Business Insider: I'm a butler at one of Singapore's most expensive hotels, where a night's stay can cost $26,000. Here's what it's like

Claire Turrell

Tan Hong Kai, 24, from Singapore, is a senior butler at Marina Bay Sands in Singapore. Kai looks after guests in the hotel's most luxurious suites, some of which are invite-only.

My first memory of Marina Bay Sands is standing with the crowds around Marina Bay and watching the New Year's Eve fireworks. Now, I'm proud to say I work in this iconic Singaporean hotel.

I left school at 18 and got a job with the Singapore Tourism Board. After the pandemic, they had a scheme called the SingapoRediscovers Vouchers to promote local tourism. I taught Singaporeans how to use the vouchers and suggest places they might visit. When my contract was coming to an end, I saw a position for a butler at Marina Bay Sands on a local job site.

I read through the job description and was hooked. I loved the idea that the job could change from day to day, so I decided to apply. I passed the interview, and I joined the hotel as a butler in October 2021.