Integrated Resorts' Buildings & Hotels

By Donn Richard
April 2009
Singapore

There used to be a very real shortage of hotel accommodation in Singapore. For this very reason the government was hoping the construction of the combined 7 hotels by the two IRs would help alleviate the problem. Between the two of them, 4,500 plus guest rooms will be offered.

With the economic downturn, hotel rooms have become plentiful again - especially in the 4/5 star category.

Analysts predict that Singapore is going to make part of the first group of countries to be out of recession. This means that the extra available accommodation will again help boost expected room shortages.

The six hotels at Integrated Resort Resorts World at Sentosa are targeting a clientele demanding more than just an "ordinary" room in an "ordinary" hotel. So, when architect Michael Graves and his team went to the drawing board the result is a very welcoming family resort with 6 gorgeous hotels, each representing their own individual personality; offering a combined total of 1800 very UNIQUE rooms not available anywhere in Singapore.

After receiving the National Medal of Arts by former US president Bill Clinton, it became time for this artist to take on even greater challenges. And what greater feat than building your very own, and the world's first hotel Michael right here in Singapore?

Actually, ‘hotel?is far too inadequate a word. With 470 rooms that include Deluxe Rooms, Club Rooms, Deluxe Suites and Presidential Suites. And... Michael’s famous signature design incorporating paintings, furniture, crockery, linen and a multitude of innovative products by Mr. Graves and his team.

Guests will literally be living in a work of art. And?it is rumored that the hotel will even house a Michael Graves boutique!

Andrew Hickey, Vice President of Rooms at Resorts World at Sentosa, said: “The Michael Graves touch makes every room unique. Working with DP Architects, and Principal Architect Patrick Burke of Michael Graves & Associates, every item, nook and corner was carefully thought through with the visitor in mind."

 

 

 

 

 

There is one group which is the most difficult to cater for. We are talking about jet-setters, royalty, movie stars - the planet's most glamorous human species. The ones who have seen it all and are looking for ‘lavish?with a capital ‘L? We don’t wish to walk too far to catch the Sentosa-Vivo Sky train. We’re exclusive in the company we keep. We don’t look at price tags. What can you offer us? Well, in the north/central zone right opposite the now closed Sijori Wondergolf and the Imbiah Loukout, Resorts World at Sentosa has, in February, officially topped off the 11-storey luxury 120-suite Crockfords Towers. This hotel will include suites, mansions and villas, and will be filled with luxury shops and restaurants manned by celebrity chefs. Crockfords also offers VIP guests personal steam rooms, personal 24-hour butler, and private 24-hour security services.

In the basement of Crockfords Towers is a large area with lots of fruit machines strictly reserved for adults. Construction of this 11-storey hotel has now been completed and interior fit-out work has begun.

By the way, did you know that staying at Crockfords Towers is by invitation only?

 

 

 

 

 

Just when you think enough is enough, RWS brings you more. For what would a resort be without some great music mixed in with some real celebrity spotting? Thus, Singapore’s very first Hard Rock Hotel will be based in Sentosa. This 360-room hotel is THE hotel for the trendy, music lovers and the ones who want to rub shoulders with the likes of Bono, David Bowie and Mick Jagger. This is a hotel that will suit the young at heart and the party animal. Numerous conference facilities will be based inside the Hard Rock, including 26 meeting rooms, a column-free ballroom comprising a seating capacity for 7,300 people and a great venue for rock/pop concerts.

Low Keng Huat of Singapore has been put in charge of the construction of the Hard Rock Hotel Singapore.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Festive Hotel is another hotel located in the central zone. And it is yet another hotel which will not let you down. It will be the showplace for RWS’s special cultural show called “Le Vie? This incredible production will be based inside the 1600 seat plenary hall in the basement of the 390-room hotel. Festive will include Deluxe Rooms, Super Deluxe Rooms and Suites. This hotel is a great place for families. The hotel will also feature a kids' arcade and numerous family restaurants.

Resorts World at Sentosa awarded the construction of the Festive hotel along with hotel Michael, Crockfords Towers and Festivewalk to Kajima Overseas Asia and to local Tiong Seng Contractors of Singapore.

 

 

 

 

 

Resorts World at Sentosa also takes into account nature lovers. The magnificent and very family-friendly Equarius Hotel is situated in the west zone of the IR near lush, hillside terrain. Families can take their little ones to enjoy exciting water rides around the corner from the hotel at the Equarius water park, slated to become one of South East Asia’s greatest water parks.

Finally, what would a resort be that does not cater to lovers, honeymooners and 50th anniversary types? These love birds will be able to fortify their love at Spa Villas. With guaranteed star treatment, guests will not only be able to enjoy breakfast in bed but can caress dolphins right at their doorstep. VIPs are guaranteed a nice integrated spa wellness experience consisting of interactive dolphin programs, health and fitness workouts, lifestyle coaching, stress management programs, nutrition management and post-operative rehabilitation at 'ESPA'. Incredibly, the 30 rustic villas will all float on a man-made lagoon!

CEO and Founder of UK-based ESPA International, Susan Harmsworth has been trusted the task of pampering all SPA Villas' guests at the resort.

Variety extreme! Spa Villas, Crockfords Towers, and Hotel Michael are rolling out their welcome mats to guests who demand ultra deluxe accommodation. Festive Hotel, Hard Rock Hotel, and Equarius Hotel will be rolling out their welcome mats to guests who are simply looking for reasonably priced, themed,
fun-flavored accommodation.

After the opening of the four hotels: Festive, Michael, Crockfords, Hard Rock, RWS’s main crowd puller: Universal Studios, and the casino in 2010; project engineers carefully planned a new entrance. This new entrance, purposely built to carry in construction equipment out-of-sight from visitors to the park will be in the West of the 49 hectare, and north of the Equarius Hotel, to allow construction to continue unnoticed while guests enjoy the fun at South-East Asia’s first and only Universal Studios, the four unique hotels as well as the Strip.

Over at the Marina Bay Sands - its complex when completed will consist of a three 55-storey hotel with approximately 2,800 guest rooms which include 100 five-star suites. It is expected that each tower will be custom built to welcome guests on different budgets.

The Marina Bay Sands will also include a sky park, a casino, an events plaza, a waterfront promenade, an arts and science museum, a shopping mall, canals with boats through the Mall (a la Venice), theatres, restaurants, MICE facilities and possibly also an indoor ice skating rink.

MBS consists of five main buildings; the hotel building with its three magnificent towers, the ArtScience Museum with its magnificent rooftop that transforms into an amphitheatre at nighttime; Dome 1 with one or two theatres, an entertainment zone and possibly also an ice rink; Dome 2 housing numerous restaurants and the casino; Dome 3 with its magnificent column-free ballroom, meeting rooms and exhibition halls.

What is so fascinating and aesthetically pleasing in the design of the tower is that the three windows between the three towers have been purposely created by architect Safdie and his team to prevent an impenetrable eye-sore of a wall when seen from the sea and to permit free air flow.

Certainly, virtually all of the guests are going to want to visit the skypark. So, how does one navigate 55 stories of hotel without needing medical help upon arrival? Well, MBS wasted no time in trusting KONE of Finland the mighty task of installing high speed elevators that will get visitors to the rooftop in seconds!

The Marina Bay Sands will open the casino, the building housing the conference halls, parts of their mall, and the hotel end February 2010. The remaining attractions will be launched sometime in 2010 and 2011.