Latest Singapore IR News Clippings 2004 / 2005 / 2006 / 2007 / 2008 / 2009 2009 24 December 2009 The Star Changes unlikely to hurt Genting unit PETALING JAYA: The changes in top management at Genting Singapore, a 54% subsidiary of Genting Bhd, a little surprising, but they are not expected to have any negative impact on the company, according to analysts. “In fact, I think it could be good for the company ?Tan Hee Teck, who will assume position of president and chief operating officer of Genting Singapore on Jan 1 is the perfect guy for the job,?a local analyst, who tracks the developments at Genting Singapore, said. Tan is also Resorts World at Sentosa’s chief executive officer while Genting Singapore is the company behind the development of Resorts World, one of the two integrated resorts set to commence operations in the city state next year. The other is the Marina Bay Sands built by Las Vegas Sands. Tan, the analyst said, had “a lot of experience? having been in the casino and leisure group for a long time. “He was instrumental in not only pitching to get the Resorts World licence but is also seeing through the development of the entire project,?he added. On Monday, Genting Singapore said managing director Justin Tan Wah Joo would be leaving the company before its annual general meeting slated for April next year. It also announced on the same day the departure of chief financial officer (CFO) Jaclyn Loy Swee Im, who will be replaced by Lee Shi Ruh, currently the vice-president for finance at Genting Bhd. In the interim, Genting Singapore vice-president (finance) Long Sher Neng will serve as acting CFO before Lee takes office next year, the announcement said. Analysts had described the announcements as surprising, given that the opening of Resorts World was so near. It is scheduled to open in the first quarter of next year. “However, Tan has the right expertise; the changes in management should not be a cause for concern,?a Kenanga Research analyst, who also tracks the development of the integrated resort, said. Meanwhile, a Singapore newspaper said Resorts World could delay its opening by a month to March after it had to re-submit its application for a casino licence earlier this month. The integrated resort had applied for the licence in October and re-submitted it again this month after the earlier application was found to be incomplete, the paper said. Following the report, a Bloomberg report quoted Lee Sin Yee, a spokesperson at Resorts World, as saying that the project was still on track to open in early 2010. Genting Singapore is the largest casino operator in Britain and the casino at Resorts World is expected to be one of its key earnings driver when it starts operating. Resorts World, when completed, will include a theme park, convention and hotel facilities, retail sections and restaurants. It is also expected to generate up to 45,000 jobs. 23 December 2009 Channel NewsAsia Integrated Resorts in Singapore upbeat about outlook in 2010 SINGAPORE: Three years in the making and Singapore's two integrated resorts will finally open soon and the operators are upbeat about the prospects. Resorts World Sentosa, due to open in a matter of weeks, expects to attract 13 million visitors in the first year alone. The resort said it has been receiving thousands of enquiries from the public everyday. And one of the most talked about attractions is Universal Studios. The theme park is expected to attract some 30,000 visitors each day. Visitors will encounter ferocious dinosaurs, Egyptian mummies and if that is not thrilling enough, a pair of duelling roller coasters should do the trick. Resorts World Sentosa said with 60 F&B outlets, six hotels and retail options, there will be no lack of things to see and do. Noel Hawkes, vice president, Resort Operations, Resorts World Sentosa, said: "We've got Michael Graves studio - Michael Graves being the man who designed the entire resort. "We've got a Chihuly studio - Dale Chihuly is probably the most famous artist and maker of fabulous glass pieces, which by the way, he will have many pieces on display within the casino and in our Crockfords tower." And over in the downtown area, construction of the Marina Bay Sands resort is progressing well. The resort is touting its crown jewel in the form of the huge Sands SkyPark which sits 200 metres in the air, linking the three hotel towers. The SkyPark will feature a public observation deck, landscaped gardens, outdoor pools and F&B options. Its massive convention space, at 120,000 square metres, will also bring over 150,000 delegates to the resort from 2010. On the lighter side of things, the award-winning Broadway musical "The Lion King" will be making its Southeast Asian premiere in Singapore. Thomas Arasi, CEO, Marina Bay Sands, said: "The Lion King is going to stimulate a lot of interest and a lot of curiosity. Once we move further down in our programming, it's later on in the property's development, but the same will occur with our second theatre. "We are also getting a lot of buzz now and it will really pick up in the first and second quarter, about the compendium, the assortment of celebrity chefs restaurants that we have coming in." And those feeling lucky will clearly be hoping to take on Lady Luck in the casinos at the two resorts. 22 December 2009 The Straits Times Kids do star turn to help needy peers Seven young percussionists at children's charity concert ChildAid last night won the hearts of the audience with their spirited performance. The drum and percussion segment featured drummers aged eight to 14 and they drew thunderous applause from the 1,600-strong crowd at the first of three sold-out ChildAid concerts. The children, like most of the other performers, had auditioned to take part in the concert and played their hearts out. Mr Gan Cheng Pek, 49, an account executive who was in the audience at Resorts World Sentosa, said: 'The synergy of the children was amazing. I'm actually not too keen on drums, but tonight's performance really blew me away.' This year's concert is the first event to be held at the Festive Grand Theatre in the integrated resort, and it started off with a bang. Five young singers performed an original song, Stars Out Tonight, composed by Cultural Medallion recipient Iskandar Ismail and with lyrics written by poet Paul Tan. The singers were accompanied by 11 harpists, a recorder and ocarina ensemble and a 76-member combined school orchestra. All of the 274 performers sang and danced with verve during the two-hour concert, held annually to raise funds for underprivileged children. The $1,015,000 raised this year will go towards The Straits Times School Pocket Money Fund and The Business Times Budding Artists Fund. Other crowd pleasers last night included Singaporean singer Rachel Chua, 15, who had represented the Republic in Taiwan's One Million Star 5 singing competition. She belted out Celine Dion's The Power Of Love. Another was pianist Abigail Sin, 17, a third-time performer at ChildAid, who played the second movement from Dmitri Shostakovich's Concerto No. 2. Classical singers Anisa Kureishi, 14, from Singapore and Andrew Sanjay, 12, who is from Malaysia, also sang a moving version of Cesar Franck's Panis Angelicus. 'Their voices were so beautiful and clear, I got the goosebumps listening to them,' said preschool vice-principal Hazlina Hashim, 43. Some in the audience were thrilled to get a sneak peak of Resorts World Sentosa, which is slated to open only early next year, and they were pleased with what they saw. Housewife Annie Lim, 27, said: 'It's a beautiful location and I'm secretly happy I got to see it before most of Singapore. The staff really made us feel welcome.' Finger food and beverages were also available on site, with proceeds of the sales going towards ChildAid. While last night's performance was a success, the performers still have two more concerts to go, tonight and tomorrow night . Drummer Davy Tan, eight, the youngest performer in the concert, said: 'I'm going home to rest, practise and hopefully improve for tomorrow.' 19 December 2009 TODAYonline April or June? MBS delays launch again IT WAS first supposed to open around this time, but construction and manpower woes forced the owners to schedule an opening in the first quarter of next year. Now, the Marina Bay Sands looks set to be delayed further, with an opening - optimistically speaking - in April. Some, including gaming analysts, have even predicted the Las Vegas Sands project can only open in June. While it has been reported that the resort would open in stages, a source close to the project told Ansley Ng the partial opening would likely begin with about only one third of its 2,600 rooms and the casino. The two areas were prioritised for their ability to generate revenue, the source added. Meanwhile, some new MBS staff have received letters telling them to start work at a later date. 19 December 2009 Reuters April opening for Singapore Marina Bay casino-report Marina Bay Sands, Singapore's waterfront casino on the edge of the city state's business district, is likely to be open in April, Channel News Asia reported on Saturday, citing unnamed sources. The casino, operated by Las Vegas Sands (LVS.N), had been originally scheduled to open its doors by the end of 2009, but the date was put back to the first quarter of 2010. "Sources have told MediaCorp the earliest the resort will start operations is in April. But some industry observers said June is a more realistic date," Channel News Asia, the news TV channel operated by MediaCorp, reported on its website (www.channelnewsasia.com). They source said the resort was determined to open at least the casino and about a third of the rooms first as they were considered "high-revenue areas". Marina Bay Sands was not immediately available to comment. The Singapore casino will cost $5.25 to $5.5 billion against an original forecast of $3.2 billion when the project was conceived and will go into operation at a time when tourism is shrinking due to global economic recession. A second casino is being built by Genting Singapore (GENS.SI), a unit of Malaysia's Genting Bhd (GENT.KL), on the resort island on Sentosa. It is scheduled to open in the first quarter of 2010. Singapore is hoping the casinos will boost the number of visitors and benefit its retail sectors as well as flag carrier Singapore Airlines (SIAL.SI), the world's largest airline by market value. 19 December 2009 The Business Times Banks move in for a piece of the business at IRs Banks are betting on the integrated resorts (IR) that are about to open for business soon. Bank of China, Citibank, OCBC Bank and United Overseas Bank will be opening full service branches in Marina Bay Sands (MBS), while DBS Bank will have its branch in Resorts World at Sentosa (RWS). Bankers say that through their IR branches, the banks are not just gunning to provide financial services to business travellers, tourists and gamblers from the region, but also to local residents. But there's one service they can't extend. Unless their credit card customers are premium players, they won't be able to get credit for gambling at the casinos. The Singapore Tourism Board hopes that tourists and business travellers to Singapore in 2010 will exceed the 9-9.5 million visitors expected this year. Helen Hu, Bank of China Singapore Branch's deputy head, administration department, said that the bank had secured the location for a branch in MBS, subject to approval from the Monetary Authority of Singapore. 'We expect to provide banking services and serve tourists from the region as well as Chinese overseas business travellers,' said Ms Hu. In the initial stage, she expects the main demand to be for foreign exchange and remittance services. Bank of China is one of China's biggest banks and has the widest global network with a few hundred branches outside the country. DBS spokeswoman Jenny Lee said that the bank's Sentosa outlet would be a full branch and that the bank was partnering RWS in a few other areas. 'We will be the only bank there, Sentosa is a developing community, it's more than just the tourists.' On the services OCBC expects to provide, a bank executive said that the branch at Marina Bay Sands IR is situated within a retail shopping belt with other luxury brands. 'This allows our customers to enjoy the convenience of banking while shopping at the IR,' he said. One service that local residents can't have inside the casino is using their credit cards to buy chips for gambling. Under the Casino Control Act, the casino operators can't extend any form of credit to Singapore residents unless they are premium players, defined as those who must deposit at least $100,000 at the casino. No automated teller machines are allowed within the casinos either. 19 December 2009 Asia Times Ten years after, the Macau they wished for SINGAPORE - At the Gaming Executive Summit Asia on the eve of the debut of Singapore's casino resorts, much of the talk centered on avoiding the mistakes of Macau. But as it closes a difficult year at a record-breaking casino revenue pace and installs a new chief executive selected by consensus, Macau can let others fret over its mistakes. Nevertheless, this weekend, as Macau welcomes Beijing's leaders to celebrate the 10th anniversary of its change from Portuguese colony to Special Administrative Region (SAR) of China, both sides may well remember the old saw: Be careful what you wish for. A year ago, Macau was struggling. From early 2008, China began tightening visa rules, cutting the flow of hardcore gamblers to the territory. For the first time since gaming liberalization became a reality in 2004, casino revenue fell year-on-year over the final three quarters of 2008. The global financial crisis steepened the decline. Wall Street's meltdown hit Hong Kong, a global financial center that accounts for about of a third of Macau's visitors - the mainland contributes just over half. The crisis also pushed one Macau casino operator to the brink of bankruptcy. Financial life support Las Vegas Sands (LVS) bet the company on transforming the Cotai landfill into Asia's version of the Las Vegas Strip and nearly went bust. Auditors issued a "going concern" warning, the corporate equivalent of putting a medical patient on the critical list, requiring intensive care. The company's heavy leverage worked as long as casino revenue kept growing. However, visa restrictions hit its Macau properties, while Las Vegas revenue suffered first from high gasoline prices that cut travel, the recession then slashed consumer and business spending and cut convention business. On financial life support, LVS tried to sell its vast Venice-themed, one million square foot (93,000 square meters) Grand Canal Shoppes mall at the Venetian Macao, but found no takers. As part of its struggle to remain solvent, the company suspended work on its US$12 billion Cotai construction plans, leaving Venetian Macao and its Four Seasons appendage out there alone, far from Macau's main gaming hub. A story around town said Macau's six casino licensees met at the end of 2008, lamented their woes, and looked at the year's record gaming revenues of 108.8 billion Macau patacas (MOP; $13.6 billion). According to the story, one mogul proposed the toast, "Here's to bad years." Regardless of that story and the sentiment behind it, 2008 had proven that Macau was no longer a sure bet. Still dreaming Fast-forward a year and, despite a dismal start to 2009, the outlook is significantly brighter. In June, Melco Crown opened the $2.1 billion City of Dreams (COD) complex. The resort, located across the street from the Venetian, constituted a vote of confidence in Macau at a dark moment and a major step toward critical mass on Cotai. In its first 30 days, the integrated resort drew more than 1.2 million visitors and netted more than $1 billion in gaming revenue. In September, COD opened its third hotel, a Grand Hyatt alongside a Hard Rock and Crown outlet, bringing the resort's room total to 1,400. Next year, COD will add an underwater spectacle created by Franco Dragone, once the creative godfather of Cirque du Soleil. After the COD opening, Macau's gaming revenue began to recover. Third quarter revenue set a new record at MOP31.8 billion ($3.97 billion), and the trend continues. October set a new single-month record of MOP12.6 billion, and preliminary figures for November show revenue again topped MOP12 billion, positioning 2009 for another gaming revenue record. As casino revenue grew, so did optimism about the gaming industry. Wynn Resorts listed its Macau subsidiary on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange in October. It sold a 25% stake in its Macau business for HK$12.6 billion ($1.63 billion), pricing the offering at the top of its range. The company will open the Wynn Encore resort adjacent to its current downtown property next year. Barely a year after teetering on the brink of bankruptcy, LVS also went to the market. The company floated 30% of its Macau business in Hong Kong, raising $2.5 billion. LVS says it will use a portion of the proceeds to restart construction in Cotai. Both share sales were lauded as moves toward greater Chinese participation in the city's gaming sector, as well as signals of investor faith in the future of Macau. As new Chief Executive Fernando Chui Sai-on is sworn in on Sunday amid celebrations of the tenth anniversary of Macau's return to Chinese sovereignty, Chui and the Macau power elite that chose him can be pleased that the year, and indeed the decade, has turned out so well. Motherland's apron strings When the Portuguese vacated Macau in 1999, leaving behind a centuries-long legacy of misrule, Macau and Beijing had no reason to expect to find a prosperous, successful city 10 years later, let alone one that has attracted billions of dollars in investment. But, for all the good news, 2009 has cemented the reality that Macau is utterly dependent on Beijing for its prosperity. The rebound in gaming revenue is courtesy of Beijing easing visa restrictions. In recent months, the government has reportedly loosened the rules, tightened and loosened them again; "reportedly" because it's all been done without any public announcements. Mainland visitors have money to spend in the casinos largely thanks to China's massive stimulus program. The mainland's easy money lending policies to combat the global recession put froth in equity markets. That plus improved gaming revenue enabled the Wynn and LVS stock offerings to succeed. None of it would have happened without Beijing's help. Macau's dependency on the mainland has a dark side, too. It made grassroots Macau fiercely loyal to Beijing and local power brokers terrified of offending it. But that doesn't necessarily produce the results Beijing wants. United front When Macau chose its new chief executive in June, Chui was the sole candidate nominated by the 300 member election committee that votes for the territory's leader. After the $100 million Ao Man Long corruption scandal broke, street protests that turned ugly in 2007 - with police accidentally wounding a passerby - and with the economic crisis threatening jobs and highlighting Macau's growing gap between haves and have-nots, the elite felt it was important to show a solid front. Even elections for the electors were staged by consensus, with precisely 300 candidates seeking 300 places. A member of outgoing Chief Executive Edmund Ho's cabinet, Chui hails from one of Macau's most connected families, with a brother in the legislature, and generations of loyal service to Beijing. China's leaders may well have preferred a chief executive selection process that at least made a show of addressing underlying causes of discontent. Instead, they got no debate, no outlet for concerns, and a new leader who represents the worst of the past decade, even more enmeshed in the clubby, corrupt establishment and more deeply in the pocket of business interests than the more personable Ho. Macau's corruption pales in comparison with the mainland but Macau's gambling helps fuel and enable China's problem. Casinos provide a convenient channel for money laundering and evading currency restrictions for mainlanders. Also troubling for Beijing is that about half of Macau's revenues winnings go into American corporate pockets. When liberalization began, Macau needed Las Vegas' expertise. "Bringing American developers into Macau was about know-how and financing," Morgan Parker, the president of US-based mall developer Taubman's Asia division until October, explained. "Now, the American companies are distressed borrowers, and the mystery of building a big resort has been demystified." The Americans have thus far largely failed to expand the scope of Macau's tourism market but Las Vegas expertise helped turn the city into a far more efficient leech sucking money out of China. Over the next decade, Macau and Beijing may well work together to get rid of the Americans. But even if Macau becomes 100% Chinese owned, it will still be a leech. As Macau celebrates 10 years of Chinese sovereignty, there's no alternative in sight. 18 December 2009 Inside Retailing Singapore's retail rebirth Singapore is rediscovering its retail mojo. The clean, green city state may have built much of its tourist reputation on its shopping facilities, but in recent years its retail offer has begun to look decidedly boring against the CBDs of rival Asian cities such as Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Hong Kong, Tokyo and even Seoul. Suddenly, that tag no longer fits. It's pure coincidence, but during a year when retail sales have been buffeted by the global downturn, the nation's mall operators, and some newcomers, have been reinventing the offer. Opinions vary on the design of some of the higher profile developments, but Australians and locals alike agree on one thing: there's nothing boring about the new complexes and their tenants. And the best is yet to come. In the first half of next year, a colossal $5 billion+ integrated casino, hotel, convention and retail resort will open a short walk from Singapore's CBD, bringing new retail concepts and world firsts to the retail offer. The Marina Bay Sands, headed by an Australian team, will host Singapore's first casino, three towering 55-storey hotels - and a 75,000sqm mall housing 300 stores and anchored by high-end retail brands. But back on Orchard Rd, one of the world's most prominent retail strips, two major new centres have added extra glamour. Ion, by CapitaLand, offers 6000sqm of lettable space spread over eight levels above and below ground, ranging from flagship luxury brands to discounters in distinctive clusters. It opened in July. Located on a major intersection in the heart of the Orchard Rd precinct, Ion integrates underground walkways beneath the street and to the MRT underground rail system and sits beneath a 56-storey luxury apartment complex. At street level Ion is striking with curved glass 'ball' design, colourfully illuminated at night, an open public space where events can be held, eye-catching sculptures and a 117 metre frontage, largely showcasing six super-luxury brand tenants - Cartier, Christian Dior, Dolce & Gabbana, Giorgio Armani, Louis Vuitton and Prada. Of those, the Dior store stands out as the most visually stunning, while Prada is elegant and understated - much like the elite Singaporeans - rather than featuring the edge or rebellion of Prada's Soho or Rodeo Drive stores in the US. Inside, more aspirational retail offers are located in the upper floors, while the lower ones, adjacent to the MRT and walkways, cater for everyday shopping needs, fast fashion and food. Some of the stand-out retailers include a modestly-sized two-storey Uniqlo - the first in Singapore - and a flagship Sephora. Both were humming when Inside Retailing visited twice in November. The Sephora store features all the graphical and visual appeal of the brand's Paris flagship but rather than that store's regimental, parallel aisles the Ion store has more of a winding path layout, which encourages exploring and browsing. Tommy Hilfilger - a brand that's just undergone a heart transplant while no-one was looking - has an eye-catching Tommy Denim store at Ion. Spanish company Inditex has opened a stunning Bershka flagship; the once staid lingerie brand Triumph has a store that more closely resembles Victoria's Secret than its previous offer; and there is the first Three Sixty organic-leaning supermarket outside Hong Kong, an Asian answer to Whole Foods from Hong Kong-based Dairy Farm group. Local retailers show some innovation as well: The Wright Gift is an aviation-centric gift shop selling everything from models and trinkets through to restored Swiss Air catering trolleys converted into storage cabinets and selling for S$2990. Bookshop Prologue takes up two floors, including cafe, with bravely black interior walls, a dinosaur at the entrance and sculptures in alcoves. The cafe overlooks Orchard Rd. Australian retailers have an obvious presence at Ion - Rubi Shoes and kikki.K are located in the same precinct as Havaianas (thongs from Brazil), Topshop, Uniqlo and Shu Uemura. While Ion is an impressive addition to Singapore's retail landscape, it is far from perfect. We discussed the centre with a number of people from Singapore and delegates to the ICSC Asia Expo conference, including Australians. Locals found the lower floors exceptionally crowded and the layout confusing. There is no natural flow on each floor and it can be hard finding one's way through the centre from train station up to the street. Shopping centre professionals found the layout convoluted, too, and noted poor sightlines in many parts. One reason for this is the massive number of pillars required through the entire centre to support 56 storeys of apartments above; they constantly intrude on shop fit-outs, sightlines and walking areas. Arise Australia The latest major new shopping centre to open in Orchard Rd is Australian-based Lend Lease's eight-level 313@somerset. Like Ion, it has been built atop an underground rail terminal on land Lend Lease acquired from the Urban Redevelopment Authority in August 2006. Lend Lease's success in achieving full occupancy upon opening is testimony to a comprehensive retailer engagement program and the development of a clear mid-market positioning profile. Its 'no vacancy' status contrasts with its recently-opened neighbour, Orchard Central, a poorly-designed rabbit warren littered with shuttered shops, unleased space and dead-end pedestrian walkways. Karon Cameron, development marketing director with Lend Lease Retail Asia, told delegates to the ICSC Asia Expo in Singapore the company was confident it had the development and tenancy mix right. "We're opening in a key retail period - Christmas - so we know it's going to go well." 313@somerset will have a net lettable area of 28,000sqm spread over five above-ground levels and three basement layers linking to the Somerset MRT concourse. It hosts 170 tenants. Lend Lease describes the design concept as "a powerful street retailing frontage anchored by a landmark façade treatment". It has a 95 metre frontage onto Orchard Rd and 75 metres facing Somerset Rd. A "vibrant internal mall" is home to several name anchor mid-range fashion tenants, including Japan's Uniqlo and Spain's Zara. An internal air conditioned pedestrian walking street - named Discovery Walk - link Orchard, Somerset and Grange Rds at street level. The development will feature three food zones including a "next generation" Food Loft on level five, with food outlets varying from authentic local cuisine to international foods, reflecting a mainly Asian influence. Cameron says Singapore's Orchard Rd has "a very different DNA" to suburban Singapore malls (or Australian malls for that matter). "It has a strong commuter base and a strong tourist base." Marina Bay Sands But is the best yet to come? The massive Marina Bay Sands project is far from Orchard Rd and the shopping centre component will draw locals from the CBD and tourists and conventioners drawn by the entertainment on offer. The developer is a subsidiary of Las Vegas Sands, which owns, amongst other assets, the Venetian Casino Resort, the Palazzo and the Sands Expo in Las Vegas, and the Venetian Macao, Grand Canal Shoppes and Sands Hotel in Macao. Australian David Sylvester, VP retail development Asia, heads the leasing team. His career spans 22 years with Westfield and Lend Lease, as well as group GM of GIC overseeing the company's retail assets in Australia and China. He's worked with Sands for more than four years. The focal point of the Marina Bay Sands retail offer will be a world-first Louis Vuitton Island flagship store. Visitors will enter the store via an underwater tunnel, emerging into a multi-level, round shop showcasing Louis Vuitton's goods between glass windows facing out beneath and above Marina Bay. It will stand as a "striking glass and steel Crystal Pavilion island", according to Louis Vuitton. Louis Vuitton's commitment on such a grand scale spurred a domino-like rush of signings by other luxury brands including Hermes, which will create a range of products exclusively for the Sands store; a two-storey, 700sqm Chanel flagship; and local retail franchise group FJ Benjamin, which will open stores bearing the brands of Guess, La Senza and its own Raoul. Bally, Franck Muller, Gucci, Hublot, Hugo Boss, Max Mara, Miu Miu, Fendi, Burberry, Bulgari, Patek Philippe, Prada, Tiffany & Co, Yves St Laurent, Bottega Veneta, Breguet, Ferragamo, Omega, Cartier and Blancpain have also signed. To date about 80 per cent of the retail space is leased, a rate Sylvester told Inside Retailing Magazine was impressive given the project's timing. "It was not the best environment to be leasing a mall in late 2008, early 2009. We're pretty confident it will be 100 per cent leased by launch." The opening will be in two stages, the first the luxury precinct surrounding the casino in the first quarter of 2010, the second around the convention part of the project in the following quarter. Sylvester hopes some of the remaining space will be taken by Australian retailers. "We're talking with a couple of Australian brands and we'd like to see more." Tenants on board to date are predominantly from Europe and Sylvester says they are aiming for as much as 25 per cent of the tenancy mix to be of new brands to the country. Already confirmed as newcomers are France's Anne Fontaine, Italy's Henry Cotton's, Paul & Shark, Stefano Ricci, Austrian lingerie shop Wolford, chic Hong Kong labels Moiselle and Rabeanco and emerging Chinese brand Marisfrolg. He promises the environment at Marina Bay Sands will not be highly themed so as to allow the store designs themselves to showcase the brands, not compete for attention with the centre itself. "It truly is going to be iconic. It's going to be something people want to travel to see." Which is exactly what Singapore needed to restore that ebbing retail mojo. 18 December 2009 Straits Times HDB flats for IR workers  Two blocks of Housing Board flats in Toa Payoh have been converted into worker dorms for foreign employees of integrated resort Resorts World at Sentosa. TWO blocks of Housing Board flats in Toa Payoh have been converted into worker dorms for foreign employees of integrated resort Resorts World at Sentosa. Blocks 32 and 33 on Toa Payoh Lorong 6 were pending redevelopment until a few months ago, when Resorts World croupiers, hotel service staff and casino pit supervisors started moving in. It is estimated there are more than 300 units in the two blocks. Each flat houses four to six workers, who pay monthly rents ranging from $140 to $260 each. On the lease tenure, the Housing Board would only say it is a private short-term arrangement between Resorts World and managing agent EM Services. Resorts World said it is providing accommodation for foreign employees 'to help reduce their stress and anxiety of relocating overseas' and to ensure they enjoy a similar lifestyle to their Singaporean staff. When the Straits Times visited the blocks on Friday, the Toa Payoh flats looked clean with fresh coats of paint. Tenants said the flats come with basic furniture such as dining tables and beds, as well as appliances like washing machines and fridges. The bedrooms are also air-conditioned. Many found the accommodation comfortable, and the central location convenient. They each pay about $100 per month for a daily return bus service that ferries them between home and Sentosa. Most of the local residents interviewed said they did not mind the workers. 18 December 2009 The New York Times Theme Parks See Potential in Asia  SINGAPORE ?The global downturn put some U.S. theme parks into bankruptcy and upended grand plans for new ones in the Middle East. But in Asia, a development boomlet is under way, as operators race to roll out parks and add attractions to draw in the region’s growing middle class. A Universal Studios is set to open early next year in Singapore at Resorts World at Sentosa, a sprawling development that includes a casino. Over the border in Malaysia, ground has just been broken on the first Legoland in Asia, due to open in 2012. In Hong Kong, the $750 million redevelopment of Ocean Park is to be completed in 2013, while Hong Kong Disneyland Resort recently began a $465 million expansion project that is to add three areas by 2014. And last month, Disney finally won approval from the Chinese government to build a theme park in Shanghai; it is expected to open in five to six years. “Even with the economic hardship the world has been feeling, there is still stability in this part of the world, and people are still looking to do things that are out of the ordinary,? said Tom Mehrmann, chief executive of Ocean Park in Hong Kong. Overall attendance at the world’s top 25 theme parks has declined over the past couple of years, according to a report by Economic Research Associates, a consulting firm, and the Themed Entertainment Association, an international industry association. But visits to the 10 most-visited Asia-Pacific parks have continued to increase, albeit at a slow pace. With this upward trend expected to accelerate, developers are focusing on the region. The industry anticipates solid growth in Asia, even though in the past six years, the number of what Mr. Mehrmann called “world-class parks?in the region has risen from about 15 to more than 35. “What it says is that the market is growing, the middle class is growing, discretionary time and money is growing,?he said. Ocean Park saw a record 5.03 million visitors in the fiscal year that ended in June 2008 and registered a small drop to 4.8 million in its fiscal 2009. But Mr. Mehrmann said that attendance had started to rebound in August. Recent signals from big industry players point to a bleak near-term picture worldwide. Revenue at Walt Disney’s parks and resorts dropped 7 percent to $10.6 billion in the fiscal year that ended in September. Universal Studios theme parks, which General Electric has just sold along with NBC Universal to the American cable television giant Comcast, have also been struggling this year, though according to General Electric, the company has been able to offset the attendance declines partly with cost-cutting. Meanwhile, Six Flags, which owns 20 amusement parks, mainly in the United States, filed for bankruptcy protection in June, burdened by high debt and declining attendance. It is now working on a restructuring plan with creditors. Dubailand, which was to include Paramount, Marvel and DreamWorks Animation theme parks among others, is now only a distant dream. But some investors see opportunities in the downturn. On Wednesday, Apollo Global Management said it would acquire the U.S. theme park operator Cedar Fair in a deal worth about $2.4 billion, including assumed debt. Cedar Fair’s properties include Cedar Point in Ohio, Canada’s Wonderland near Toronto, Dorney Park in Pennsylvania and Knott’s Berry Farm and Great America in Southern California. Cedar Fair said that attendance had dropped by 1.2 million visitors during the first three quarters. The deal follows an agreement in October by Blackstone Group to buy Anheuser-Busch Inbev’s 10 U.S. theme parks for $2.7 billion, including the SeaWorld parks in Orlando and San Diego and Busch Gardens in Tampa, three of the most-visited theme parks in the world. Blackstone already has a majority stake in Merlin Entertainment Group ?which owns Legoland, among other parks ? and the Anheuser-Busch assets will make the private equity firm the second-largest company in the theme park business, after Disney. John Ussher, general manager of Legoland development at Merlin, said that his company wanted to roll out the brand across the globe. “We’ve had a good year, we’ve weathered the storm well throughout our parks in Europe and the United States,?he said, while declining to give attendance numbers. “We feel very strongly about the potential of the new park in Malaysia. The region has terrific potential.? The company is also working on a Dubai Legoland, although Mr. Ussher said the project had been delayed and the new expected opening date is 2015. He said Legoland was also looking for sites in South Korea and Japan and would be interested in developing a park in China. The arrival of new competitors in Asia has put pressure on existing players in the region. Ocean Park opened two major new attractions this year: Amazing Asian Animals, an exhibit spanning 25,000 square meters, or 270,000 square feet, and Ocean Express, a 1.3-kilometer, or 0.8-mile, train ride that simulates traveling in a submarine. Next year the park will open Aqua City, an ocean-themed area with a new aquarium complex. Mr. Mehrmann said the redevelopment and expansion of his park were essential to keeping it relevant, especially as China adds a string of regional theme parks. Chinese news media recently reported that an “Andersen’s Fairy Park,?based on the fairy tales of Hans Christian Andersen, would open in Shanghai to coincide with the 2010 World Expo. Japan, with its aging population and stagnating economy, may be one exception to the relatively rosy outlook for Asian theme parks. Attendance at most Japanese parks was flat or down in 2008, with the exception of Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo Disney Sea, according to the research report. Universal Studios Japan in Osaka saw admissions decrease by 5.8 percent to 8.1 million during the year that ended in March. USJ, the operator of the park, was sold for $1.12 billion to a consortium led by Goldman Sachs Group this year. Gabriel Chan, an Asia gambling research analyst at Credit Suisse, said he doubted the new theme parks would cannibalize one another, as they all have differences in terms of rides. For example Universal Studios Singapore will have the world’s only “Madagascar?attraction, and will also bring to life the first “Far Far Away?castle based on the Shrek movie franchise. One exception, Mr. Chan said could be Hong Kong Disneyland. The Shanghai Disney park, he said could be a threat to Disney’s Hong Kong property, “given the fact that a lot of Disney’s Hong Kong visitors are mainland Chinese.? 18 December 2009 Asia Times Singapore's big gamble begins SINGAPORE - The crowd at the Resorts World Sentosa casino complex on Saturday night won't be betting on cards or dice, but kids. The ChildAid charity concert series this weekend marks the beginning of Singapore's attempt to reinvigorate - perhaps even to reinvent - itself with a pair of so-called integrated resorts (IRs). Once seen as sure bets, Singapore's IRs now mirror the gamble of rearing children: the outcome is uncertain, with lots of unexpected twists, and payoff, if any, is years away. "Within five years, the integrated resorts will meet all the targets the Singapore government has set for increasing tourism and visitor spending," a top industry consultant at this month's Gaming Executive Summit Asia said on condition of anonymity. "But I think the operators will look at them as giant millstones around their necks." The cost of Resorts World Sentosa has risen to $4.7 billion from $3.9 billion. Owned by Malaysia's Genting, operators of the Highland Resort outside Kuala Lumpur, this IR will open in stages. Company officials are standing by the original forecast of a soft opening in the first quarter of next year, but few bought Genting chairman and chief executive officer Lim Kok Thay's statement last month that the resort will open in January, ahead of Chinese New Year (February 14). March is now being considered the earliest likely opening time. Hard target Across the causeway at Marina Bay is the casino resort of Las Vegas Sands Corporation (LVS). When the US-based company won the bidding for the resort in May 2006, it promised to have the $3.6 billion gaming and entertainment complex fully open by the end of this month. Now, the price tag for Marina Bay Sands has risen to $5.6 billion, and the resort will also open in phases, starting in the first quarter of next year, according to the company. The word is that it won't open until June. When finished - probably not until sometime in 2011 - the IRs will be the two most expensive casino resorts ever built (the $8.5 billion MGM City Center that opened in Las Vegas this week combines residential and office space with its hotel and casino). Marina Bay Sands will include 2,500 hotel rooms, more than 93,000 square meters of retailing, a museum, two theaters - one for a resident production of The Lion King opening in September - and a pair of interesting, if impractical, crystal structures that appear to be islands floating in the bay. The crowning jewel is the Sands SkyPark, a 1.2 hectare platform, longer than the Eiffel Tower is tall, with a pool area, observation deck, bar and restaurant linking three 55-story towers and towering 200 meters above Singapore. The key to LVS winning the bid for the site in 2006, insiders said, was the 112,000 square meter convention center. Singapore wanted a world-class facility to accommodate big gatherings that it previously couldn't handle. LVS almost single-handedly created the convention business in Las Vegas, leveraging that shift into a more balanced split of gaming and non-gaming revenue with its Venetian property, which features shopping and fine dining, previously dismissed as distractions from the main business of gambling. In the Las Vegas that LVS helped shape - and the IRs Singapore wants to have - casinos account for just half of total revenue. Rocking the crowds For Genting, the clincher was a Universal Studios theme park that will be the biggest in the world, with 18 of its 24 attractions new or adapted for the film studio's only outpost in Southeast Asia. Singapore long-wanted a world-class theme park and especially wanted it on Sentosa, an island south of the city that the government has tried for years to turn into a recreation and resort destination for locals and visitors, with limited success. Resorts World Sentosa will also include six hotels, the world's largest oceanarium, and Festive Grand, the theater where the ChildAid concert takes place. When the resort opens, the 1,800 seat venue will host Voyage de la Vie, the resort's "resident musical extravaganza" developed by Mark Fisher, an alumnus of Cirque du Soleil and the Queen rock band tribute show We Will Rock You. Building the resorts stretched the resources of both LVS and Genting, as well as Singapore; none of them really knew what they were getting into in 2006. Although LVS and Genting submitted the best IR plans, each had only built one integrated resort before embarking on these mega-projects. Under the guidance of Singapore's government - which even now, weeks before gaming begins, still hasn't issued its casino regulations - it was arguably a case of the blind leading the blind while throwing money down a hole. For starters, developing the projects simultaneously - while Singapore was in the midst of a construction boom - put the IR operators in competition with each other for material and labor. That contributed to their inflated costs. The global credit crunch combined with lower revenues at its Macau and Las Vegas properties brought heavily leveraged LVS to the verge of bankruptcy late last year. The company won a series of concessions from the Singapore government, including the phased opening and additional gambling tables within the maximum allowed 15,000 square meter casino. LVS didn't get everything it wanted, including government financing or a larger casino. Delegates at the Gaming Executive Summit Asia, held in Singapore earlier this month, believed LVS also asked the government to let it scale down the SkyPark, to separate, unconnected features on each roof. "They never intended to build it, but the government insisted," one source said. On October 1, crews began lifting the first of 14 SkyPark steel structures to connect the three towers. Each section weighs 330 tons and lifting requires 24 hours. Losing record The performance of Venetian Macao, which opened a year after LVS won the Marina Bay bid, doesn't inspire confidence, particularly in the areas that matter most to Singapore. Its Grand Canal Shoppes retail mall has failed to attracts shoppers or a buyer for the property. A Cirque du Soleil production developed for the Venetian Macao at a cost of more than $200 million, including its $150 million purpose-built theater, teeters on the brink of closure, unable to fill the house, despite promotions and complimentary tickets. The convention business, the cornerstone of the company's winning Singapore bid, has also failed to develop. With that track record, LVS might not have won the bidding for Marina Bay. But Singapore is not Macau, and there are reasons to expect things will go better in the Lion City. "I believe revenues at the two IRs will surprise financial analysts," University of Nevada Las Vegas Singapore Campus Dean Andy Nazarechuk said. "Singapore is already a financial business center and already has a solid tourism industry." CLSA gaming analyst Aaron Fischer said: "Both IRs benefit from Singapore's location - 38 million people travel through the city's airport each year. Infrastructure is excellent and can support a large number of overseas visitors." Fischer forecasts $364 million in 2010 profits for Genting's Singapore listed arm, to be driven by expected Sentosa profits. Even before the IRs open, Singapore is the world's third-most popular city for conventions. "The size of the Marina Bay Sands convention facilities puts Singapore in a whole new league," said Robert Hecker, managing director of hotel and leisure consultant Horwath Asia Pacific. For retailing, Singapore has a local market nearly 10 times larger than Macau's 550,000 residents. "There is quite a bit of room for an increase in spending by the locals," according to Devin Kimble, managing director of Menu, a restaurant and catering group. "The turnout for travel fairs is astounding. If Singapore actually had something for locals to spend money on here, perhaps they would keep some more of their money working in town." Yet even the most bullish observers admit the beginning will be tough, between the construction, rough edges on service, and the inevitable bad press it begets. Several analysts believe projected total IR revenue of $3.5 billion for the first three years will make it difficult for both IRs to survive given their huge construction costs. "The IRs could be white elephants and go out of business," the gaming consultant said. "Other gaming operators would love to get their hands on them as second-hand properties." Though that might not be "as disastrous as the Singapore government thinks it would be," he added. But getting passed to new parents would only add to what is already shaping up to be a difficult childhood. 