Oct 2, 2006
How other businesses faredHouse of Sundanese Food, Suntec City Fountain TerraceFOR Mr Noel Linn, a manager at the House of Sundanese Food in the Suntec City Fountain Terrace, the International Monetary Fund and World Bank meetings were a letdown.
The promised crowds were nowhere to be seen, and business fell by 80 to 85 per cent. 
'Some days, we didn't even make $100 for the whole dinner period,' said Mr Linn. The office crowds were missing too, as many were working from home.
The restaurant does $3,000 of business a day on average, said Mr Linn. 'Fridays and Saturdays are usually very good business days, but on the Friday during the meetings, we made only half that amount, and only $700 the next day.'
Staff were told to clear their days off, and Mr Linn himself took three days' leave.
The lull was also used for extra training sessions.
'Before work, I delegated a job to them, and after work, I shared with them what their difficulties and problems were,' he said.
'I know the meetings were good for Singapore, but people here were suffering. If they want to do something in Suntec in the future, we are afraid. It was worse than during the Sars period.' -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Balaclava, Suntec City MallTHIS popular drinking spot (above), located at the entrance of Suntec City Mall, was almost obscured from view by a large tent set up for security checks.
'From the outside, no one could see us at all. You couldn't even see the word 'Balaclava',' said marketing manager Carol Anne Wah.
Daily takings dropped by 90 per cent. 'We pay a six-figure rent. During the... IMF/World Bank meetings, what we earned was not enough to cover even 10 per cent of that,' Ms Wah said.
The bar, popular with office workers in the area, normally has 800 to 1,000 patrons on Friday nights, she said, and about 300 to 600 people on weeknights.
But an average of only 20 people a night came during the week of the meetings. So, a section of the bar was closed and the 60-member staff cut by half. Those who were there made use of the time to brush up on their knowledge of cocktails, wines and other drinks.
The few delegates who came to unwind stayed for 'a very quick five- to 10-minute break and then they had to run off again', said Ms Wah.
Source : Asiaone
