The Singapore Tourism Board (STB) has opened a Concept and Price Revenue tender for 37 Emerald Hill, a 1.04-hectare heritage site at the edge of Orchard Road, inviting local and international bidders to redevelop it into a mixed-use hotel and lifestyle precinct.

TL;DR

  • STB launched the tender on 16 September 2026 for 37 Emerald Hill, the former Singapore Chinese Girls' School site, as part of the Orchard Road Rejuvenation Plan.
  • Bidders must propose a new-to-market hotel concept, first-of-its-kind lifestyle experiences, and sensitive treatment of the site's conserved heritage buildings.
  • The tender runs six months, closing 16 March 2027; no award decision, pricing, or winning bidder exists yet.

What is being tendered at 37 Emerald Hill?

37 Emerald Hill sits on the former grounds of the Singapore Chinese Girls' School, at the intersection of Somerset and the Emerald Hill Conservation Area, one street back from Orchard Road's main shopping belt. STB describes the parcel as 1.04 hectares, offering prime accessibility to the wider precinct. The tender invites proposals that redevelop the site into a mixed-use destination while conserving its heritage buildings, rather than a clean-slate commercial plot.

What kind of development is STB looking for?

STB's brief asks for a new-to-market hotel concept and first-of-its-kind lifestyle experiences that celebrate the site's heritage rather than override it. The winning proposal will need to incorporate accessible public spaces with year-round programming, aimed at generating consistent footfall rather than a single destination draw. Ashlynn Loo, STB's Director of Land & Concept Development, framed the goal as supporting Singapore's tourism growth ambitions towards 2040 by giving Orchard Road a distinctive new landmark that complements, rather than competes with, its surroundings.

How does the tender process work, and when does it close?

This is a Concept and Price Revenue tender, a format Singapore land agencies use when the quality of a proposed concept matters as much as the price bid, rather than a straightforward highest-bid land sale. It is open to both local and international bidders, runs for six months from 16 September 2026, and closes 16 March 2027, with submissions made through GeBIZ, Singapore's government procurement portal. STB has not indicated when a winning bid will be announced after the closing date; award announcements for comparable Singapore land tenders have typically followed some weeks or months after bids are evaluated.

How does this fit the wider Orchard Road Rejuvenation Plan?

37 Emerald Hill is positioned by STB as a key project within the Orchard Road Rejuvenation Plan, the broader push to keep the precinct positioned as Singapore's flagship lifestyle and retail destination as regional competition for tourist and retail spending intensifies. STB frames the integration of conserved and new buildings, curated experiences and public space as the throughline of that plan, of which this tender is one visible piece. For readers tracking capital flows into Southeast Asian property more broadly, our roundup of the best Southeast Asian countries for real estate investment in 2025 provides useful regional context (https://propertynewsasia.com/best-southeast-asian-countries-for-real-estate-investment-in-2025/), and our South East Asia News section carries ongoing coverage of the region's land tenders and development pipeline (https://propertynewsasia.com/category/south-east-asia-news/).

Why it matters

For developers and hospitality operators, this is an early-stage opportunity to shape a landmark Orchard Road site rather than compete for an already-defined product, with heritage constraints that will favour bidders experienced in conservation-led design. For investors watching Singapore's broader property cycle, a six-month, internationally open tender for a heritage hotel and lifestyle site signals continued confidence in Orchard Road's long-term positioning, even as the specific commercial terms of the eventual deal remain unknown until a bid is awarded.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a Concept and Price Revenue tender?

It is a tender format where the winning bid is judged on the quality and suitability of the proposed concept alongside the price offered, rather than on price alone. STB is using this format for 37 Emerald Hill because it wants a specific kind of heritage-sensitive, experience-led outcome, not just the highest bid.

Who can bid on 37 Emerald Hill?

STB's release states the tender is open to both local and international bidders, with submissions made through GeBIZ, Singapore's government procurement portal, before the 16 March 2027 closing date.

When will we know who wins the tender?

STB's release does not give a timeline for the award decision. Based on the pattern of URA's comparable Singapore land tenders, an award is typically announced some weeks to months after the closing date, once submissions have been evaluated.

Sources and method: This article is based on the Singapore Tourism Board's media release of 16 September 2026, published at stb.gov.sg, cross-checked against independent reporting from The Edge Singapore and TTR Weekly. All facts, dates, figures and quotes are attributed to these sources; the investment framing and regional context are Property News Asia's own. This article is not investment advice.