17 December 2009 The Edge Victoria’s Secret to open first outlet in Resorts World at Sentosa, say reports Victoria’s Secret will open its first Asian store at Genting Bhd.’s gambling resort on the island of Sentosa in Singapore, the local press reported. The lingerie retailer will open at Resorts World in the first quarter, the newspaper said, citing Ashvin Valiram, director of Malaysia-based retailer Valiram Group. It plans to fly in brand ambassadors such as Sharon Stone and Orlando Bloom to various events, and doesn’t rule out organising the Victoria’s Secret fashion show, say the reports. 17 December 2009 Forbes The Richest Man In Vegas Speaks! Sheldon Adelson on his casino company's plans for Macau, Singapore--and, perhaps, Europe. LAS VEGAS -- In 2007 Sheldon Adelson was America's third richest man. Before the collapse of the markets last year, shares of his Las Vegas Sands casino company traded at more than $140 a share, maxing out his personal fortune at nearly $40 billion. These days he's worth a mere $9 billion, 26th on the most recent Forbes list of the 400 richest Americans. "The Forbes 400 is a report card for the wealthy, and seeing it this year hurt," he says. "I got a bad report card." Now he's vowing to scrap his way back into the ranks of the 10 wealthiest people in the U.S., and he says he's got big plans to push his company back into the gambling stratosphere. Adelson sat down with Forbes on Wednesday in his office at the Venetian resort on the Las Vegas Strip to discuss the opening of his $5.5 billion casino complex in Singapore, completing his massive master plan in Macau, China and where in the world his next gambling project might be. What is the state of the casino industry right now? In the group sales market, which is what we are primarily focused on, we are out of the woods. My sales guys tell me we will be 60-70% recovered in 2010, and be back completely by 2011. The business is coming back. Our primary groups are pharmaceutical groups and high-tech companies and conventions, and those will be back. They are booking now. We even have a financial firm that is coming. They paid back their TARP money and have decided it's safe to come to Las Vegas again. What do you think of MGM Mirage's CityCenter? I haven't seen it yet. But even though it's big, it only represents 4% of the supply of hotel rooms in Las Vegas, so I don't think it will have a positive or negative effect on us. Traditionally in Las Vegas when a new Strip resort opens, visitation increases. That's good. But even though there is a lot of publicity about it, I haven't heard anyone who's seen it tell me it is going to be a winner. They have no strategy. They have no obvious plan. If they try to compete in the travel and tour business, they will cannibalize all their other properties, like the Bellagio. They don't have a convention space big enough to make an impact. So they built it without a strategy. How ill-advisable is that? How close were you to falling off the cliff last year? I wasn't scared at all. Personally, I knew I could bail the company out if I had to, and I did. (Adelson infused $1 billion of his own cash into the company during the credit crisis). So I wasn't worried about the company surviving. We did have a few bad managers, and they were the primary reason why our stock fell 99%. Those guys financed our expansion by borrowing against future assets (casinos) that generate income, rather than taking out normal project finance loans. It put us in a horrible position. Now those executives are gone, and I love coming to work again. How hard was it for you to put $1 billion of your own money into Las Vegas Sands ( LVS - news - people )? I still had plenty of money left for my family, so it was an easy decision. My priority now is to get back to where I was, to be worth $40 billion again and rank third in America. I want to make enough money to, without eating away my principle assets, support all of the philanthropic issues I care about: medical and pro-Israel causes. I want to support all my philanthropy off of interest. Right now I'm in maintenance mode with philanthropy, but I want to ramp it up again. When will Marina Bay Sands, your $5.5 billion casino and convention complex in Singapore, open? The end of the first quarter or the beginning of the second quarter of next year. We have different benchmarks, but we should open in March or April. Right now we are trying to complete our sky park. There are three towers of hotel rooms, and we are creating a connecting flat park on top of them. This building is going to be one of the most photographed places on the planet. And it's going to make money. There will be 2,500 rooms, a multi-level casino and a huge convention center. Singapore is the shopping center of Asia, and Marina Bay will the key mall in Singapore. There will be three levels of retail. It's going to be amazing. As soon as we open there, we will complete our projects in Macau. When will your Cotai Strip in Macau be complete? Construction on lots five and six are two-thirds done, and we will restart construction on them so they can be open in June 2011. Phase one will open with 4,000 rooms, two casinos, VIP rooms, hundreds of tables and more than 2,000 slots. We're also waiting for the government to allow us to start selling apartment in Macau; we already have approval to sell co-ops. The economy will eventually recover. When it does, how much could you realistically be worth? I want to get back to where I was. Almost $40 billion. But I guess it depends on how long it takes to get there. If it takes more than a couple years, I guess I'll settle for a little less [laughs]. I'm putting my best team out there. Marina Bay will be massive for us. Another big Asian country has reached out to us and asked us to develop something similar to Marina Bay in their country. We are in talks in Europe to build a big casino and convention facility. There are three or four opportunities that will come up in the next year that we hope to take advantage of. What would you like to do in Europe? We've been talking to a country near the Mediterranean about developing something. I'd like to build another Cotai Strip, another Las Vegas in Europe. There are plenty of opportunities out there. But I'd like to develop properties differently going forward. How would you like to develop them? Right now a casino is the hub of a resort, with everything else--the shops, the shows, the convention spaces--acting as the spokes on the wheel. I'd like to develop places where the casino isn't the center of the project. That way we could open the casino first and use the income to develop the rest of the project. That would take the pressure off the financing. 16 December 2009 Xinhua Singapore to bar over 28,000 people from casinos Singapore's National Council on Problem Gambling will send letters to over 28,000 people in Singapore, barring them from the two upcoming casinos, local media reported on Wednesday. The majority are undischarged bankrupts while the rest are recipients of public financial assistance, local TV broadcaster Channel NewsAsia said. The report said that Singapore is the first country in the world to automatically bar such cases from the gaming tables. The council said the exclusion orders are meant to protect those in a financially precarious situation. The orders were issued by the council, but it is the casinos who will have to enforce the rule and if they don't, they may lose its license or be fined up to 1 million Singapore dollars (about 0.7 million U.S. dollars). Both casinos said they are working closely with the Casino Regulatory Authority to ensure no one slips through. Marina Bay Sands said checks will be made at the door when customers pay entry fees. Problem gamblers may also seek to exclude themselves from the casinos and in the one month since applications were opened, 56 have done so. Applications may also be made by family members, and so far, 19 exclusion orders have been issued. Singapore's two casinos at the two Integrated Resorts, Marina Bay Sands and Resorts World Sentosa, will begin operations next year. 15 December 2009 AsiaOne New ramp off West Coast Highway viaduct A NEW ramp from the West Coast Highway viaduct at Telok Blangah Road between Wishart Road and Seah Im Road will be opening on Thursday afternoon. This new conversion is an attempt to ease traffic heading to Henderson Road from Keppel Road. Directional and information signs will be placed in advance to guide road users. The reconfiguration works are also part of the Land Transport Authority's (LTA) initiative to cope with anticipated grown in traffic once the Resorts World at Sentosa opens early 2010. 15 December 2009 Straits Times Childaid raises record $1m SINGAPORE Press Holdings' youth charity concert ChildAid has raised a record $1 million to help needy children. The money raised will support two charities - The Straits Times School Pocket Money Fund and The Business Times Budding Artists Fund. Strong corporate support and brisk ticket sales boosted this year's tally to $1,015,000 - double last year's fund-raising total of $506,000. This year's concert will be held at Resorts World Sentosa from Dec 19-21. It will be the first event to be held at the integrated resort, which is the venue and production partner for the concert. Tickets for the concert sold out last week. ChildAid organising Chairman Peter Khoo praised the Singapore public for their generosity despite the challenging economic year. 'The recession has affected everyone. Yet Singaporeans have once again responded with tremendous heart. It shows that they believe in the ChildAid cause of showcasing young talents who want to help their less fortunate peers. The public's generosity is timely because there are more needy children due to the economic crisis. This year saw the highest number of beneficiaries - 12,500 - on the ST Fund since its inception in 2000. This is higher than the 10,419 supported during the Sars years of 2003-2004. Next week's concert will showcase 274 performers aged from 4 to 19 years. A total of 15 acts will take to the stage - including seven youths from Malaysia and Indonesia. They were chosen from 550 acts following July and August auditions held in Singapore, Kuala Lumpur and Jakarta. 11 December 2009 Channel NewsAsia Integrated resorts set up green initiatives SINGAPORE : The two upcoming integrated resorts in Singapore, which open in the first quarter of next year, are not planning to gamble with the environment. In fact, they have spent millions of dollars on green technologies and sustainable building concepts to conserve resources. It has been a roller coaster ride for the environment, and climate change is a real threat. So companies, like Singapore's two integrated resorts, are striving for greener practices. Resorts World Sentosa, for instance, transplanted 900 trees affected by construction work. It is now replanting them - along the streets of Hollywood and New York - within its Universal Studios theme park. The resort also has Singapore's largest solar installation, that can generate over 500,000 kilowatts per hour of energy a year. Noel Hawkes, vice president, Resort Operations, Resorts World Sentosa, said: "(With regards to) the solar power, we reckon we can save half a million Singapore dollars easily on electricity bills. "We also have a very interesting ETFE roofing system over many of the al fresco dining areas of the resort, as well as in the Universal Studios where people are queuing, and this reduces the amount of sunlight by almost half. "And we couple that with an eco-cooling system, which we have developed; it is not air conditioning, but it is cooling and it costs one-third of the cost of air conditioning." The ETFE plastic roofing will shelter about 70 per cent of the pedestrian walkways at the resort. Another cost saving of over S$160,000 a year will come from a lagoon, which will harvest rainwater to be used for irrigation. Meanwhile, Marina Bay Sands resort is also doing its part - by recycling paint from previous projects, as well as recycling construction waste. When completed, guests staying in the 2,500 luxury rooms at the three hotel towers can also play a role. Thomas Arasi, CEO, Marina Bay Sands, said: "We have spent S$25 million on an intelligent building management system, and what that would do is that it would automatically record the customer's needs and energy saving patterns. "On the remote control in our guest room, there will be an eco button that you can hit and it will just take things up a notch and hopefully you will not feel it." Marina Bay Sands said it has also invested a substantial amount of money on the construction and operation of a massive chilled water plant to be located just off its third hotel tower. This will be done on a cost sharing basis between the resort and public en******. The plant is expected to be ready in late 2010. Marina Bay Sands said it will provide chilled water to cool the resort as well as new buildings in the surrounding districts. Observers said the use of chilled water could help lower air conditioning costs by up to 20 per cent. 10 December 2009 Straits Times ChildAid tickets sold out The concert, which showcases the best of Singapore's young musical talents, is in aid of The Straits Times School Pocket Money Fund and The Business Times Budding Artists Fund. Tickets for the children's charity concert ChildAid have sold out. The concert, which showcases the best of Singapore's young musical talents, is in aid of The Straits Times School Pocket Money Fund and The Business Times Budding Artists Fund. This is the fifth time media group Singapore Press Holdings is organising the concert. This year's shows, from Dec 19 to 21, will be held for the first time at the 1,600-seater Festive Grand Theatre at Resorts World Sentosa. The Guest-of-Honour is President SR Nathan. ChildAid organising chairman Peter Khoo said he was grateful to the Singapore public for their show of support. 'This proves that Singaporeans have big hearts and support young talents.' The 4,800 who secured tickets will be the first to step into the integrated resort, scheduled to officially open early next year. Several of the 274 talents were thrilled to hear that they would be performing before a packed audience. Said singer Anisa Kureishi, 14, who is a student at the United World College: 'It's an honour to perform with such talented performers and to help the less fortunate at the same time. It'll be such a thrill to sing before a packed audience and at such a prestigious venue too.' 8 December 2009 My Paper IRs draw bonanza of events  THE upcoming integrated resorts (IRs), which are slated to open next year, will be drawing new events and meetings to Singapore. At least 13 events to be held at the IRs in the next three years will be hosted in Singapore for the first time. Yesterday, Marina Bay Sands said that it has secured more than 30 events to be held here from next year to 2012, of which six are making their debut appearance here. The events will each bring between 3,000 and 25,000 visitors, making for a total of more than 150,000, it said. Mr Arthur Chernov, its vice-president for sales, said: "This speaks volumes about the ability of Marina Bay Sands to attract established marquee trade events and to expand the meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions market for Singapore by attracting new shows." The new events include an engineering conference in 2011, the IEEE P802, and the first major textile event for Asia, the Industrial Fabrics Association International Expo Asia 2011 trade show. The textile expo's vice-president of conference management, Mr Todd Lindemann, said: "We believe that Marina Bay Sands will be an exciting location for our event. The design of the facility is absolutely breathtaking. The broad array of entertainment found at the premises is sure to attract even more attendees." Resorts World Sentosa said yesterday that it has lined up about 30 confirmed events for next year and 2011. Of these, 25 per cent are annual events that will be held here for the first time, one-off international events that rotate from country to country or one-off regional events. 8 December 2009 CNN TransAct's Epic 950(R) Printer Selected Exclusively by Resorts World at Sentosa In Singapore HAMDEN, Conn., Dec. 8, 2009 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- TransAct Technologies Incorporated (Nasdaq:TACT), a global leader in market-specific printers for transaction-based industries, today announced that its Epic 950(R) printer was selected exclusively by Resorts World at Sentosa in Singapore for its new casino/hotel resort, which is scheduled to open in Spring 2010. "We are very pleased with this exclusive win, coming on the heels of a recent exclusive win in Macau, which proves that TransAct's superior printers and technology are being recognized on a global scale," said Bart C. Shuldman, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of TransAct Technologies. "The Epic 950(R) offers everything that operators seek in a Ticket-In, Ticket-Out (TITO) printer -- the newest technology and advanced features including quick disconnect, reliable ticket burst and present, paper low ticket sensing, the ability to print in two colors and in multiple languages including Chinese characters, and an easy upgrade path to server-based gaming with our patented ServerPort technology. We at TransAct strive to provide the best products and the Epic 950(R) delivers this along with maximum flexibility for Resorts World's slot floors, and top-shelf customer service. We are excited to be working closely with Resorts World to help them capitalize on all the features and advanced technology of the Epic 950(R)." Resorts World at Sentosa Private Limited is the leisure and gaming company behind the development of a 49-hectare integrated resort on Singapore's holiday island of Sentosa. Resorts World at Sentosa will own and operate all key attractions at the resort, which houses six hotels, a casino, Universal Studios Singapore(R), The Marine Life Park, the Maritime Experiential Museum and the Equarius Water Park. About TransAct Technologies Incorporated TransAct Technologies Incorporated (Nasdaq:TACT) is a leader in developing and manufacturing market-specific printers for transaction-based industries. These industries include casino, gaming, lottery, banking, kiosk and point-of-sale. Each individual market has distinct, critical requirements for printing and the transaction is not complete until the receipt and/or ticket is produced. TransAct printers are designed from the ground up based on market specific requirements and are sold under the Ithaca(R) and Epic product brands. TransAct distributes its printers through OEMs, value-added resellers, selected distributors, and direct to end-users. TransAct has over two million printers installed around the world. TransAct is committed to world-class printer service, spare parts and accessories required by a growing worldwide installed base of printers. Beyond printers, TransAct is a leader in providing printing supplies to the full transaction printer market. Through its TransAct Services Group, TransAct provides a complete range of supplies and consumables items used in the printing and scanning activities of customers in the hospitality, banking, retail, gaming and government markets. Through its webstore, http://www.transactsupplies.com, and a direct selling team, TransAct addresses the growing on-line demand for these products. 7 December 2009 Channel NewsAsia Marina Bay Sands signs 30 deals for events at Expo & Convention Centre SINGAPORE : Marina Bay Sands on Monday said it has signed over 30 deals for premier events at its new Expo and Convention Centre. This is expected to attract over 150,000 attendees to the integrated resort when it opens next year. Marina Bay Sands said it has sealed events from a wide range of industries, from the engineering and legal sector to life sciences and renewable energy. Some events are marking their return to Singapore after many years. For example, the Inter-Pacific Bar Association 2010 Conference will see top lawyers from the region converging in Singapore in May for the first time since 1994. With the theme of 'Climate Change', the prestigious event counts former US Vice President and environment champion Al Gore as its keynote speaker. Other returning events include the 2010 UFI Congress which will come back to Singapore after a 15-year absence. New shows that will debut at Marina Bay Sands include the Industrial Fabrics Association International Expo Asia 2011 trade show - the first major textile event catered to the Asian audience. In addition, the Marina Bay Sands team is working on more than 100 additional prospects for meetings, incentives and conventions over the next four years. - CNA/ms 4 December 2009 Straits Times New Sentosa shuttle planned Buses to run from airport, hotels and heartland GETTING to Sentosa could be easier next year with the introduction of shuttle buses transporting people from the airport, hotels, Marina Bay Sands integrated resort and even the heartland. Sentosa Development Corporation (SDC), the resort island's master planner, has called a tender for 'experienced and established coach operators' to operate a shuttle service from March 1 next year as the $6.59 billion Resorts World Sentosa (RWS) opens its doors. Last year, Sentosa greeted about 6.1 million visitors. But this number is expected to almost double to 10 million annually with the opening of RWS. The proposed shuttle bus service is to 'provide convenience for tourists' to go to Sentosa from the airport, the shopping districts and hotels, said Sentosa Leisure Group's commercial director Susan Ang. However, it has also asked operators to look at running ad-hoc routes from heartland hubs during peak periods like school and public holidays. Prices and frequency of the service will be decided by operators bidding for the project. The shuttle bus proposal is part of a multimillion-dollar plan to overhaul the transport system on Sentosa. 3 December 2009 Travel Agent Central Marina Bay Sands Welcomes Six Celebrity Chefs   It was announced in October that Chef Daniel Boulud would be one of the six celebrity chefs to open restaurants at Singapore's anticipated Marina Bay Sands. Now the rumors can stop about the other mysterious five. Boulud will be joined by Mario Batali, Wolfgang Puck, Santi Santamaria, Guy Savoy and Testuya Wakuda. Batali, Boulud and Puck will launch their signature restaurants near the Marina Bay Sands Theaters, while Santamaria, Savoy and Wakuda's will be on the mezzanine level of the casino. Each chef is working to make sure that menus and interior decor reflect their signature styles. Upon completion, Marina Bay Sands will have both convention and exhibition facilities, about 2,500 hotel rooms, a rooftop Sands SkyPark, a museum, casino, theaters, shopping and dining. 3 December 2009 Reuters Sands plan phased opening Las Vegas Sands Corp (LVS.N) expects to open its $5.5 billon, 2,700-room Singapore casino resort in phases starting in the first quarter of next year, a company spokesman said on Thursday. He declined to give a specific date for the opening -- which will include 800 to 1,000 hotel rooms -- but a source close to the company said it would be "toward the end of March." The first phase of the project will also include the casino, some of the retail operations and some of the meeting and convention space, said spokesman Ron Reese. Sands said in July that it was making every effort to open the triple-tower property, called Marina Bay Sands, by February 15, 2010. The company is now in the process of raising segments of the resort's "sky park" -- a 1,200-foot-long (360-meter) span running across the top of the three 55-story hotel towers. Half of the 14 segments are in place. About 60 days after the opening of the project's first phase, Sands aims to open the remainder of the hotel rooms, additional retail space and the sky park, Reese said. By the end of 2010, the company expects the rest of the attractions, including the theaters and museum, to open. 2 December 2009 Straits Times ChildAid tickets on sale Dec 3 Want to help? The three-night concert, to be held from Dec 19-21, will be the first event to be held at Resorts World Sentosa. President SR Nathan will be the Guest-of Honour for the gala concert on Dec 20. There will be 15 acts performing at this year's show. These were chosen after a record number of 550 submissions and tough auditions, which were held in neighbouring Malaysia and Indonesia. Singapore's best will be led by Taiwan One Million Superstar singer Rachel Chua, 15; School of the Arts' singer Jane Lee, 14; and a full orchestra made up of the best from the Republic's schools. Ikhwal Hafiz Ismail - who won the Best International Artiste Award at Kodak Theatre, Los Angeles - will carry Malaysia's flag while two 14-year-old young percussionists - Kevin Dwi Tjahya and Ayla Noor Iman - will represent Indonesia. ChildAid aims to raise $1,000,000 which will come from ticket sales and corporate sponsors. The two beneficiaries of the concert are The Straits Times School Pocket Money Fund and The Business Times Budding Artists Fund. The tickets, priced at $15, $20 and $30, are available through Sistic. 28 November 2009 Business Times Property consultants say Sentosa IR is scouting for rental flats for some of its foreign staff VISITORS to the Universal Studios theme park in Resorts World at Sentosa (RWS) will soon be able to live out adventures seen in various movies. There will be zones based on films such as Madagascar, Shrek and Jurassic Park, to bring thrill-seekers to a make-believe world far away from home. For some employees at RWS, being away from home will also be a new adventure. The integrated resort will be hiring a considerable number of foreigners, and it is said to be searching for hundreds of HDB flats to help them settle in. C&H Realty managing director Albert Lu said that RWS is looking for HDB flats to rent, and approached his firm a few months ago to find out about the rental market. RWS did not share many details then, but the number of flats is ‘in the hundreds? he told BT. Another property market insider who declined to be named also said that RWS has been ‘aggressively looking for flats to rent? and is probably in need of ‘a few hundred?units. So far, there is no official statement on the number of foreigners that RWS could hire. Overall, it will employ about 10,000 people when it opens next year. RWS spokesman Robin Goh told BT that it remains committed in recruiting Singaporeans and Singapore permanent residents. A media report in June noted that RWS had hired 600 workers, of whom 80 per cent are locals. Assuming that the local-foreign ratio stays constant, its headcount from abroad could reach 2,000. Going by HDB rules, one- or two-room flats can each be rented out to at most four people; three-room flats to at most six people; and four-roomers or bigger flats to at most nine people. Assuming that RWS hires 2,000 foreigners and all of them rent four-room flats, it would need to find at least about 220 units. Mr Goh said that RWS started looking for ’suitable accommodation?for foreign staff early this year, with help from a ‘reputable service provider? He did not specify the types and number of housing involved. ‘To help reduce their stress and anxiety of relocating overseas, we assist our foreign team members in addressing one of their basic needs ?accommodation,?he said. ‘We make sure that they settle down comfortably as well as enjoy working and living in Singapore.?And it is important for RWS to keep its employees happy because that could enhance their work performance and in turn, visitors?experience at the integrated resort, he said. Mr Goh added that RWS considered several factors in choosing accommodation, including the place’s accessibility and proximity to amenities such as convenience stores. ‘The locations we have chosen facilitate good interaction between the local community and foreign talent,?he added. BT understands that units at Tiong Bahru and Toa Payoh have been found. C&H Realty’s Mr Lu said that he believes that RWS would want flats in areas near Sentosa, such as Telok Blangah. But he pointed out that the supply of rental flats in such central locations is tight, and RWS might have to broaden its search to estates near MRT stations. Rents of HDB flats in the central region rose between the second and third quarter of the year. For instance, the median sub-letting rent for a four-room flat in the area increased from about $2,000 to $2,200. HDB’s website shows that up to the third quarter of this year, the agency has granted 11,235 sub-letting approvals. The bulk of these ?3,978 or 35 per cent ?were for three-room flats. Another 3,593 approvals were for four-room flats. Also, looking across all towns and flat types, median sub-letting rents have remained relatively steady from the first to third quarter. Dennis Wee Group director Chris Koh observed that the HDB rental market is ‘more stabilised?compared with the period when collective sales were rife and many displaced residents were looking for lodging. His firm has seen more rental enquiries direct from foreigners working with RWS. Marina Bay Sands, the other integrated resort due to open next year, has not engaged property agents to look for accommodation for its foreign staff. ‘Housing arrangements will take into account the needs of the prospective foreign employees,?said a spokeswoman. ‘At this time, Marina Bay Sands is giving priority to attracting and selecting Singaporeans and permanent residents for our job opportunities.?/span> 28 November 2009 TBM Singapore’s Resorts World Sentosa announces confirmation of 30 event bookings According to a report in etravelblackboardasia.com, Singapore’s Resorts World Sentosa has announced its confirmation of 30 event bookings, despite having its early 2010 soft launch in a few months time. Its largest event secured is the 11th World Chinese Entrepreneurs Convention (WCEC) from October 5-7, 2011 which expects to attract 4,000 top business leaders from around the world. Tan Hee Teck, Chief Executive Officer, Resorts World Sentosa said, “It is an honour for Resorts World Sentosa to host the WCEC. Having such an internationally-renowned event held at Resorts World Sentosa augments the confidence organisers and conference planners have in our MICE offerings.?The venue is also currently fielding more than 150 leads, with Expressions of Interest (EoI) for events up to 2014. Elena Arabadjieva, Director of MICE, Resorts World Sentosa said, “These events ?some of which are firsts in Singapore ?signify growth in the MICE industry, and shows the confidence organisers have in the Resort’s MICE offerings as a solution for companies looking for venues. As the world’s economy recovers, we are getting strong interest from organisers for events from 2010 to as far ahead as 2014 and that gives us confidence in Singapore’s meetings and incentive travel sector in the mid to long term.?br> Resorts World Sentosa has the ability to host up to 35,000 MICE guests at any one time and offers event space including one of Asia’s largest column-free ballrooms that seats 7,300. It also houses Southeast Asia’s only Universal Studios theme park, the world’s largest Marine Life Park, six hotels, a casino and palette of Las Vegas-styled entertainment, world-class performances, restaurants by celebrity chefs and retail shops. 27 November 2009 Las Vegas Sun Casino venue in Singapore will have Las Vegas flavor The world’s newest gaming venue will be halfway around the world, but a Las Vegas company will be in the center of the competition. Experts are saying Las Vegas Sands?Marina Bay Sands will likely be the more visible and more enduring property of two that will open in Singapore in 2010’s first quarter. Singapore reversed a 40-year ban on gambling in 2005 and invited developers worldwide to bid to build integrated resorts on two sites. The $5.4 billion Marina Bay Sands on Singapore’s waterfront will include three 55-story towers housing 2,500 suites, capped by a rooftop terrace. As in Las Vegas, where the company operates the Venetian and Palazzo, and in Macau, home of the massive Venetian Macau, the Marina Bay Sands will have a major convention center as well as two theaters, a retail center, a museum and a casino. Marina Bay’s competitor will be the $4.2 billion Resorts World at Sentosa, developed by Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia-based Genting Group. The resort on Sentosa Island off the southern coast of Singapore will incorporate six hotels of varying themes around the centerpiece of the development ?Asia’s only Universal Studios theme park. Resorts World will have a water park, a maritime museum, a theater featuring an Asian cultural show, a retail district, a conference center and a casino. Although the resort on Sentosa Island ?accessible by ferry or a recently completed transport system on a covered boardwalk ?is expected to generate considerable buzz in Southeast Asia and be a more popular attraction initially. Analysts say the Sands should have more to offer in the long run. “Theme parks quickly wear out, so a casino-theme park marriage should lose its appeal over time,?Grant Chum, head of China research for UBS Investment Bank, said at last week’s Global Gaming Expo in Las Vegas. “The Sands?casino-convention center development is an easier marriage, and I think that has been validated by the company’s success in Las Vegas,?he said. Chum added that the company already has connections with UNLV and the relationship should be enhanced through UNLV’s Singapore campus, which issued its first hotel administration and hospitality administration degrees in June. Singapore has high hopes for the addition of the two integrated resorts. The island city-state at the southern end of the Malay Peninsula draws more than 9 million visitors, mostly from Indonesia, China and Australia, adding more than $12 billion in Singapore dollars ($7.2 billion U.S.) to its economy. Margaret Teo, assistant CEO of development for the Singapore Tourism Board, said the resorts are expected to attract 2 million to 3 million more visitors and generate $1.9 billion (U.S.) to the economy by 2015. Teo thinks the addition of the resorts will expand Singapore’s tourism market to India, where fans of Bollywood movies should find some appeal in Genting’s Universal Studios theme park. The gaming component of Singapore’s new resorts will be carefully watched. Fredric Gushin, managing director of Linwood, N.J.-based Spectrum Gaming Group, an industry consultant specializing in gaming research, said Singapore will use a hybrid of gaming regulatory strategies from Nevada, New Jersey and Australia to monitor the two casinos. Among the regulations is a plan to discourage local residents from playing ?Singaporeans would have to pay a $100 ($72 U.S.) daily fee or $2,000 ($1,443 U.S.) annually to gamble in either casino. The gaming tax rate on the two casinos is 15 percent, 5 percent for VIP players that deposit more than the Singapore equivalent of $72,000 to play in private salons. By comparison, Nevada has a 6.75 percent gaming tax, New Jersey collects 8 percent, Pennsylvania 56 percent and Macau, 40 percent. Gushin said analysts will keep a close watch on how Singapore’s new casinos affect gaming revenue in Macau, which has been difficult to track because the Chinese government has relaxed, then tightened travel rules to limit the number of visits a Chinese traveler could make to the gaming enclave on that nation’s southern coast. Some analysts are speculating that the Chinese could cut the tax rate in Macau to encourage the development of more amenities. It’s the amenities ?not the casinos ?that are most important to Singapore’s tourism economy. The Marina Bay Sands casino is expected to house 1,000 table games and 1,400 slot machines. The approval of gaming was highly controversial in a society where chewing gum and spitting on sidewalks are considered public offenses. Teo said Singapore is optimistic that the Marina Bay Sands? convention center, which will have halls that can house 2,000 exhibits or 250 meeting rooms that can accommodate 45,000 people, will drive business traffic. The Sands will have two theaters, one that will house “The Lion King,?which has enamored Las Vegas visitors at one of the Venetian’s competitors, Mandalay Bay. The other theater will have a rotating schedule of headline performers. 27 November 2009 The New Paper Why must I describe my scars and tattoos? DESCRIBE the tattoos and scars on your body. That is not a request you expect to see on an application form from a government body. And it stumped Michael (not his real name) when he was filling up the form to apply for a licence from the Casino Regulatory Authority (CRA). The licence is required for his new job as a card dealer with Marina Bay Sands. Said Michael: "I have been in the workforce for many years but this is the first time I have come across such a question. "Why is it necessary for them to know about my scars and tattoos?" Michael, who is in his 30s, secured a job as a card dealer in July this year. Since his new job is gaming-related, he has to apply for a special employee licence or dealer's licence from CRA, which he did in September. He requested anonymity so as not to jeopardise his application. He was bewildered by the CRA application form, which asked: "Do you have any scars, tattoos or other distinguishing marks and/or characteristics? If yes, please describe". CRA is a statutory board that draws up and enforces policies on gaming operations here, as well as social safeguards to combat problem gambling. The rest of the form had the usual requests for his personal particulars and referee details. From the age of 13, Michael has held various jobs - bus-boy, floor captain, driver, renovation contractor, crane operator. In July, he left the marine industry to pursue his dream of working as a card dealer. Although he was taken aback by the requirement, Michael meticulously counted his scars and tattoos and described them in the form. "I have nothing to hide," he said. When contacted, CRA did not answer The New Paper's questions about why applicants need to describe scars and tattoos on their bodies and how it is relevant to the licence. But Mr Jerry Markling, chief (enforcement division) of the Nevada Gaming Control Board in the US, shed some light on the practice. He said the board requests gaming-related employees to declare their scars, tattoos and birth marks when applying for a licence, so as to identify them. The board does not keep a database of pictures of the 27,000 licensees under its management. Some 35 per cent of those arrested for offences such as fraud and cheating in the industry are casino employees, and these marks are useful in such cases. Mr Markling said: "If we want to identify a person, we'll ask him to show us his scars, tattoos or body marks. Even if we have his picture, what happens if he has a twin brother who looks the same? Identification through bodymarks is a better security measure." 'Unusual but reasonable' Mr David Ang, executive director of the Singapore Human Resources Institute, said that while such a practice is unusual, it sounds reasonable in this context. He said: "Perhaps these questions could also be used to sieve out those who may be involved in gang-related activities. "If this employee is going to work in a sensitive environment, there needs to be some security-clearance as the person may be working with large amounts of money." There are about 4,500 gaming positions at Marina Bay Sands and about 3,000 at Resorts World at Sentosa to be filled. CRA said that as part of the licensing process, these employees have to fill up a personal history disclosure form with personal, employment and financial information details. CRA spokesman Joyce Ho said: "CRA would then conduct probity checks based on the information provided to determine the applicant's suitability to hold a casino special employee licence." The CRA is in the midst of processing the applications for special employee licences. 27 November 2009 The Business Times 19 problem gamblers barred from casinos ONLY 19 people have been barred from the casinos under the Family Exclusion Order since it was launched eight months ago by the National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG). It is not known how many people suffer from problem gambling. But Morgan Stanley estimated recently that about 690,000 Singaporeans have taken part in social gambling or table games in the past 12 months. Mildred Tan, who chairs NCPG's public communications sub-committee, said that, at the launch of the Family Exclusion Order, NCPG thought that there could perhaps be 10 respondents. 'It is hard to predict,' she said. Now, with the launch of Casino Self-Exclusion by NCPG yesterday, the number of people coming forward who suffer from problem gambling could rise, especially as NCPG intends to persuade affected families to take this route. Unlike the Family Exclusion Order, which enables a family to apply for exclusion of a problem gambler, self-exclusion allows individuals to bar themselves from the casinos if they think they are vulnerable to compulsive gambling. Ms Tan, speaking at the launch of self-exclusion, said: 'In a family exclusion, there is always a lot of tension. So we are trying to mitigate the tension in the family.' Self-exclusion has already been made available for Singapore Pools and Singapore Turf Club tele-betting accounts. So far, only one person has obtained self-exclusion. NCPG chairman Lim Hock San added: 'Self-exclusion from the casinos is part of a comprehensive package of social safeguards to protect problem gamblers ... as part of their recovery process.' Mr Lim acknowledged that some compulsive gamblers will not see their gambling as a problem. Some of these people could be excluded through another type of exclusion, Third-Party Exclusion, which prevents those who are in financial difficulty, such as undischarged bankrupts and recipients of public assistance and special grants, from entering the casinos. It is estimated that there are 25,000 to 29,000 undischarged bankrupts in Singapore. Third-Party Exclusion is expected to be launched soon. In other relatively new gaming jurisdictions, such as the US state of Pennsylvania, which has a population of about 12.4 million and nine casinos, about 1,000 people have signed up for self-exclusion since the programme began in 2006. Of these, 52 per cent are women. Casino Self-Exclusion is currently only available on line at www.knowtheline.sg using SingPass. 26 November 2009 The Economic Times Sneak preview of Singapore’s Resorts World Sentosa OMG, OMG!....That was my reaction to Battlestar Gallactica ?the world's tallest pair of duelling roller coasters at Resorts World Sentosa, Singapore. If any of my faint-hearted friends ever take a ride on that massive monstrosity in steel, I have little doubt they’ll end up with the same exclamation. Not that Resorts World is entirely terrifying (in a thrilling sort of way!) ?there are some pretty pleasant surprises too, I noted on my preview jaunt around the upcoming entertainment and leisure park, Spielberg’s Jurassic park and DreamWorks Madagascar being a couple of them. Let's start from the beginning. Being used to waking up well past noon, it wasn’t an easy morning at the hotel when my host politely dragged me out of bed at what seemed to be the crack of dawn. Sleepwalking, I foamed my mouth with a tingling paste and somehow made myself presentable A better part of the journey to the eastern end of Sentosa Island, where the resort is coming up, I might add, was spent with a viciously twirling neck on the cushioned headrest. But once I entered South Asia’s first Hollywood movie theme park, I could barely afford to blink, lest some fascinating detail escaped me. It was as if every Hollywood adventure blockbuster had suddenly come to 3D life ?with audience participation! Think Jumanji sans the destruction! For starters, my eyes widened as King Harold’s 40-metre high Far Far Away Castle from the Shrek series appeared in all its majesty. But Shrek would have to wait for sometime. Our first stop was The Lost World, a spine-chilling adventure straight out of any Spielberg classic. Huge dinosaurs scared the wits out of us as we stepped into the Jurassic Park Rapids Adventure. A river ride took us through a dense forest full of dinosaurs, and then onwards to Dino Soarin', where children can pilot dragonflies that soar into the sky or plunge into the shadows. We couldn't wait to take a shot at the The Amber Rock Climb, which when complete will let visitors scale the walls of The Lost World. For the less adventurous types like me, there was a simple Canopy Flyer that lifted us over the lush foliage of Jurassic Park to give a bird's eye view of the beautiful island park. Next on our itinerary was WaterWorld, where crew members of Universal Studios Singapore told us to take a seat and be ready with our cameras since what we were about to watch would take our breath away. It managed to do much more than that. The entire place was suddenly converted into a war zone on the high seas, with a tidal wave of death-defying stunts, awesome explosions and breathtaking thrills. Add to that some splendid background scores, and it was a real-time Hollywood blockbuster experience. After this whirlwind adventure trip, we were taken to the sets of the unforgettable The Mummy Returns, where ‘ancient?pyramids and obelisks stood fast against the sands of time as we were transported to the 1930s?Egypt, the golden age of exploration. Walking through the corridors, we were transported to the time when the Pharaohs?tombs were discovered and their terrible curses unleashed. I squalked in excitement when I saw the huge mummies on both sides ready to take us on. There was also a huge hall with beautiful paintings on the walls, exactly like in the movies. Feeling a bit dizzy after all these rides, I longed to get back to my favourite Shrek and his Princess. And our next destination, luckily, turned out to be the Far Far Away section, where Shrek's famous sidekick Donkey will entertain visitors, singing and dancing in an interactive live show. From here we moved to the sets of the blockbuster film Madagascar, where we saw the gigantic Madagascar ship and baobab tree from the hit kiddie movie. Our action-packed day trip ended with a dekko of the Hollywood and New York zones that are getting their finishing touches. The Pantages Hollywood Theatre in this zone, once complete, will showcase the secrets of film production and some of Universal's best films and props. With the adrenalin generated by all that we had seen still pumping inside us, we were a wee bit disappointed to be told that the tour had concluded. The mind-boggling sets and blood-curling adventures left even the most timid among us craving for more! If this fantasy world was just a preview curtain-raiser, I can barely wait to rush to Singapore when the Resorts World Sentosa opens early next year complete with a Marine Life Park and Maritime Xperiental Museum! 