HOTEL hot-lines in Singapore were extra busy yesterday.

The activity followed after the announcement of the Sept 28 date for next year's Formula One Singapore Grand Prix.

A check with hotels located around Marina Bay, the site of the race, showed a considerable number of booking enquiries for that date.

A Swissotel-The Stamford spokesman said they have had a lot of calls for rooms during the race week.

This is despite the Government's plans to impose a special F1 Cess tax of up to 30 per cent to defray the cost of staging the event.

Said Pan Pacific Singapore public relations manager, Cheryl Ng: "There were a significant number of enquiries throughout the day, as people who have read the announcement wanted to book our rooms."

The 2008 Formula One Championship calendar was approved at Thursday's extraordinary meeting of the World Motor Sport Council in Paris.

The Singapore GP, likely to be F1's first night race, will be the 15th stop of next year's 18-leg season.

It will kick off a trio of Asian dates, with races in China (Oct 12) and Japan (Oct 19) before the season finale in Brazil on Nov 2.

Another trio of Asia-Pacific races - Australia (March 16), Malaysia (March 23) and Bahrain (April 6) - will open the season.

Colin Syn, deputy chairman of Singapore GP, the race's local promoter and organiser, was pleased with the Sept 28 date.

He said: "Our plans have always been geared to an exciting end-of-season race date, and it is great that this has now been officially confirmed."

Steve Slater, ESPN Star Sports' F1 commentator and The Sunday Times columnist, said that the timing of the race was ideal for Singapore.

He said: "September's also a better time for overseas fans to travel, especially from Europe as the summer months are usually busier.

"My advice to Singaporeans? Get your tickets as soon as you can."

Also delighted with the date was the Singapore Motor Sports Association (SMSA), who are helping Singapore GP recruit volunteers.

The date falls between the Sept 22 to 30 mid-semester break at the National University of Singapore, whose Motoring Club is where some of the 400 to 500 race marshals needed will come from.

Said SMSA president Tan Teng Lip: "It's great, the date falls in nicely with our plans."

F1-linked companies have also shifted their plans up a gear.

"It's now full steam ahead in planning and preparations for us," said a BMW Group Asia spokesman, whose company sponsors the third-ranked BMW Sauber team.

While he declined to reveal details, it is believed that fans can expect fringe activities in a week-long carnival-like atmosphere.

For example, BMW has its signature Pit Lane Park - a travelling interactive experience that consists of a miniature race-track, mini-grandstands, an F1 training centre and garage, and displays of BMW race cars.

F1 fan Jeremy Chew, 28, said he is already planning to take a week's leave from his sales job, to enjoy the festivities and race.

But another fan, Edward Soh, 43, noted the date did not matter - the ticket prices and circuit lay-out did.

He said: "For the price of the ticket, if I can only see 10 to 20 per cent of the circuit, I might as well watch the race on television. Not only would I want to see who won the race, but also how he did it."