It has now returned to being a home away from home for backpackers visiting Singapore.
To stand out in an increasingly crowded field of budget accommodation options, it has also diversified its offerings, picking up a tour operator licence.
“We have a tours department that creates our award-winning food tours. The latest creation that they had is a musical tour. It is very much like La La Land and it’s very exciting,” said hostel manager Johnian Ng, referring to the 2016 musical film starring Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone.
By using Joo Chiat’s heritage buildings as the backdrop for its street theatre performances, Betel Box has attracted not just tourists, but locals too.
The performances were held from June to November in the past two years, with about three shows weekly, each lasting two hours.
Such a strategy has proven useful amid inconsistent occupancy rates, said Mr Ng.
Before the pandemic, Betel Box enjoyed “quite stable numbers”, with occupancy rates typically between 70 and 80 per cent, he said.
“Now, we are having days whereby it’s just half the occupancy because everyone is moving around so much,” said Mr Ng.
POTENTIAL SPIKE IN DEMAND
Mr Ng said he anticipates a spike in demand for accommodations in the period surrounding major concerts held in Singapore this year.