Opened in 1951, the Ocean Park Hotel was a hotel and beach resort situated along East Coast Road near what was then the seafront. The property was built at a cost of $1 million by the Siglap Development Company with the financial backing of the film mogul Loke Wan Tho, the man behind the Cathay Organisation film production and distribution company. Designed by S.H. van Sitteren, a prominent architect, and Myron Ling, a well-known hotelier in Shanghai and Hong Kong, the property had 65 individual apartments each with its own sitting room, sea porch and bathroom. In keeping with its luxury image, branded upholstery, silverware, glassware and other furnishings were imported from the United Kingdom to adorn the interior of the property. The hotel also had modern amenities such as an air-conditioned dining room, a luxury bar and lounge, a grand ballroom, and a signal light system that indicated whether the room boys had answered their calls promptly. To ensure the highest service standards, staff members of the hotel were trained according to the rules set out by the American Hotel Association.
