- Tan Hong Kai, 24, from Singapore, is a senior valet at Marina Bay Sands in Singapore.
- Kai caters to guests in the hotel’s most luxurious suites, some of which are by invitation only.
- He said he enjoys interacting with celebrity guests, but the last-minute requests can be stressful.
This spoken essay is based on a conversation with Tan Hong Kai, Senior Caretaker for Marina Bay Sands Hotel. It has been edited for length and clarity
My first memory of Marina Bay Sands is standing with the crowds around Marina Bay and watching the New Year fireworks. Now, I am proud to say that I work in this iconic hotel of Singapore.
I left school at 18 and got a job at the Singapore Tourism Board. After the pandemic, they had a scheme called SingapRediscovers Vouchers to promote local tourism. I taught Singaporeans how to use coupons and suggested places they could visit. When my contract was coming to an end, I saw a position for a valet at Marina Bay Sands on a job site.
I read the job description and was hooked. I liked the idea that the job could change from day to day, so I decided to apply. I passed the interview and joined the hotel as a caretaker in October 2021. The starting salary for a junior servant is SGD 3,000 per month, about $2,237.
My training period lasted three months. I learned basic butler skills, trained with other departments like housekeeping and shadowed my mentor, a senior butler.
What surprised me the most during my training was how much a valet is encouraged to go that extra mile for a guest, such as getting a cake for their birthday or arranging a light meal if they have an early flight .
What do I do at Marina Bay Sands?
The hotel has 160 butlers, 10 of whom look after the VVIP suites, which are called the Paiza Royal Collection. The VVIP suites are located on the highest floors of the hotel and are frequented by celebrity guests.
I started working here in February 2022. I am assigned special guests and not in the suite, so I work in VIP and VVIP suites depending on the room they choose.
My mentor had a lot of experience working with celebrities and taught me tips like if they are going to the restaurant, I should try to get a private room or a corner table and I should emphasize a discreet route that they can use to reach there.
Two of the suites at the Paiza Royal Collection are invitation-only suites. The 630 square meter Chairman Suite has four bedrooms, a private gym, a grand piano, a karaoke room and a spa.
You can book the Presidential Suite online which costs SGD$35,000, about $26,101, a night. It comes in various configurations and can include a state-of-the-art golf simulator or karaoke room.
The daily life of a luxury hotel caretaker
I was promoted to a senior servant in September 2023. I plan to be on the front lines of meeting guests and making their stays memorable. I am uniquely trained to manage celebrities and would love to mentor our little servants.
We offer a 24-hour valet service, so we are divided into three shifts. If I’m working the morning shift, I’ll start at 7:35. We will serve guests breakfast if they have requested it in their suite, collect laundry and make sure their minibar is restocked.
We create a preference sheet for all our guests which we leave in our pantry so that all servants are aware of the guests’ likes and dislikes. We will ask guests if they like nature, adventure or food and create an itinerary for them.
During the afternoon, the butlers are sometimes invited to restaurants and the Marina Bay Sands shopping center to find out what the latest menus or events are so that we can share this with our guests.
If I am working in the evening, I will do the return service. We will prepare a tea and bathe the guests. There are times when our guests want to host a party, so we help them organize drinks, food and decor.
My favorite part of being a butler is the compliments guests have on my work
My favorite part of my job is when the guest compliments my work. I had the privilege of looking after two Ferrari Formula 1 drivers. They were staying at the hotel during the Singapore Grand Prix in 2023 and 2024. We are usually assigned the same guests when they stay with us again as the rapport has already been established.
They were following European time, so they would wake up late. I would try to make everything smooth for them, such as keeping the buffet open. During an interview, the drivers said they enjoyed their stay in Singapore because of me. I was really glad to hear it.
I have a lot of last minute requests. I had a guest text me to say they are at the mall next door and have shopping that they would like us to pick up. I’ve also had a guest say they got lost in the mall and asked me to come and find them.
One of my most challenging moments as a servant was when a guest texted me at 9pm to say their family wanted to go on a bike ride that night. The rental shops were closed, so I managed to find a sports shop that was still open, where I could buy five bikes. We now have them in storage if another family wants to use them.
Some requests are more challenging than others
We try not to say no to any of our guests’ requests. If we cannot fulfill a particular request, we always offer alternatives. There are requests that are easy to manage and others that are more challenging, but at the end of the day, the steward’s role is to ensure that our guests have the best possible experience.
The only time I have to say no is when someone wants to buy medicine. This is for security reasons, but I will arrange a car to take them to the pharmacy.
I work five days a week. During my down time I like to relax. I can also enjoy a meal with friends, watch Korean dramas or play with my grandchildren.
I feel very privileged to work at Marina Bay Sands. Watching the fireworks on New Year’s Eve is still one of my favorite times of the year. As the valets have access to all floors, we can watch the fireworks from the 54th floor, the highest floor in the hotel. It is a great benefit.