26 November 2009 Channel NewsAsia NCPG launches casino self-exclusion order SINGAPORE: The National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG) has launched the self-exclusion order to give individuals the choice to exclude themselves from the two casinos, which are opening early next year, if they think they are prone to compulsive and excessive gambling. The council said on Thursday that the self-exclusion order allows individuals to review their own gambling habits. Mildred Tan, chairperson of the Public Sub-Committee, NCPG, said by recognising his or her weakness, the problem gambler is taking the first step towards the road to recovery. The ban will be valid for a minimum of one year, with the option to opt out after that period or to allow it to continue indefinitely. Individuals can apply for the exclusion online, through the NCPG website, using a SingPass ID. They can also check if they have any active casino exclusions on the online system. However, casino exclusion is just part of the solution ?the council is also working with industry players to tackle the problem. Teo Kim Heng, vice president, Sales & Business Development, Singapore Turf Club, said: "Our staff have been trained to understand what problem gambling is about and also to identify those problem gamblers when they appear in our premises, and refer them to the help they can seek." Those who opt for casino self-exclusion will also be able to apply for voluntary self-exclusion from Singapore Pools and Singapore Turf Club tele-betting accounts. So far, 19 individuals have been banned from the casinos since the council launched the family exclusion in June. It will next launch the third-party exclusion, which prevents those who are in financial difficulties, such as undischarged bankrupts, recipients of Public Assistance and Special Grants, from entering the casinos. 24 November 2009 Channel NewsAsia Tunnelling works for Bayfront MRT station completed SINGAPORE: Tunnelling works for the Bayfront MRT station which is linked to integrated resort Marina Bay Sands have been completed. The 620-metre tunnel will connect the Integrated Resort with Promenade MRT Station, located along Temasek Avenue near Suntec City. It is the first completed tunnel in Downtown Line One. To speed up the excavation work, a 75-metre tall Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) was used. The six stations of Downtown Line One are scheduled to open in 2013. Poh Chee Keng, senior project engineer, Downtown Line 1, said: "Factors that we consider are - the duration that we have to complete the job and the length of the tunnel. For example, if we use the TBM method, we take about three months. But if we use the manual excavation, we take about fourteen months." - CNA/vm 23 November 2009 Straits Times Sizing up Singapore’s casino project Social scientist Derek da Cunha is a man so mindful of what he says publicly that one wonders why he thought to write a book on one of Singapore's most heated subjects ?that is, the pros and cons of Singapore's two upcoming integrated resorts (IRs). Okay, casinos. Then again, it may be because of his mindfulness that makes his book ?titled “Singapore Places Its Bets??a cracking good read on everything you ever cheered or feared about having the Marina Bay Sands (MBS) and Resorts World Sentosa (RWS) in your midst from next year. Crafted cautiously, it is an elegant, balanced read chock-a- block with facts that speak for themselves. It is his second book, following his 1997 work, “The Price Of Victory: The 1997 Singapore General Election And Beyond? He is now writing a few more books, including “The New Asian Aristocracy? That same mindfulness had da Cunha, 49, revising his book well into last month, so that he could include the latest analysts' reports on the IRs' prospects from, among others, financial conglomerates Citibank and CIMB. Curiously, he noted, analysts in the past two months or so have underscored the importance of local gamblers in ensuring the success of MBS, which is owned by America's Las Vegas Sands (LVS), and RWS, which is owned by Genting Singapore, a spin-off of Malaysia's Genting group. This is at odds with the government's banking on foreign fat cats to sustain the IRs. On April 18, 2005, the government announced that Singapore would have not one but two casinos ?a U-turn from its long, utter anathema towards such gaming. This was 13 months after the government first floated the idea, and in his book, da Cunha puts such a sudden policy change down to what he calls the government's “Big Bang? “all-or-nothing, feast-or-famine mindset? Before da Cunha struck out on his own as an independent scholar and sometime consultant in April 2006, he worked at the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies (Iseas) for 16 years. Then, in late 2006, the alumnus of Cambridge University and the Australian National University hit upon the idea of writing a book to chronicle Singapore's many efforts in making itself over to stay relevant in increasingly uncertain times. He went to work on the proposed book in earnest, but by December last year, found that 60 per cent of it was focused on the IRs. So he considered hiving that 60 per cent off into a separate book altogether, and after talks with his publisher Straits Times Press, he did exactly that. There is, to be sure, plenty in the book to please and pr_ickle the conscience of those in the pro- and anti-casino camps alike. For example, he discusses deeply how gambling-happy or simply bored folk here might easily become problem gamblers ?because the IRs are just an MRT or bus ride away from their homes, unlike the casinos in Malaysia or far-flung locations like Macau, Las Vegas and Canada. He is also rueful of the “nothing succeeds like excess?mindset of many young Singaporeans today, which he thinks is “quite a ruinous way to move forward? But why release the book now? Is he not trickling cold water on an endeavour that the republic can ill afford to fail? As da Cunha shows in his book, with the two IRs, the Singapore Tourism Board hopes to treble tourism revenues from S$9.6 billion (RM23 billion) in 2004 to S$30 billion in 2015. This would also give back to Singapore a bigger share of the Asia-Pacific tourism market, which had declined from a high of 13.1 per cent in 1991 to a mere 5.8 per cent by 2004. He said wryly: “If my book came out a year after the openings, people would say that is after-the-event wisdom, that my book doesn't add anything because they know what has happened.?br> But while hindsight may be 20/20, might the IRs have a 50/50 chance of succeeding at best, seeing as millions of would-be gamblers around the world are out of jobs? Not at all, he said. “I am very optimistic that the sheer novelty of the IRs will make them resounding successes.?br> Thursday's news that Singapore is officially out of the recession has also added shine to the IRs' prospects. The one thing he thinks might count against them is the growing perception that Singapore is a very expensive city to visit, the 10th priciest in the world this year by the Economist Intelligence Unit's reckoning. He has two further worries about the IRs' impact. The first is the assumption that many have ?that casino gambling is punting by any other name. He shows in his book that punters actually bet, and so lose, more heavily at casino table games than they do on long-shot lotteries. His other concern is just how frenziedly Genting and LVS will work to recoup their staggering investments ?Genting, for one thing, has pumped S$6.59 billion into RWS at last check, and hopes to attract up to 13 million tourists in its first year. “The question that arises,?he intones, “is whether the same objectives of generating greater tourist dollar receipts, giving a boost to the economy and also increasing job creation could have been achieved at almost a similar degree with two projects that cost less than half of what they do now.?br> For example, he said, Wynn Resorts has only one casino in Macau but still manages to enjoy the third biggest slice of the revenue pie after casino magnate Stanley Ho's Sociedade de Jojos de Macau group and LVS, both of which have two or more casinos. As for tackling the grit and sleaze typically part and parcel of the casino scene, he sees that as a work in progress and one that should be calibrated so as not to put punters off so much that they then shun the IRs. Being a social scientist, he wondered, though: “Is it possible to ring-fence such vibrancy to purely the economic and social spheres, and not extend it to the political one??nbsp; 23 November 2009 Straits Times Early boost to Sentosa IR The biggest event, the 11th World Chinese Entrepreneurs Convention, will see 4,000 business leaders gather at the Sentosa integrated resort. IN AN early boost ahead of its opening, Resorts World at Sentosa (RWS) has secured 30 bookings for events to be hosted at the integrated resort starting next year. The biggest event, the 11th World Chinese Entrepreneurs Convention, will see 4,000 business leaders gather at the Sentosa integrated resort for a corporate pow-wow from Oct 5 to 7. Securing such business events, known in the industry as meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions (Mice), are important as business travellers are bigger spenders and a target group that Singapore Tourism Board wishes to grow. RWS director of Mice Elena Arabadjieva, said: "As the world's economy recovers, we are getting strong interest from organisers for events from 2010 to as far ahead as 2014 and that gives us great confidence in Singapore's meetings and incentive travel sector in the mid to long term." Events secured by RWS include the Asia Pacific Retailers Convention in 2011 and the 10th Asia Pacific Congress of Endoscopic Surgery in 2011. Besides inking the 30 contracts, the IR is also in talks with another 150 organisers for events up to 2015. Marina Bay Sands, too, has been signing up Mice events. The events being lined include the 3rd Sea Asia Conference and Exhibition in 2011, the Industrial Fabrics Association International Expo Asia in 2011 and the 77th UFI Congress by the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry next year. 20 November 2009 The Business Times Catch the buzz, fine-tune the theme park pricing It is just a matter of months now until the grand opening of the Universal Studios theme park in Singapore, but that excitement was tempered somewhat when the much-awaited ticket prices were finally made public on Wednesday. Those who had been hoping for something more affordable would certainly have been baulking at the admission costs, because an outing to the famous attraction - South-east Asia's first and only Universal Studios - will not come cheap. A one-day weekend pass will cost $72 for adults, $52 for children and $36 for senior citizens. Visiting on weekdays will be slightly easier on the wallet - $66, $48 and $32 respectively. Let's do the math: A typical family of, say, two adults and three children planning an outing to the theme park on a Saturday will have to fork out $300 in ticket charges alone. Driving into Sentosa will cost an extra $12 ($2 per person and $2 for the car), and at least another $3 in car park fees on the island. Factor in some exorbitantly priced meals, snacks and a souvenir or two and a day's outing could easily come up to well over $400. Staying at one of the Sentosa integrated resort's (IR) hotels is also going to set one back a fair sum. The rates for three hotels have since been made public - deluxe rooms at the Festive Hotel start at $400 a night, it's $450 to stay at the Hard Rock Hotel and $500 at Hotel Michael. My initial worry is that many Singaporeans, particularly from the lower-income groups, will probably never get the chance to visit and enjoy the theme park, even if there are some subsidies thrown in. If Resorts World Sentosa (RWS) wants to realistically achieve its target of seeing up to 30,000 visitors at Universal Studios each day, there are no two ways about it: attracting the locals is their best hope. Getting them to visit - and multiple times, at that - is key for any attraction if investment costs are to be recouped. The tourist segment is crucial, too, but most foreigners would likely visit the theme park just once and then choose to see other attractions on subsequent visits. Singapore's ticket prices are cheaper than Universal's two other attractions in Orlando, Florida in the United States, and in Osaka, Japan, which cost US$79 (S$109) and 5,800 yen (S$90) respectively for a full-day pass. Over at Disneyland in Hong Kong, an adult ticket goes for HK$350 (S$63), while Disneyland in Paris charges 52 euros (S$107). But interestingly, Universal in Florida charges residents there much lower ticket prices - US$55 for an adult full-day pass if one buys the tickets online. RWS, however, has kept mum so far about whether there would be a similar incentive for entice more Singaporeans to visit. A spokesman was, however, quoted in reports yesterday that there would be tie-ups with RWS' local partners to offer Singaporeans attractive packages and rates, particularly for off-peak periods. It would be wise to hook locals from the start by offering family package discounts, or allow children under 12 to enter for free, or perhaps giving ticket-holders vouchers that can be exchanged for drinks, snacks or a souvenir - anything that will make the experience as memorable and positive as possible. Leaving a lasting first impression would go a long way to making sure that locals will want to return again. After all, as the RWS spokesperson was quoted as saying, the Sentosa IR where the theme park is housed is 'a place for every Singaporean' and it is in the interest of the IR to 'reach out to everyone, not forgetting grandmas and grandpas'. The buzz surrounding Universal Studios Sentosa has been amplifying over the past few months. I know of many friends who are chomping at the bit to try the world's tallest duelling rollercoaster or step inside the world's first Far Far Away Castle from the Shrek movies. If RWS plays its cards right from the get-go, it could be decisive in ensuring that the theme park remains a hit with Singaporeans and not go the way of forgotten and now-defunct attractions such as Tang Dynasty City in Jurong and the Fantasy Island water theme park in Sentosa. 19 November 2009 Channel NewsAsia Marina Bay Sands to recruit 3,000 workers at 2-day job fair SINGAPORE: With three more months to go before the Marina Bay Sands integrated resort open its doors, hiring has moved into high gear. Marina Bay Sands is looking to fill 3000 vacancies at a two-day job fair on November 19 and 20, at the Suntec City Convention Centre. The company will be hiring security staff, hotel attendants and bartenders, among other available positions. It emphasised that the majority of the jobs at the integrated resort will go to Singaporeans. Thomas Arasi, president and CEO, Marina Bay Sands, said: "We are trying to target 100 per cent, but we are going to hire as many towards that as we possibly can. "It will finally be determined once we see all the hiring. But again, the priority is to hire Singaporeans for all of these jobs." 18 November 2009 Channel NewsAsia Marina Bay Sands to hire more staff to support its VIP Services SINGAPORE: A personalised butler service, access to exclusive areas and a private check-in lobby ?are just some of the perks that VIP guests at Marina Bay Sands can expect when the integrated resort opens next year. The company is looking to hire more staff to provide more support to these services. When Marina Bay Sands opens its doors in 2010, VIP guests will include celebrities, heads of state, and royalty. Christine Kaelbel-Sheares, grand-daughter to former president Benjamin Sheares, is no stranger to hosting the likes of the rich and famous. "My family did a lot of entertaining. And I used to watch all these events that they did. They were so seamlessly executed. I thought every event would be like this. So I would tell my family, I told my parents, I said 'I can do this'," said Christine Kaelbel-Sheares, director of Paiza, VIP Food & Beverage, Marina Bay Sands Singapore. Under her watch, guests will enjoy privileged access to exclusive areas, special transport arrangements and passes to concerts, musicals and special events. Marina Bay Sands said hundreds of staff will be employed to support this VIP service, and it is hoping to fill some of those positions at an upcoming job fair on November 19 and 20. Hotel operations jobs will form the bulk of the vacancies at this job fair. Some 3,000 jobs will be available - consisting of 82 different job types, including security officers, waitresses and front desk officers. The company said it has already filled thousands of roles in the dealing department and is ramping up recruitment of rank and file staff. 18 November 2009 Channel News Asia Ticket prices for Universal Studios theme park start from S$32 Singapore: Visitors are one step closer to visiting Southeast Asia’s first and only Universal Studios theme park opening on Sentosa's Resorts World, now that ticket prices have been revealed. Sale of tickets shouldn't be too far on the horizon with Resorts World Sentosa announcing on Wednesday its one-day, two-day and express pass ticket prices that range from S$32 to S$118 to access all attractions. “We have pegged ticket prices for Universal Studios Singapore at an incredible value compared to major theme parks worldwide" said Shirly Chen, Vice President (Sales Development), Resorts World Sentosa. The Universal Studios Singapore passes start from a weekday rate of S$66 for an adult and S$48 for a child, with seniors enjoying a special rate of S$32. The price is between S$72 and S$36 for visits on weekends and public holidays. The price is also attractive for tickets to visit the theme park over two consecutive days, with the highest tag being S$118 for an adult two-day pass. "As Singapore’s IR, a place for every Singaporean, it is also our aim to reach out to everyone, not forgetting grandmas and grandpas?said Chen. Resorts World Sentosa, will open early next year with four hotels, a casino and a host of shopping, dining and entertainment offerings, along with the Universal Studios Singapore theme-park. Ticket sales and room reservations will be launched at a later date, in conjunction with exclusive packages for a charity auction. Universal Studios Singapore will feature 24 attractions, including the world’s biggest single collection of DreamWorks Animation attractions such as the world’s first Far Far Away Castle from the world of Shrek; Madagascar theme park ride and the world’s tallest dueling roller coaster. 18 November 2009 Today Serving the rich and famous SINGAPORE - A hotel guest once called Ms Christine Kaelbel-Sheares at 2am, wanting to throw a party with bar service and a deejay for 40 friends within half an hour. Another guest and his wife wanted to rent Elvis and Marilyn Monroe costumes for Halloween at the eleventh hour, when rental shops in Las Vegas were already largely out of stock. Requests like these were the norm for Ms Kaelbel-Sheares when she was director of butler services at Las Vegas Sands' The Venetian and The Palazzo resorts. After a two-year stint there, she is now looking to serve the rich and famous with equal zest at Marina Bay Sands (MBS) as its director of Paiza and VIP (food and beverage). Paiza is MBS' club for premium players. "It's very much the same thing I was doing in Las Vegas - providing the top level of service to a very exclusive clientele," said Ms Kaelbel-Sheares, the granddaughter of Singapore's second President, Dr Benjamin Sheares. "Our guests often don't plan ahead; they want something immediately. So a certain level of anticipation is needed, as well as being very resourceful." When the MBS opens next year, it will create a category of service industry roles catering to heads of state, royalty, high rollers and celebrities on an unprecedented scale. Hundreds of positions are available, including butlers and VIP services officers, said an MBS spokesperson. Asked how the integrated resort would fill its ranks with suitable candidates - given the relative novelty of such roles here - the spokesperson said MBS would conduct extensive in-house training. Ms Kaelbel-Sheares, who joined in June, also hopes to attract overseas Singaporeans with relevant food and beverage experience, like herself, to return. The 30-something has been abroad for 16 years, including five years running a French restaurant in Ohio with her husband. Her interest in hospitality stemmed from watching her parents host heads of state and visiting dignitaries as a child. Her parents told her it was a "tough career", but even after obtaining a degree in law and politics, Ms Kaelbel-Sheares was "adamant" about pursuing her passion. She got a postgraduate diploma in hospitality administration in Switzerland and went on to work at various hotels and resorts in England and the United States. Tomorrow and on Friday, Ms Kaelbel-Sheares and her fellow department heads will be at the MBS' Career Fair at Suntec Singapore's Hall 602 to recruit people for their teams. About 3,000 vacancies across 82 job types including commis chefs, room attendants, security officers and lifeguards are on offer. On the gaming side, although the "majority" of dealer and dealer inspector positions have been filled, interested candidates may still send their resumes to www.careers.marinabaysands.com, the spokesperson said. 18 November 2009 PR Newswire Resorts World(R) Sentosa Chooses GPI(R) Casino Currency Singapore's newest casino to receive popular GPI gaming chips Gaming Partners International Corporation (Nasdaq: GPIC) announced that it has received the order to provide casino currency for the Resorts World Sentosa in Singapore, which is scheduled to open in early 2010. This substantial order includes chips which will be fitted with high-frequency 13.56MHz RFID (radio frequency identification device) micro chips. The high-quality casino chips, which are being produced in both of the company's production facilities, include a variety of security features, chips styles, shapes and color combinations from two of GPI's major brands of currency product lines. About Gaming Partners International Corporation GPI manufactures and supplies casino table games and equipment to licensed casinos worldwide. Under the brand names of Paulson®, Bourgogne et Grasset® and Bud Jones®, GPI provides casino currency such as chips, plaques and jetons; gaming furniture and accessories; table layouts; playing cards; dice; and roulette wheels. GPI pioneered the use of security features such as RFID technology in casino chips, and provides RFID solutions including chips, readers and displays. Headquartered in Las Vegas, Nevada, GPI also has offices Beaune, France; San Luis Rio Colorado, Mexico; Atlantic City, New Jersey, and Gulfport Mississippi. 17 November 2009 AsiaOne Canon wins Resorts World contract Canon Singapore announced today that it has entered into a four-year agreement to implement a comprehensive enterprise print solution with Resorts World Sentosa (RWS). Under the signed agreement, Canon will provide a tailor-made system to meet Resorts World's business objectives. This includes using its popular imageRUNNER business multi-function devices, imageCLASS range of laser all-in-one printers and uniFLOW - an integrated and reliable printing solution that delivers a variety of print management functionality. Canon says their print management system offers tangible benefits to customers such as cost savings, increased efficiency, advanced security and many more. "Convenience, flexibility, security, accountability and eco-friendliness with seamless workflows supported by efficient customer service are key attributes of Canon's print management system designed for RWS. Our expertise in technology and overall value-proposition facilitated RWS's trust and confidence in us. And I am confident that the partnership will reap rich dividends, going forward," noted Mr Lim Kok Hin, Senior Director & General Manager, Business Imaging Solutions and Business Solutions Division, Canon Singapore. Mr Yap Chee Yuen, Senior Vice President and Head of Information Technology, Resorts World Sentosa said: 'We are delighted to work with Canon and having them as our business partner enhances our corporate strategy and helps us to achieve the goals that we have set for ourselves as a world-class resort. With Canon as our partner, Resorts World Sentosa will now have an integrated and more importantly, an accountable and environmental friendly printing environment that meet all our printing needs." 14 November 2009 The Star Singaporeans wrestle with likely impact of two new casinos Between personal tragedy and recovery from an economic crisis, the pros and cons of big-time gambling are still being weighed. THE family tragedy of a restaurant manager who killed his two children and set fire to the flat before jumping to his death has become a national talking point. Some neighbours saw Ng Chee Kiang, 39, behaving oddly on the 12th floor ledge before falling over. Unknown to anyone, he had just suffocated his two children, aged 5 and 3, after sending the maid out on an errand. The wife was at work. News reports said the manager of a Japanese food company who earned S$5,000 (RM12,156) monthly owed loan sharks some S$200,000 (RM486,232) as a result of overspending, gambling and share speculation. Ng was also a bankrupt who was on the verge of divorce and a custody fight over his children. Coming only two months before the first of two multibillion-dollar casinos opens, the family tragedy has renewed concerns over Singapore’s entry into casinos. “Casinos have not even opened yet and there are already tragedies due to gambling, imagine the problems in future once they have?was a general comment. One blogger said, “I think this is just the prelude. When the two casinos open, we will get to read of more such stories.?br> Published family photographs with two lovely children stirred much public sympathy, reviving some of the old feelings towards casinos. However, it is tempered by a marked change in the public mood after the city came through a severe economic crisis that decimated jobs and wages. The weak employment market with many people still unable to find work has significantly blurred the animosity towards the casinos. They are now relied upon to generate employment. In the next few months, Singa*pore’s history will move into a new phase. This will happen when two huge dazzling casino resorts ?led by a Malaysian conglomerate ?open their doors. First is Genting’s S$6.6bil (RM16bil) “Resorts World at Sen*tosa,? which will have the distinction of becoming Singapore’s first casino, edging out Marina Bay Sands, when it opens in January. The Las Vegas Sands?$5.2bil (RM12.6bil) project, situated at the financial centre, will follow suit in April. The opening of casinos, which Lee Kuan Yew once said was possible only “over my dead body,?is timely as Singapore ponders over its future in an uncertain new world. Almost half the cabinet ministers are reluctant supporters. The concern is that the economic benefits will come at the expense of morality and a possible rise in bankruptcy, family break-up and suicide. It is an ironic debate. Singaporeans ?the majority being ethnic Chinese ?are far from being averse to gambling. Numbering five million, the people gamble away S$6bil (RM14.6bil) or S$1,200 (RM2,917) per person a year ?nearly twice what the country spends on health care. In addition, Singaporeans spend some S$280mil (RM680.6mil) in Malaysia’s Genting Highlands, and an inestimable amount in other countries and on board cruise ships. A government survey showed that 54% of residents over the age of 18 have taken part in some form of gambling over the previous 12 months. The ratio of pathological gamblers is however low, being under 1.6%. The arrival of casino gambling, like most things in Singapore, is based on economic considerations. A rising number of cities in Asia are moving into it, and Singapore fears losing out. With few natural resources, the Republic is being reshaped by global changes, particularly in the US, its biggest trade partner. Some of its catalysts for growth and prosperity are now facing serious pressures, forcing the city to depend on new sources of growth. It is a tough proposition: Singapore is too small to develop many attractive tourist spots. “Tourism is a major area because it capitalises on Asia’s rising middle class ?and the casinos are a crucial part of it,?said an economist. Each of the new casinos will employ about 10,000 workers. They are also expected to spin off related businesses that will need 35,000 more workers. “Our problem is we do not have enough Singaporeans to fill all the jobs and so will have to depend on foreign workers,?said an official. The two casinos ?at a combined cost of S$12bil (RM29.2) ?have a franchise to operate for 10 years. Lee Kuan Yew had ?after visiting Las Vegas ?said there would be a few more casinos. That was before the economic crisis, and it is not known if this remains the case. Some analysts are pessimistic about the prospects of the two in the next few years. Marina Bay Sands has reduced its projected visitors and profits. However, both remain optimistic over their long-term future. If Macau and Las Vegas are any indication, the clouds have not yet lifted, although the local economy has significantly improved in the past few months. Casinos are likely to have an important economic role in the world, especially in Asia. Angela Ho, daughter of Macau’s once-casino “king?Stanley Ho, said: “The market is huge, and I think everybody knows that Asian players are the most sought-after ... because they spend the most money and are the most fervent gamblers.?br> The government has taken steps to minimise the potential social fallout of excessive gambling. Singaporeans have to pay S$100 (RM243) a day or S$2,000 (RM4,863) a year to be admitted to the casinos. A list of habitual gamblers has been drawn up ?either voluntarily or reported by spouses ?and they will be banned from entering the casinos. But these are merely measures to reduce ?not prevent ? instances of individual disaster. 13 November 2009 TODAY Hotels losing employees to 'big boys coming to town' SINGAPORE: Within the span of one month, Sally (not her real name) saw five of her colleagues pack up and leave for "greener pastures". "All of them told me they're going to work in the integrated resorts (IRs) because the pay there is higher," said the Chinese national who works as a chambermaid in one of the hotels along the Orchard shopping belt. In recent months, hotels here have lost a "significant" number of rank-and-file workers ?especially in back-end departments like laundry, housekeeping and engineering ?to the "big boys coming to town", Marina Bay Sands or Resorts World at Sentosa, industry players told MediaCorp. While hotels declined to disclose exact numbers of workers who have left, a check with several hotels revealed that as much as 80 per cent of their former employees were headed for jobs at the IRs. And while high turnover rates in the services sector has been a perennial problem for industry players, the situation is more dire now because of the lowered foreign worker quotas as of June this year. In a bid to prevent Singapore companies from becoming over-reliant on foreign workers, and to boost local employment numbers, the government tightened conditions for hiring foreign workers on work permits. Before the changes, businesses in the services sector could hire one China worker for every five locals it had on its payroll. Now, only one of out 10 can be a China worker. At least five must be locals while the other four can be foreigners from "traditional sources" like Malaysia. Coupled with the fact that locals are continuing to shun service jobs, the outflow of manpower to the IRs is manifesting into a manpower crunch businesses had anticipated after the government tweaked the rules. It is not just the reportedly fatter pay cheques on offer at the IRs that are proving a draw. Working for one of the "big boys", as one hotelier puts it, is an enticing prospect few would resist. "Many workers would seek the thrill of working in these essentially 'new' sectors in the local hospitality industry," she said. "You've got to admit it's hard to turn down because it'll be such an eye-opener." Luckily for the hotels, those making the move are not from the middle or senior management, for now. A hotel human resource manager, who declined to be named, noted that retaining existing staff and replacing those who have left is becoming trickier. "Adjusting the wages doesn't necessarily solve the problem. Even if it's high enough to attract locals, not everyone is able to withstand the really tough work or long hours," she said. "In essence, an existing problem has been worsened because there are not enough available workers to go around." Even if there's an unexpected influx of locals into the industry, industry players say it could be some time ?after workers undergo the relevant training ?before they are ready to do the jobs. As a result, hotels are now "placing more attention than ever" on succession planning and career development. Workers are briefed on how they can move up the ranks, and suitable candidates are more quickly made to understudy their supervisors. "The market will correct itself eventually, but we're hoping we can cope with the situation till then," said a hotel human resource manager. 11 November 2009 AsiaOne Wincor Nixdorf bags deal at Resorts World Sentosa Integrated resort adopts IT vendor's POS hardware, software, services. -BT GERMAN IT vendor Wincor Nixdorf has scored an eye-catching retail technology deal to provide point-of-sales (POS) hardware, software and services to Genting Singapore's Resorts World at Sentosa (RWS). It is the latest IT deal by RWS to come to light, following a string of them in recent months. The 49-hectare integrated resort, which is expected to cater to over 12 million visitors next year, has already awarded large-scale IT projects to Cisco Systems, Dell, Lenovo, NEC Asia, Singapore Technologies Electronics (ST Electronics) and Singapore Telecommunications, as it gets ready to open the doors of its casinos, hotels and malls next year. Wincor Nixdorf, a major provider of IT solutions to retail banks and retailers and has presence in over 100 countries, said that its deployment at RWS is of a 'reasonable size' for Singapore, and a strategic one. 'The deployment is important because it includes integrated hardware and software for a prestigious customer,' Andrew Phay, Wincor Nixdorf's Asia-Pacific vice-president and head of retail, told BizIT. He said that RWS chose Wincor Nixdorf - which has its regional headquarters and service management operations in Singapore - because of the vendor's end-to-end offerings and strong support capabilities here. Wincor Nixdorf's solution at RWS will span front-end POS to back-end merchandising systems. It includes self-service kiosks at the casino floor to provide visitors with information. They will also be able to use their casino membership cards to check and redeem points for hotel stays and other promotions, as well as print entrance tickets for future casino visits. 'RWS visitors will be able to securely check their gaming points, change their PIN number and redeem membership points,' said Mr Phay. A fleet of 86 multi-functional POS systems will be deployed at RWS's own retail outlets. The resort will use Wincor Nixdorf's mall intelligence software to help monitor the performance of its retail outlets across the resort, as well as tenants. When open, RWS will feature South-east Asia's first Universal Studios theme park, the world's largest oceanarium, casinos, six hotels, retail stores and restaurants. There has been much interest in the IT procurement exercises by RWS and Marina Bay Sands - Singapore's two upcoming integrated resorts - given the sheer size and value of these projects. Dell and Lenovo clinched separate deals to supply servers and computers respectively to RWS, which also gave out contracts to Cisco to build its network infrastructure; to NEC for an admission and ticketing system; and to ST Electronics for a security, IT infrastructure, and car park guidance and payment systems. Last week, SingTel announced a $21 million deal with RWS to equip rooms at the resort's six hotels with an in-room entertainment system and wireless Internet. Guests will be able to surf wirelessly and access computer games, music and other content from SingTel's mio TV service. RWS rival Marina Bay Sands recently inked a multi-million dollar deal with Hewlett-Packard to outfit its data centre with servers, storage equipment and software. This article was first published in The Business Times. 7 November 2009 The Malaysian Insider Singapore’s eighth wonder A few weeks ago, Singaporeans watched in awe the hoisting of a 700-tonne beam linking the towers of Marina Bay Sands (MBS) to form the Skypark ?a vast rooftop garden ?while at Sentosa, Resorts World Sentosa (RWS) was working on the finishing touches to the rides for its Universal Studios Theme Park. Just how awesome these two integrated resorts (IRs) are is becoming more visible by the day. Together, they will cost in excess of S$13 billion (RM31.2 billion) when they are complete. Not only will they be iconic attractions, but within five years they could bring in 17 million top quality tourists who will spend in excess of S$30 billion and help create over 100,000 jobs, directly and indirectly. Some sceptics wonder how Singapore's IRs will be impacted by Macau. But there is unlikely to be much overlap; moreover, the market is big enough for both. For the last 65 years, Macau has been basically a gambling colossus and will always be, even with top attractions such as The City of Dreams, Venetian and the MGM Grand. It is amazing that with a mere three licences issued to Stanley Ho's Sociedade de Jogos de Macau Holdings, Sheldon Adelson's Venetian and Steve Wynn's Wynn resorts, Macau's gambling scene has evolved into 32 casinos. Most visitors cannot tell which are the ones with the original licences and which are sub-licencees or concessions. Even within new casinos, you will find junket rooms of up to 12 tables operating on a joint venture basis, such as Star Cruise's Crockford Room and Putra Sampoerna's Mansion House ?both located at the MGM Grand. The Macanese, in conjunction with their Hong Kong associates, have reinvented the game of baccarat, which represents close to 70 per cent of each casino's wagering. Singapore's IRs are setting their sights on total entertainment with great experiences in gaming, gourmet dining, shopping, meetings and exhibition activities, great accommodation and dazzling shows. Junket operators who bring high-rollers into Macau have introduced “parallel betting? under which the operators use the outcome of bets at the casino table, but accept side bets from their clients that are a multiple of the actual table bet. This effectively reduces the 39 per cent gaming tax rate which the casino pays, while the bettor will be able to settle either way with the junket operator when they return to the mainland. Junket operators have also introduced insurance such as the blackjack game to baccarat, which ensures the bettor a guaranteed win if he has a high-point card before the house draws the third card. Junket operators are critical to the survival of the gambling industry in Macau. They enable casino operators to pay less punitive taxes, assist the bulk of mainland Chinese to make settlements back home, thus overcoming currency restrictions and provide credit to players. Notable junket operators such as Amax and Neptune, both listed Hong Kong en******, are supported by many casinos. They raked in close to S$10 billion in gaming revenue in 2008. However, they are also facing strains ?many are saddled with uncollectable debts, the Chinese government has been coming down hard on embezzlement and abuse by both Chinese officials and people in the private sector. The practices that are rampant in Macau will not be found in Singapore's two IRs. The Singapore authorities have carefully planned the entire operation and have anticipated many of the possible abuses. Most important of all, there will be no sub-licencees, which effectively reduces the policing area. Singapore's IRs are setting their sights on total entertainment with great experiences in gaming, gourmet dining, shopping, meetings and exhibition activities, great accommodation and dazzling shows. However, gaming will still be an important revenue source ?up to 60 per cent. Singapore authorities must be careful not to derail this. Already, there are concerns about the admission levy for locals, the restrictions on ATMs and exclusion orders. People come into the gaming rooms of the IRs to have a great time. So our regulators must be practical in their enforcement. Singapore's superb infrastructure and security has already attracted many high net worth families to make this country their second home. MICE operators are also already taking bookings to hold meetings and exhibitions in Singapore. London is a good example of how casinos helped attract many Arab families to relocate there when their second homes in Beirut were overrun by the civil war in the 1970s. Of course, casinos were not the only attraction: London, like Singapore, has some of the best private schools, medical facilities and shopping. But for high net worth individuals, its casinos were an important part of its entertainment value. More than 5,000 high net worth families from Beirut and elsewhere in the Middle East moved to London during the late 1970s, causing a mini boom in the markets for housing and top-end services. Today, many wealthy foreigners are choosing to spend time in Singapore ?as evidenced by the notable levels of purchases of property by foreigners in recent years. With the opening of the IRs, it is likely that demand for high-end accommodation will increase further. While the initial novelty and stunning attractions of Singapore's IRs could bring in considerable tax revenues as well as tourist dollars, Singapore cannot afford to be complacent. Other governments in the region are also eyeing the benefits of the casino gaming industry. Taiwan will soon approve casinos in Penghu Island. Tokyo is about to announce an IR at Odaiba in Tokyo Bay. The Philippines is in the midst of building a massive IR in Manila Bay and soon, we may witness the legalising of illegal casinos in Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos. It may not be long before Thailand and Indonesia (Bintan) too approve licences for gaming operations within their jurisdictions. There are already no less than five casino ships trawling international waters around Singapore, drawing large numbers of patrons. In the face of such competition, it will be a constant challenge for Singapore's IRs to keep reinventing themselves to draw in high-rollers from around the world and keep their attractions compelling to tourists. ?Business Times Singapore The author is a casino gaming consultant who has been associated with the industry since the 1970s. 6 November 2009 The Star Genting boss says Sentosa resort on track to open in January KUALA LUMPUR: Genting Bhd has ruled out speculation that its integrated resort, Resorts World at Sentosa, will open earlier than its January deadline. Chairman and chief executive Tan Sri Lim Kok Thay said the company was “on track?to opening the resort in Singapore in January. “We started during a difficult part of the (economic) crisis in terms of funding needs and labour. In the worst case scenerio we were planning to open in December 2010. But construction has gone on smoothly. Our next target was first quarter 2010. But now we are refining it to January 2010,?he said. The S$6.6bil project was expected to attract 12 million to 13 million visitors in the first full year of operation, he told reporters yesterday after the company inked an agreement with CIMB Investment Bank Bhd and HSBC Bank Malaysia Bhd for its RM1.6bil medium-term notes (MTN) programme. Lim said that proceeds from the MTN would be used by the company and its subsidiaries for investment, refinancing, working capital requirements and/or other general corporate purposes. “We originally targeted to raise RM900mil as the first tranche issue under the MTN programme. Due to strong response, we successfully upsized the first tranche issue to RM1.45bil, representing around 1.6 times the initial size,?he said. The MTN programme, the country’s largest 10-year corporate bond issuance, is guaranteed by Genting and carries a AAA rating by RAM Ratings Services Bhd. CIMB Investment Bank and HSBC Bank are the joint lead arrangers and joint book runners for the MTN programme. Meanwhile, Lim said Genting unit Genting Plantations Bhd’s Johor Premium Outlet in Kulai, Johor, was slated to open by July 2011. Lim also said he was speaking to potential parties on disposing of its non-core asset in the power and oil and gas divisions, “but we are not anywhere close to any transaction.?br> “These are still excellent assets to keep. We will sell them only at the right price,?he said. 5 November 2009 Channel NewsAsia SingTel secures S$21m contract with Resorts World at Sentosa SINGAPORE : Singapore Telecommunications (SingTel) has secured a S$21 million contract to be Resorts World Sentosa's (RWS's) official telco and IPTV partner. Under the terms of the seven-year contract, SingTel will equip all 1,800 rooms in RWS' six hotels across the integrated resort with interactive in-room multimedia entertainment system and wireless Internet access. Through its intuitive user interface, guests can view the abundant entertainment, shopping and dining options available at the resort, SingTel said. Future enhancements will enable guests to browse snapshots of their visit to Resorts World attractions. SingTel said it will also provide RWS with location-based mobile advertising and a fleet management system to enhance its VIP limousine services. The limousine management system will allow RWS to streamline its guest transfer services and enhance customer care. It will be used to handle all limousine transfer requests, thus reducing paperwork and administrative tasks. The system will automatically alert drivers of incoming requests and allow them to communicate with hotel staff via touchscreen mobile devices. 