Faber Union Ltd was incorporated in 1963 as a subsidiary of Faber Union (HK) Ltd. In 1975, it changed its name to United Overseas Land Limited after United Overseas Bank Ltd acquired a controlling interest in the Company in mid-1973. In 1982, Hotel Merlin Singapore Limited was renamed as Hotel Plaza Limited (Hotel Plaza) before going public in 1990. In 2006, United Overseas Land Limited was renamed UOL Group Limited. The company has been helmed by Chairman Wee Cho Yaw since 1973. In 1990, UOL renamed its mainboard listed Hotel Plaza subsidiary as Pan Pacific Hotels Group Limited (PPHG). In 2013, PPHG was successfully privatised and became a wholly-owned subsidiary of UOL. In the same year, PPHG was delisted from the Official List of the Singapore Exchange Securities Trading Limited. In June 2018, Singapore Land Group Limited (formerly known as United Industrial Corporation Limited (UIC)), became a subsidiary of UOL Group Limited.
In the 1970s and 1980s, United Overseas Land Limited was known for its prestigious landed developments such as Faber Gardens, Faber Hills, Thomson Hills, White House Park, Watten Hills and Mount Echo Park. The high-rise condominiums included Cairnhill Plaza and Orchard Bel-Air, both in the prime Orchard precinct.
In the mid-1990s, United Overseas Land Limited developed landed properties such as Westwood Park and Island Country Villas.
From 2000 onwards, the company experienced a rapid growth phase. It transformed the precincts of Novena and Tiong Bahru – including 1 Moulmein Rise, Novena Suites and Newton Suites in Novena; and Twin Regency, Regency Suites and The Regency at Tiong Bahru in Tiong Bahru. In the same decade, there was aggressive land acquisition which covered the spectrum of Nassim (super-luxury); Duchess and Newton (high-end); Spottiswoode (inner city); Tiong Bahru, East Coast, Upper Thomson (mid-end) and Simei (suburban). The company’s residential portfolio also expanded overseas to Malaysia and China.
Park Eleven, a luxury 398-unit condominium, was launched in Changfeng, Shanghai.
The Sky Residences, a 160-unit luxury residential development that was part of One Bishopsgate Plaza in London, was launched.
United Square shopping mall was rebranded as The Kids Learning Mall.
Odeon Towers added a two-storey retail podium.
Novena Square added a new wing and was rebranded as Velocity@Novena Square, a sports and lifestyle mall.
As part of continual asset enhancement, UOL Building was redeveloped to Pan Pacific Serviced Suites.
UOL opened its third mall, KINEX (formerly OneKM), one of the largest shopping malls in Paya Lebar Central. The Esplanade in Tianjin, China, the company’s first overseas mixed-use development comprising residential, retail, office and hotel properties, was completed. The Group made its first foray into the United Kingdom by acquiring the Bishopsgate site in London, which would become One Bishopsgate Plaza, an integrated development with residential, retail and hotel components.
The Group acquired two properties in London’s Midtown – 110 High Holborn, a part freehold/part 999-year leasehold office cum retail complex, and 120 Holborn Island, a freehold property comprising office and retail spaces. Park Eleven Mall was launched as a mixed-use development situated within the Changfeng Ecological Business Park, comprising retail, office and residential components.
One Bishopsgate Plaza, a freehold mixed-use development located in Bishopsgate, London’s Central Business District, was completed. UOL obtained in-principle approval for the asset enhancement of Odeon Towers, which would be enlarged with the development of a standalone seven-storey building at the 333 North Bridge Road site.
The first hotel was established – Plaza Hotel.
The second hotel was acquired – New Park Hotel.
The Group established its presence in Australia with five hotels – PARKROYAL Darling Harbour, PARKROYAL Parramatta, Parkroyal Plaza, The Landmark Parkroyal, all in Sydney, and Sheraton Perth in Perth.
The Group made its foray into China with the opening of UOB Building in Xiamen.
The Group acquired three hotels, including Sheraton Suzhou Hotels & Towers, Sofitel Plaza Hanoi and Sofitel Plaza Yangon.
The Group acquired the PARKROYAL brand.
The Group acquired the Pan Pacific brand.
The Group launched its first Pan Pacific brand extended stay accommodation – Pan Pacific Serviced Suites Orchard in Somerset.
The Group renamed its listed hotel-subsidiary from Hotel Plaza Limited to Pan Pacific Hotels Group Limited to ride on the Pan Pacific brand equity and international recognition.
Pan Pacific Hotels Group Limited was privatised by the Group. Pan Pacific Serviced Suites Beach Road was launched following the redevelopment of The Furniture Mall at The Plaza.
UOL acquired 180 apartments located in Tower 2 of Thamrin Nine, a mixed-use development in central Jakarta, Indonesia. These apartments will be operated as serviced suites under the PARKROYAL brand. A hotel management agreement was also signed to operate PARKROYAL Jakarta within the same tower, thus strengthening the Group’s hospitality presence in Jakarta.
UOL signed a Hotel Management Agreement to own and operate Marina Mandarin, which would be rebranded under a new brand in 2020. Together with the neighbouring Pan Pacific Singapore, UOL anchored two upscale hotels in the prime location of the Marina Bay precinct.
UOL acquired a hotel located within Tower 2 of Thamrin Nine, which will be branded as Pan Pacific Jakarta. The PARKROYAL COLLECTION brand was launched in Singapore as a line of hotels focusing on eco-friendliness, sustainability and well-being. PARKROYAL on Pickering was renamed PARKROYAL COLLECTION Pickering, while the former Marina Mandarin underwent renovation to be transformed into PARKROYAL COLLECTION Marina Bay as a “garden in a hotel”.
Pan Pacific London was opened, marking the Group’s first “Pan Pacific” hotel in the United Kingdom.
PARKROYAL COLLECTION made its debut overseas with the opening of PARKROYAL COLLECTION Kuala Lumpur after a major refurbishment to the former PARKROYAL Kuala Lumpur.