[SINGAPORE] Just when things couldn\u2019t get worse for Singapore\u2019s beleaguered fine-dining scene, the ongoing Iran war has dealt an extra blow \u2013 several Michelin-starred restaurants have reported a spate of cancelled reservations since the conflict began.<\/p>\n
In the first two weeks of March, reservations at the two-Michelin-starred Saint Pierre and Shoukouwa fell by between 30 and 50 per cent, said Edina Hong, co-owner of Emmanuel Stroobant Group. Reservations have remained soft, \u201cwith no meaningful rebound in booking pace\u201d, she added.<\/p>\n
Apart from the prevailing uncertainty around travel and the economy affecting diners\u2019 confidence, \u201call our cancellations were directly attributed to travel disruptions such as flight cancellations and delays, with several guests stranded in transit hubs such as Dubai\u201d.<\/p>\n
Three-Michelin-starred Les Amis has also dealt with similar cancellations, said its director of culinary and operations, Sebastien Lepinoy. \u201cI don\u2019t anticipate any increase in the coming weeks, due to the situation in Iran,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Stock market uncertainty has also unnerved diners, and this has had \u201ca significant impact on our business operations\u201d.<\/p>\n
The impact has not been felt across the board. Restaurants such as the two-starred Thevar and one-starred Seroja are optimistic that increased travel within Asia would have a positive impact. <\/p>\n
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Chef-owner Mano Thevar said of his eponymous restaurant: \u201cWe are seeing more bookings with people leaving Dubai and returning to Singapore.\u201d <\/p>\n
Kevin Wong of Seroja said that despite an increase in cancellations, bookings have nonetheless been consistent. But there has been a change in customer demographics. <\/p>\n
\u201cThere are fewer domestic bookings but more from tourism,\u201d he said.\u00a0<\/p>\n