30 October 2009 Straits Times Life on Broadway Jane Lee was chosen out of 550 children who auditioned for the charity show. WHILE most girls her age are concerned with makeup and boys, Jane's days are filled with vocal lessons, rehearsals and performances. This is the life of a 14-year-old Broadway star. Jane Lee is one of 250 performers taking part in this year's Child Aid concert, an annual event to raise funds for the less fortunate. She was chosen out of 550 children who auditioned for the charity show. Jane has been singing since the age of 6. Despite her rise to fame, she is humble about her success and said she is happy to be able to put her talents to good use at ChildAid. Jane will be performing a Broadway duet with partner Cherie Choo at the Child Aid Concert in December. In its fifth year, the event will be staged for the first time at Resorts World at Sentosa. 29 October 2009 The Straits Times NUS, RWS win green award WHO says a casino and theme park can't be green? Resorts World Sentosa (RWS) has won an award from the Building and Construction Authority (BCA) for integrating sustainable building concepts into the master design of its development. The BCA awarded RWS and the National University of Singapore's University Town the inaugural Green Mark for Districts award on Thursday. This is a pilot scheme to recognise environmentally friendly and sustainable practices adopted by an integrated development, said the BCA. Both winners were awarded a GoldPlus rating, the second highest Green Mark. One of Resorts World's green features is Singapore's largest solar system, which can generate more than 500,000 kilowatt hours of energy annually. This is equivalent to the power consumption of 108 four-room flats. The University Town campus in Kent Ridge clinched its award by reducing carbon emissions and conserving the surrounding natural habitat. The Senior Minister of State for National Development and Education, Ms Grace Fu, presented the winners with their awards at Singapore's inaugural International Green Building Conference. 26 October 2009 SindhToday Singapore resort lures with dinosaurs and Marilyn Monroe A small marketing gimmick of a model posing as famous Hollywood actor Marilyn Monroe ?complete with her white dress flying ? caught everyone’s imagination at a press conference here and gave a sneak peek into the scores of attractions at Singapore’s biggest casino resort scheduled to open next year. Estimated to attract 13 million visitors, Resorts Sentosa ?as the integrated resort is called ?will have amongst its list of attractions Asia’s only Universal Studios theme park. From a pair of 15-storeyed tall cranes dancing to a castle right from the animated film Shrek welcoming you, from dinosaurs ogling at you at the Jurassic Park theme arena to a science fiction city ?to even celebrity look-alikes like Marilyn Monroe and Betty Boop smiling at you ?one would be able to see their imagination come to life in the movie theme park. Besides the movie theme park ?which will have 24 rides ?there will also be an oceanarium with 20 million gallons of water. One can simply wear their bathing suits and swim with dolphins and fishes and even see the sharks underwater, before heading off to one of the 30 restaurants and food carts for a snack. Krist Boo, vice president of the resort, said: “The Indian market is very important to us. It’s one of the top three markets in the Sentosa island in Singapore. That’s why we will have special travel packages for India travellers to the resort.? “We have tied up with a number of travel operators in India and will announce the packages next month. The average cost of a daily pass to the resort will be around Rs.25,000,?Boo told IANS at a press conference here Monday. Amongst the range of delicacies that will be on the offer in the restaurants, Boo said that there will be vegetarian food and tandoori specialities, keeping the Indian customer in mind. The resort will have four hotels and spas offering 30 different therapy rooms. The Resorts Sentosa have had a total investment of approximately 4.32 million US dollars. 23 October 2010 The Straits Times IR to get top chefs A CONSTELLATION of six international celebrity chefs will be opening restaurants at the Marina Bay Sands. They include Santi Santamaria of the three-Michelin-starred Can Fabes in Spain, Tetsuya Wakuda of the French-inspired Japanese restaurant Tetsuya's in Sydney and Guy Savoy, whose eponymous restaurant in Paris also has three Michelin stars. The other three are American chef-restaurateurs Mario Batali of the famed Italian restaurant Babbo in New York City, Daniel Boulud of the three-Michelin- starred French restaurant, Daniel, in New York City and Wolfgang Puck of the award-winning Spago restaurant, which features American cuisine. The line-up of culinary stars was announced in a statement by the integrated resort on Friday. Marina Bay Sands is slated to open next year. Four of these six chefs have restaurants in other casino resorts overseas, the exceptions being Santamaria and Wakuda, whose restaurant in Singapore will be the only outpost of his Sydney establishment. 21 October 2009 The Straits Times Theme park on target The integrated resort (IR) should be ready for its targeted opening early next year. BY YEAR'S end, work on the hotels, theme park and casino at Resorts World at Sentosa (RWS) should be 'substantially completed'. Barring drastic weather changes or other delays, the integrated resort (IR) should be ready for its targeted opening early next year, said its executive vice-president of projects Michael Chin. The only areas outstanding now are the 'Hollywood' and 'New York' zones, two of the resort's seven themed areas, which are still waiting for some material to be shipped in. Briefing reporters yesterday, RWS spokesman Robin Goh gave an update of the line-up of attractions that will be open to the public when it throws open its doors. The US$1 billion (S$1.4 billion) Universal Studios Singapore theme park will have 20 attractions catering to all ages when it opens next year, with four more in the pipeline. Ticket prices have not been fixed and will be announced soon, but they will be in three categories - for adults, children and senior citizens, and be available in the form of day passes, three-day passes and annual passes. 21 October 2010 Inside Retailing Online Luxury retail lands in Singapore A colossal integrated resort development under construction in Singapore will add a whole new retail dimension to the city state already renowned for its retail offer. An Australian-led team of is heading up the retail component of the Marina Bay Sands project - a $5+ billion dollar development uniting a luxury retail complex, three-tower hotel, convention facilities, theatres, a museum and Singapore's first casino. The developer is a subsidiary of Las Vegas Sands, which owns, amongst other assets, the Venetian Casino Resort, the Palazzo and the Sands Expo in Las Vegas, and the Venetian Macao, Grand Canal Shoppes and Sands Hotel in Macao. The company won a global competitive pitch to build what will become a focal point on Singapore's waterfront and a whole unified destination in itself, set to boost Singapore's convention and tourist traffic even further. Australian David Sylvester, VP Retail Development Asia, heads the leasing team. His career spans 22 years with Westfield and Lend Lease, as well as group GM of GIC overseeing the company's retail assets in Australia and China. He's worked with Sands for more than four years. Despite overseeing numerous openings of new shopping centre complexes during his career, he confessed to Inside Retailing the Singapore project was one of the most exciting and motivating he's worked on. Twenty four hours a day, seven days a week, 12,000 construction workers running in shifts are feverishly working to complete the giant complex in time for a first quarter opening next year. Luxury facilities The most visible feature are three identical towers soaring 55 storeys, or 200m into the sky. Running across the top of them will be a canoe-shaped 'SkyPark', a one hectare large garden with three swimming pools, relaxation zones, a public viewing deck and a restaurant with potentially the most stunning views in Singapore. It won't appeal to those who suffer vertigo though: the pools are designed to create the illusion that when you're in one, the water appears to be flowing off the side of the building - hold tight or you might just flow with it. The three towers will house about 2500 hotel rooms ranging from luxury suites for high-rolling international gamblers through to more modest rooms for visitors to the 120,000sqm convention centre, which is capable of housing 2000 trade show booths and 45,000 delegates. The casino, convention centre and shopping mall will be housed at the foot of the towers, along with two modern theatres, one for rotating Broadway or Bollywood shows, such as Disney's The Lion King, the other with a resident show yet to be announced. An arts and science museum shaped like a giant lotus flower will be constructed over the water at one end. And then, of course, comes the retail: a 75,000sqm complex housing 300 stores and anchored by high-end retail brands, some not yet seen in Singapore. The focal point of the retail offer will be a world-first Louis Vuitton Island flagship store. Visitors will enter the store via an underwater tunnel, emerging into a multi-level, round shop showcasing Louis Vuitton's goods between glass windows facing out beneath and above Marina Bay. Retail Mecca The week Inside Retailing saw the construction site, a circular hole was dammed in the bay and drained to allow construction to begin. When finished it will stand as a "striking glass and steel Crystal Pavilion island" according to Louis Vuitton. Louis Vuitton's commitment on such a grand scale spurred a domino-like rush of signings by other luxury brands, including Hermes, which will create a range of products exclusively for the Sands store, a two-storey, 700sqm Chanel flagship and local retail franchise group FJ Benjamin, which will open stores bearing the brands of Guess, La Senza and its own Raoul. Bally, Franck Muller, Gucci, Hublot, Hugo Boss, Max Mara, Miu Miu, Fendi, Burberry, Bulgari, Patek Philippe, Prada, Tiffany & Co, Yves St Laurent, Bottega Veneta, Breguet, Ferragamo, Omega, Cartier and Blancpain have also signed. To date about 80 per cent of the retail space is leased, a rate Sylvester told Inside Retailing was impressive given the project's timing. "It was not the best environment to be leasing a mall in late 2008, early 2009. We're pretty confident it will be 100 per cent leased by launch." The opening will be in two stages, the first the luxury precinct surrounding the casino in the first quarter of 2010, the second around the convention part of the project in the following quarter. Sylvester hopes some of the remaining space will be taken by Australian retailers. "We're talking with a couple of Australian brands and we'd like to see more." He wouldn't disclose the identity of those brands, other than to say they were positioned at the higher end of the scale, which suggests they are apparel brands. Tenants on board to date are predominantly from Europe and Sylvester says they are aiming for as much as 25 per cent of the tenancy mix to be of new brands to the country. Already confirmed as newcomers are France's Anne Fontaine, Italy's Henry Cotton's, Paul & Shark, Stefano Ricci, Austrian lingerie shop Wolford, chic Hong Kong labels Moiselle and Rabeanco and emerging Chinese brand Marisfrolg. Sylvester said that after the success of The Grand Shoppes at The Venetian Macau and the adjacent luxury Four Seasons centre, Sands is now recognised globally as a developer of luxury malls. Such 'street cred' and existing tenant relationships in other markets make it easier to secure quality, name tenants. Sylvester believes the best elements of the Grand Canal Shoppes and Four Seasons at Macau will be brought together in Marina Bay Sands. "I love the Four Seasons. The Grand Canal Shoppes is for the tourists and the mainland Chinese love going there to see the sky ceilings and the gondolas - it has an appeal." But luxury retailers need a luxury environment so architects can showcase their clients' unique store designs without the centre's design swamping the look. Four Seasons achieves that. He promises the environment at Marina Bay Sands will not be highly themed so as to allow the store designs themselves to showcase the brands, not compete for attention with the centre itself. With hotel occupancy rates in Singapore down from the highs of two years ago and a flurry of mall redevelopment, cynics might suggest the last thing the city state needs is 2500 more hotel rooms and a 300-store luxury shopping centre. Sylvester begs to differ. "We're creating a new market. There hasn't been gaming in Singapore before and we're bringing in a casino. We have MICE (meeting, incentive, conference and exhibition) facilities for 30,000 people and they all have to stay somewhere. In fact we'll be feeding across to other hotels around Marina Bay." Marina Bay Sands is also creating a new retail destination for CBD workers who currently have no luxury stores accessible during a lunch break - the closest are in Orchard Rd. Sylvester says most of the customers of the development will come from Sotheast Asia and China, and then from further afield - Japan and Korea, Hong Kong, the Middle East and Europe. He doesn't discount people stopping over while flying the Kangaroo Route between Australia and London, either. "It truly is going to be iconic. It's going to be something people want to travel to see." 20 October 2009 Reuters Sands readies ‘iconic?Singapore casino resort Las Vegas Sands Corp (LVS.N) hopes its unfinished Singapore resort will generate a return on investment of around 20% ?much higher than that seen at its latest Las Vegas Strip project, according to Sands?Chief Executive Sheldon Adelson. “There are 125 competitors in Las Vegas. Over there (Singapore) we have one,?he said. The casino operator is in the process of raising segments of the Singapore Marina Bay Sands?“sky park??a 1,200-foot-long (360-meter) span running across the top of the resort’s three hotel towers. “We will know the exact (opening) date in about 60 days,? Adelson said last Friday. “Three pieces are up ?there are 11 more to go.? The sky park ?almost the length of four US football fields ? will have a 600-foot swimming pool, gardens, restaurants, a lounge and an observation deck that cantilevers over the side of one tower. Highly leveraged Sands has come close to violating loan agreements and suspended work on several projects as it navigates the credit crisis that began last year. Adelson, also the company’s chairman, founder and majority-owner, has injected US$1 billion ($1.4 billion) of his own money into the Las Vegas-based casino operator. The Singapore resort ?one of two planned for the city-state ? has a budget of US$5.5 billion and is slated to open sometime in the first quarter of next year. Sands opened the Las Vegas Palazzo in early 2008 at a cost of US$1.9 billion. “Singapore wanted an iconic building ?like the opera house in Sydney,?the CEO said. The city’s second casino project, Resorts World at Sentosa, is being built by Genting Singapore Plc (GENS.SI). MALAYSIAN SAMPANS, ICE SKATING The Sands resort will feature novelties such as a stage that retracts from the adjoining bay, a lotus-shaped museum and a luxury shopping center with Malaysian sampans, an ice-skating rink and a flagship Louis Vuitton store built over the water. The casino accounts for just 2.5% of the footprint, but will probably generate around 70% of the revenue, Adelson said. Sands, which operates two casino resorts in China’s Macau, will target gamblers from neighboring Malaysia and Indonesia, as well as Thailand, he said.“We are not suicidal,?Adelson said in response to a question about whether Singapore would cannibalise its Macau business. Sands is in the process of setting up terms for an initial public offering of a stake in its Macau assets. The company has put plans to sell its Macau shopping mall assets on hold, citing weak market conditions, but that remains its operating model and will apply to Singapore, Adelson said. “Eventually we will sell the mall and pay down part or all of the debt,?he said. “If that happens, our ROI (return on investment) is infinite.?br> Adelson said Sands is close to finalizing project financing for two other Macau casino-hotels, known as sites five and six, which were put on hold late last year when credit dried up. The CEO said Sands may also restart work in Las Vegas on its St. Regis-branded condominiums, depending on the progress of sales at MGM Mirage’s (MGM.N) CityCenter. MGM recently slashed prices by 30% on condominiums at its unfinished multi-tower project on the Las Vegas Strip. In Las Vegas, where Sands operates the Venetian, the Palazzo and the Sands Convention Center, “it is only a matter of time? before the market returns to its peak of a couple of years ago, Adelson said. He said weekend hotel rates have increased significantly over the past three months, but said mid-week business remains soft. “We are convention-based,?he said. “We should be able to fill up mid-week as long as the economy continues to improve.? 20 October 2009 Channel NewsAsia Universal Studios theme-park at Sentosa to offer 18 unique rides and attractions Singapore: Island resort Sentosa will soon be home to the world’s tallest duel roller-coaster ride and movie stars such as Marilyn Monroe, Shrek and the motley mob of Alex, Marty, Melman and Gloria last spotted in Madagascar,the movie. The Universal Studios theme-park which will be housed on the 49 hectares Resorts World at Sentosa, revealed Tuesday its two dozen attractions, including 18 rides and attractions specially created or adapted for Singapore. “Universal Studios Singapore will be its own unique experience and family destination with many new rides, shows and themes that can’t be found at other Universal Studios parks around the world,?said Tom Williams, chairman and CEO, Universal Parks & Resorts. Williams said of Tuesday's unveiling of some of the theme-park's attractions, that attention was paid to location-specific creatives and designs so as to offer both first-time and devoted Universal Studios visitors, an exciting, different and memorable experience. The theme-park will feature seven zones, each with its own iconic food outlets and entertainment attractions. Tied-in to movie favourites, are the Madagascar and Far Far Away zones, featuring attractions for both young and old. Visitors can explore Shrek's swamp home, a castle and party at a Knight Club, or 'move it, move it' with wacky King Julien at a beach party after outwitting the Foosa in an original, one-of-a-kind immersive river ride that should be as wild as the lemur tribe of Madagascar. Sci-fi buffs will have a city of their own and be able to join in the Human vs Cylons battle on the Battlestar Galactica dueling coasters, the tallest of its kind in the world. Another battle in this zone is the highly-anticipated Transformers ride which debuts at Universal Studios Singapore before heading out to the US theme-park. As for adventure-seekers, they can trip to the 1930's Golden Age of Egyptian Exploration to discover the Sphinx, Pharaoh's tombs and mummies in the Revenge of the Mummy attraction, or take on the Lost World zone inhabited by dinosaurs at the redesigned Jurassic Park Rapids Adventure and Waterworld, with death defying stunts. At the Hollywood zone, visitors can expect Broadway-style theatre modelled after the famous Hollywood Pantages Theatre and walk down Hollywood Boulevard complete with the famous Walk of Fame. Without hopping on a jet, visitors will be transported to New York for a slice of the Big Apple, from NY-style pizza to movie-set scenes, including a special effects stage with Steven Spielberg who offers behind-the-scenes peeks and Stage 28 for star wannabes who get a chance to be part of a movie production. “Asians love movies and we are proud to introduce the region’s first and only Universal Studios theme park" said Tan Hee Teck, CEO of Resorts World Sentosa. According to Tan, the project is in the final stages of construction, and Universal Studios Singapore will be one of the biggest and most exciting theme-parks in the world. Apart from Asia's only Universal Studios theme park which will have 30 restaurants and food carts, as well as 20 retail stores and carts supporting the various attractions, Resorts World boasts the world’s largest Marine Life Park, a destination spa ? ESPA and a designer casino. Resorts World at Sentosa is slated to have its soft opening in early 2010. 20 October 2009 Straits Times RWS unveils 20 attractions   The integrated resort gave a sneak peek into the seven themed zones on its sprawling 20-hectors theme park at a media briefing on Tuesday. Complementing the attractions are 12 retail outlets and 13 food and beverage options which will be ready at the same time. THE world's highest duelling roller coasters, a peek at what a working Hollywood sound stage is like and a chance to take a trip into Jurassic Park - these are among the 20 attractions which will open at Resorts World at Sentosa's Universal Studios theme park in early 2010. The line-up of zones and 'must-see' attractions are: 1) Hollywood zone's anchor attraction is the Pantages Hollywood Theater, which is a 1,500-seat indoor theatre for Broadway musicals, including a new musical called MonstroCity which will feature all the well- known Universal monsters. 2) New York zone will have two attractions with Lights! Camera! Action! which is an sound stage hosted by famous director Steven Spielberg, showing special effects like when a major hurricane hits New York City and Stage 28, which will allow visitors a chance to see real film production.   The integrated resort gave a sneak peek into the seven themed zones on its sprawling 20-hectares theme park at a media briefing on Tuesday. Complementing the attractions are 12 retail outlets and 13 food and beverage options which will be ready at the same time. Ticket prices are still being firmed up and expected to be announced soon. They will be divided into three categories: adults, children and senior citizens. They will come as a day-pass, a three-day pass or annual pass. Mr Tan Hee Teck, CEO of Resorts World Sentosa, said: 'Asians love movies and we are proud to introduce the region's first and only Universal Studios theme park. Universal Studios Singapore will be one of the biggest and most exciting theme parks in the world, and it will be a tourism crown jewel for not just Singapore, but the whole region.' Added Tom Williams, chairman and CEO, Universal Parks and Resorts: 'Universal's attention to location-specific creative and design promises to deliver first-time Singapore guests - as well as devoted Universal Studios visitors that enjoyed other global locations - an exciting, different and memorable experience.' 16 October 2009 PRNewswire CONSISTEL Wins One of the Largest In-building Contracts to Design and Deploy Wireless Network at Integrated Resort in Marina Bay -- Singapore's First World Class Integrated Resort CONSISTEL SINGAPORE PTE LTD is pleased to announce it has won a major Tender to design and deploy a multi-system wireless network at the Integrated Resort in the Marina Bay area. This mega project is Singapore's first world-class Integrated Resort that encompasses a casino and three hotel towers as well as other world class convention facilities. It is a key initiative of the Singapore Government aimed at economic gains through the creation of jobs, investments and tourism. CONSISTEL, with its wealth of experience in the telecommunication business, will design, plan, install, optimize and commission a multi-system active wireless network. The network coverage will include three 57-storey hotel towers, two arc sky gardens with outdoor amenities, theatres, convention facilities, shopping arcades, casino and car parks. As part of the project, CONSISTEL will deploy more than 3000 antennas, 70km of fiber optic and 120km of coaxial cables for the Distributed Antenna System (DAS) network. This will allow for services provided by 4 wireless operators incorporating 11 wireless services in a single network infrastructure utilizing CONSISTEL's Optima solution. "We are proud to be selected as the preferred wireless solution provider for this mega project after a long and meticulous Tender process. This Tender was jointly called by SingTel Mobile, MobileOne, StarHub Mobile and GRID Communications and the selection process reflects a high standard of professionalism and expertise. We are pleased to have the opportunity to work together with these service providers in creating a superior wireless experience for users of this resort," said Bernard Chan, Group Managing Director of CONSISTEL. A pioneer in providing wireless solution with a strong track record of more than 3000 in-building deployments, CONSISTEL is able to leverage advanced technology creatively to enhance the overall customer experience. In this instance, one of the significant technical challenges is to combine frequency bands ranging from 380 MHz to 2500 MHz. To address this challenge, CONSISTEL will deploy its Optima system to support numerous technologies including GSM900, GSM1800, 3G, Tetra and iDEN. Optima's advanced Wire-It-Once architecture ensures coverage for current and future cellular and enterprise wireless voice and data services, including wireless LAN (WLAN), mobile WiMAX and public safety radio over a single infrastructure. Resort guests will enjoy more sophisticated, world class services on demand, including seamless mobile wireless connectivity. CONSISTEL always endeavor to offer superior products and services by intimately understanding clients' business models, combining it with innovative design and technology to provide robust wireless communication solutions. 15 October 2009 The Business Times Licensing regime for junket operators expected in November THE government is expected to announce the licensing regime for casino junket operators in November, says Morgan Stanley Research (Asia-Pacific), and it believes this should remove uncertainty over the issue. Drawing high-rollers: VIP players will likely account for 55% of the gaming market in S'pore, with mass players making up the rest, says Morgan Stanley Research Junket operators are seen as the key to driving VIP business into casinos in Asia, and some gaming analysts believe an overly stringent licensing regime here could keep them away. Morgan Stanley Research, however, remains bullish on Genting Singapore, saying it should have no problems attracting VIP clients. In a report on Genting Singapore, Morgan Stanley Research said VIP players will likely account for 55 per cent of the gaming market in Singapore, with mass players making up the remainder. 'Our estimate of the VIP market is driven by the number of High Net Worth Individuals (HNWIs) in the region and average revenue per HNWI of US$9,500, which is approximately 50 per cent of average revenue per HNWI in Macau,' it said. Morgan Stanley Research believes the low gaming tax here will also allow the casino operators to offer higher commissions to junket operators to attract VIP players. It noted Singapore's low gaming taxes of 5 per cent on VIP revenue and 15 per cent on mass revenue. This is comparatively lower than taxes imposed in Macau of 39 per cent, 12-28 per cent in Australia and 25 per cent in Malaysia. Junket commissions are highest at 1.5 per cent in Australia and Malaysia, while the rate in Macau was recently capped at 1.25 per cent. 'As Singapore will cater to the same target market as Australia and Malaysia, we expect junket commission to be comparable, if not higher than in Australia and Malaysia, to incentivise junket operators to draw VIP players to Singapore,' Morgan Stanley said. The VIP market is worth about US$10 billion, with Macau VIP gaming revenue the highest at US$8.8 billion and contributing 65 per cent of total gaming revenue in 2008. VIP gaming revenue was US$480 million in Australia and US$455 million in Malaysia. Morgan Stanley Research said high- rollers are predominantly from South-east Asia and China. Bullish on the prospects of the casinos here in general, it said: 'Contrary to the market's scepticism about whether Singapore can capture a slice of the South- east Asian gaming market, we are confident that Singapore will be able to establish itself as a unique gambling enclave catering to VIP and mass market players.' It cited Singapore's air connectivity and status as a medical, education and leisure and entertainment hub as reasons. Morgan Stanley Research estimates the Singapore gaming market will total US$3 billion in 2010 and US$3.7 billion in 2011, generated by 12.64 million visitors annually, with Genting Singapore's Resorts World at Sentosa (RWS) claiming 55 per cent of the market in the first year of operations. Compared with other estimates, Morgan Stanley expects the number of Singaporeans visiting the casinos to be slightly lower, making up 35 per cent of mass players. However, the contribution of Singapore residents is not insignificant, it said. Morgan Stanley Research expects 5.6 million local visits in 2010 and 6.1 million in 2011. Of these, 15 per cent will visit four times a year, 5 per cent will visit monthly and 0.2 per cent will visit every fortnight. 'Based on a spend of $670 per visit and a win rate of 18 per cent, locals will account for 30-35 per cent of gaming revenue on our estimates,' it said. 15 October 2009 Channel NewsAsia Marina Bay Sands IR targets high-end customers SINGAPORE : The upcoming Marina Bay Sands integrated resort (IR) in Singapore is targeting customers with high spending power. It is promising a waterfront shopping experience, with brands in the upper-middle to high end. David Sylvester, VP of Retail Asia, Sands Retail Asia, said: "With integrated resorts, you normally get all sorts of different market segments - the MICE, leisure, gaming customers, and they vary from segment to segment. "But we aim at attracting high-spending customers. And that's why the product is pitched the way it is - more at the upper end." Some new names that Marina Bay Sands will bring in to Singapore include Italian apparel brand Henry Cotton's, and Paul and Shark. And to match the shopping experience, the integrated resort will also have restaurants featuring famous celebrity chefs. Marina Bay Sands said it has been able to attract the top names, despite the current global recession. Mr Sylvester said: "The economic downturn created challenges but the product was so strong, we've been able to get the ideal mix. I don't think there's a brand we haven't got that we wanted. "Our rents are comparable with Orchard Road. Yes, there's been pressure on a lot of things with the economic downturn, but we've been able to just continue on with our programme." The Marina Bay Sands integrated resort is slated to open early next year. 13 October 2009 Brand Republic Singapore prepares for two integrated resorts New all-purpose facilities will cater for 57,000 delegates Resorts World Sentosa Set to launch in early 2010, this mega-resort will be able to host more than 12,000 guests over nearly 28,000 sqm in three locations. The Resorts World Grand Ballroom will be a 6,000 sqm area capable of entertaining 7,300 guests, a Plenary Hall for 1,600 and 26 function rooms with private terraces add up to another 3,000 sqm of space to hold 3,100 delegates. For something a little different, events can be held at Universal Studios Singapore, WaterWorld, the Hard Rock Hotel or the world’s largest oceanarium. The area will also offer numerous concept stores, restaurants, bars and entertainment shows. Green initiatives Some 300 trees felled for the site have been replanted, coral reefs have been transplanted and a Marine Life Fund has been launched. Resorts World Sentosa has also pledged not to serve shark’s fin in its restaurants. Distance to airport 20 minutes by road from Changi Airport. Nearest Hotels 1,800 rooms across six themed hotels including designer Michael Graves?Hotel Michael, the allsuite Maxim’s Tower, Festive Hotel, Hard Rock Hotel, Equarius Hotel and Spa Villas. Marina Bay Sands Marina Bay Sands will offer more than 120,000 sqm of space on five floors with a capacity for 45,000 delegates when phase one launches next year. It will be home to Asia’s largest ballroom with 8,000 sqm for 11,000 in auditorium seating or 6,600 for a banquet. Phase one will include most of the Sands Expo and Convention Centre, 1,000 hotel rooms, the Sands Casino, celebrity chef restaurants and retail. Green initiatives The US$17.7 million Intelligent Building Management System will control energy and water supplies. Buildings are designed to be energy efficient, rainwater will be collected and reused and recycling will be available. Upcoming clients UFI, the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry will hold its 77th UFI Congress in November 2010. Distance to airport Located in the CBD, 20 minutes from the airport. 6 October 2009 TODAY Some disagree on idea of casinos funding charities Mrs Teresa Tsien, co-director Institute of Active Aging Hong Kong Polytechnic University at Asian Gerontology Experience (AGE) symposium on Thursday at Orchard Hotel. SINGAPORE: The idea of casinos channelling funds to help the aged might raise a few eyebrows. But this could be a way for charities to seek an additional source of funding without depending too much on the government, said Ms Teresa Tsien, co-director of the Institute of Active Ageing at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University. "If this were to happen, these gaming operators could see that it is to their advantage and use this opportunity to practise their corporate social responsibility," she said. In Hong Kong, the Jockey Club Charities Trust launched a HK$380 million ($69.2 million) initiative for senior citizens in 1996 called Cadenza, which through training and public education programmes, was aimed at changing the way the public viewed the elderly. The scheme also encouraged collaboration between organisations and the implementation of innovative elderly services and programmes. In Singapore, the Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports has embarked on a similar programme designed as a first stop for the disabled, the elderly and their families seeking advice, referrals and financial aid. Called the Centre for Enabled Living (CEL), it recently launched a $1 million Sustainable Enhancement for Eldercare and Disability fund for organisations that provide care services for CEL's target groups on a project basis. The idea of gaming operators or other businesses funding charity works might not go down well with some, but "we have to be self-reliant and face the reality that somehow you have to get the money from somewhere", said Ms Tsien. "Furthermore, getting the casinos to be part of a community exercise could help down play the negative image ... to know that you are doing some good even when you are gambling." Ms Tsien's suggestion may not be all that radical, as it is not uncommon for gaming operators in Singapore to donate to social causes. The Singapore Totalisator Board, for example, has been contributing to social and community causes using surplus funds from the operations of the Singapore Turf Club and Singapore Pools. However, when contacted, Bishop Robert Solomon, vice-president of the National Council of Churches Singapore (NCSS), told MediaCorp that people "might have a problem with the idea of commercial gaming companies offering donations for community services". Gambling has its harms, he said, and the idea is a "controversial suggestion that doesn't fit, in a sense". Ms Tsien was in Singapore last week for the Asian Gerontology Experience symposium last week, organised by the Council for Third Age (C3A) and the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy. 6 October 2009 Financial Times New family resorts add casino lure Last week, construction teams started lifting into place the steel underpinnings of already leafy Singapore's latest park, which will float 55 storeys above the city, spanning the three hotel towers of the Marina Bay Sands. The innovative sky park is just one element in a new type of entertainment area - dubbed the integrated resort concept - aimed at luring high-spending international tourists to the island state and shedding its nanny-state image. Two such resorts are being built - one by Las Vegas Sands in Marina Bay, and one by Genting, the Malaysian conglomerate, on the resort island of Sentosa. Both are huge. Marina Bay Sands is expected to cost US$3.6bn with theatres, convention halls, shopping malls, a museum and hotel. Resorts World at Sentosa, costing S$6.6bn (US$4.7bn), will feature a Universal Studios theme park and the world's largest oceanarium. At the centre of both complexes are Singapore's first casinos, controversially approved by the government in an attempt to offer the kind of sophisticated international attraction that is represented by the city's Formula 1 grand prix. Many Singaporeans are sceptical about the concept of resorts combining gambling with family entertainment, fearing they may bring gambling addiction and even crime to the city. However, the operators appear confident that the casinos will generate substantial revenue. Michael Leven, president and chief operating officer of Las Vegas Sands, said in August that gaming revenue at Marina Bay Sands was likely to make up about 75 per cent of the resort's initial earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation. Analysts agree. Edward Ong at Macquarie in Singapore said the gaming market in the city was conservatively estimated at being worth between S$4.5bn and S$4.9bn, suggesting potential revenue of more than S$2bn for each casino. Abdul Jalil Rasheed, head of equities at Aberdeen Asset Management in Kuala Lumpur, said he was optimistic about the Sentosa project, though it had been plagued by cost overruns. But much will depend on the pace of the global economic recovery. "We already see a lot of positive economic signs," said Thomas Arasi, president of Marina Bay Sands. 6 October 2009 Financial Times Singapore prepares to embrace high-rollers In the last week of September, construction teams started lifting into place the steel underpinnings of Singapore’s already leafy latest park, which will float 55 storeys above the city, spanning the three hotel towers of the Marina Bay Sands. The innovative sky park is just one element in a new type of entertainment area ?dubbed the integrated resort concept ? aimed at luring high-spending international tourists to the island state and shedding its nanny-state image. Both are huge. Marina Bay Sands is expected to cost US$3.6bn with theatres, convention halls, shopping malls, a museum and hotel. Resorts World at Sentosa, costing S$6.6bn (US$4.7bn), will feature a Universal Studios theme park and the world’s largest oceanarium. At the centre of both complexes are Singapore’s first casinos, controversially approved by the government in an attempt to offer the kind of sophisticated international attraction that is represented by the city’s Formula 1 grand prix. Many Singaporeans are sceptical about the concept of resorts combining gambling with family entertainment, fearing they may bring gambling addiction and even crime to the tranquil city. However, the operators appear confident the casinos will generate substantial revenue. Michael Leven, president and chief operating officer of Las Vegas Sands, said in August that gaming revenue at Marina Bay Sands was likely to make up about 75 per cent of the resort’s initial earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation. Analysts agree. Edward Ong at Macquarie in Singapore said the gaming market in the city was conservatively estimated at being worth between S$4.5bn and S$4.9bn, suggesting potential revenue of more than S$2bn for each casino. Abdul Jalil Rasheed, head of equities at Aberdeen Asset Management in Kuala Lumpur, said he was optimistic about the Sentosa project, though it had been plagued by cost overruns. But much will depend on the pace of the globaleconomic recovery. “We already see a lot of positive economic signs,?said Thomas Arasi, president of Marina Bay Sands. 5 October 2009 The Asia Media Journal ESS, Sentosa To Co-Create Sports Events In S'pore Singapore: Asia’s top sports content provider, ESPN STAR Sports (ESS), today announced a 3-year exclusive partnership with Resorts World Sentosa to create, stage and broadcast a range of world-class sporting events in Singapore, kicking off with the launch of the inaugural MARTIAL COMBAT ?Asia’s Ultimate Mixed Martial Arts Fight Championship in 2010. The MARTIAL COMBAT will feature a grand total of twelve events comprising 60 action-packed fights per year featuring some of the most popular and celebrated Asian fighters and many ranked fighters from around the world. It will receive an unprecedented amount of television coverage from ESS in excess of 60 hours, making it the largest MMA broadcast in Asia. The first leg of events, scheduled on 14-15 May 2010, promises to be a star-studded event showcasing non-stop action, inside a ring, from some of the biggest fighters in the region and from around the world. This will be the first-ever MMA event till date to receive television coverage in 24 different countries in Asia, extensive online support through www.espnstar.com and mobile initiatives through mobileESPN. Manu Sawhney, Managing Director, ESPN STAR Sports, said, “We are very pleased to join hands with Resorts World Sentosa to kick start a great sports entertainment initiative which we believe has a lot of potential in becoming a signature sporting event in Asia. I am confident that with our event management expertise coupled with the strength of our television networks and digital platforms, sports fans at the resort and across the region can look forward to a highly engaging and entertaining experience? Miss Andrea Teo, Vice President of Entertainment for Resorts World Sentosa said: "We believe that through the MARTIAL COMBAT ?Asia’s Ultimate Mixed Martial Arts Fight Championship, this professional sport will scale new heights and groom talented fighters into household names. Having a mega tourism destination like Resorts World Sentosa as a venue, will definitely lend buzz to the fights.’’ As Singapore’s only island-integrated resort, Resorts World Sentosa is set to woo tourists with its collection of attractions and hotel offerings. There will also be world-class entertainment to engage visitors, ranging from musical and theatrical to sporting events. The MARTIAL COMBAT ?Asia’s Ultimate Mixed Martial Arts Fight Championship will be held at the resort’s Compass Ballroom. The wide array of event facilities and the professional expertise available at the resort are valuable assets in being able to produce high-quality and attention-grabbing events. This partnership brings together the strengths of ESPN STAR Sports Event Management as Asia’s #1 sports event organizer and the brand new venue and facilities of Resorts World Sentosa. Resorts World Sentosa is scheduled to open in early 2010 and is owned by Genting Singapore. The S$6.59-billion venture will include South-east Asia’s first and only Universal Studios theme park, the world’s largest marine life park, six hotels, a casino, and a host of retail, dining and entertainment options. ESS’s Events Management has managed and promoted more than 1,000 high-profile sporting events around Asia, such as the KIA X Games Asia, KL World 5s, 9 Ball Tour, the FEI Endurance Race, the Standard Chartered FIH Men’s Junior World Cup & Aviva Ironman 2009. MMA is already one of the world’s fastest growing sports and has dominated the North American pay-per-view scene as the most watched sport since 2006. Its unique combination of a full contact combat sport which also allows a wide variety of fighting techniques, leads to a mass appeal amongst different types of martial arts. In addition to MARTIAL COMBAT ?Asia’s Ultimate Mixed Martial Arts Fight Championship, ESS will broadcast a select number of programming from other MMA events from around the world in 2010. 