade343:\
But it was sold to a Singapore Company which is RHL...
Management Profiles
MR. MEINHARD HUCK
Managing Director
MR. ISIDORO GERETTO
Vice President Finance
MR. LAWRENCE LEE
Group Director, Human Resources
MR. GILBERT MADHAVAN
Area General Manager, Asia Pacific
MR. THOMAS KLEIN
Area General Manager, The Americas
Lawrence Lee is the sole representative and his portfolio encompasses mere human resources. -
I imagine the next generation of singaporeans will be mere pragmatists....happy to follow the sound of beating drums.Originally posted by Kenashi:so, big deal.
money talks. mouth don't -
But RHL is still locally owned.Originally posted by BillyBong:Strange. Raffles international hotels & resorts appears locally owned but check out its managing staff:
Management Profiles
MR. MEINHARD HUCK
Managing Director
MR. ISIDORO GERETTO
Vice President Finance
MR. LAWRENCE LEE
Group Director, Human Resources
MR. GILBERT MADHAVAN
Area General Manager, Asia Pacific
MR. THOMAS KLEIN
Area General Manager, The Americas
Lawrence Lee is the sole representative and his portfolio encompasses mere human resources. RHL is also a subsidiary of the Capitaland Group in which Temasek Holdings has a 61% stake in it. -
Originally posted by BillyBong:
and the HDB flat dont even belong to us. it belongs to either HDB or the banks!!
Let's put it in another way. Assume a prospective buyer puts in a bid to buy our national stadium with the promise of modernisation, or a takeover bid of SIA was proposed by some Malcom Glazer wannabe.
We might wind up watching live matches of our national team, yet feel as if we were on away soil. Or fly SIA only to realise it is no longer our national carrier but a media mogul's private collection.
Allow all our national assets to be bought up and we set a dangerous precedence for foreign investors. One day we will wake up and the only thing that reminds us of national pride is the [b]HDB flat we sleep in at night.
Does that comfort you?[/b]
national pride!!?
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Anyway, I doubt the government will oppose this deal. Temasek Holdings have a 36% stake in RHL....
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look around u, see how the govt control our lives.Originally posted by BillyBong:I imagine the next generation of singaporeans will be mere pragmatists....happy to follow the sound of beating drums.
where got national pride unless u r a walking zombie -
what is wrong with that? Our Kwek Leng Beng also bought The Plaza Hotel in New York and sold it for a decent profit.Originally posted by elindra:
Why??? That is like one of Singapore's historical icons!!!!! -
if you have money you have pride.
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most singaporeans are not like Mrs GCT...Originally posted by dragg:if you have money you have pride.