The Formula 1 Singapore Airlines Singapore Grand Prix 2024 saw a
record turnout of 269,072 fans over the race weekend from 20-22
September, marking the highest attendance since the Marina Bay Street
Circuit's update last year. The sold-out event, now in its 15th edition,
has drawn motorsport enthusiasts from across Southeast Asia and beyond.
Caesar Indra, president of Traveloka, noted a significant increase in
hotel bookings for the event. "Room rates have risen by slightly over
10% this year compared to last year's F1 weekend," Indra stated. He
attributed this to growing interest in travel post-pandemic and
Singapore's position as the sole Southeast Asian city on the Grand Prix
calendar.
Traveloka's data revealed that most hotel bookings came from
Indonesia, followed by China, Vietnam, Singapore, and Thailand. Popular
accommodation choices were concentrated near the racetrack, with a mix
of three to four-star hotels seeing high demand.
Ben George, senior vice president & commercial director, Asia
Pacific, Hilton, reported a surge in bookings across their Singapore
properties. "Almost 4,000 Hilton Honors members chose to stay in our
Singapore hotels during these five days, with travellers from the US,
Singapore, China, and Japan leading the charge," George said.
Interestingly, Singaporeans accounted for 12% of Hilton's bookings
during this period. George also noted a 9% increase in demand for
premium experiences, suggesting many plan to enjoy the races with family
or larger groups.
Qualifying sessions saw Lando Norris secure his first Singapore pole
position, with defending champion Max Verstappen's Red Bull starting
alongside him. The Mercedes duo of Lewis Hamilton and George Russell
will occupy the second row, while Haas veteran Nico Hülkenberg surprised
many with a sixth-place start.
Beyond the track action, the event featured performances by
international acts including OneRepublic, Kylie Minogue, and Thirty
Seconds to Mars. The finale will see Lenny Kravitz headlining at the
Zone 4 Padang Stage.
Looking ahead, organisers report that all Super Early Bird tickets
for the 2025 event sold out in a record two days, indicating continued
strong interest in Singapore's premier motorsport event.