2 October 2009 Press Zoom Resorts World at Sentosa Unleashes Power of Virtualization via Cisco The Cisco® architecture includes virtualization and energy-conscious capabilities incorporated in Cisco data center, routing, switching, and network security solutions. RWS will use the Cisco unified computing solution to orchestrate all forms of communication and collaboration across its data center to unleash the power of virtualization by aggregating storage, computational and network resources, operating systems, and applications, in a unified, shared resource pool linked with an intelligent unified fabric. This will then be optimized for users across the entire organization and will dynamically respond to rapidly changing business requirements. We are essentially building an IT infrastructure for a small city so we needed a robust and mission-critical network platform. We have more than 40,000 network points which means we need a network that can handle that level of magnitude as well as be flexible enough for us to scale up when necessary, said Yap Chee Yuen, senior vice president of information technology at Resorts World Sentosa. Cisco has the track record and the breadth and depth of networking solutions that suited our needs. We also really liked the environment-friendly nature of the solution that will help lower our carbon footprint as well as lower our energy costs. Cisco EnergyWise, a feature of Cisco Catalyst® switches, provides real-time, granular measurement capabilities to give chief information officers better visibility into energy savings across an entire organization as well as specific places in the network such as the campus, branch office and data center. This is a landmark deployment in Singapore because of the scale and complexity of RWS requirements. Ciscos ability to use the intelligence of the network to solve a lot of that complexity is a very powerful proposition for RWS. The network will help to solve many of its challenges as well as give RWS the confidence to deploy innovative applications and services, said Chris Khang, vice president, Asia Pacific, Cisco. 1 October 2009 Channel NewsAsia Marina Bay Sands lifts first piece of SkyPark in the air SINGAPORE: The first bridge of the Marina Bay Sands SkyPark was lifted 200 metres above ground on Thursday, and put in place between two of the three 55-storey hotel towers of the integrated resort. Being among the highest heavy lifting operations ever done in the world, it took up to 24 hours to lift each piece to the top and slide it into place - as wind conditions can affect the process. Additional cables were used and a detailed analysis was done to minimise swinging during lifting. Over the next three months, 13 similar steel structures will be hoisted 200 metres above the ground. The 7,000-tonne SkyPark will be big enough to hold four A380 jumbo jets. It will also house a public observation deck, landscaped gardens, outdoor pools and restaurants. 1 October 2009 Inside Retailing Hermès opens first Singapore store Hermès will open its first Singapore store at the capital's Marina Bay Sands. Alvin de Souza, MD of Hermès Singapore, said the brand was looking forward to being part of the new Marina Bay Sands development. "We hope to deliver a whole new experience at our latest address,?he said. Hermès will feature merchandise selected for Marina Bay Sands demographic and was well as its regular range of silk scarves, ties, leather goods, ready-to-wear, jewellery, fashion accessories, perfumes, watches and homewares. Marina Bay Sands Shoppes will be Singapore’s first large-scale luxury shopping mall in the CBD and will feature 300 stores including a mix of international luxury brands and cutting-edge and emerging labels previously unseen in Singapore. David Sylvester, VP retail Asia for Las Vegas Sands, said he was ecstatic to have Hermès join the impressive line-up of luxury brands opening stores at Marina Bay Sands. "We are offering a unique proposition to retailers. With our integrated resort, we are able to attract a wider range of customer segments to our property and increase the total pie for retailers in Singapore.?br> When it opens in the first quarter of next year, Marina Bay Sands will feature convention and exhibition facilities, a luxury hotel, the rooftop Sands SkyPark, a museum, Las Vegas-style gaming, theatres and entertainment. 29 September 2009 Channel NewsAsia Casinos expected to lead to rise in corruption involving police officers SINGAPORE: Singapore's Law and Second Home Affairs Minister K Shanmugam expects an increase in corruption cases when two casinos open here in 2010. Authorities are concerned the country's inexperience may make it an easy target for organised crime. But the minister said there are systems in place to deal with such incidents. Mr Shanmugam said: "Police officers wield power. And when there is power, obviously there will be people who will want to tempt them. You will get incidents here and there and they get charged in court, that's human nature. "But as a system, as a police force, they're very highly regarded and I believe systems are in place to ensure they'll continue to be so." Casinos are at risk of criminal activities, such as money laundering, cheating and forgery. So to fight such cases, authorities are setting up a Casino Investigation Branch within the police force. They have also been studying how these issues are tackled in other countries. Mr Shanmugam is confident of the government's ability to handle such matters should they arise. He said the laws will be tough, and they will be enforced strictly. On a broader note, the minister said this uncompromising attitude towards corruption has helped cement the country's clean reputation. Giving examples of former ministers who have been investigated for graft, he makes the point that in Singapore, no one is above the law. 25 September 2009 The Straits Times Mega-hits at Sentosa IR Madagascar and Shrek form themes at six attractions Resorts World at Sentosa is banking on the appeal of two mega-movie franchises - Shrek and Madagascar (left) - to draw the crowds next year. RESORTS World at Sentosa (RWS) is banking on the appeal of two mega-movie franchises - Shrek and Madagascar - to draw the crowds to its theme park when it opens in first quarter of next year. AN OGRE IN SENTOSA Six attractions at the integrated resort's (IR's) 20ha Universal Studios theme park will be based on the storylines of the two DreamWorks Animation films, according to details released on Thursday by the developer. Visitors will get to see sets and characters from Shrek come to life, including the Far Far Away Castle belonging to Princess Fiona's father. They will also get to experience rides based on the adventures of four animals from New York's Central Park Zoo who are shipped to Africa by accident and left stranded on Madagascar. There will be more than 10 retail and dining outlets done up in the same themes as the two respective zones. The two movies are among DreamWorks' most successful box office hits, with Shrek and its two sequels grossing over US$2 billion (S$2.8 billion) worldwide, and the first Madagascar film alone taking in $500 million. RWS chief executive officer Tan Hee Teck said the films are popular with Asians. Prices for the theme park will be announced later, but The Straits Times understands they are likely to be on par with, or even cheaper than, tickets to Universal Studios theme parks elsewhere. A day pass to the park in Orlando costs US$70 and Osaka charges 6,000 yen (S$92). The theme park - the first of its kind in South-east Asia - is expected to be one of the IR's biggest draws. The second IR, the Marina Bay Sands, is gunning for well-heeled business travellers. Details of 18 other attractions at the Sentosa IR's remaining five zones - Sci-Fi City, Ancient Egypt, The Lost World, New York and Hollywood - will be announced later. An RWS spokesman said the IR is on track for its soft opening in first quarter of next year. 24 September 2009 The Straits Times RWS unveils 2 attractions The Madagascar zone, also a world first, will have an indoor boat ride bringing to life the adventures of the animals and a carousel ride. FANS of DreamWorks Animation films like Madagascar and Shrek will get to see their favourite characters come to live and enjoy rides based on the movies. For the first time, Resorts World at Sentosa on Thursday unveiled the line-up of six attractions in two of the seven zones that make up the 20-ha theme park, which is the first of its kind in South-east Asia. The Far Far Away zone, named after the castle belonging to Princess Fiona's father, will have four attractions consisting of a 4D ride, an interactive live show, a roller coaster and a miniature ferris wheel. It is the first such attraction in the world for Universal Studios. The Madagascar zone, also a world first, will have two ride - an indoor boat ride bringing to life the adventures of the animals and carousel ride. Within the two zones, there will also be 10 themed shopping and dining outlets modelled after the two DreamWorks productions. More details on the rides available in the remaining five zones will be announced at a later stage. The integrated resorts is expected to have its phase one opening by the first quarter of next year. 19 September 2009 The Straits Times Worker killed at IR site A CONSTRUCTION worker died after losing his balance and falling off a work platform at the Marina Bay Sands Integrated Resort site on Thursday afternoon - the second death there since work started about three years ago. A Chinese national fell to his death after the ladder he was standing on wobbled while he was dismantling the wooden structure that was supporting a concrete wall, said his co-workers. The site is where the resort's four-storey theatre is being built. 16 September 2009 My Paper Bankrupts to be barred from IRs ALL public-assistance recipients and bankrupts will be automatically barred from entering the new integrated resorts, and they can no longer appeal against this. Dependants of public-assistance recipients will also be automatically kept out as well. These changes were among amendments that were passed in Parliament yesterday to tighten the Casino Control Act, ahead of the slated opening of the two integrated resorts here early next year. Under the original Act passed in 2006, a third party had to apply for an exclusion order to bar public-assistance recipients and bankrupts from the resorts, and these people were allowed to appeal against the ban. But the exclusion will now be made automatically, because it is clear that such people are in severe financial difficulties, said Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports Vivian Balakrishnan. "For the same reason, the opportunity to object and appeal against casino exclusion has been removed," he said. Such people can ill afford to gamble, so the exclusion orders would protect them from getting into further debt, he added. But dependants of undischarged bankrupts would not be automatically excluded, as not all of them face financial difficulties, he said. Members of Parliament welcomed the changes, voicing concerns about a growing gambling problem here. Figures from Credit Counselling Singapore cited showed that gambling was a major cause of financial problems among 27.5 per cent of people in debt last year, more than double that in 2006. Other changes to the Casino Control Act included stiffer penalties for casino operators who under-pay tax. 16 September 2009 SuntoSurf Get tickets from Resorts World RIDING on the recovery of world economies, the Genting’s Group’s newest and largest family destination, Resorts World Sentosa, will launch ticket sales in Malaysia in the last quarter of this year. While ticket prices for its Universal Studios Singapore theme park as well as hotel rates have yet to be announced, Resorts World Sentosa confirmed that family packages for Malaysia ?one of the resort’s largest overseas markets ?will be made available for Malaysian families. These packages will bundle attractions such as its Universal Studios Singapore theme park together with hotel stays and meals.Some packages may include coach transfers to Resorts World Sentosa directly from various locations all over Peninsular Malaysia. With a sales network that spans five cities across Malaysia, Resorts World Sentosa reaffirms its commitment to Malaysians, taking affordability into consideration. "This is a must-see attraction for Malaysians, who no longer have to travel long haul to visit a world-class theme park or to watch an A-list performer. They can now plan a top-class holiday close to home, and only pay a fraction of a long-haul vacation price," said Resorts senior vice-president (sales) Bernard Kee. 15 September 2009 Bloomberg Hang Lung Properties?Chan says Singapore’s casinos will “flop?/b> Ronnie Chan, chairman of Hang Lung Properties Ltd., Hong Kong’s fifth-biggest developer by market value, said the two casino-resorts in Singapore will fail because they won’t be able to attract high-rollers. Las Vegas Sands Corp., the casino company controlled by billionaire Sheldon Adelson, and Genting Singapore Plc, a unit of Asia’s biggest listed gambling operator, are building Singapore’s first two casinos. Chan commented after attending the Bloomberg Leadership Forum in Hong Kong. “The big rollers are what make money in casinos, they will never come to Singapore, it’s a family entertainment?location. “You think big-rollers will go to Singapore where they have teeth and fangs coming out sideways? There are too many rules. I was in Sentosa island, I really think that it’s going to be a flop. “The whole integrated entertainment industry, I’m worried for them. The good thing about Singapore is that if you flop, you’re given a second chance.? 15 September 2009 Channel NewsAsia Strict safeguards to be in place to prevent social ills of gambling Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports, Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, on Tuesday said that strict safeguards - stricter than other countries - will be in place to prevent social ills associated with gambling. He gave Parliament this assurance as two amendments to the Casino Control Bill were passed - on taxing gaming returns and simplifying exclusion orders. With the integrated resorts scheduled to open next year, some rules are being finalised. One is on how gaming profits will be taxed - and the stiff penalties if they are flouted. Socially, there will now be an automatic exclusion for vulnerable groups such as discharged bankrupts and those on social assistance; plus those who voluntarily opt out. This means a Committee of Assessors does not have to make individual orders now. But that will still be the case for Family Exclusion Orders - a topic of concern for some members. As at end-August, seven Family Exclusion Orders had been made. Paulin Tay-Straughan, Nominated MP, said: "To be indicted as problem gambler through the Family Exclusion Order is a serious charge, and a socially humiliating experience. "I am particularly concerned with frivolous or wilful charges initiated by individuals who are seeking means to harm or curtail civil liberties of family members." There are also concerns on the spillover effect into social problems. Ho Geok Choo, MP, West Coast GRC, said: "The question is how is the casino going to implement this on the ground? Will they be doing ID checks on all patrons? Extra effort must be taken by the authorities to ensure that the list of those excluded is regularly and thoroughly maintained to prevent misunderstanding. "Casinos overseas do not have such stringent checks. Would it be a deterrent, albeit a small one, to tourists if the checks are slow and hamper entry into the casino?" Christopher De Souza, MP, Holland-Bukit Timah GRC, said: "It seems that the major preoccupation of the Act and this Bill is to empower the CRA (Casino Regulatory Authority) to regulate only what happens in the casino. This would be ineffective to battle negative social implications in the society at large." Responding, Dr Balakrishnan said strict safeguards are in place to control gambling addiction - from operators and police ensuring vice activities such as prostitution and money laundering do not occur, to entry restrictions and prohibiting casino advertising in the local mass media. Dr Balakrishnan said: "As the situation unfolds, if you notice that we are falling short of these commitments, bring it up in Parliament, file a parliamentary question or cause a debate to occur. And the government will have to respond." Dr Balakrishnan said measures will continue to be monitored after the casinos open, and tightened, if need be. 14 September 2009 My Paper At 200m, SkyPark hotel pool is highest here IF YOU fancy wading in a pool that makes it seem like you are flying off the edge of a tall building, you will get a shot at that soon. The Marina Bay Sands (MBS) integrated resort will have a 150m-long infinity pool which overlooks the city skyline on top of its three 55-storey hotel towers. At a height of 200m above ground, it is the highest hotel pool in Singapore, said Ms Val Chua, MBS?corporate communications manager. Swissotel The Stamford has two pools on its eighth floor at 30m above ground, while The Fullerton Hotel has an outdoor infinity pool on its second floor. National University of Singapore undergraduate Zhang Baoli said he would definitely try the pool if given the chance. "It's cool. It’ll be surreal looking at the skyline while swimming," said the 25-year-old, who is an avid swimmer. The integrated resort's pool, which is only for hotel guests, is part of the MBS SkyPark, a 340m-long roof-top garden which will bridge the tops of the three hotel towers. It will have an observation deck set on a cantilever, which the public will be able to access via a non-stop lift from the ground to the top. Jutting over the edge of the tower to a length of 66.5m, it is the largest of its kind in the world. A 2m-high glass barrier will be built around it. Apart from the observation deck, there will be landscaped gardens and three food-and-beverage outlets, one of which offers casual dining, while another is a club by night. These are the only areas open to the public. With an area of 12,400 sq m, the SkyPark can hold up to 3,900 people. It is not known if there will be an entrance fee. Mr George Tanasijevich, general manager and vice-president of Singapore development at MBS, said the integrated resort is still trying to sort out how to manage traffic flow. "It's a possibility (that the public would need to pay), but it will be something that is reasonable," he said. Weighing over 7,000 tonnes, the SkyPark was constructed offsite. Pieces of its structure will be lifted into position at the top of the towers separately with heavy lifting equipment. The equipment will hoist the segments into place using a computerised mechanism which controls cables attached to temporary lifting gantries. Lifting will start within the next two weeks, after test trials have been run. Construction work on the $150-million SkyPark should be completed around January next year, and the park should open in the second quarter of next year. 14 September 2009 Channel NewsAsia Lifting of Marina Bay Sands SkyPark SINGAPORE: The Marina Bay Sands SkyPark will start taking shape in about two weeks' time when work to lift some 7,000 tonnes of the steel superstructure begins. However, the organisation said Monday it has yet to decide if it will be imposing ticket charges for the public to visit the SkyPark when it is due to open in the second half of next year. It will take three months to lift the superstructure 200 metres up in the air onto the 55-storey hotel towers. Marina Bay Sands will be using a technology called the strand jacking operations to lift the steel structure in 14 parts. Each lifting operation is expected to take 24 hours. But before the lifting, the bridge and the cantilever elements of the SkyPark are pre-assembled on the ground, rather than having to be built in the air. The SkyPark is also subject to winds at the top of the Towers and the team has done tunnel testing for wind pressure in order to design the facade and structure to deal with expected wind forces. When the SkyPark is completed it will feature the world's largest public cantilever, landscaped gardens, restaurants and an infinity swimming pool. The entire SkyPark can host up to 3,900 people. It will also be home to some 250 trees and 650 plants. 14 September 2009 Channel NewsAsia Marina Bay Sands not decided on charging visitors to SkyPark SINGAPORE: The Marina Bay Sands SkyPark will start taking shape in about two weeks' time when work to lift some 7,000 tonnes of the steel superstructure begins. However, the organisation said Monday it has yet to decide if it will be imposing ticket charges for the public to visit the SkyPark when it is due to open in the second half of next year. It will take three months to lift the superstructure 200 metres up in the air onto the 55-storey hotel towers. Marina Bay Sands will be using a technology called the strand jacking operations to lift the steel structure in 14 parts. Each lifting operation is expected to take 24 hours. But before the lifting, the bridge and the cantilever elements of the SkyPark are pre-assembled on the ground, rather than having to be built in the air. The SkyPark is also subject to winds at the top of the Towers and the team has done tunnel testing for wind pressure in order to design the facade and structure to deal with expected wind forces. When the SkyPark is completed it will feature the world's largest public cantilever, landscaped gardens, restaurants and an infinity swimming pool. The entire SkyPark can host up to 3,900 people. 11 September 2009 Business Times It’s “game on?as punters come out to play Genting Singapore shares Some 395 million shares were traded yesterday with prices swinging from a low of S$1.08 (RM2.65) at the start of the trading day to a high of S$1.17 by mid-day. The share price then proceeded to fall again to about S$1.12 before a late rally brought the price up to close at S$1.14, representing a fall of 4.2 per cent from the previous close of S$1.19 per share. The high trading activity followed news that Genting Singapore was seeking a rights issue at an issue price of S$0.80 for each rights share, on the basis of one rights share for every 5 existing ordinary shares, possibly raising around S$1.6 billion. As reflected in the price movements yesterday, market reaction to the news has been mixed. In a note released yesterday, OCBC Investment Research said that given the recent run-up in Genting Singapore’s share price, it believes it may just be a good time to raise some cash as there have been some concerns about the cost overruns at Resorts World at Sentosa as well as its payment of its syndicated loan obligations of S$4 billion in 2011 and its S$450 million convertible bonds in 2012. However, OCBC added: “We think that these concerns may be overwrought. Instead, we see the move as more of an insurance, should there be any hiccups in the global financial system again.?br> In view of the possibility of Resorts World at Sentosa opening before year-end and a more upbeat regional economic outlook, it was also adjusting its fair value from S$0.85 to S$1.05 per share. It also raised its FY2010 revenue forecast 11.4 per cent to S$774.7 million and reduced its loss forecast 66.7 per cent to a loss of S$20.7 million. OCBC said it is maintaining a “hold?rating. The rights issue took some by surprise Nomura said in a note: “Given the anticipated strong cash flow from the integrated resort (IR) project, Genting Singapore is not in urgent need of cash, in our view.?It added: “We maintain our view that Genting Singapore’s IR will be a great success. At the S$0.80 per share rights issue price, its enterprise value is roughly about S$17 billion.?br> Industry watchers expect the Asian gaming market to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 15.7 per cent for the next five years. In a report by Dow Jones, Goldman Sachs said: “We think the market may be too optimistic on Singapore gaming demand and the competitive outlook.?It is keeping the stock at “sell? with a target of S$0.65. In Malaysia, reaction to the rights issue initially saw investors sell down Genting Bhd, Genting Singapore’s parent. Genting Bhd owns 54 per cent of Genting Singapore and many feared it might have to borrow for its RM2.1 billion (SS$856 million) share of the rights issue. Having digested the news, however, investors seemed to agree with the majority of the securities houses. Genting shares rose 1.6 per cent yesterday to RM6.97 apiece. JPMorgan rated the move as “positive?for Genting Bhd as investors “should expect more capital management and rationalisation of assets going forward? It noted that while Genting Bhd had about RM300 million in spare cash, its subsidiary Genting Malaysia had RM5 billion in excess cash. Its target price for Genting is RM8.50. Amresearch ?the one house that correctly predicted the rights issue before the fact ?was even more optimistic, raising Genting Bhd’s fair value to RM8.95 and valuing Genting Singapore, on a discounted cash flow basis, at S$1.28. Maybank Securities sounded a lone dissenting voice, calling a “sell?on the stock with a fair value of RM5.10. It said that, at current prices, it was trading at 20 times its 2009 earnings, which “is almost as high as its 21 times peak in 2007?while its 18 times discount to its revised net asset value “is unattractive? Nor did it think that the Singapore casino would be a success. “Despite repeated assurances, we fear that the earnings outlook for Genting Singapore’s Resorts World at Sentosa may not be as bright as touted,?it said. 10 September 2009 JoongAng Daily Ssangyong puts skill first Ssangyong’s projects include some of the most difficult in history. Ssangyong E&C is now building the Marina Bay Sands Hotel in Singapore. With oil prices fluctuating, orders for new factories have fallen, but orders have increased for high-quality construction and engineering, an area in which Ssangyong Engineering and Construction is acknowledge worldwide for its skill. The Marina Bay Sands Hotel project undertaken by Ssangyong E&C is one of the world’s most difficult. Designed to be a gateway to Singapore, it is unique with a 52-degree slanted design. Until the two buildings meet at the 23rd floor at 70 meters in height, the key to this project is to complete the slanted building on the right successfully. Ssangyong E&C built a 600-millimeter post-tensioned concrete wall and installed wires to prevent the building from slanting. This reduced the time needed, while sensors checked the angle of the building in real time. Despite its high degree of difficulty, Ssangyong was able to complete one floor of the Marina Bay Sands Hotel in just three to four days and the frame of the building in just 18 months, one month early. Future tasks include furnishing 2,500 rooms and connecting the hotel’s 56th and 57th stories next year. The capabilities of Ssangyong also shine in Seoul subway. The 913 section was the most difficult in the system, involving a new transfer station between lines 3, 7 and 9 under an existing underground shopping mall. Its construction could not use ordinary tunneling methods like excavation or shield construction, and since the site was just 15 centimeters below line No. 3, it was the most difficult turnkey project in Korean history. Ssangyong E&C engineers used the CAM method, taking European subway stations as benchmarks, and also the TRcM method. It was the first time the two methods had been used at the same time in the world. Ssangyong was also asked to build the DTL 921 section of the Singapore subway, worth $553 million, the largest overseas subway project won by a Korean company in the last 40 years. With confidence in its technology, the company uses NATM, TBM and open cut methods. The 482 section of the Marina Coastal Expressway, won for $633 million in November 2008, was the largest project a Korean company received that year. Expanding the 10-lane highway 1 kilometer, each meter cost 820 million won, 10 times higher than the Seongnam Pangyo eight-lane tunnel, where 1 meter cost 72 million won. A subway is scheduled to open under the highway, requiring a 300-meter tunnel 4-5 meters underground. A Ssangyong E&C executive said, “Although our rival submitted a lower cost, they were not able to pass a strict skill evaluation. This project was very complicated and required high quality rather than low cost. We expect public construction orders will increase and hope to receive more orders from Singapore in the future.? 9 September 2009 The Star Talent search for ChildAid concert KUALA LUMPUR: The search is on for the best young Malaysian musical talents to perform at an all-children charity concert in Singapore. Annual fund-raising concert ChildAid is looking for young talents from Malaysia, Indonesia and China in an effort to help their less-fortunate counterparts and build close ties among youths in the region. The Arts House of Singapore is conducting the talent search together with the Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Centre on Sept 10 and 11 for children between the ages of six and 19. Among the audience favourites at last year’s ChildAid were 10-year-old Tiger Onitsuka from Japan, who is the world’s youngest professional drummer, and 12-year-old Aristo Sham from Hong Kong, a winner of several major international piano competitions. This year’s ChildAid concert will be the first to be held at the soon-to-be opened Resorts World at Sentosa in Singapore, and ChildAid will also be celebrating its fifth anniversary. Founded in Singapore in 2005, ChildAid has raised more than S$1.6mil (RM4mil) to help needy children. Said ChildAid organising chairman Peter Khoo: “The economic recession has led to a rise in the number of children who need help to pay for a meal in school or to continue their artistic pursuits.?br> For this year’s talent search, the concert organisers are looking for contemporary/pop English-medium acts (except piano) and singing or dance for the event. Applicants must send in audition materials (DVD, VCD, CD or through YouTube) to be considered for selection, as well as a photograph and a one-page write-up of themselves, their musical achievements, and why they want to be part of ChildAid. Other details include name, age and school, as well as parents? name, contact number and e-mail address. Audition materials can be sent to ashraf@klpac.org or to the following address: ChildAid Regional Talent Search Audition 2009, Ms Ashraf Zain, Production Manager, The Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Centre, Sentul Park, Jalan Strachan, 51100 Kuala Lumpur. For inquiries, call 03-4047 9037. 9 September 2009 VingCard Deal Resorts World Sentosa Secures VISIONLINE VingCard, a leading hospitality security provider and part of the ASSA ABLOY Group, today announced the installation of its wireless RF-online system, VISIONLINE, at Singapore’s largest integrated resort and family destination, Resorts World Sentosa, located on Singapore’s resort island of Sentosa. The product will be installed in all six hotels on the 49-hectare family destination, which will also feature a casino; Southeast Asia’s first and only Universal Studios theme park; Marine Life Park, the world’s largest oceanarium; Maritime Xperiential Museum; and Equarius Water Park. “With such a large, diverse destination, we needed a product that was going to provide the highest level of security with the flexibility to adapt to our extraordinary hotel structure,?said Mr. Andrew Hickey, vice president of rooms at Resorts World Sentosa. “With the wireless online capabilities of VISIONLINE, we feel confident that our property will be using the most reliable, efficient and secure advanced locking system available today to ensure our operations run smoothly.?br> Introduced to the market in 2006, VISIONLINE by VingCard is currently operating in more than 20,000 guestrooms worldwide. The product offers a cost-effective solution for properties like Resorts World Sentosa, to facilitate reliable two-way wireless online communication from standalone electronic door locks to their host security and PMS systems, which will increase the efficiency of the hotel. Unlike traditional off-line standalone locks, VISIONLINE by VingCard utilizes RF-online communication capabilities that eliminate the need to travel to each guestroom to perform tasks such as reprogramming individual locks or identifying and changing low batteries, as well the need for a guest to return to the front desk to change a room or extend his or her stay. With VingCard’s wireless system, important functions are just a click away ?such as the ability to instantly cancel master cards without re-encoding or walking to update locks. VISIONLINE components also can communicate with multiple rooms at once, reducing the number of network components required for installation when compared to other online technologies. “By centralizing these functions, Resorts World Sentosa can expect to increase employee productivity and efficiency of operations, maintenance and engineering at the hotel,?said Vegard Prytz, vice president and regional director of Asia Pacific at ASSA ABLOY Hospitality. “The VISIONLINE system will maximize security at the property, increasing guests? satisfaction and ultimately improving the bottom line.?br> Built on the ZigBee™ Standard ISO 802.15.4 high-security open platform ?the only wireless, highly-secured and open standards-based platform to address the unique needs of low power monitoring and access-control network applications ? VISIONLINE offers increased reliability and performance at an affordable cost. Operating on a reliable and secure platform like ZigBee also enables smooth interface and integration opportunities for other online devices such as safes, energy management and mini bars. “As hoteliers across the globe are becoming more conscious of customer’s needs, VingCard is constantly working to provide the highest security as well as ease-of-use and convenience,?Prytz said. “As customers?and properties?needs continue to evolve, Resorts World Sentosa can be assured that VISIONLINE will continue to provide the ultimate security for guest and hoteliers alike.?br> An informational video highlighting the wireless RF-online system, VISIONLINE, can be found online at http://www.youtube.com/vingcardelsafe VingCard is a world leader in developing locking systems for the hospitality industry, offering user-friendly security systems that meet the unique operational needs of hotels and resorts. For more information, visit www.vingcard.com. About ASSA ABLOY Hospitality Inc. North America The world leader in hotel security technology, ASSA ABLOY Hospitality has products installed in more than 35,000 properties worldwide, securing more than 6 million hotel rooms. The ASSA ABLOY Group, a publicly listed company, is a world leader in security and hospitality systems. The North American division of ASSA ABLOY Hospitality brings three security brands to hotels throughout the United States and Canada, including VingCard (www.vingcard.com) electronic locking system solutions, Elsafe (www.elsafe.com) UL-listed (1037) hotel safe series, and TimeLox (www.timelox.com) security solutions for gaming properties and other large resorts. About Resorts World Sentosa Slated to be one of the world’s most exciting family destinations, Resorts World at Sentosa is a collection of resorts and attractions with a plethora of fun-filled offerings for the entire family. Taking pride of place on Singapore’s resort island of Sentosa and spanning 49 hectares of lush greenery amongst pristine lakes, this S$6.59 billion mega-resort will be home to Southeast Asia’s first and only Universal Studios theme park, the world’s largest oceanarium ?Marine Life Park and the region’s only fully integrated destination spa ?ESPA. The Resort also boasts a total of 1,800 keys, spread across its six hotels of varying themes, with full conference and meeting amenities, including a ballroom that sits 7,300 delegates. Topping the list are the ultra-luxurious Maxims Tower, and the world’s only Hotel Michael, named after famed US-architectural legend, Michael Graves who designed the entire destination. Other accommodation options include the trendy Hard Rock Hotel Singapore, as well as beach facing Spa Villas, perfect for some solitude and privacy. Resorts World at Sentosa’s myriad of MICE facilities will also be able to accommodate 35,000 delegates. Options include one of Asia’s largest ballrooms with a capacity of 7,300 guests, 26 function rooms ?most of which with garden views ?as well as some of Singapore’s most creative event venues within Universal Studios Singapore. Beyond hotels and attractions, there will also be world-class entertainment to engage visitors. Most eagerly-anticipated is the Crane Dance ?a spectacular multi-media moving art with cleverly choreographed animatronic cranes set out at the waterfront. An unparalleled array of retail and dining options at FestiveWalk, as well as roving acts and street performances await guests at the Bull Ring. Resorts World at Sentosa opens its doors to the world in early 2010. 8 September 2009 Las Vegas Sun Las Vegas Sands completes $600 million financing Las Vegas Sands announced today that it has closed and funded its $600 million bond public offering. The Las Vegas based company said it now has the flexibility to utilize the proceeds from the offering for general corporate purposes. Last week, the company said it planned to raise $600 million in proceeds from an exchangeable bonds sale as the casino operator looked to boost its liquidity. The Sheldon Adelson-led company says it will be mandatory for the bonds to be exchanged into common stock of one of its units pending its Hong Kong IPO. "Earlier this year, the company developed a series of strategic initiatives designed to enhance our liquidity and strengthen our balance sheet. The closing of this financing, in combination with the other measures we have completed to date, demonstrates that we are successfully executing that plan," Adelson said in a statement today. Adelson said the strategic plan and opening of Marina Bay Sands in Singapore will remain the company’s top priority in the coming months. The $5.4 billion resort is expected to be completed next year. The company, hurt like other leveraged gaming operators by the worldwide recession, lost $222.2 million or 34 cents per share in the second quarter ending June 30. Interest costs on its $12.8 billion of liabilities -- including $10.6 billion in long-term debt -- totaled $64.8 million in the quarter. Preferred stock obligations cost it another $46.3 million, the company reported. The company called the $600 million bond sale "pre-IPO'' financing. The notes will pay 9 percent through September 2010. If notes are not converted to stock, the interest rate rises to 12 and then 15 percent through 2014. Las Vegas Sands President Michael Leven said in a statement last week that the pre-IPO financing is a component of the company's efforts to strengthen its financial position. Other components are the recent completion of an amendment to its $3.3 billion Macau credit facility and the submission of an application by a subsidiary of the company to be listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. 28 August 2009 AsiaOne IRs and F1 race track among unsafe worksites The Ministry of Manpower's (MOM) Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Inspectorate conducted night inspections at 11 worksites over the past week. Work carried out at night is a concern for MOM as about one in four workplace fatalities occur at night. The operation was targeted work sites that operate round-the clock and with large number of workers, such as the Marina Bay Sands Integrated Resort (IR), Resorts World Sentosa IR, Marina Financial Centre, as well as the Formula 1 race track and grandstand. 29 Workplace Safety & Health violations were uncovered. MOM issued composition fines for 15 of these offences, and served warning letters and orders to rectify the remaining 14 less serious violations. Insufficient lighting was the top safety lapse found in the majority of the work sites. This is a big concern for work conducted at night as insufficient lighting can adversely impact the vision and judgement of workers and contribute to serious accidents. Without adequate lighting, workers are subject to higher risks of tripping, falling from heights, falling off unsafe scaffolds and electrocution from unsafe wirings or equipment. 26 August 2009 The Business Times Hooking up Resorts World THE mega networking infrastructure of Resorts World at Sentosa (RWS) which will link up tens of thousands of IT equipment and other devices across the 49-hectare integrated resort is being built with technology from Cisco Systems, the US networking giant is set to announce today. The cost for this massive project was not disclosed, but primary equipment supplier Cisco has hailed it a 'landmark deployment in Singapore'. The project is the latest bonanza for technology vendors in Singapore, which have been closely watching the IT procurement activities of RWS and its rival Marina Bay Sands given the sheer size and value of these projects. RWS's latest technology undertaking is likely one of its most important - as it underpins the resort's integrated operations, which span six hotels, a casino, Universal Studios Singapore and three other large theme parks, in addition to a corporate office and data centre. 'We are essentially building an IT infrastructure for a small city so we needed a robust and mission-critical network platform,' said Yap Chee Yuen, RWS senior vice-president of information technology. 'We have more than 40,000 network points which means we need a network that can handle that level of magnitude as well as be flexible enough for us to scale up when necessary.' This network is a landmark deployment for Cisco in Singapore because of the scale and complexity of RWS's requirements, said Chris Khang, Cisco vice-president of Asia-Pacific. 'The casino business is 24/7 in nature and continuous uptime is paramount when managing the IT infrastructure. When customers are enjoying the facilities and amenities at RWS, there is an assortment of computing systems at work including hotel reservation systems, financial management applications, slot machine monitoring, and of course, security,' he told BizIT. Cisco joins tech firms like Dell, NEC Asia, Singapore Technologies Electronics (ST Electronics) as technology providers for RWS. Dell is supplying servers, while NEC is installing the admission and ticketing system for the Universal Studios attraction. ST Electronics is constructing an integrated security system, an IT infrastructure system, and a car park guidance and payment system in a deal worth $86 million. These IT projects are now being put in place as the resort steps up its activities to get ready to open its doors to the public by early next year. RWS held its largest recruitment drive over the weekend, offering more than 5,000 jobs and it is looking to fill 8,000 posts by year-end, and 10,000 when it becomes fully operational. To manage its complex and sprawling network system, RWS will be tapping virtualisation technologies from Cisco. One of the hottest buzzwords among organisations, virtualisation is seen as a means for cutting IT cost. With virtualisation, RWS will be able to aggregate its storage, computing and network resources as a shared pool. According to Cisco, this will let RWS easily tune its IT systems to business changes, as well as lets it deploy applications in the future without a major overhaul of the infrastructure. RWS is also counting on a feature that will show, in real time, how much power is being consumed in different parts of the resort's network. This way, IT staff can tweak their power consumption accordingly for a more energy-efficient set-up. 26 August 2009 PR Web Singapore Resort Openings to create opportunities for Foreign Investors, Entrepreneurs and Professionals The opening of two large casino resort projects in the next 6 months is likely to create a number of opportunities for foreign investors, professionals and entrepreneurs who are considering immigration to Singapore. Singapore (PRWEB) August 26, 2009 -- Based on past statistics from the gaming industry, GuideMeSingapore.com predicts that a significant number of jobs and new business ventures will be created in tourism-related industries over the next two years as a result of the new gaming resorts that are set to open in Singapore. Two such resorts are slated to open in Singapore in the next 6 months: The Marina Bay Sands and The Resorts World at Sentosa. The Marina Bay Sands project, which is scheduled to open in December this year, will include 2,600 hotel rooms, 1.2 million square feet of convention and exhibition space for 52,000 attendees, an art and science museum, various theatrical venues, as well as a trio of linked marina-facing botanical gardens. The total cost of the development is placed at S$8.0 billion. The Resorts World at Sentosa project will open in early 2010. It will occupy 121 acres, house six hotels with 1840 hotel rooms, a Universal Studio theme part, a Water Park and numerous other attractions. The project will cost nearly S$7 billion. While the Singapore government has been keen to highlight the non-gambling attractions of the two integrated resorts, various gaming industry analysts expect 75 percent of revenue to come from gaming in the first year of operation. This represents a very good opportunity for foreign entrepreneurs, investors and professionals who wish to setup a business in or immigrate to Singapore. By investing in or launching businesses that cater to these growing industries, foreigners can obtain quick immigration to Singapore and simultaneously participate in the economic growth that these industries will bring to Singapore The developers of these projects have promised to create 20,400 direct jobs but that is just the tip of the iceberg. For nimble local and foreign entrepreneurs, this represents an enormous new business opportunity. We are already seeing a lot of interest, especially from overseas business professionals who wish to establish an early foothold in these businesses Currently Singapore receives just 5 percent of its GDP from tourism. Using these resorts as the main attraction, Singapore aims to double its tourism arrivals to 17 million annually and triple its tourism receipts to $19 billion by 2015. The Singapore government has given its full backing to the launch of this new industry; given the government's successful track record, the success of this industry is all but assured. The anticipated rise in tourism will result in strong growth in a number of ancillary sectors. Among the businesses opportunities that these resorts will create in the hospitality and tourism sector are the following: Travel agencies that facilitate tours from foreign countries to the resorts Junket operators that organize tours for VIP gambling clients. Singapore's Casino Control Act stipulates that all junket operators must be licensed through the newly-formed Casino Regulatory Authority (CRA) Event Management companies that focus on organizing business conferences and exhibitions Transportation services that provide limo and other transportation services. Security companies that provide event security Recruitment companies that facilitate the hiring of card dealers, waitresses, etc. for the casinos. Earlier in the year, Marina Bay Sands lamented that it had managed to fill only 2,000 out of 4,500 dealer positions available. Training companies that provide training for casino staff Restaurants "This represents a very good opportunity for foreign entrepreneurs, investors and professionals who wish to setup a business in or immigrate to Singapore. By investing in or launching businesses that cater to these growing industries, foreigners can obtain quick immigration to Singapore and simultaneously participate in the economic growth that these industries will bring to Singapore," said Jacqueline Low, Director of J**** Corporate Solutions Pvt Ltd. - the firm that operates the GuideMeSingapore website. "The developers of these projects have promised to create 20,400 direct jobs but that is just the tip of the iceberg. For nimble local and foreign entrepreneurs, this represents an enormous new business opportunity. We are already seeing a lot of interest, especially from overseas business professionals who wish to establish an early foothold in these businesses," she added. Individuals who want to explore this opportunity have three main options: Global Investor Program, Employment Pass, and Entrepreneur Pass (EntrePass). Under the Global Investor Programme (GIP), foreign investors can make an investment of one million dollar or more in Singapore and relocate to the country as Permanent Residents. A minimum investment of one million dollars can be used either to launch a new Singapore-based enterprise or beef up an existing one. Another highly popular immigration scheme is the Employment Pass (EP) issued to foreign professional employees, managers, owners or directors of Singapore companies who possess a good educational and professional background. Alternatively, entrepreneurs who do not qualify under the EP category due to lack of educational qualifications can apply for the Singapore Entrepreneur Pass (also known as EntrePass). About GuideMeSingapore.com GuideMeSingapore.com website is a unit of J**** Corporate Solutions Pte. Ltd, a leading professional services firm that specializes in Singapore company formation, work permits, taxation, and related business services. For further details, visit GuideMeSingapore's Singapore Company website. 