Singapore race week lifts hotels, bars & retailers

Spending in Singapore rose across hotels, food and beverage outlets, and retailers during the city's 2025 race week, Adyen reported.

Platform data showed international visitors accounted for most hotel revenue during that period.

The analysis covers in-person transactions processed in Singapore between 2 and 8 October, compared with spending patterns across the full 2025 calendar year and a typical week in the second half of the year.

Hotels and motels recorded 24% more revenue during race week than in a typical week in the second half of 2025. Average transaction value in the category was 10% higher.

The strongest day for hotel takings on Adyen's platform was 6 October, the day after the races ended. It was the highest-earning day of the year for the hotel category in the company's Singapore data.

Overseas visitors were the main source of hotel spending, accounting for 76% of hotel revenue during race week. The highest spenders came from the United States, Australia and Hong Kong SAR, China.

Food and drink

Restaurants and bars also saw a marked increase in takings during the event period. Day 2 of the races was the third-highest food and beverage revenue day of 2025 on Adyen's platform, with revenue 22% above a typical Saturday in the second half of the year and average transaction value 5% higher.

Day 1 ranked as the fourth-highest food and beverage revenue day in the same dataset. Revenue was 31% above a typical Friday in the second half, while average transaction value rose 9%.

New Year's Eve was the biggest food and beverage trading day of the year, according to the figures. The second biggest was 29 November, during Blackpink's three-night run at Singapore's National Stadium, suggesting major entertainment events can also drive sharp spending spikes outside traditional holiday periods.

Retail effect

Retailers also benefited from the influx of visitors. Retail revenue during the race weekend was 27% higher than in a typical week in the second half of 2025, while average transaction value was 12% higher.

Within that category, Day 2 of the races was the third-highest retail revenue day of the year on the platform. The figures point to stronger discretionary spending during major city events, particularly when international travellers are present.

Fashion spending offered a clearer view of the tourist effect. International transactions made up 35% of total fashion spend in October, one of the highest monthly shares recorded in 2025.

Average transaction value among international fashion shoppers was 183% higher than among local shoppers during the year. That suggests overseas consumers contributed disproportionately to premium or higher-ticket purchases.

Broader picture

The findings show how a marquee sporting event can lift demand well beyond ticket sales and the race circuit. Hotels appear to benefit from longer stays, while restaurants, bars and retailers capture related visitor spending across the city.

Adyen processes transaction volumes worth more than trillions of dollars each year and counts companies such as Uniqlo, Charles & Keith, Mandai Wildlife Group, Raffles Hotel, Singapore Airlines, Grab, Klook, Agoda, Aigens and Atlas among its customers in Singapore and the wider region. Its dataset therefore offers a snapshot of consumer activity across travel, hospitality, retail and food and beverage businesses.

The methodology compared customer-initiated in-person transactions processed on Adyen's platform in Singapore across the full 2025 year and the 2 to 8 October period. It examined authorised transaction counts, total volumes and average transaction values, while shopper origin was inferred from the issuing market of payment cards.

Overall, the results suggest race week acted as a city-wide spending catalyst, with hotels posting their strongest day after the event and international visitors accounting for more than three-quarters of hotel revenue.