Staycations have long been the go-to for celebrating birthdays, enjoying weekend getaways, or making the most of school holidays.
But let’s be honest—the same old hotels and resorts can start to feel a little… monotonous.
So when something truly different, like The Bus Collective, rolls into town (literally), it’s hard not to take notice.
The resort hotel offers “one-of-a-kind” retreats, and is said to be the first in Singapore and Southeast Asia to repurpose busses into accommodations—but who’s behind this innovative venture, and how did it all come to life?
A “second life”
Launched at Changi Village in November 2023, The Bus Collective was founded by Singaporean travel agency WTS Travel, in collaboration with the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI) and the Singapore Land Authority (SLA).
The idea came from Micker Sia, the company’s director, who has spent over 35 years in the industry, beginning his career as a bus driver.
Seeing perfectly functional buses being discarded, he envisioned a way to give them a second life.
Moreover, with sustainable travel taking centre stage in today’s tourism landscape, it also seemed like the perfect opportunity to introduce a concept where people could “enjoy a memorable vacation while making a positive impact on the environment.”
But it’s not as simple as it sounds
To kickstart the venture, MTI’s Pro-Enterprise Panel had supported WTS in securing a suitable space and facilitated discussions with the SLA and Singapore Tourism Board.
They also worked together to identify buses that met the structural and safety requirements for conversion into hotel accommodations. In the end, they selected 20 Scania public buses, which were previously operated by SBS Transit, for the project.
However, transforming decommissioned buses into guest rooms isn’t as simple as just applying a few coats of paint and adding some new cushions.
While certain elements were retained, including the windows, driver’s seats, and steering wheels to give guests an “immersive experience,” each bus had to be completely gutted, with old seats and fixtures removed.
The frames of the decommissioned buses also needed to be reinforced to support their new function as guest accommodations.
All in all, The Bus Collective’s development spanned about two years from conceptualisation to launch, shared Micker.
Rooms start at just S$200
All rooms at The Bus Collective measure 45 square metres, though they come in different configurations—some have king-sized beds, while others feature bunk beds or are designed for accessibility, including a room with a wheelchair-friendly toilet located just outside.
At launch, the hotel’s room rates started at a relatively steep S$398 per night. Today, however, prices have been adjusted, with rates now starting from just S$200.
When asked about the price revision, Micker explained that they are “gradually adjusting [their] offerings to better align with market demand.”
Although he chose to remain tight-lipped about the company’s revenue figures, he shared that The Bus Collective has observed a “steady month-on-month increase in bookings” since June last year.
The hotel is particularly popular with families with young children, but it has also begun attracting the attention of companies as well as couples. However, Micker noted that this growth “may not be solely attributed to the price reductions.”
The Bus Collective adjusts our pricing dynamically based on seasonality, with higher fares during peak travel periods such as holidays and summer vacations, and lower rates during off-peak seasons to attract more guests. As a result, the growth may not be solely attributed to price adjustments.
Micker Sia, Director of WTS Travel and The Bus Collective
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Looking ahead, The Bus Collective plans to further enhance its “guest experience and offerings.”
Back in 2023, Micker also shared in an interview with The Straits Times that he envisioned extending the concept of repurposing retired buses to adjacent plots of land in Changi Village, and potentially to outlying islands such as Pulau Ubin, Kusu Island, St John’s Island, and Lazarus Island.
However, there are commercial considerations that present challenges, such as securing long-term tenure for the land and forming strategic partnerships with both public and private organisations to enhance the experience for local and international visitors to Singapore.
Nevertheless, Micker believes that the concept has the “potential to resonate with audiences in other locations or regions,” and remains “open to exploring new opportunities for growth and innovation” in the future.
- Find out more about The Bus Collective here.
- Read other articles we’ve written about Singaporean startups here.
Featured Image Credit: The Bus Collective