25 August 2009 Opodo Chanel boutique to open in Singapore It has been announced that French fashion house Chanel is to boost its presence in south-east Asia by opening a new boutique at the Marina Bay Sands resort in Singapore. The new store will be located on two storeys and cover an area of 7,600 square feet in the resort's upscale shopping area. Due to open before the end of the year, Marina Bay Sands will be the latest in a line of luxury properties in Singapore that also includes Raffles, the Fullerton, Shangri-La and the Mandarin Oriental. Vincent Shaw, president of Chanel Asia Pacific, said: 'Chanel is very excited to be part of the Marina Bay Sands concept. It is a great opportunity to join the ultimate house of luxury with a truly innovative and creative retail environment. 'Singapore has a young, progressive and energetic retail scene and Chanel does not believe in mass distribution and is discerning in deciding where the boutiques are placed to ensure the right consumer experience and service.' It was recently announced that Dubai will be boosting its luxury offering in the near future with the opening of two new hotels under the Versace and Armani brands. 24 August 2009 Earth Times Resorts World at Sentosa Unleashes Power of Virtualization via Cisco Resorts World at Sentosa (RWS) is putting into place a comprehensive network built primarily with equipment from Cisco (NASDAQ: CSCO) that will serve as a platform for the resort's integrated operations when it opens next year. Spanning 49 hectares and comprising six hotels, a casino, Universal Studios Singapore and three other large theme parks, in addition to a corporate office and data center, RWS requires a sophisticated technology and communications setup that will rely on the intelligence of the network to support high-levels of availability, security, and reliability. The Cisco® architecture includes virtualization and energy-conscious capabilities incorporated in Cisco data center, routing, switching, and network security solutions. RWS will use the Cisco unified computing solution to orchestrate all forms of communication and collaboration across its data center to unleash the power of virtualization by aggregating storage, computational and network resources, operating systems, and applications, in a unified, shared resource pool linked with an intelligent unified fabric. This will then be optimized for users across the entire organization and will dynamically respond to rapidly changing business requirements. "We are essentially building an IT infrastructure for a small city so we needed a robust and mission-critical network platform. We have more than 40,000 network points which means we need a network that can handle that level of magnitude as well as be flexible enough for us to scale up when necessary," said Yap Chee Yuen, senior vice president of information technology at Resorts World Sentosa. "Cisco has the track record and the breadth and depth of networking solutions that suited our needs. We also really liked the environment-friendly nature of the solution that will help lower our carbon footprint as well as lower our energy costs." Cisco EnergyWise, a feature of Cisco Catalyst® switches, provides real-time, granular measurement capabilities to give chief information officers better visibility into energy savings across an entire organization as well as specific places in the network such as the campus, branch office and data center. "This is a landmark deployment in Singapore because of the scale and complexity of RWS' requirements. Cisco's ability to use the intelligence of the network to solve a lot of that complexity is a very powerful proposition for RWS. The network will help to solve many of its challenges as well as give RWS the confidence to deploy innovative applications and services," said Chris Khang, vice president, Asia Pacific, Cisco. About Resorts World at Sentosa Slated to be one of the world’s most exciting family destinations, Resorts World at Sentosa is a collection of resorts and attractions with a plethora of fun-filled offerings for the entire family. Taking pride of place on Singapore’s resort island of Sentosa and spanning 49 hectares of lush greenery amongst pristine lakes, this S$6.59 billion mega-resort will be home to Southeast Asia’s first and only Universal Studios theme park, the world’s largest oceanarium -- Marine Life Park and the region’s only fully integrated destination spa -- ESPA. The Resort also boasts a total of 1,800 keys, spread across its six hotels of varying themes, with full conference and meeting amenities, including a ballroom that sits 7,300 delegates. Topping the list are the ultra-luxurious Maxims Tower, and the world’s only Hotel Michael, named after famed US-architectural legend, Michael Graves who designed the entire destination. Other accommodation options include the trendy Hard Rock Hotel Singapore, as well as beach facing Spa Villas, perfect for some solitude and privacy. Resorts World at Sentosa’s myriad of MICE facilities will also be able to accommodate 35,000 delegates. Options include one of Asia’s largest ballrooms with a capacity of 7,300 guests, 26 function rooms -- most of which with garden views -- as well as some of Singapore’s most creative event venues within Universal Studios Singapore. Beyond hotels and attractions, there will also be world-class entertainment to engage visitors. Most eagerly-anticipated is the Crane Dance -- a spectacular multi-media moving art with cleverly choreographed animatronic cranes set out at the waterfront. An unparalleled array of retail and dining options at FestiveWalk, as well as roving acts and street performances await guests at the Bull Ring. Resorts World at Sentosa opens its doors to the world in early 2010. About Cisco Cisco (NASDAQ: CSCO) is the worldwide leader in networking that transforms how people connect, communicate and collaborate. Information about Cisco can be found at http://www.cisco.com. For ongoing news, please go to http://newsroom.cisco.com. Cisco products are supplied in Singapore by Cisco Systems International, BV, a wholly owned subsidiary of Cisco Systems, Inc. 21 August 2009 The Straits Times Sentosa IR to hire 5,000 RESORTS World at Sentosa's (RWS) recruitment drive began almost three years ago, and despite receiving thousands of applications and taking part in 100 job fairs, it has filled only 10 per cent of its workforce. With only months to go before its opening, the integrated resort needs to have 7,000 more staff by October and a total of 10,000 by the time it fully opens early next year. To ramp up these numbers, RWS is holding another job fair this weekend to fill about 5,000 rank and file positions such as chambermaids, tram drivers and bellhops. It is the biggest recruitment exercise held so far for such positions. The resort began hiring immediately after it won the tender in December 2006, in what it calls a 'planned process', said assistant director of communications Robin Goh. He explained that corporate and management positions were filled first. 'For operational staff, they will be hired closer to the opening date,' he said. This means that applicants will know only from October if they got the jobs - including those who applied much earlier. But human resources lecturer Fred Lin, who teaches at education company Kaplan, noted that such a hiring policy may not be the best as it keeps applicants 'hanging by a thread'. 'It is usually best to tell applicants within three months whether they've got a job, with one or two calls along the way to update them on their application progress,' he said. In contrast, Marina Bay Sands integrated resort, set to open around the same time, has been securing its staff in advance. With 290 people already on its payroll, it has sent out more than 2,000 employment contracts for gaming staff, and will soon make similar offers for other front-line positions. When RWS was asked if its approach may cause inconvenience - such as having its shortlisted candidates being snapped up by other organisations - Mr Goh said it is prepared for such an eventuality. 'We want to sift through as many applications as possible so we can choose the very best,' he said. Besides the job fair, other channels remain open, he added. Both integrated resorts are accepting applications through the mail, Internet, online job portals, school talks, job fairs, and the Employment and Employability Institute (e2i). RWS is also tapping community development councils. Interested applicants can visit the RWS job fair on Saturday and on Sunday at the e2i building at 141 Redhill Road, Block A, #01-01. It will be open from 9am to 5pm. Applicants are advised to bring certificates, resumes and one passport-size photograph. Walk-in interviews will be conducted on the spot. 20 August 2009 The Straits Times 5,000 IR jobs up for grabs The IR in Sentosa has recruited 700, and is looking to fill 8,000 posts by year-end and 10,000 when it becomes full operational. RESORTS World Sentosa (RWS) will hold its biggest mass recruitment drive this weekend, offering more than 5,000 jobs in 33 operational positions. With the integrated resort due to open in a few months' time, RWS is stepping up its hiring to fill thousands of rank-and-file positions, ranging from concierges, limo and tram drivers, to bell-hops and chambermaids. The mass walk-in recruitment will be held at e2i centre at Redhill from 9am to 5pm on Saturday and Sunday. 'Many Singaporeans have been waiting for us to launch these positions, judging from the many number of calls that we received the past year regarding when they can apply,' said a statement from RWS on Thursday. 'With mere months to our opening in early 2010, we are ramping up our manpower numbers to ensure that roles are filled for a successful opening in the first quarter of 2010.' The mass walk-in interview format is a new channel for RWS, in addition to its other initiatives which include job updates on its website, job fairs and roadshows, engagement with schools, partnerships and internship programmes with polytechnics, collaboration with job-portals and the Workforce Development Agency, e2i and CDCs. The IR in Sentosa has recruited 700, and is looking to fill 8,000 posts by year-end and 10,000 when it becomes full operational. 20 August 2009 My Paper Who says IR jobs aren't hot? MORE people than expected turned up for a conference session on floor positions in the integrated resorts (IRs), contrary to the perception that Singaporeans are not keen on taking up such jobs. The session on career expectations and talent management in the gaming sector, which was part of the inaugural Gaming Asia Conference, drew 160 participants. This exceeded the expected figure of 100 to 120, and more chairs had to be added, organiser Comexpo told my paper. The two-day conference at the Singapore Expo, which started yesterday, brought together human resource and business leaders in the gaming industry from the United States, Macau and Singapore. Earlier, upcoming integrated resort Marina Bay Sands lamented that it had managed to fill only 2,000 out of 4,500 dealer positions available. But later on Aug 1, it received more than 3,500 applications for 1,000 dealer positions at its job fair. When asked about the possible reasons for Singaporeans shunning dealer jobs in the IRs, 61-year-old speaker Alan Soh, president of casino college Agmi International, said that a big reason is their aversion to shift work, which includes working on weekends and the graveyard shift. He said: 'They also feel the pay is a bit too low.' The starting pay is $1,800 before tips. Three months' training is provided. But some Singaporeans do aspire to gain a foothold in the gaming sector as dealers with Marina Bay Sands or Resorts World at Sentosa. Shatec graduate Daryl Gan, 21, who has a diploma in culinary skills and has already submitted an application to be a dealer, told my paper: 'The prospects, good pay and tips attract me. I intend to carve out my career in the IRs. 'I used to be a cook and so have experience in working the graveyard shift. I was also used to working up to 17 hours (at a stretch).' Mr Gregory Huang, 29, was in bank sales and, like Mr Gan, is also a student of the pro-dealer programme at Agmi International. 'This is something new, it's exciting and I like the energy of the gaming industry. It also allows me to meet different people,' he said. 20 August 2009 The Sraits Times IR fills 75% retail space MARINA Bay Sands said it had secured tenants for three-quarters of its retail space, including French luxury brand Chanel, which will open its largest boutique in Singapore. The integrated resort is expected to have about 300 stores for the well-heeled shopper in more than 800,000 sq ft of retail and restaurant space. But only half of the retail space will open with the resort early next year along with the casino, 1,000 hotel rooms and most of the convention centre. Marina Bay Sands said it is confident of its success as a 'compelling shopping destination'. 'We have enjoyed enthusiastic responses from retail tenants from all over the world,' said Mr David Sylvester, vice-president of Asia retail at parent company Las Vegas Sands. Chanel is the first tenant to be announced. More names will be revealed at a later stage, said the resort's spokesman. The Chanel boutique will be the third store in Singapore and its largest. At 7,600 sq ft, the two-level boutique will be more than double the size of its first flagship outlet opened here in 1990 at Ngee Ann City. In March, it opened a second outlet specialising in watch and jewellery, also at Ngee Ann City. Chanel said it expects Asia to be a growing market for upscale brands. The new outlet will be designed by New York-based architect Peter Marino, who is behind Chanel's most notable boutiques. One of them is the 10-storey Chanel building in Ginza, Tokyo, built in 2005. It features a shimmering facade made of liquid crystal glass, woven stainless steel, and more than 700,000 LED lights. 20 August 2009 The Business Times Reputation is the name of the game NAM Leong Co Pte Ltd is a leading supplier of carbon steel pipes, carbon steel fittings and valves in the building and shipbuilding industries here today, with turnover of more than $90 million for financial year 2008. And a measure of its leading status can be found in Resorts World at Sentosa. Nam Leong supplies all the fire system contractors of the integrated resort project. 18 August 2009 Channel NewsAsia Yongnam wins S$39m contract for Marina Bay Sands resort SINGAPORE: Steel contractor and civil engineering firm Yongnam said it has won a contract, worth nearly S$39 million for the Marina Bay Sands Integrated Resort. Under the terms of the deal, Yongnam will supply and construct structural steelworks required to support the roof and facade of the North Crystal and South Crystal Pavillions. Both Pavillions are located in the waters of the Marina Bay Reservoirs, a stone's throw away from the IR's Event Plaza. Yongnam will also be responsible for the various structural works for all floors above the first level as well as the finishing works for all levels for both pavilions. Yongnam has been getting contracts from the Marina Bay Sands resort since November 2007. Currently, it is working on six contracts for various elements of the Marina Bay Sands resort, which it said are progressing smoothly and on schedule. With the addition of the new contract, Yongnam has clinched a total of over S$340 million worth of contracts for the iconic development. - 938LIVE/vm 14 August 2009 Macau Business Las Vegas Sands prepares for a junket-free Singapore Las Vegas SandsPortfolio info about Las Vegas Sands (LVS) has warned that casino regulators in Singapore may prevent Macau-style junket operators from setting up there in a move that would almost certainly reduce the number of VIP gamblers likely to visit the city-state’s two upcoming integrated resorts. Singapore’s Casino Control Act stipulates that all junket operators must be licensed but although the LVS-owned Marina Bay Sands and Genting-backed Resorts World Sentosa casinos are scheduled to open early next year, the newly-formed Casino Regulatory Authority (CRA) is yet to outline how the junket system will be policed in practice. In Macau, VIP gamblers are believed to account for around 70 percent of gaming revenue, with many of the high-rollers brought in by junket operators, who often lend money to their clients and sometimes engage in illegal side-betting. However, Mike Leven, president of LVS, warned that the CRA are likely to take a very restrictive approach toward junket operators in Singapore “I think clearly there is a chance that they [Macau-style junket operators] will not be allowed, or if they are allowed, it will be with significant restrictions,?he said in a briefing with local journalists in Singapore. “We’re not anticipating that the Macau-style gaming will be the Singapore-style gaming.?Leven stressed that, with regulators still to finalise their approach, LVS was ready to be flexible. “The CRA has not yet given all the final regulations in that area, and we are waiting for those because our marketing strategies in our casino depend upon what those regulations are,?he explained. “We’re prepared to go either way, with the junkets if they’re allowed, or without them if they’re not. We will like if it is a Las Vegas type of model which is much less junket, more premium and individual players. If they are going to be more towards a Macau model, we’re experienced in that as well.?br> While the Singapore government has been keen to highlight the non-gambling-related attractions of the two integrated resorts, Leven revealed that he expected 75 percent of revenue to come from gaming in Marina Bay Sands first year of operation. Analysts have predicted that Marina Bay Sands could generate gross gaming revenue of US$1bn-US$2bn in its first year and Leven said that this range was a “good guide? according to the Business Times newspaper in Singapore. During his trip to Singapore to meet government officials, Leven also announced the surprise departures of the Marina Bay Sands president, Nigel Roberts, and vice-president of hotel operations, Tony Cousens. Roberts, an experienced British hotel executive, was brought in to head up the Marina Bay Sands project in January and at the time LVS described his appointment as a “major milestone?for the resort. A spokesman for Marina Bay Sands declined to comment on the reasons for the resignations of Roberts and Cousens. Thomas Arasi, formerly president of US hotel group Lodgian, has been appointed to replace Roberts while Ronen Nissenbaum, a former executive at Intercontinental Hotels Group, has been hired to replace Cousens. 4 August 2009 The Straits Times Resorts World partners PA Slated for a soft opening in early 2010, the integrated resort on Sentosa island will provide event and venue sponsorship to the PA and its related grassroots organisations (GROs). YOUR next neighbourhood get-together may have you whizzing around on rollercoasters and watching a circus show at Resorts World in Sentosa (RWS). A new one-year partnership between the People's Association and the upcoming integrated resort, inked on Tuesday will see RWS providing more than $1.1 million in cash or subsidies. The 1,800 grassroots bodies under the Association, ranging from resident committees to community development councils, can now receive funding for activities organised at the integrated resort, such as theme park outings. Discounts and privileges will also be provided to those who hold the Association's PAssioncard. In the works are priority queuing and booking of packages. There is also a credit scheme which will allow community bodies to organise meetings and retreats at RWS at a discount. The deal will see each of the 84 constituencies allotted up to $6,000 in subsidies, which can go towards facilities hire, meeting packages, and tickets for the Universal Studios theme park and the rock-circus show Voyage de La Vie. Besides this, the money will go towards the Chingay parade next year, which will see Resorts World's very own float. But the Association is also taking pains to dissociate itself from the more controversial aspect of the integrated resort: its casino. 4 August 2009 Channel NewsAsia Resorts World at Sentosa to fill over 8,000 job vacancies by year-end SINGAPORE: Resorts World at Sentosa is ramping up its job hiring efforts, and hopes to fill more than 8,000 job vacancies - including that of croupiers and hotel staff - by the end of this year. The resort said Tuesday it is on track to open on schedule next year. It already has 760 employees in its fold - of which 82 per cent are Singaporeans. It will be carrying out a mass hiring exercise in October, and is looking at employing over 8,000 people. Some job vacancies that need to be filled include theme park operators, and casino and F&B staff. By December, the resort hopes to have some 10,000 employees. It is working with the five Community Development Councils (CDCs) in its recruitment drive. Tan Hee Teck, chief executive officer of Resorts World at Sentosa, said: "The CDCs have been extremely helpful in affording us to reach out to the people of Singapore and... the CDCs had been working to review all the applications for our job prospects." Resorts World at Sentosa has also signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the People's Association (PA). Under the agreement, Resorts World at Sentosa will commit over S$1 million in event and venue sponsorship to the PA and its Grassroots Organisations. Tan Boon Huat, chief executive director at PA, said: "The grassroots organisations will be able to make use of the various interesting venues that are being offered by Resorts World and this is really wonderful because one of the best ways for community bonding is for people to come together and enjoy things together, enjoy fun things together and have fond memories." With the partnership, Passion card members can also look forward to exciting perks at Resorts World at Sentosa such as priority bookings for tours at the Resorts. Other perks include special promotions and packages, and attractive merchandise of Resorts World and Universal Studios Singapore. 600,000 Passion card members can take advantage of the partnership. Henry Ho, chairman of Jurong Central CCC, said: "I believe that a lot of residents will be interested and very excited to join our Passion cards whereby they have incentives and discounts to enter Resort World facilities." The People's Association and Resorts World at Sentosa will also jointly organise the "Mr and Mrs Singapore Senior Pageant" in June next year. Resorts World at Sentosa is also participating in Chingay for the first time next year where it will have its own float. 4 August 2009 The Straits Times 'Early opening' report untrue Resorts World at Sentosa on Tuesday refuted a report by an investment bank about a possible early opening. A CIMB report on Tuesday said the 'quick pace' of construction may lead to it opening by the end of this year, instead of early next year as planned. It also said that Genting, which owns Resorts World, may announce the actual opening date next month. The claims were based on a recent site tour. In response, the integrated resort issued a brief statement, saying: 'Resorts World at Sentosa is on track for a soft opening in the first quarter of 2010.' At the joint event with the People's Association on Tuesday, the integrated resort's chief executive officer Tan Hee Teck said that they would announce the opening date in the last quarter of this year. About 760 people have been hired so far, over 80 per cent of whom are Singaporeans. Mr Tan said they are ramping up hiring efforts to reach 8,000 staff by October, and 10,000 by December. 4 August 2009 The Straits Times Over 6,000 turn up at IR job fair In the end, many came, and more than half put their bets on securing a dealer's job yesterday at the Marina Bay Sands. Over 6,000 people turned up yesterday at the integrated resort's (IR) two-day job fair, which ends today, at Suntec City Convention Centre. Up for grabs are over 1,000 positions as dealers for the resort's casino. Over 3,500 applications were received yesterday. The resort had said its earlier efforts to fill 4,500 gaming vacancies had seen only 2,000 of these jobs taken up. Mr Ken Davie, senior vice-president for casino operations at Marina Bay Sands, said: 'We remain focused on hiring locals and thank Singaporeans for their interest in working for us. 'In the coming months, we will roll out other recruitment activities to attract Singaporeans to work in our premier integrated resort, including non-gaming positions such as hotel operations.' For its position of dealer, candidates need to be above 21 years old, have manual dexterity, customer service and simple arithmetic skills, and not be colour-blind. The starting pay is $1,800 before tips and three months' training is provided. Jobseekers yesterday said that they had not gone to Marina Bay Sands' previous job fairs as there was insufficient publicity about the events. 'There was not much information about the job fair, and I found out about it only by reading The Straits Times,' technical officer Charlie Chong, 24, said. Others were there out of curiosity. 'I came to take a look at what positions are being offered. I haven't decided if I will submit an application,' said Ms Elaine Chew, 31, currently unemployed. Still, once the crowds started coming, many did submit application forms. Many were excited about being part of a new industry. Mr John Ng, 24, who is currently unemployed, said he faced a little resistance from his parents due to the unfavourable perception they had about casino jobs. 'I understand their reservations, but I feel that this is a new field in Singapore. The career advancement should be quite good and it's exciting,' he said. Mr Ong Cho Meng, 52, also currently unemployed, feels that this makes an exciting change from his previous job in the engineering sector. 'As there are so many vacancies, I feel I have a better chance of getting this job. This is also a new venture by a big establishment and I would love to be a part of it as one of the pioneers,' he said. The fair continues today. Singapore's other integrated resort, Resorts World at Sentosa, said it had started hiring earlier and did not face hiring difficulties. However, about 30 per cent of the Sentosa IR's hires for the dealer post so far are foreigners. 3 August 2009 The New Paper Is casino job within your reach? WHAT? I can't be a croupier because I'm too short? You may not know it, but there is a height requirement - 1.58m. And I'm 5 cm shorter than that. I was indignant - that's heightism. I thought height requirements were only for flight attendants. Air stewardesses have to be at least 1.58m too. That's because they need to reach the plane's overhead compartments. Then I found out about the height requirement for female croupiers at the Resorts World Sentosa casino. For men, it's 1.65m. Marina Bay Sands said it does not have height restrictions for their croupiers. So last week, I trudged to the International Club Games Training Centre at Turf City to see for myself why height matters. The centre offers casino education. Tall tales CEO Ramachandra Siva, who has worked in the casino industry for more than 20 years, said that in the past, casinos generally hired tall men as the 'rowdy crowd' made the jobs 'dangerous'. They were also good for 'surveillance' because they could see more of what is happening. Today, the reason is more of a 'technicality', he said. A croupier who is too short may not be able to reach across the tables to give out cards or collect chips efficiently. Sensing my disbelief, the 1.65m Mr Ramachandra demonstrated to me how much he had to stretch at the three main table games in casinos - the roulette, blackjack and baccarat. Then he asked me to try. Eager to prove that height does not matter, I agreed. It turned out to be quite a stretch. Let's just say that if I was just a little shorter, half my body would have been unglamorously sprawled across the roulette table. At the blackjack table, the croupier could stand on an 8cm black platform, but Mr Ramachandra said not all casinos have such platforms. Marina Bay Sands said it provides platforms for croupiers who might need them. Standing on the platform, I proudly exclaimed: 'I can reach!' 'You have long arms,' said Mr Ramachandra. Ah, so a short person with long arms has no problem. Height becomes irrelevant then, I argued. Agreeing, Mr Ramachandra said: 'By right, the person's reach should be measured. But nowadays, some casinos just measure height.' The baccarat table turned out to a bit more of a problem because I had to be seated. I could reach the chips on the table, but not before stretching over the chips in front of me. That, Mr Ramachandra pointed out, could be a security problem. If the croupier is too short, he or she will end up leaning over the chips. Security cameras, usually mounted overhead, will fail to capture a dishonest croupier slipping a chip or two into his vest. 'It is also more elegant to be sitting straight,' Mr Ramachandra added. Isn't there a stick-like prop the croupier can use to give out cards and reel in the chips? That should minimise the stretch. Mr Ramachandra looked confused at first. Then he said with a laugh: 'You've been watching too many movies.' There were two types of sticks, I learnt, and casinos no longer use them. 'In the past, they used the spatula in London clubs and Monaco, for style only. It was used at the larger baccarat tables, which are rarely found in casinos now,' Mr Ramachandra said. 'It also takes a lot of skill to master the use of the rack without making the chips fall.' He said all students at his school are informed of the requirements of the two casinos here before they sign up. They have had a handful of students who are shorter than the requirement. In countries like the US and Australia, he noted, height cannot be a requirement 'unless proven a necessity' because of discrimination laws. What else does the job entail? Both the integrated resorts require croupiers to have normal colour vision, so that they can differentiate the colours of the chips and cards. Resorts World also asks applicants if they have sweaty palms, though they are not checked for it. The female advantage I tried one last time to prove that a croupier's height was irrelevant. If they work at the same tables, why does the requirement for men and women differ? A Resorts World spokesman explained: 'Women can wear heels. A three-inch heel (adds) about 7cm. Ladies have that option but men don't.' (I was wearing flats that day.) The spokesman added: 'It's also harder to find 1.65m-tall (Singaporean) women.' He said Resorts World prefers to 'cross-train its croupiers as much as possible because of job rotation'. If a croupier is short, he or she can operate only one type of game. So why doesn't Marina Bay Sands (MBS) have the requirement? Mr Ken Davie, its senior vice-president of casino operations, said: 'Being an equal-opportunity employer, MBS does not have a stipulated height requirement for our dealers.' The most important attribute, he added, is a desire for social interaction with a great variety of people. 'Customer service skills are critical and dealers need manual dexterity and basic maths skills,' Mr Davie said. 'As long as candidates have the right attitude for the job, MBS welcomes them and will provide specialised training. As far as physical criteria is concerned, dealers only need to pass a colour vision test.' Ms Jacye Lim, at 1.56m tall, recently got a job as a croupier at MBS. The 45-year-old, who took a 50 per cent pay cut from her previous banking job to pursue her 'dream job as a croupier', told The New Paper: 'I don't find my height a handicap. It is not an issue for me. Customer service is more important in this line.' Does she have problems stretching? 'When you're motivated to do something, you'll go all out to do it,' she said. Besides, she's got 'long hands', she said. Well, that makes two of us. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Over 1,000 jobs still up for grabs at Marina Bay Sands WANTED: Dealers. After employing 1,500 Singaporeans to work as dealers and dealer inspectors in its Table Games division, Marina Bay Sands (MBS) wants another 1,000-plus employees for its table games. And MBS hopes to fill these positions at its recruitment drive in Suntec City today and tomorrow at Convention Hall 603. Job seekers can apply for a job on the spot. Trainees have to undergo intensive training in a Casino Training School operated by MBS. The three-month course will be fully paid for, and candidates will receive nationally-recognised certificates upon completion. The starting pay is $1,800 before tips. Some can rise to the position of shift manager, earning up to $11,000 a month. Mr Ken Davie, senior vice-president of casino operations, said; 'Singaporeans have shown that they are perfect for these positions, and we are delighted with the candidates who will be joining us and would encourage anyone else with an interest to come and apply.' He told The Straits Times this week that if MBS fails to fill the positions, it will be forced to look to foreign shores. He also said this is the first time that the Las Vegas-based group has had so much trouble filling gaming positions. It had no problem at its home base or its Macau outfit. Besides becoming dealers, 500 Singaporeans have also been successful in getting jobs at MBS as cage and count cashiers, VIP and executive hosts, and slot attendants and technicians. This article was first published in The New Paper 2 August 2009 The Straits Times Taking a gamble Over 3,500 jobseekers submitted applications on Saturday for dealer positions at Marina Bay Sands. Over 6,000 people turned up on Saturday at the integrated resort's (IR) two-day job fair, which ends today, at Suntec City Convention Centre. IN the end, many came, and more than half put their bets on securing a dealer's job on Saturday at the Marina Bay Sands. Over 6,000 people turned up on Saturday at the integrated resort's (IR) two-day job fair, which ends today, at Suntec City Convention Centre. Up for grabs are over 1,000 positions as dealers for the resort's casino. Over 3,500 applications were received on Saturday. The resort had said its earlier efforts to fill 4,500 gaming vacancies had seen only 2,000 of these jobs taken up. Mr Ken Davie, senior vice-president for casino operations at Marina Bay Sands, said: 'We remain focused on hiring locals and thank Singaporeans for their interest in working for us. 'In the coming months, we will roll out other recruitment activities to attract Singaporeans to work in our premier integrated resort, including non-gaming positions such as hotel operations.' For its position of dealer, candidates need to be above 21 years old, have manual dexterity, customer service and simple arithmetic skills, and not be colour-blind. The starting pay is $1,800 before tips and three months' training is provided. Jobseekers on Saturday said that they had not gone to Marina Bay Sands' previous job fairs as there was insufficient publicity about the events. Others were there out of curiosity. Many were excited about being part of a new industry. Mr John Ng, 24, who is currently unemployed, said he faced a little resistance from his parents due to the unfavourable perception they had about casino jobs. 'I understand their reservations, but I feel that this is a new field in Singapore. The career advancement should be quite good and it's exciting,' he said. 1 August 2009 Channel NewsAsia Overwhelming response on first day of Marina Bay Sands' recruitment fair SINGAPORE : Marina Bay Sands received an overwhelming response on the first day of its two-day dealer recruitment exercise at Suntec City. More than 6,000 walk-ins showed up on Saturday, with some lining up to get in even before the doors opened. Just two days ago, Marina Bay Sands said it was facing difficulties in recruiting enough dealers. Citing how Singaporeans were unfamiliar with the gaming industry, Marina Bay Sands said it had only managed to fill less than half the 4,500 positions needed to man its gaming tables. Hedging its bets on Saturday, the resort flew in pit managers from its Macau operations to explain the games to interested parties. And it seems to have worked. It has already received 3,500 applications, though not all were for dealer positions. Foreign candidates were among those trying their luck, but Marina Bay Sands said it remains focused on hiring locals. 31 July 2009 The Malaysian Insider Where have all the casino job seekers gone? Despite the state of the economy and the huge turnout at job fairs of late, gaming positions at Marina Bay Sands (MBS) are going a-begging. The integrated resort (IR) is struggling to fill the 4,500 places it has for croupiers, cashiers and slot attendants, among others. It has hired only about 2,000 Singaporeans so far, and says it will have a last go at hiring here during a job fair to be held at Suntec Singapore this weekend. If it fails to fill the positions, it will be forced to look to foreign shores, the IR's senior vice-president of casino operations Ken Davie said yesterday. He said the toughest position to fill is that of croupier, a job for which the minimum qualifications are being above 21 years old, having manual dexterity, customer service and simple arithmetic skills, and no colour-blindness. The starting pay is S$1,800 (RM4,320) before tips. Even training is provided by the company. Those with a talent for the job can rise to the position of shift manager, earning up to S$11,000 a month. Other gaming jobs have similar salaries and career paths. And yet, there are no takers. Davie said this is the first time that the Las Vegas-based group has had so much trouble filling gaming positions. It had no problem at its home base or its Macau outfit. The casino veteran said yesterday: “We felt we should have been able to fill the positions by now.?br> He said MBS received thousands of applications for the 10,000 jobs on offer, but most were for other openings, such as waiters, marketing positions and housekeeping. Some of those who did apply for gaming jobs were not serious about taking up the positions available. The other IR, Resorts World at Sentosa, said it did not face such a problem and had started hiring earlier, according to its spokesman. However, unlike MBS, which is trying to fill all its casino positions with Singaporeans, about 30 per cent of the Sentosa IR's hires for the dealer post so far are foreigners. Davie put MBS’s hiring difficulties down to the fact that gaming is a new industry here and people may feel some trepidation about taking a job they know little about. They may also have concerns about career progression, he said. Halimah Yacob, the deputy secretary of the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC), agreed, saying that perhaps Singaporeans are scared of trying something new. There might also be some kind of stigma attached to working in a casino, she said. Ang Hin Kee, chief executive officer of NTUC's Employment and Employability Institute, which is partnering MBS to screen Singaporeans for positions, said that many people have a misconception that the job requires skill and prior experience. The idea of shift work is also less than appealing to some, he said. Other analysts say the root of Singaporeans' reluctance to take gaming jobs could be down to pay: One industry insider said MBS’s dealers will get less than those in Macau, who get around S$2,300 before tips. Over the years, some jobs here have had to be redesigned to attract Singaporeans, who have shunned them for pay, prestige or other reasons. These jobs include work involving long, irregular hours, manual jobs, or having to deal with difficult customers. The recession has taken a heavy toll on employment here. The government's most recent labour market report showed that total employment fell by 6,200 in the first quarter of this year ?the first quarterly contraction in nearly six years. Manpower Minister Gan Kim Yong has said he does not expect a let-up in the jobless rate, which currently stands at 3.3 per cent. For gaming analyst Jonathan Galaviz, a partner at tourism and gaming consultancy firm Globalysis, the low take-up rate for MBS’s gaming positions is puzzling. He said more IRs will be coming up in the region soon, and Singaporeans should strike while the iron is hot. “This will provide significant career opportunities over the next decade,?he said. ?The Straits Times 30 July 2009 The Straits Times Casino jobs are not hot Marina Bay has filled only 1,500 of about 2,700 vacancies for croupiers. MARINA Bay Sands is having more difficulty than anticipated in filling up its casino positions with Singaporeans. It has filled only 2,000 out of 4,500 gaming positions. It is holding a recruitment fair this weekend at Suntec Convention Hall 603, as a last ditch effort to get Singaporeans to apply for casino jobs, in particular, dealer positions. Mr Ken Davie, senior vice-president of casino operations at the Marina Bay integrated resort, said: "We'd expected to fill all the positions by now... But we had not had the response expected because gaming is very new in Singapore. We don't think Singaporeans understand what the industry is quite about." Marina Bay has filled only 1,500 of about 2,700 vacancies for croupiers. Of the remaining 1,800 vacancies for other gaming positions like cage cashiers, VIP hosts and slot attendants, it has hired 500 Singaporeans to date. Mr Davie said they have never run into so much trouble filling the casino positions elsewhere in Macau or Las Vegas as here in Singapore, probably because this industry is entirely new to the market. One of the biggest stumbling blocks could be the lack of understanding of what a dealer job would entail, the career progression for such a job and the necessity to work shifts, he added. He said the job is an exciting one with clear career progression. A dealer's basic pay starts at $1,800, excluding tips, which could well add up to $2,500 in a good month. From being a dealer, one could progress to inspector, then to pit manager and finally to shift manager. To qualify for a dealer post, one has to pass a basic Mathematics test, not be colour blind and have good customer service. Mr Davie is hoping that by this weekend, thousands more will apply so they can fill the positions with as many Singaporeans as possible. Failing to get the Singaporeans means the company would have to explore other options like opening up the positions to foreigners, which the IR has received applications for but has not considered them since the main priority now is to hire Singaporeans. 29 July 2009 AsiaOne Vivocity to Sentosa in just 15 min by foot WALK to Sentosa in just 15 minutes, under a canopy cover of lush foliage and with a picturesque view of the sea. Come November next year, a $70 million Sentosa Boardwalk will offer island visitors a seamless, all-weather connectivity from the waterfront promenade along Vivocity to Sentosa. Visitors will have the option of either strolling along a timber walkway, or using one of the dual-directional canopy-covered travellators. The travellators ascend gently towards the centre of the boardwalk, taking guests to a vantage lookout point overlooking the bay and the sea. The 620-metre long gateway also features five garden themes, showcasing the tropical landscapes indigenous to Singapore. Designed to handle the greater influx of visitors expected from the opening of Resorts World at Sentosa, the boardwalk was unveiled at a ground breaking ceremony by Mr S Iswaran, Senior Minister of State for Trade and Industry and Education, on Tuesday. It is able to carry a throughput of 8,000 guests per hour per direction, the Sentosa Leisure Group said in a news release, which will complement the travel options of trains, buses, and cable cars. Construction has commenced and is targeted for completion before the end of 2010. 27 July 2009 Channel NewsAsia Worker falls to death at Resorts World at Sentosa SINGAPORE: A Chinese man in his late 40s fell to his death at the construction site of Resorts World at Sentosa on Monday. Police said they received a call at about 8.30pm. Officers pronounced the man dead shortly after. The worker, who is understood to be from China, fell from a height of about 4.5 metres. The police are investigating. 27 July 2009 The Star Casino hotel eyes biggest trade shows Marina Bay Sands expects MICE business to be in full swing in five years SINGAPORE: Marina Bay Sands, the US$5.5bil integrated resort in Singapore, is expected to see its meeting, incentive, convention and exhibitions (MICE) business run at capacity in three to five years after the resort opens its doors early next year. President and chief operating officer Michael A. Leven said it would take time for Marina Bay Sands to attract the biggest and leading conventions and trade shows but he was confident that Asia’s largest ballroom would see its enormous capacity taken up in a matter of time. “It is going to take a couple of years. Usually in the hospitality and convention industry, the problem is some of these conventions get booked four to five years in advance, especially the very large ones,?he said in a briefing. “It’s going to take some time before that frees up.?br> Leven was speaking after the topping-up ceremony of Marina Bay Sands earlier this month. The Marina Bay Sands construction site stands along a major highway in Singapore. The US$5.5bil Marina Bay Sands hotel and casino project is expected to open in January or February. ?AP When completed, the resort’s MICE facilities would cater to 45,000 delegates. There will be 250 meeting rooms at the facility and the building is able to host 2,000 booths. The ballroom alone can cater up to 11,000 people in a single event. “I view this particular product as being the dominant Asian MICE building and Singapore has tremendous appeal internationally. I don’t see why this won’t be on the circuit of the major trade shows,?said Leven. “The Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre is sold out and it is not very big, We get a shot at that (business).?br> On its own, the MICE business will not be a tremendous profit centre for the resort as Leven said it would feed onto what the rest of the integrated resort had to offer. The resort would be cashflow positive within the first couple of months of operations, said Leven. Marina Bay Sands is the most expensive “casino?in the Las Vegas Sands group. The iconic development features three 55-storey hotels that will have a 375m long SkyPark on the top of the hotels. The SkyPark will have 1ha of open space. Leven said Marina Bay Sands would have greater variety than the group’s business in Macau in its present configuration. “Macau is heavily gaming-orientated. We are in the process of building our MICE and tourist businesses there but it is a much smaller situation because of the nature of Macau as a destination,?he said. Leven said Singapore was more couple- and family-friendly than Macau had traditionally been. “A higher percentage of our business will come from non-gaming operations than Macau today. Over the future we expect Macau to change its percentage as the Cotai Strip gets more built up. Marina Bay Sands will be more typical of Las Vegas than Macau is today,?he said. Leven was also cordial when discussing the competition between Marina Bay Sands and Genting’s Resorts World at Sentosa saying the two resorts complement instead of compete with each other. “I think Genting is a significant addition. I like the idea. I know it sounds strange liking Genting there because I think it’s going to help the overall tourist attraction base to Singapore itself,?he said. Leven said the promotional activity by both integrated resorts would only help and their respective themes and features would be enough to differentiate one from another. “From a marketing perspective, Sentosa will be more a family-orientated resort than we will. There will be some meeting and small MICE competition. “From a competition standpoint and from the business travel, there will not be a significant amount of competition. “There is a very big difference between the two places,?he said, adding that competition would be limited to the VIP and premium players at their respective casinos. Leven said that once Marina Bay Sands fully opened, the number of people on its premises should average between 50,000 and 75,000 daily. It would go as high as 100,000 people on certain days. The visitors to the Macau Venetian is roughly 65,000 people a day. Marina Bay Sands is counting on attracting a large number of visitors from Malaysia, Indonesia, India and Thailand. 21 July 2009 MEDIA Marina Bay Sands Shoppes shortlists three SINGAPORE - Marina Bay Sands Shoppes, the shopping mall within the luxury resort currently under development in Singapore, has shortlisted WPP agencies Bates141, Grey and JWT for its creative account. The company had previously invited six agencies including several local shops to pitch for the business. According to reports, the first round of the pitch concluded in June and the presentations for the final round have been scheduled for next week. Reports also suggest that the key focus for the new resort would be the burgeoning India and China markets. Marina Bay Sands is an affiliate of Las Vegas Sands Corporation. It is being developed as a destination for shoppers across the world, with a mix of emerging labels and international luxury brands, as well as innovative entertainment options including boat rides along the canal flowing through the mall and an indoor ice-skating rink. 14 July 2009 Channel NewsAsia Resorts World at Sentosa to stage first event in December SINGAPORE: The integrated resort at Sentosa is expected to open early next year, but it is already planning to stage its first event ahead of the soft launch. Resorts World at Sentosa has teamed up with children's charity, ChildAid, to host its fifth concert at the Festive Grand Theatre in December. Organisers have yet to confirm the budget for the three-day event. But the IR has already pledged to donate some S$153,000 in kind and ChildAid hopes others will come forward to beat last year's record of S$506,000 raised. Peter Khoo, organising chairman, ChildAid, said: "There's definitely a fear that sponsors aren't forthcoming, but our duty is to try." The theatre, which seats up to 1,600 people, will also house the resort's resident show, Voyage de la Vie. Resorts World said it would be a rock-circus extravaganza, featuring awarding-winning circus acts from around the world. Andrea Teo, vice president of entertainment, Resorts World at Sentosa, said: "They're sort of telling the story of a journey of a boy through life. A discovery of himself... portrayed through circus acts." As for whether the theatre will be up on time, Resorts World said construction efforts are on the fast track, with some 6,500 workers currently working on site. The IR added that it could increase that number to 8,000 or 9,000 workers within the next two months. 13 July 2009 The Staits Times Asian dreams still intact One industry analyst said Mr Adelson may have taken huge risks in pursuing his Asian expansion - but it might pay off eventually. SINGAPORE - IT HAS been a challenging year for Mr Sheldon Adelson, but the bullish 75-year-old US casino tycoon is confident he has enough aces up his sleeve to revive stalled projects in Asia. Restarting stalled Macau projects Mr Adelson said he was aiming to restart the stalled projects in Macau later this year once Las Vegas Sands completes a fund-raising exercise for US$3.5 billion (S$5.1 billion). A sale or public listing of the Macau assets are among the options being explored to raise the money, including US$2 billion needed to complete the projects in the Chinese territory, he said. Mr Adelson said he was aiming to restart the stalled projects in Macau later this year once Las Vegas Sands completes a fund-raising exercise for US$3.5 billion (S$5.1 billion). A sale or public listing of the Macau assets are among the options being explored to raise the money, including US$2 billion needed to complete the projects in the Chinese territory, he said. 'We are shooting for a restart of the Macau project before the end of this year,' said Mr Adelson, chairman of Las Vegas Sands. The delayed projects are part of the company's ambitious US$12-billion building plan in Macau on a reclaimed strip of land known as Cotai Strip. Squeezed by the global credit crunch, Las Vegas Sands announced in November that work on sites five and six on the Cotai Strip would be temporarily stopped until financial market conditions improved. Sites five and six include an 1,800-room Sheraton hotel and three casinos. The Vegas firm was also forced to fire up to 11,000 mainly construction staff as work ground to a halt on the projects. Like in Macau, Mr Adelson's Singapore project has also run into delays and cost overruns due to shortages of materials and labour, issues that are beyond his control, he said. A US$ 5.5-billon casino and convention complex, Marina Bay Sands, is now targetted to open in either January or February 2010, instead of end-2009 as originally planned. 'So this is not a long delay. It's a relatively short delay and the whole purpose of it is because it's impossible to finish every square metre simultaneously,' Mr Adelson said in his typically feisty manner. 'It's not as though you are a conductor of a philharmonic and you just take your wand... and you tell everybody get finished on time exactly to the minute.' Given the gaming sector's huge potential, particularly in Macau, the region is a key market in the long term for casino operators, analysts said. 'Macau is an important market for gaming operators due to its size. It is a much larger market compared with the US,' said Joe Poon, a Hong Kong-based associate with Standard and Poor's Rating Services. The construction of new casinos in Macau and Singapore has been delayed after the global financial crisis hit both economies hard and Mr Adelson's company Las Vegas Sands ran into funding problems. Once ranked the third wealthiest American by Forbes Magazine until the meltdown wiped out a substantial chunk of his fortune, he was forced to inject one billion dollars of his own money into Las Vegas Sands. But the self-made billionaire says the experience accumulated since he first went into business as a 12-year-old will help him put his gaming empire back on a winning streak, and industry analysts are giving him decent odds. 'I intend to rain on critics' parade,' Mr Adelson told a Singapore news conference last week in reference to bleak economic forecasts. 'If we are in the down portion now, we can look forward to going back (up),' he said, describing himself as a 'gut variety, plain vanilla entrepreneur.' Mr Adelson has invested heavily in Asia in recent years, mainly in the southern Chinese territory of Macau, where a pre-crisis gaming boom saw the former Portuguese colony overtake Las Vegas in terms of overall revenue. One industry analyst said Mr Adelson may have taken huge risks in pursuing his Asian expansion - but it might pay off eventually. 'There is no question that the company has for quite some time taken a very strategically aggressive approach to the Asian market place,' said Jonathan Galaviz, a partner with Nevada-based consultancy Globalysis. 'Yet at the same time, one has to have respect for that because the Asian market place is going to be the growth place for the next 10-20 years.' The Asian Development Bank says the region's economic slowdown appears to have touched bottom and it is likely to be the first to climb out of the global slump, although some analysts warn that threats to sustainable growth persist. -- AFP 10 July 2009 The Straits Times Marina IR delay 'no surprise' TOURISM players say the signs that there would be a delay in the opening of the Marina Bay Sands integrated resort (IR) were visible: Construction at the site was proceeding slower than it should have been. They said the fact that work had not started on its 1.2ha rooftop garden - which has to be lifted 200m into place - with less than half a year left to the opening was a massive hurdle to overcome. Said CIMB-GK economist Song Seng Wun: 'Anyone who has driven by could have seen it's impossible.' Mr Song and others, however, said the delayed opening would not have much of an impact, given the sorry state of the industry right now. This year has been a write-off as far as tourism arrivals are concerned, they said, and whatever boost a year-end opening of the IR would have given would have been minimal. Las Vegas Sands' chairman and chief executive officer Sheldon Adelson said on Wednesday that the IR's opening would be pushed back to January or February. The admission came after months of assurances by Marina Bay Sands' other executives that the 2,600-room casino-resort would open by the year end, as scheduled. But while industry observers and agents contacted by The Straits Times say they saw a delay coming, they said the explanation given for it - that there was a shortage of materials and labour - was puzzling. The Building and Construction Authority, for example, said it had not received any feedback from the industry about a shortage of raw materials. Asked about the impact of the delay yesterday, Senior Minister of State for Trade and Industry S.Iswaran would only say that tourism has been hit by the slump like other industries, and that the spread of H1N1 flu 'sort of exacerbated that some'. He added that the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) and other government agencies were in talks with the IR over the matter and 'we expect to have a good outcome'. 10 July 2009 The Star Genting S’pore casino set to open before rival PETALING JAYA: Genting Singapore’s Resorts World at Sentosa (RWS) is in a good position to pull ahead of Las Vegas Sands?Marina Bay Sands (MBS) in the race to open the first casino in Singapore following a delay in the MBS project, analysts said. MBS has delayed its soft launch to early 2010 from the original deadline of end-2009 due to a shortage of labour and materials, according to media reports. HwangDBS Vickers Research, in its latest report, said with RWS on track for a targeted soft launch in January 2010 to catch the Chinese New Year (CNY) peak season, it was possible that RWS would open first. This is despite RWS having started later, as it was awarded the project in December 2006 while MBS received its approval in May the same year, it noted. Kenanga Research said in a company update report that RWS was likely to gear up construction works in order to open before MBS. The research house said that as at March 31, RWS had already awarded about S$4.67bil worth of works out of the S$6.59bil project cost. “Installation of various fun equipment in Universal Studios has begun while testing and commissioning is scheduled to begin in October,?it noted. Analysts expect RWS to gain from “first-mover?advantage should it open its integrated resort ahead of MBS, noting that Singapore residents are required by the government to pay an entrance fee of S$100 per day or S$2,000 per year to the casino. The annual pass is exclusive to one casino only, so the first integrated resort to open will have the advantage of locking in Singaporean patrons early, according to HwangDBS Vickers Research. An analyst with a foreign brokerage said RWS was very likely to open in early first quarter next year and lock in more local and foreign casino patrons, especially those from China, during the Chinese New Year festive season. “Whoever opens first will get the first batch of patrons to sign up to be its customer for one year, as seasoned punters will likely sign up for the annual passes,?he told StarBiz. “Normally, people will get excited with something new but after a while, they will go for what they really want,?he added. RWS is ready for the opening in the first quarter next year as everything, including construction, is on track while funding for the project is intact, according to the analyst. “RWS would submit its application for casino licence in this quarter (third quarter). “Probably it can get the approval before the fourth quarter this year if everything goes smoothly,?he continued. Another analyst, who declined to be named, agreed that RWS would get first-mover advantage if it opened first, but it would be just an initial gain. She said RWS had a different target market from MBS, noting that “RWS would attract more family persons with its theme park facilities.?br> Resorts World at Sentosa Pte Ltd is the developer of a 49ha integrated resort on Singapore’s Sentosa island. The company will own and operate all key attractions at the resort, which houses six hotels, a casino, Universal Studios Singapore, The Marine Life Park, the Maritime Experiential Museum and the Equarius Water Park. Resorts World at Sentosa is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Genting Singapore, a leisure and gaming company listed on the main board of the Singapore Exchange. Genting Bhd owns a direct stake of 54.4% in Genting Singapore. 9 July 2009 Channel NewsAsia Government in talks with Marina Bay Sands over delay SINGAPORE: The Singapore government is currently in talks with Marina Bay Sands over the integrated resort's announced delay. Another issue is a possible staff shortage as observers note Singaporeans tend to shy away from the gaming industry. The Marina Bay Sands integrated resort's opening has been pushed back to early next year. But with contractual obligations and Singapore's tourism sector at stake, the government is working with Sands to find a solution. Senior Minister of State, Trade and Industry, S Iswaran, said: "If there is a contractual obligation and if there is a deviation, then I think both parties must agree that it is on a mutually agreed basis. So STB and other government agencies are in discussions with them and we expect to have a good outcome." The minister declined to comment on whether there would be any penalties imposed on Marina Bay Sands for the delay. Staffing problems could also add to it as Singaporeans generally seem to be avoiding gaming jobs. Ang Hin Kee, CEO, Employment and Employability Institute, said: "Not as many people have come forward because when we ask them, they say, 'Don't you need training, don't you need to learn how to do this job?' So they are a little bit conservative even though you don't need prior experience to do these jobs. But people are a bit hesitant." Experts also said that there is an issue of familiarity with the industry in Singapore. Unlike Macau for example, where everyone knows what the gaming industry is about, in Singapore, there is a lack of family or friends who are currently working in that business for people to talk to to find out more. Observers said the rotating nature of the shift is another reason why some applicants are shunning the sector. However, non-gaming sector jobs at the IRs like retail have seen plenty of applicants. 9 July 2009 PR Newswire LVS Reconfirms Singapore Opening Timeline Las Vegas Sands Corp. (NYSE: LVS) Chairman Sheldon G. Adelson and other senior executives yesterday celebrated the topping off of the three hotel towers at the company's Marina Bay Sands property in Singapore. This statement is being issued to clarify any ambiguities concerning the property's opening date that might have resulted from the question and answer period with the media following the event: "The company has said on previous occasions that it is targeting an early 2010 opening for its Marina Bay Sands integrated resort in Singapore. That plan remains the same, and although we do not have an exact date, we are making every effort to open the property by February 15, 2010. The company is working closely with the Singapore government to confirm the opening date and to finalize an opening plan for each of the development's various attractions. While we wish construction scheduling would have allowed us to open by the end of 2009, we strongly believe that if things remain according to plan, Phase I of the property, which will include approximately 1,000 hotel rooms, the casino, the bulk of the MICE facilities, a variety of restaurants, and 50 percent of the retail space, will open some time between the last week of January and the last week of February. Phase II which includes the remainder of the hotel rooms and retail space, and the Sands Skypark(TM) would open by the end of April 2010. Phase III, which features the remainder of the attractions, including the theatres and museum, will open throughout the rest of the year. 8 July 2009 Agence France-Presse Singapore delay hits Las Vegas Sands The opening of Singapore's first casino has been put back several months due to shortages of labor and materials, the chairman of developer Las Vegas Sands said. Sheldon Adelson said Marina Bay Sands will open early next year for its initial phase, after being originally slotted to welcome its first visitors by the end of this year. ''The opening date we seriously anticipate will be in January or February,'' Adelson said at a ceremony marking the finishing of construction of the development's three 55-storey hotel towers. ''We can't control the flow of sand to make concrete with, we can't control the availability of steel ... and we can't control the availability of labor due to other projects that are in the market,'' he said. Las Vegas Sands said in March that at least half of the casino complex, located in Singapore's financial district, would start commercial operations by the end of this year. Adelson put the total cost of the development at S$8 billion (HK$42.9 billion). Marina Bay Sands, pictured in May together with artist's concept, is Singapore's first casino project to be awarded, in 2006. As well as gaming, the complex will include hotel, convention, luxury retail and performing arts facilities. A second casino, Resorts World at Sentosa, is scheduled to open in phases also starting early next year and will feature the world's biggest oceanarium with 700,000 fish and a Universal Studios theme park. Singapore in 2005 gave the approval for casinos to be developed in a bid to draw more visitors to the city-state, whose main attractions are shopping, dining, night life and animal parks. 8 July 2009 PR Newswire Marina Bay Sands in Singapore Tops Out Hotel Towers SINGAPORE, Marina Bay Sands(TM), a subsidiary of Las Vegas Sands Corp. (NYSE: LVS), announced today that it has topped out the three 55-story hotel towers, a major milestone in a striking and iconic project to bring Singapore a premier integrated resort. The company's senior executives celebrated the occasion with an event that attracted approximately 120 regional and local media as well as members of the Singapore government, the construction team, and other distinguished guests. Las Vegas Sands Corp.'s Chairman, Mr. Sheldon G. Adelson, who came to Singapore for the event, said "Topping the hotel towers at Marina Bay Sands is a milestone in an exciting construction and engineering project. We're pleased to be another step closer to delivering on our promise to Singapore and we remain committed to creating the landmark, premier integrated resort in Southeast Asia." The architects and construction managers employed industry-leading construction solutions on their way to the 55th story. The construction team had to use steel trusses to link the east and west legs of each tower about half way up and used innovative methods to seal the atriums in each of the three towers and in-between them. After the steel trusses were in place, the team was able to build one new hotel floor every four days, an unprecedented pace for skyscraper construction in Singapore. Marina Bay Sands will be a unique destination in the region. It will be home to the Sands SkyPark(TM) and the Museum, that symbolizes the 'welcoming hand of Singapore', packaged together as part of a world-class integrated resort nestled in the heart of the city's Central Business District and the ever-expanding tourism and entertainment district at Marina Bay. The Sands SkyPark is the next critical phase of construction. The contractor will hoist the 7,000-ton structure 200 meters to the top of the towers using technology usually used in building bridges. The process of lifting each of many individual sections can take a full day. When it is completed, the Sands SkyPark will be longer horizontally than the Eiffel Tower is tall and will be the largest cantilevered public observation deck in the world. Work on the interior and exterior of the hotel towers is well underway and the roof is taking shape on the Sands Expo & Convention Centre and on the casino. Other areas are progressing well. Mr. George Tanasijevich, General Manager and Vice President of Singapore Development, Marina Bay Sands Pte Ltd, said "Marina Bay Sands will be a magnificent destination, with world-class entertainment, convention facilities, dining, shopping, Las Vegas-style gaming, and a luxury hotel. It will transform the skyline and bolster Singapore's image as the city for business and leisure tourists to visit again and again". "Over the next few months, we will unveil a range of luxury brand shops, celebrity chef restaurants and world-class entertainment for Marina Bay Sands. There will truly be something for everyone," Mr. Tanasijevich said. When completed, Marina Bay Sands will feature large and flexible convention and exhibition facilities, approximately 2,600 luxury hotel rooms and suites, the breathtaking rooftop Sands SkyPark, a museum, Las Vegas-style gaming, the Paiza Club for premium players, theatres, entertainment, an outdoor event plaza, and unparalleled shopping and dining. 6 July 2009 The Business Times Singapore puts forth effort to keep new casinos crime free Seminar trains Singapore police officers for unique crimes investigation in gaming industry THE success of the upcoming casinos at the integrated resorts hinges on whether they can be kept free of criminal influence, says Law Minister K Shanmugam, who is also second Minister for Home Affairs. To this end, the Casino Regulatory Authority (CRA) and the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the Singapore Police Force have joined hands to organise a two day training symposium, starting yesterday, for more than 200 of their officers. Themed Casino Regulation and Enforcement: Strengthening Collaboration, Enhancing Preparedness, the symposium features various presentations by speakers from casino jurisdictions and foreign law enforcement agencies, as well as workshops on table games and casino scams and counter measures, to expose officers to different aspects of the gaming industry. Among the list of invited speakers are representatives from the Nevada Gaming Control Board and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Speaking at the opening of the symposium, Mr Shanmugam emphasised the importance of training opportunities that prepare home team officers for the challenges ahead, as 'the IRs are potential targets, not just for criminals, but also for terrorists'. 'Our robust frameworks and varied experiences must translate to safety, security, law and order on the ground. To achieve this, frontline forces and domain owners need to be attuned to the operating environment in and around the IRs as a whole,' he added. The symposium also comprises an educational exhibition, which features various electronic gaming and table machines, aimed at giving viewers an appreciation of the technology involved in the gaming industry. Said CID director, senior assistant commissioner Ng Boon Gay: 'The CRA and CID collaboration will be a long lasting one and this joint training symposium is only just the beginning.' 1 July 2009 The Straits Times Gearing up for casino   The authorities continue to gear up for the opening of Singapore's first casino with the an inaugural training symposium which opened on Wednesday.  THE authorities continue to gear up for the opening of Singapore's first casino with the an inaugural training symposium which opened on Wednesday. The symposium, set for two days, gathers various overseas casino experts here to share their experiences in casino regulation and enforcement. Some 200 participants are from the Casino Regulatory Authority (CRA), Criminal Investigation Department (CID) and other Home Team agencies. Minister for Law and Second Minister for Home Affairs K Shanmugam, in his opening address, said the integrated resorts (IR) pose a new challenge for Singapore. 'We are very good at the effective regulation of our financial sector. However, the casinos bring with them a whole variety of related problems and pose an operational paradigm challenge even for police officers who are generally used to dealing with people who are law abiding,' he said. He noted that the CRA and CID are making good progress in the lead-up to the casinos' opening. For example, the CRA is putting in place its regulatory regime, which includes protocols to prevent money laundering. Meanwhile, the police will be setting up a new Marina Bay neighbourhood police centre (NPC) to oversee the Marina Bay IR. The existing Bukit Merah West NPC will oversee the Sentosa IR. Apart from the symposium, CRA officers have also attended conferences to learn from overseas regulators. CID officers have also participated in Project ACES, an Interpol crime project set up to combat casino-centric organised crime in Asia and the South Pacific. 'This vibrant industry is new to all of us and we have collectively much to learn within a short timeframe,' said Mr T Raja Kumar, the CRA's chief executive. 1 July 2009 Channel NewsAsia Training for officers sharply ramped up as IRs' opening draws near SINGAPORE: Training for enforcement officers is being sharply ramped up as the opening of the two integrated resorts draws nearer. Law Minister K Shanmugam also said on Wednesday that the Casino Regulatory Authority and Criminal Investigation Department have made good progress in preparing to deal with casino-related challenges. All cards in the casinos will be mechanically shuffled to prevent fraud. After each baccarat game, the cards will also be destroyed since players would have had a chance to mark them. In addition, slot machine payouts will not be in the form of tokens. Instead, a bar-coded cash-out voucher will be issued for greater security. The machines which will be used in the two integrated resorts will have to be sent to the Casino Regulatory Authority (CRA) for testing to ensure that they comply with regulatory guidelines. The CRA is also developing protocols to screen key casino employees, associates and junket operators. As Singapore has no experience in this field, law enforcement officers have been serving attachments with police in Australia, Las Vegas, Macau and Malaysia. Currently, international experts from several countries are also in Singapore to share their expertise at a training symposium for officers. Law Minister and Second Minister for Home Affairs K Shanmugam, said: "The IRs pose a paradigm challenge because we have been very good with dealing with MNCs, banks, people who obey the law. We regulate fairly effectively in the financial services sector. "But when it comes to casinos, I think by definition, you bring a whole variety of related problems which are inherent and part of the operations." There will be satellite offices located within the casinos which will be manned 24/7 by CID and CRA officers. Besides this, a new Marina Bay Neighbourhood Police Centre will be set up to oversee the Marina Bay IR, while the Bukit Merah West Neighbourhood Police Centre will oversee the Sentosa IR. Mr Shanmugam reminded the officers that the IRs are potential targets, not just for criminals but also for terrorists. 30 June 2009 The Straits Times IRs snap up casino-course students Sceptical eyebrows were raised when private schools rolled out casino-related courses in the lead-up to the opening of the two integrated resorts (IRs), the first of which opens at the end of this year. The naysayers pointed out that casinos elsewhere provide in-house training. But Singaporeans who betted on such courses to help them land jobs at the two IRs are being snapped up. And at least five private schools offering such courses are seeing a boom in enrolment numbers. In just the last six months, about 250 people have enrolled in vocational casino school International Club Games Training Centre (ICG) for three- and five-month-long courses. Since it started in 2006, the school has been getting about 300 students a year. At ERC Institute, enrolment for its year-long tourism and hospitality sector courses, which have modules in casino management, went up from 400 in 2007 to 600 last year. As for the EASB East Asia Institute of Management, enrolment in its 30-month-long casino-related courses jumped by up to 50 per cent to 500 students this year. Said EASB's head of school, Dr Eric Lim: 'People are getting increasingly interested in casino programmes.' The private schools started offering casino courses, costing thousands of dollars, in 2007. Eager students signed up, hoping that their newfound knowledge would land them jobs at the IRs. But industry observers were sceptical, noting that casinos elsewhere preferred to train new recruits in their 'house styles'. But the schools are having the last laugh. The five The Sunday Times spoke to said most of their students have landed jobs as dealers and dealer inspectors at the IRs. Dealer inspectors ensure that there is no cheating at the tables, and manage the dealers, among other duties. ICG head Ramachandar Siva said about 900 of his students have secured positions at the two IRs. Seven of the 14 students who took casino-related courses at the School D'Hospitality (SD'H) have already been offered dealer positions at the IRs, said director Yeh Choy Yan. Mr Wester Lim, 29, a former auxiliary police officer who took a course at SD'H, said: 'The interviewers asked specific questions on calculating chip change and when I answered correctly, that probably impressed them.' He has landed a job as a dealer at one of the IRs. Marina Bay Sands (MBS) and Resorts World at Sentosa spokesmen said they view applicants who have attended prior training in the sector as having shown commitment. But they added that they will still hire applicants with no gaming background and provide training for them. MBS is now offering letters of intent to more than 1,000 Singaporeans for jobs as dealers, dealer inspectors and pit supervisors. Pit supervisors manage pit personnel and make sure there is no cheating. Both IRs still have thousands of positions to fill. Of the first batch hired by MBS, all are Singaporeans and 80 per cent are between 20 and 40 years old. Nearly two-thirds are male. At ICG, where 47 per cent of its students are females, most are aged between 21 and 32. Almost 60 per cent are diploma or degree holders. Most of its 1,200 students are local, with many already holding jobs. 'They are looking for a career switch to a job that's more satisfying,' said Mr Ramachandar. 'Casinos often offer better salary packages and career prospects.' Retired chief steward Alex Chua, 58, decided a second career in the gaming industry would keep his mind active. He took a five-month course in casino floor management at ICG last year. Now, he has secured a job as a dealer at one of the IRs. 'It's similar to my airline job where the aim is to provide good service,' said Mr Chua. 'It's a challenging environment to work in. I don't want to retire and be bored.' 29 June 2009 Macau Daily Times Las Vegas Sands Singapore project near completion The Marina Bay Sands resort hotel and casino in Singapore has reached a milestone as the three towers that make up the project have reached their final floor of construction two weeks earlier than expected. The 5.4 billion dollar project will have 2500 rooms which are expected to be completed towards the end of this year. The resort will include 1.23 million square feet of convention and exhibition floor space, an art and science museum, two amphitheatres and 300 shops. The top floor of the three towers will have a cover on which a sky-park, spanning the three towers will house three swimming pools, several restaurants and bars as well as gardens and a spectacular viewpoint. The Las Vegas Sands (LVS) group, lead by Sheldon Adelson, said that the resort will be completed next year, however didn’t specify an exact date. LVS?Singapore achievements are a contrast to its currently idle Cotai projects which have seen construction on phases five and six including the Shangri-La, Sheraton, Traders and St. Regis hotels, come to a halt. The subsequent mass firings on the sites sparked ire from Macau residents who have attempted to block the gaming giant selling off its current holdings to finance projects abroad. However LVS have commented that they are hopeful of a recommencement of construction on the stalled projects within the year. 26 June 2009 The Straits Times 60% of IR will be ready Casino and theme park to open in first quarter; fewer visitors expected due to tough economy Construction of the 49ha integrated resort on Sentosa is ongoing. When it opens early next year, the casino, the university Studios theme park, the theatre, four hotels as well as the retail and dining area are expected to be ready, but not other facilities such as the oceanarium. THE Sentosa integrated resort (IR) is all set to throw open its doors in the first quarter of next year - but visitors will not get to see the finished product. When the resort opens, just 60 per cent of it will be ready: four hotels, the casino, the Universal Studios theme park, the theatre and the retail and dining area. Construction of the other attractions at the 49ha resort - including the world's largest oceanarium, a marine museum and two more hotels - will begin next year and is slated for completion by 2012. Giving an update on the progress of the IR yesterday, Resorts World at Sentosa (RWS) executive vice-president of projects Michael Chin said some 80 per cent of construction for the first phase of the resort has been completed. What remain to be done are exterior works and outfitting the rides for the theme park. This should be completed by August. After that, the resort will be testing the rides and other amenities, and getting staff up to speed on operations. Asked about prices for the rides, the resort's head of communications Krist Boo declined to give details. But she said that charges would be kept 'affordable' and that they would be competitive when compared with other theme parks. She added that prices would be comparable and likely cheaper, dollar-for-dollar, than those at Universal Studios' other parks in Orlando and Osaka, where day passes go for US$70 (S$100) and 6,000 yen (S$90), respectively. Ms Boo acknowledged that there are some clouds on the horizon for the IR. Because of the tough economic times, the resort would have to slash its visitor forecast for the first year from 15 million to 12 million, she said. 26 June 2009 The Straits Times Strap me in and shoot me off Lim Wei Chean says Resorts World at Sentosa is shaping up nicely WHAT a difference 27 months has made. The first time I visited the Resorts World at Sentosa work site was shortly after it broke ground in April 2007. All I saw then was a huge muddy crater in the ground. It looked like what I pictured would happen after a close encounter with a meteorite. In the last 27 months, I've visited the site at various stages and I must admit, every time, it just looked just like what it was: A busy construction site with more than 6,500 workers hard at work. It was hard to find all those cranes, metal, concrete and mud beautiful or exciting. But the site that I saw on Thursday was quite different. The hotel's framework is up at Resorts World at Sentosa. The hotel towers were all up, the rides were beginning to take shape. Things were looking good. Yes, it was still muddy and the pretty facades have not gone up yet on the building. But, this was when I began to look forward to the opening. For I saw things that I might enjoy. The finishing touches were put in place for the dark ride in the attraction named Revenge of the Mummy. The stage for the Waterworld Stunt Show is coming along nicely. We caught a back-of-house view of where the various props, including a sea plane, would enter. The thing that excited me the most was the duelling roller coaster with two options ?red for the relatively more timid, a regular roller coaster and blue for that one that will head for the other coaster after taking one too many 360-degree spins and leaves one’s feet dangling in the air. I wish they were done already. Strap me in and shoot me off. 26 June 2009 The Star Genting Singapore casino set to open early next year SINGAPORE: Genting Singapore Plc, partly owned by Asia’s biggest casino operator, said its S$6.6bil resort in Singapore is on track to open in early 2010 Resorts World, the Genting Singapore unit building the casino, was targeting to open the first phase in February or March, Michael Chin, executive vice-president of projects at the subsidiary, told reporters yesterday on Sentosa island near Singapore. “All efforts will be made to open as early as possible,?he said in an interview. About 60% of the project would be ready for the so-called “soft opening?early next year, the company said yesterday in a statement. It is one of two casino resorts the government has allowed to be built in the city-state as part of its goal to lure 17 million tourists and triple annual tourism revenue to S$30bil by 2015. The company will start building the remainder of the resort, comprising two hotels, a maritime museum and a water theme park, in early 2010. Construction would take two years, Chin said. Construction costs comprise S$4.6bil of the total S$6.6bil, and the company holds a cost review meeting once every two weeks to ensure it is sticking to the budget, according to Chin. Resorts World also has a “conservative?target that every visitor will spend three to four days at the development. ?Bloomberg “You can easily afford a five-day family retreat,?he said. Once the resort is completely open, the company targets a minimum of 15 million visitors a year. 26 June 2009 The Straits Times Company fined over death  A CONSTRUCTION company was fined $100,000 on Friday over a fatal accident at Marina Bay Sands integrated resort project early last year. A representative of Lian Beng Construction, the occupier of the worksite, pleaded guilty on its behalf to failing to ensure that the workplace was safe and without risks to every person within the premises on Jan 16 last year. The company had failed to ensure that a brick wall was not backfilled, which resulted in the death of China construction worker Xie Xu Han, 39, that day. Lian Beng, contracted to build the sub-structure for three hotel towers at the Marina Bayfront Avenue worksite, engaged subcontractor Soon Li Heng Civil Engineering to carry out the earthworks. The fatal accident occurred at the basement where a gravity wall was to be erected to demarcate and separate the work areas. A brick wall - with no support and backfilled with earth - was erected as the formwork for the gravity wall. It caved in on Mr Xie as he was walking past it. He died about an hour later of multiple fractures. In the same court, Soon Li Heng's then foreman, Pitchai Alagarsamy, 40, an Indian national, was fined $800 for failing to prevent the brick wall from being backfilled. He pleaded guilty. Investigation showed that a few hours before the accident, Alagarsamy had seen the brick formwork being backfilled with earth when he had been told not to do so. Under the Workplace Safety and Health Act, the company could have been fined up to $500,000. Alagarsamy could have been fined up to $1,000 for failing to co-operate with the occupier. 25 June 2009 PR Newswire Construction of Marina Bay Sands Hotel Towers Reaches Final Floor Construction of the Marina Bay Sands(TM) high-rise hotel towers has reached the top floors ahead of a ceremony on July 8, when Las Vegas Sands Corp. (NYSE: LVS) will formally celebrate the completion of the three 55-story hotel towers. When fully completed, the three hotel towers will feature more than 2,500 luxury hotel rooms and suites. "We are certainly excited to have reached the top floor of the hotel towers and on July 8 we hope all Singaporeans will join us as we celebrate another milestone in the development of this iconic resort and come one step closer to opening the doors and showing it off to the rest of the world," said Sheldon G. Adelson, the company's chairman and chief executive officer. Mr. Adelson, who will be in Singapore for the ceremonial event, said that after the topping off is completed the next step in the construction process will be placing the one hectare SkyPark on top of the three hotel towers. The Sky Park, which will sit more than 650 feet off the ground, is currently being fabricated offsite and will need 14 separate lifts to get all of its pieces atop the hotel towers. When opened, the SkyPark will feature three swimming pools, several restaurants and bars, extensive landscaped gardens, and stunning views of the Singapore skyline. Marina Bay Sands will also feature approximately 1.25 million square feet of meeting and convention facilities, two world-class theatres, expansive shopping and entertainment options, restaurants from the world's top celebrity chefs, and an Arts and Exhibition museum. Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements that are made pursuant to the Safe Harbor Provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements involve a number of risks, uncertainties or other factors beyond the company's control, which may cause material differences in actual results, performance or other expectations. These factors include, but are not limited to, general economic conditions, competition, new ventures, substantial leverage and debt service, government regulation, legalization of gaming, interest rates, future terrorist acts, insurance, gaming junket operators, risks relating to our Macao gaming concession, infrastructure in Macao and other factors detailed in the reports filed by Las Vegas Sands Corp. with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date thereof. Las Vegas Sands Corp. assumes no obligation to update such information. ABOUT LAS VEGAS SANDS CORP. Las Vegas Sands Corp. (NYSE: LVS) is the leading international developer of multi-use integrated resorts. The Las Vegas, Nevada-based company owns and operates The Venetian Resort-Hotel-Casino, The Palazzo Resort-Hotel-Casino, and the Sands Expo and Convention Center in Las Vegas and the Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem(TM) in Eastern Pennsylvania. The company also owns and operates The Venetian Macao Resort-Hotel and the Sands Macao in the People's Republic of China (PRC) Special Administrative Region of Macao. In addition, LVS owns the Four Seasons Hotel Macao and is also developing the Marina Bay Sands(TM) integrated resort in Singapore. LVS is also creating the Cotai Strip(R), a master-planned development of resort-casino properties in Macao. At completion, the Cotai Strip will feature approximately 21,000 rooms from world-renowned hotel brands such as St. Regis, Sheraton, Shangri-La, Traders, Hilton, Conrad, Fairmont, Raffles, Holiday Inn, and InterContinental. Contacts: Investment Community: Daniel Briggs (702) 414-1221 Media: Ron Reese (702) 414-3607 SOURCE Las Vegas Sands Corp. 25 June 2009 Las Vegas Sun Las Vegas Sands finishes towers at Singapore project   Las Vegas Sands has completed its three 55-story hotel towers at Marina Bay Sands in Singapore nearly two weeks ahead of schedule, the company announced today. Sands will formally celebrate the topping off its $5.4 billion resort July 8. Sands CEO Sheldon Adelson said the next step in the construction process will be placing the two-acre SkyPark on top the of the three hotel towers. The SkyPark will feature three swimming pools, several restaurants and bars, landscaped gardens and an observation deck. Las Vegas Sands said most of the 2,500-room resort will be completed by the end of the year. In addition to gambling space, Marina Bay Sands will include an estimated 1.25 million square feet of meeting and convention space, an art and science museum, two theaters and 300 retail shops. The company said the resort would be complete sometime next year. The Marina Bay Sands in Singapore is among the few sites that Sands has continued construction on since the company hit financial turmoil last fall. Sands halted construction on projects in Macau last November, laying off as many as 11,000 workers, but officials said in April that Sands hopes to resume construction sometime this year. Las Vegas Sands opened its newest casino in Bethlehem, Pa. last month. The $743 million Sands Bethlehem debuted will 3,000 slots and four restaurants. The Associated Press contributed to this report. 25 June 2009 LA Times Singapore's Resorts World cuts 2010 arrivals forecast, eyes first quarter open SINGAPORE (AP) ?Singapore's Resorts World, which plans to open Southeast Asia's first Universal Studios theme park early next year, has slashed its 2010 visitor forecasts in the face of a global economic downturn. The resort, which will also feature four hotels and a casino when it opens in the first quarter, expects to see as few as 12 million visitors next year, down from an initial forecast in 2007 of 15 million, Resorts World spokeswoman Krist Boo said Thursday. The project's cost has jumped 27 percent to 6.6 billion Singapore dollars ($4.5 billion) over the last two years because of more expensive construction materials and a redesign of the park. The resort, which broke ground in April 2007, plans to open two more hotels, the world's largest oceanarium, a water park and maritime museum over the next two years on 49 hectares (121 acres) of Sentosa island ?a quarter mile off Singapore's southern coast. Boo declined to comment on revenue estimates, but said that the company lowered its expected investment rate of return to between 12 percent and 13 percent from a previous forecast of 15 percent. "There have been some revisions to the revenue numbers," Boo said. "What we think will decrease is spending per visitor." Singapore, which is suffering through its worst recession since splitting from Malaysia in 1965, is hoping Resorts World and the Marina Bay Sands hotel and casino ?due to open by the end of this year ?will help revive an ailing tourism sector. Resorts World also hasn't filled some of its retail space yet, Boo said. "To be honest, the retail landscape is a little challenging," she said. The number of tourist visitors to Singapore fell 12 percent to 3 million during the first four months of this year from the same period a year ago. The Singapore Tourist Board said earlier this year that it expects tourist arrivals to drop to between 9 million and 9.5 million this year from 10.1 million in 2008. Singapore's economy, which relies on exports, finance and tourism, shrank an annualized, seasonally adjusted 14.6 percent in the first quarter, and the government expects gross domestic product to contract as much as 9 percent this year. 25 June 2009 Earth Times Singapore's planned Resorts World at Sentosa expects fewer visitors Singapore - The developer of the multi-billion dollar Resorts World at Singapore's Sentosa island on Thursday said it will have a soft opening early in 2010, but it has scaled down the expected number of visitors due to the global recession. "We will open early 2010," said executive vice president of projects Michael Chin. "The target is first quarter 2010." The integrated Resorts World at Sentosa, which includes South-East Asia's first Universal Studio theme park, a casino, the Marine Life Park and six hotels with a total of about 1,800 rooms, was originally expected to attract 15 million visitors in its first year of operation. But with the worldwide economic downturn the resort developers now expect 12-13 million visitors in 2010, said spokeswoman Krist Boo. The project, with a total investment of 6.59 billion Singapore dollars (4.32 billion US dollars), is being developed by Genting International, the overseas investment arm of Malaysia's Genting Group, which operates resorts in different parts of the world. Resorts World at Sentosa will become the second casino in the city-state. The first was awarded to Las Vegas Sands for its multi-billion dollar Marina Bay Sands, a triple tower with convention and entertainment facilities in the heart of Singapore's financial district. Marina Bay Sands, costing an estimated 5.5 billion US dollars, is scheduled to open in December. For Resort Worlds at Sentosa, about 60 per cent of the 49-hectare resort will start operation with the soft opening, with the Marine Life Park and some of the hotels opening later, Michael Chin said. 23 June 2009 PRNewswire GPI(TM) to Supply Casino Currency to Marina Bay Sands(TM) Singapore's first casino to open with over 2 million B&G(TM) chips Gaming Partners International Corporation (Nasdaq: GPIC), a leading provider of casino currency and table game equipment worldwide, announced today that it has signed an agreement with the Marina Bay Sands Resort & Casino in Singapore to provide the property with all of its casino chips. Under this agreement, GPI will provide over 2 million casino chips to the casino for its opening in late 2009. The chips, which are from the Company's Bourgogne & Grasset (B&G) line of casino currency products, will contain many state-of-the-art security features and customized designs. The Marina Bay Sands, an affiliate of Las Vegas Sands Corporation (NYSE: LVS), is currently under construction at Marina South in central Singapore. The luxury resort complex will feature a Las Vegas-style casino, complete with private gaming lounges. GPI is providing the casino chips for its nearly 1000 gaming tables. This order marks the third Las Vegas Sands Corporation property to open in Asia with GPI's currency products. GPI has previously supplied casinos chips to the Sands Macau and the Venetian Macau. "The LasVegas Sands Corp. has long been a valued customer to GPI and we are delighted to be supplying the casino chips for its newest property in Singapore," stated Gerard Charlier, CEO and President of GPI. "With the immense popularity of table gaming in southeast Asia, the quality and security of casino currency is of the utmost importance. Our B&G chips offer some of the best security features in the market and we are pleased the Marina Bay Sands will open with GPI products." GPI's lne of B&G casino currency products include high-quality chips, plaques and jetons, all available with a variety of security features and customization options. Manufactured in a secure, high-capacity production facility in France, B&G products have been used in casinos all over the world since 1925. About Gaming Partners International Corporation GPI manufactures and supplies casino table games and equipment to licensed casinos worldwide. Under the brand names of Paulson(R), Bourgogne et Grasset(R) and Bud Jones(R), GPI provides casino currency such as chips, plaques and jetons; gaming furniture and accessories; table layouts; playing cards; dice; and roulette wheels. GPI pioneered the use of security features such as RFID technology in casino chips, and provides RFID solutions including chips, readers and displays. Headquartered in Las Vegas, Nevada, GPI also has offices Beaune, France; San Luis Rio Colorado, Mexico; Atlantic City, New Jersey, and Gulfport Mississippi. For additional information, please visit www.gpigaming.com. 19 June 2009 The Straits Times Hiring at both IRs moves into high gear EVEN as the Marina Bay hotel tower blocks and Sentosa roller-coaster tracks take shape, the human resources departments of the two integrated resorts have swung into high gear. The two attractions need a total of 20,000 employees but the number of applications received is several times that. Marina Bay Sands (MBS) has received 'tens of thousands', and Resorts World at Sentosa (RWS), 'more than 50,000'. MBS said yesterday that so far, it has taken in 200 people in corporate, hotel operations, food and beverage and other areas, and will offer casino positions to over 1,000 workers this week. The latest hires are all Singaporeans, with eight in 10 between 20 and 40 years old. Nearly two-thirds are men. MBS mounted an aggressive recruitment drive, roping in NTUC's skills-based institute e2i to screen the applications. Those among the 1,000 who accept the job offer will need to be individually licensed by the Casino Regulatory Authority. After that, they will be put through a three-month in-house training course to turn them into dealers, dealer inspectors and pit supervisors. Among those offered casino positions are Mr Charles Chia, 26, and Ms Joline Ng, 21. Mr Chia had secured a degree in business administration from the National University of Singapore (NUS) and Ms Ng has a diploma in dance from the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (Nafa), but the recruitment ads for MBS made them consider careers with it. Ms Ng said yesterday: 'It's a blooming industry, and I'd like being a dealer as I'd get to interact directly with customers. It's more than just providing service - it's also entertainment.' About 3,500 casino positions are still available at MBS, including those in areas such as casino finance, player development and surveillance. Other vacancies in non-gaming departments such as security and hotel operations are also still available. Suitable candidates will be identified for these positions in the coming weeks and months as the resort builds up its 'pioneer team', said MBS president Nigel Roberts. Construction of the resort is expected to be completed by year's end. Interested parties may apply for the remaining jobs at http://careers.marinabaysands.com. An MBS spokesman, explaining its 'Singaporeans first' hiring philosophy, said: 'We will turn to an expatriate candidate only if the skill sets cannot be found in local applicants.' Over at RWS, 600 workers have so far been hired across all divisions. Eight in 10 are Singaporeans. Of the 600, 200 are croupiers, but still more are needed. All in, the casino will need over 3,000 gaming employees. The human resources team will have its pick from a big pool - a third of the 50,000 job applications so far received have been for gaming jobs. Its spokesman said those offered such positions will have licenses applied for them. They will also be trained for at least four months, at the end of which they will earn a Workforce Skills Qualification certificate in casino gaming. The first batch will be trained from August. Recruitment will ramp up in the coming months as the resort is on target to open early next year. This article was first published in The Straits Times. 19 June 2009 Channel NewsAsia First gambling exclusion orders to be issued in July SINGAPORE: The first exclusion orders against gambling addicts are expected next month. Between April and end-May, 78 enquiries were received from people looking to ban family members from the two upcoming casinos in Singapore. The Tanjong Pagar Family Service Centre is the first point of contact for those seeking to apply for an exclusion order. These family members are often frustrated with repeated harassment from loansharks and debt problems. Fourteen of these 78 people have since gone ahead with the paperwork for an exclusion order ?five of them are wives seeking to exclude their husbands; another five are parents concerned about their children's gambling habits. The family service centre said some did not proceed with the application as they encountered problems getting the gambler to cooperate, while others were worried about the impact that the order might have on their marriages. In fact, one of the problem gamblers is a minor below the age of 21. The National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG) said as only those 21 and above can enter the casinos, family members were advised to hold off their application until the gambler comes of age. Most of these gamblers are middle-aged Chinese men with at least O-level or polytechnic qualifications. The exclusion order will only prevent problem gamblers from entering the casinos at the two upcoming integrated resorts, but it will not apply to other betting avenues like Singapore Pools and Turf Club. In spite of that, counsellors said having the order is a first step in tackling the issue of problem gambling. Charles Lee, senior counsellor, Tanjong Pagar Family Service Centre, said: "This order certainly gives the family members the empowerment to say, 'We do not want to suffer the consequences of your gambling'. "At the same time, they are also referred to other helping agencies to receive further therapy for their ongoing marital issues, debt issues." The application process involves interviews with both the family member and the gambler, and Mr Lee said being neutral is key to earning the latter's cooperation. "A lot of times, they may be in denial ?that is quite common. That is why, right from the start, we let them know we need to interview both parties to give them time to hear them out," he said. Two cases are due to be heard by a committee later this month. Even after exclusion orders have been served, social workers will continue to work with addicts to help curb their gambling problem. The exclusion orders are not permanent ?problem gamblers and their family members can apply to have the ban lifted, subject to NCPG's assessment. 16 June 2009 The Straits Times Sands hires 1,000 casino staff  Letters of intent were sent out this week to successful applicants, who are all Singaporeans. -- ST  THE first 1,000 casino workers have been hired by Marina Bay Sands, the integrated resort announced on Tuesday. Letters of intent were sent out this week to successful applicants, who are all Singaporeans. About 80 per cent are between 20 and 40 years old, and nearly two-thirds of them are men. The hiring comes after an aggressive recruitment drive conducted by the integrated resort, which roped in NTUC's skills-based institute e2i to help screen applicants. The hired Singaporeans will be dealers, dealer inspectors and pit supervisors. There are still about 3,500 positions available for gaming positions, in areas such as casino finance, player development and surveillance. Marina Bay Sands said it is still welcoming entries for the rest of the vacancies and interested parties can apply at http://careers.marinabaysands.com. In total, the integrated resort will need about 9,000 workers to staff not only the casino but its other attractions. The resort, which is still under construction and is expected to complete by end of this year, will feature a hotel, convention and meeting facilities, a skypark and a museum, besides shopping and dining options. 'In the coming weeks and months, we will identify suitable candidates to fill positions across the property, such as security and hotel operations, in order to enable more Singaporeans to be part of the pioneer team in Marina Bay Sands,' said MBS president Nigel Roberts. The other integrated resort, Resorts World at Sentosa, has also been aggressively recruiting. It announced the hire of its first casino staff in March. 16 June 2009 Channel NewsAsia Singapore's integrated resorts on a hiring spree SINGAPORE : Singapore's integrated resorts are on a hiring spree. Marina Bay Sands said it will be issuing Letters of Intent over the coming weeks to more than a thousand Singaporeans for gaming jobs at its integrated resort. These will be for the posts of dealers, dealer inspectors and pit supervisors. 80 per cent of these recruits are between 20 and 40 years old, and two-thirds are men. Applicants will then be able to apply for individual licences from the Casino Regulatory Authority of Singapore. Some 4,500 positions are available at the Marina Bay Sands for rank-and-file, and supervisory gaming positions in departments like Table Games, Slots, Casino Finance, Player Development and Surveillance. Those interested in positions at Marina Bay Sands can log on to this website. Separately, Resorts World at Sentosa said it has also signed on over 200 new recruits within the past month. They will be filling in the croupier positions. Resorts World said it has received over 50,000 job applications so far. - CNA/ms 15 June 2009 Business Wire ADC Systems Provide Multi-Carrier, Indoor/Outdoor Mobile Service to Resorts World at Sentosa in Singapore ADC (NASDAQ: ADCT) (www.adc.com) today announced that its FlexWave™ Prism distributed antenna systems (DAS) have been selected to provide strong and pervasive mobile coverage for all facilities at Singapore’s Sentosa Island resorts. Deployment will begin immediately and will be completed in time for the resorts?grand opening in 2010. These products as well as ADC’s entire wireless portfolio will be displayed in Booth 4B1-10 at the CommunicAsia 2009 Exhibition and Conference in Singapore from June 16-19. The new 49-hectare Resorts World at Sentosa will include six theme hotels, a Universal Studios theme park, the Marine Life Park, the Maritime Experiential Museum, and the Equarius Water Park. The challenge was to provide high-quality mobile voice and data services to all parts of the island’s resort and inside its buildings. This project marks the first-ever collaboration with NCS, a leading IT and communications engineering service provider in the Asia-Pacific region. NCS and ADC will design, supply, build and integrate the solution for Resorts World at Sentosa. The solution delivers multi-carrier coverage with a single set of compact radio units that are connected via ADC’s patented digital fiber optic technology to mobile telcos?base station hotels. The mobile network at Resorts World is a shared infrastructure for MobileOne, StarHub, SingTel Mobile and GRID Communications. This project is being primed by MobileOne on behalf of the other three Singapore mobile telcos. ADC’s solution includes 46 FlexWave Prism remote units, which will each support four different mobile frequencies (iDEN, GSM, DCS, and UMTS), ensuring high-quality voice and data services for resort staff and guests. The FlexWave Prism remote units will link to two base station hotels on the resort that will provide the signal sources for the carriers involved in the project. Unlike other outdoor solutions, Prism saves space, is quick to deploy, and blends into the environment. “Our FlexWave Prism solution was designed precisely for such applications as the expansive, new resort facilities on Sentosa because it supports multiple carriers over a large area ?both indoor and outdoor ?with a relatively small investment in equipment and deployment services?said Derek Paton, director of Asia-Pacific sales for ADC. “As carriers migrate more of their networks to provide 3G and 4G services worldwide, we believe that precision coverage systems like FlexWave Prism will be an important part of the solution.? About ADC Network Solutions ADC’s Network Solutions Business Unit offers products that deliver high-performance wireless coverage and capacity to business and consumer subscribers in any indoor or outdoor location. ADC is the global leader in advanced in-building wireless solutions and compact network systems, and is a leader in solutions that enhance coverage in macro networks. About ADC ADC provides the connections for wireline, wireless, cable, broadcast, and enterprise networks around the world. ADC's innovative network infrastructure equipment and professional services enable high-speed Internet, data, video, and voice services to residential, business and mobile subscribers. ADC (NASDAQ: ADCT) has sales into more than 130 countries. Learn more about ADC at www.adc.com. 8 June 2009 Communiqué de presse Singapore’s Resorts World at Sentosa selects Alcatel-Lucent to deploy a full suite of communications services Ted Leonsis appointed as member of Alcatel-Lucent Board’s Technology Committee Hospitality network to support S$6.59 billion integrated mega resort project Alcatel-Lucent (Euronext Paris and NYSE: ALU) today announced that it has been chosen by Resorts World at Sentosa (RWS) as its strategic partner for IP Telephony network at the 49-hectare integrated resort on Singapore's holiday island of Sentosa. Alcatel-Lucent will provide RWS with a full suite of telephony services including a state-of-the art IP telephony system, unified communications for staff and guests, and contact centre solutions. The solution will start to be deployed in the second quarter of 2009. “We were looking for a long-term partner, not just an immediate equipment provider,?said Mr Yap Chee Yuen, Senior Vice President of Information Technology for Resorts World at Sentosa. “We chose Alcatel-Lucent for its broad product, services expertise as well as global presence. We are confident that Alcatel-Lucent understands our objectives and can support us in achieving our vision to become a leading family holiday destination.? RWS is a S$6.59 billion integrated resort, developed by Genting Singapore. The Resort will feature Southeast Asia’s first and only Universal Studios Singapore, the world’s largest oceanarium - the Marine Life Park, a maritime museum, a water theme park, six hotels of varying themes, and a myriad of entertainment, shopping and dining options. When open in early 2010, RWS will not only be an exciting family destination, it will also have a sophisticated hospitality telephony system that will have more than 3,000 phones installed into 1,800 hotel guest rooms spread across six properties. An estimated 2,000 staff and administrators will also be plugged into this vital backbone, enabling smooth communications across the vast grounds of the integrated resort. Key elements of the Alcatel-Lucent solution for RWS include: The Alcatel-Lucent Hotel Link (AHL) solution that allows a centralized link to the property management system for cost effective management of multiple hotel properties Military-grade encryption security for IP voice communications throughout the casino, hotels and administration network OmniTouch Unified Communications for all administrators and back-of-house users. Users will enjoy feature-rich desktop interface from My Instant Communicator, with seamless integration to email, fax server, voicemail, My Teamwork notification server OmniTouch contact centre premium edition comes with visual interactive voice response and visual contact centre graphical interface, easing the management in contact centre operations. The comprehensive telephony system offers opportunities for future upgrading, such as providing hotel guests advanced features and services via the IP phones, all at their fingertips. “We are delighted that RWS has chosen Alcatel-Lucent to deliver the full IP telephony and unified communications solutions for their mega resort,?said Derrick Lee, Alcatel-Lucent’s vice president, Enterprise activities in South East Asia. “RWS understands the importance of secured voice communications in today’s highly competitive hospitality industry. Alcatel-Lucent’s state of the art solutions ensure improved guest experience, streamlining operations, and maximising revenues for RWS.? Alcatel-Lucent is already a leader in hospitality communications, having created similar systems for renowned brands such as The Mandarin Group, M Hotel, The Ascott Group and The Amara Group. About Resorts World at Sentosa Slated to be one of the world’s most exciting family destinations, Resorts World at Sentosa is a collection of resorts and attractions with a plethora of fun-filled offerings for the entire family. Taking pride of place on Singapore’s resort island of Sentosa and spanning 49 hectares of lush greenery amongst pristine lakes, this S$6.59 billion mega-resort will be home to Southeast Asia’s first and only Universal Studios theme park, the world’s largest oceanarium ?Marine Life Park and the region’s only fully integrated destination spa ?ESPA. The resort also boasts a total of 1,800 keys, spread across its six hotels of varying themes, with full conference and meeting amenities, including a ballroom that sits 7,300 delegates. Topping the list are the ultra-luxurious Maxims Tower, and the world’s only Hotel Michael, named after famed US-architectural legend, Michael Graves who designed the mega-resort. Other accommodation options include the trendy Hard Rock Hotel Singapore, as well as beach facing Spa Villas, perfect for some solitude and privacy. Beyond resorts and attractions, there will also be world-class entertainment to engage visitors. Most eagerly-anticipated is the Crane Dance ?a spectacular multi-media moving art with cleverly choreographed animatronic cranes set out at the waterfront. An unparalleled ar*** of retail and dining options at FestiveWalk, as well as roving acts and street performances await guests at the Bull Ring. Resorts World at Sentosa opens its doors to the world in early 2010. Catch the RWS action at: http://www.rwsentosa.com About Alcatel-Lucent Alcatel-Lucent (Euronext Paris and NYSE: ALU) is the trusted partner of service providers, enterprises and governments worldwide, providing solutions to deliver voice, data and video communication services to end-users. A leader in fixed, mobile and converged broadband networking, IP technologies, applications and services, Alcatel-Lucent leverages the unrivalled technical and scientific expertise of Bell Labs, one of the largest innovation powerhouses in the communications industry. With operations in more than 130 countries and the most experienced global services organization in the industry, Alcatel-Lucent is a local partner with a global reach. Alcatel-Lucent achieved revenues of Euro 16.98 billion in 2008 and is incorporated in France, with executive offices located in Paris. For more information, visit Alcatel-Lucent on the Internet: http://www.alcatel-lucent.com 2 June 2009 PRNewswire Resorts World at Sentosa - Singapore's Only Island Integrated Resort, Selects MICROS OPERA Enterprise Solution for its Seamless Online Reservation System MICROS Systems, Inc. (Nasdaq: MCRS), a leading provider of information technology solutions for the hospitality and retail industries, is pleased to announce that Resorts World at Sentosa has selected MICROS's OPERA Enterprise Solution for its exciting new project on Singapore's Sentosa Island. With 1,800 rooms spread over six hotels of varying themes, the Resort will utilize the multi-property version of the OPERA Property Management and OPERA Sales and Catering systems for the Resort's hotel and catering operations. Destined to be one of Asia's most exciting entertainment destinations, Resorts World at Sentosa will offer world-class entertainment, accommodation and dining facilities. This includes Southeast Asia's first and only Universal Studios theme park, along with the world's largest oceanarium. The OPERA Web Suite (OWS) will be used to provide customers with the ability to make on-line accommodation, dining and entertainment reservations under a single itinerary. "When selecting a solution for our six hotels and multiple attractions, the key focus was on scalability, flexibility, and customer-focused functionality," stated Mr. Yap Chee Yuen, Senior Vice President of Information Technology for Resorts World at Sentosa. "The OPERA Enterprise Solution fulfilled the criteria, providing us with a system capable of operating in such a large and diverse environment as ours." "Resorts World at Sentosa is one of the most exciting new projects in Asia today and we are proud that MICROS has been selected as the technology provider for all of the resort hotels," stated Mr. Stefan M. Piringer, President of MICROS-Fidelio Asia Pacific. "It also illustrates that our OPERA suite of products continues to prove its versatility and scalability for such large scale and diverse operations." About Resorts World at Sentosa Slated to be one of the world's most exciting family destinations, Resorts World at Sentosa is a collection of resorts and attractions with a plethora of fun-filled offerings for the entire family. Taking pride of place on Singapore's resort island of Sentosa and spanning 49 hectares of lush greenery amongst pristine lakes, this $6.59 billion mega-resort will be home to Southeast Asia's first and only Universal Studios theme park, the world's largest oceanarium -- Marine Life Park and the region's only fully integrated destination spa -- ESPA. The resort also boasts a total of 1,800 keys, spread across its six hotels of varying themes, with full conference and meeting amenities, including a ballroom that sits 7,300 delegates. Topping the list are the ultra-luxurious Maxims Tower, and the world's only Hotel Michael, named after famed US-architectural legend, Michael Graves who designed the mega-resort. Other accommodation options include the trendy Hard Rock Hotel Singapore, as well as beach-facing Spa Villas, perfect for some solitude and privacy. Beyond resorts and attractions, there will also be world-class entertainment to engage visitors. Most eagerly-anticipated is the Crane Dance -- a spectacular multi-media moving art with cleverly choreographed animatronic cranes set out at the waterfront. An unparalleled array of retail and dining options at FestiveWalk, as well as roving acts and street performances await guests at the Bull Ring. Resorts World at Sentosa opens its doors to the world in early 2010. Catch the RWS action at www.rwsentosa.com . About MICROS Systems, Inc. MICROS Systems, Inc. provides enterprise applications for the hospitality and retail industries worldwide. Over 310,000 MICROS systems are currently installed in table and quick service restaurants, hotels, motels, casinos, leisure and entertainment, and retail operations in more than 130 countries, and on all seven continents. In addition, MICROS provides property management systems, central reservation and customer information solutions under the brand MICROS-Fidelio for more than 25,000 hotels worldwide, as well as point-of-sale, loss prevention, and cross-channel functionality through its MICROS-Retail division for more than 90,000 retail stores worldwide. MICROS stock is traded through NASDAQ under the symbol MCRS. For more information on MICROS and its advanced information technology solutions for the hospitality industry, please contact Louise Casamento, Vice President of Marketing at (443) 285-8144 or (866) 287-4736. You can also visit the MICROS website at www.micros.com or send an email to info@micros.com. The MICROS logo is a registered trademark of MICROS Systems, Inc. All other product and brand names are the property of their respective owners. SOURCE MICROS Systems, Inc. 2 June 2009 The Straits Times IGT to supply machines to IR? MACAU - THE world's biggest slot-machine maker International Game Technology (IGT) said on Tuesday it is in talks with Las Vegas Sands and Genting International to supply slot machines for Singapore's two upcoming casinos. 'We expect the market share (in Singapore) to be higher than Macau,' Mr Kurt Quartier, vice-president of IGT's international casino markets, told Reuters on the sidelines of a gaming conference in Macau. MACAU SLOWS DOWN Macau's market for slot machine has seen 'almost no activity', Mr Quartier said. 'People will change a few machines but a lot of operators are preserving cash.' The firm's outlook on Macau will improve once casino operators resume building their projects, he said.   Mr Quartier declined to be more specific, but said its market share in Singapore would be less than 50 per cent. IGT has a market share of less than 20 per cent in Macau. It competes with Australian machine maker Aristocrat Leisure, which has about a 55 per cent share of Macau's slot market. Sands is building a US$5.4 billion (S$7.77 billion) mega-casino resort in Singapore, which is set to be ready by late 2009 or early 2010. Malaysia casino operator Genting Bhd's unit, Genting International is developing Resorts World, which is located on the Singapore resort-island of Sentosa. -- REUTERS 1 June 2009 The Malaysian Insider Sentosa casino cutting it a little too close?   With just months to go before it is scheduled to open its doors, Resorts World at Sentosa may be finding itself in a bit of a pickle. First, its much-publicised world tour to recruit 200 performers for its Universal Studios theme park had to be cut short because of fears over the influenza A (H1N1) virus. Second, its holding company, Genting Singapore, has introduced new shareholders into the fold, which may well complicate the process of getting a casino licence for the integrated resort. When contacted, a spokesman for the resort said it would open its four hotels and Universal Studios as planned by the end of March next year. Its audition team toured Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Hong Kong and Manila and had six more cities to go before it returned on May 17. It had aimed to get all performers here in October for rehearsals. Its spokesman said that the team was recalled because of travel health alerts issued in the light of the contagious H1N1 virus. Another factor was “the large crowds that will gather at the auditions? raising the chances of infection. A bigger step is obtaining a licence from the Casino Regulatory Authority to operate the casino. It can apply for the licence only when 50 per cent of the resort is completed and 50 per cent of the funds spent. The Straits Times understands it has yet to apply for a licence. The casino-resort declined to say when it would do so. Its spokesman said: “We will apply for the licence only when the criteria are fulfilled.?br> The authority can be expected to do what is known as “probity checks?to ascertain the company's owners, background, accounts and business links to other operations before awarding the licence. However, it has given no indication of how long this will take. On Wednesday, Genting's Lim family sold its entire 9 per cent stake in Genting Singapore for S$615 million (RM1,476 million). But even after the sale, they will remain in control of Genting Singapore through its Kuala Lumpur-listed parent company, Genting. The concern is not only over who the new shareholders are but also whether Genting will have links to other individuals and groups which might be beyond the pale. One theory is that the family pulled out of Genting Singapore so that it could invest in MGM Mirage's Macau casino. Given that MGM Mirage is connected to the family of gaming magnate Stanley Ho, who is alleged to have links with organised crime, the Singapore government might not look too kindly at a party with interests in both the Singapore and Macau gaming houses. Gaming analyst Jonathan Galaviz said the Singapore government has “a very significant responsibility to ensure that the owners and executives of the integrated resorts have absolutely no unfavourable linkages? It is no surprise that a casino company would have an interest in Macau, he said, as it is “still a very lucrative strategic play for the next 10 to 20 years? Genting is the holding company for the Genting Group, which runs the Genting Highlands Resort, Sentosa's integrated resort and palm oil producer Asiatic Development. The last time Genting's sister company, Star Cruises ?then a partner in the IR ?offered to sell Ho a stake in 2007, the company was questioned by the Singapore government. The possibility of a casino licence being denied was also thrown up then. 29 May 2009 AsiaOne Fire at Resorts World Sentosa A fire broke out at the Resorts World at Sentosa (RWS) on Wednesday afternoon. It caused thick black smoke to billow from affected parts of the work site, the Straits Times Online Mobile Print (Stomp) reported. A Stomp reader who was at the nearby Vivo City shopping mall captured images of the fire and provided the tip-off. A spokesperson for Resorts World at Sentosa (RWS) told Stomp that the incident was caused by a pile of polystyrene foam catching fire. "The fire was contained and put out by construction workers using fire extinguishers before the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) arrived. There were no injuries or damage to the work site," the spokesperson said. "SCDF officers who arrived on site deemed it suitable for construction work to resume." The fire will have no impact on the construction progress, RWS said. 28 May 2009 The Business Times Genting again rocks the boat at Sentosa Move to sell 9% stake means more probity checks prior to licence award (SINGAPORE) With only months to go before the casino at Resorts World at Sentosa opens, Genting Singapore seems prepared to gamble with its casino licence again by making the regulatory probity process more complicated. Pansy Ho: US gaming officials have recommended that MGM Mirage cut ties with its partner Ms Ho. Genting Group is said to have bought secured notes from MGM In a statement released yesterday, Genting Singapore said that existing shareholders of the company had sold about 850 million shares via a private placing agreement representing a significant stake of about 9 per cent worth over $600 million. The sale sent the share price plummeting almost 18 per cent to 71 cents, down 15.5 cents from the previous day. Reuters also quoted a term sheet it had seen revealing that the shares were sold for between 72-76 cents per share. Apart from introducing new shareholders to the fold, there has also been speculation that the Lim family, headed by Lim Kok Thay, may be looking to raise capital for a possible acquisition of MGM Grand Macau. But any new significant shareholders in the company here will be scrutinised by regulators. In response to an SGX query, Genting Singapore said: 'The respective substantial shareholders will in due course be releasing the relevant Notice of Substantial Shareholder's Change in Interests/Cessa- tion of Interests (as the case may be).' The sale of shares was done through Golden Hope Ltd and Lakewood Sdn Bhd, vehicles that are understood to be controlled by the Lim family which owns Malaysian gaming firm Genting Bhd, the parent of Genting Singapore. All significant shareholders of Genting Singapore will be expected to undergo strict probity checks before the gaming licence is awarded to the casino operator here by the Casino Regulatory Authority (CRA). It is understood that the gaming licence has not been awarded yet. Speculation on the Macau deal was fuelled when it was revealed on Monday that Genting Group had acquired US$100 million in secured notes from MGM Mirage. The talk of a divestment of MGM Grand Macau was itself sparked when the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement recommended last week that MGM Mirage sever ties with Pansy Ho, its partner for MGM Grand Macau, adding that the daughter of Chinese gaming magnate Stanley Ho is an unsuitable partner. Bloomberg had quoted Ang Kok Heng, chief investment officer at Phillip Capital Management in Kuala Lumpur, as saying that the Lim family may be raising funds to finance a possible investment in MGM Mirage's Macau casino. But he also added: 'It's not easy for Genting or Resorts World Bhd to take over MGM Mirage's venture in Macau because of their investment in Singapore. There's a likelihood the Singapore government may not agree, so the family has to come in on their own.' This is not the first time Genting Singapore has raised eyebrows in Singapore by associating itself - perceived or otherwise - with Stanley Ho. In 2007, after winning the tender to build one of two casino resorts in Singapore, Genting Singapore said it was looking to sell a stake in Star Cruises - which was then its partner in the Sentosa resort - to Stanley Ho. Genting Singapore later had to backtrack on this and subsequently acquired Star Cruises' entire stake in the resort in an apparent bid to pacify the Singapore government. 27 May 2009 Reuters Singapore casinos target high-rollers, may hurt Macau Singapore's two upcoming casinos may draw some business from neighbouring Malaysia's Genting Highlands but the city-state's focus on high-rollers will likely have a greater impact on Macau and Australia. When up and running next year, Sheldon Adelson's Marina Bay Sands and the Malaysian Genting group's Resorts World at Sentosa will pay an effective tax of around 12 percent on net revenue from high-rollers -- compared with 39 percent for Macau -- giving operators more incentive to draw such people to the city-state. Macau, which has 31 casinos, derives more than 60 percent of casino revenue from wealthy gamblers. Australia's larger casinos, such as Melbourne's Crown and Perth's Burswood, derive about 20 percent from VIP customers and have a large Asian clientele. "Potentially in the VIP -- or higher-end, more premium player segment -- Singapore could have a competitive impact," said Danny Goldberg, an analyst at Select Equities in Sydney. Companies with casinos in Macau include Melco Crown, which is part owned by Australia's Crown Ltd, Macau gaming mogul Stanley ( SXE - news - people ) Ho's SJM Holdings, U.S.-based Las Vegas Sands ( LVS - news - people ) and Wynn Resorts, and Hong Kong's Galaxy Entertainment Group. Crown owns the Crown and Burswood casinos in Australia. Australia's effective tax rate -- a combination of gaming and sales taxes -- is between 8 and 15 percent for high-rollers, depending on where the casino is located, but the country loses out to Singapore by being further away from East Asia. Edward Ong, a Malaysia-based analyst with Macquarie Research, estimated that high-rollers constitute a $10 billion-a-year market for Asian casinos in revenue terms. Singapore can easily capture 5 to 10 percent of the region's VIP market, he added. Singapore legalised casino gaming in 2005 as part of an ambitious plan to make it a more exciting tourism destination and double annual visitor arrivals to 17 million by 2015. The first casino, Las Vegas Sands' Marina Bay Sands, is due to open at the end of this year, while Genting's Resorts World at Sentosa will be ready by mid-2010. To encourage casino operators to focus on big-time gamblers, the city-state will impose a lower tax of 5 percent on net revenue from high-rollers compared with 15 percent for the mass market. The Singapore casinos also have to pay a 7 percent goods and services tax on net revenue from casino gaming. Resorts World will also host Southeast Asia's first Universal Studios, while the casinos will have restaurants helmed by celebrity chefs such as Charlie Trotter and Tetsuya Wakuda to appeal to well-heeled tourists as well as gamblers. UNTAPPED DEMAND On competition with Malaysia, analysts said the impact on Genting Highlands will be minimal since it does not focus on high-rollers and depends on locals for more than 70 percent of its business. Singaporean visitors account for about 20 percent of the clientele at Genting Highlands, which is owned by Genting. "You're not going to see Malaysians, who generally go out on a day trip to gamble, go over to Singapore to do the same thing," said Malaysia's RHB, although it added the city-state may attract people initially with the novelty of visiting a new casino. Singapore's plan to impose a S$100 daily ($69) entry fee on citizens visiting local casinos will push some residents to journey to Genting. However, a Malaysian ban on its Muslim citizens entering Genting casino will drive some to Singapore. Jonathan Galaviz, a partner at Las Vegas-based consultancy Globalysis, said overall Singapore's upcoming casinos will help grow Asia's gaming market rather than cannabalise it. "There continues to be a massive undersupply of casino entertainment options in Asia and it will be a very long time before the full demand is met," he said. ($1=1.445 Singapore Dollar) (Editing by Lincoln Feast) 27 May 2009 The Financial Times Owners of Genting sell entire stake in Singapore Resort The family that owns Malaysia’s Genting gaming group on Wednesday sold its entire 9 per cent personal stake in its Singapore unit for S$615m after seeing the shares more than double over the past few months. Genting still retains a 55 per cent stake in Genting Singapore, which is scheduled to open a casino theme park on Singapore’s resort island of Sentosa next year in partnership with Universal Studios. The Lim family shares in Genting Singapore were offered at a discount of up to 16.8 per cent on Tuesday’s closing price through private placements with institutional investors. JP Morgan and UBS served as bookrunners and underwriters on the deal. On Tuesday, Genting Singapore hit an intraday high of 91 Singapore cents, a peak last posted two years ago shortly after Genting won the bid to build and operate the city-state’s second casino. In February, Genting Singapore was trading at a low of 41 Singapore cents a share. The share disposal comes amid concerns for the Singapore gaming industry over whether Genting’s Singapore casino and another one to be operated by Las Vegas Sands will be able to attract large numbers of visitors at a time when the city-state is suffering its worst recession since independence in 1965. Earnings for the parent Genting group have also been hurt by the poor performance of its Stanley Leisure unit in the UK. Genting Singapore has said it will complete the Sentosa project on time in the first quarter of 2010 and that it will not have to resort to further borrowings for the project. The company has been mentioned as a possible bidder for the MGM Grand Macau, which is expected to sell a 50 per cent stake to reduce its debt burden for its parent group. Genting on Wednesday said that it was open to acquisitions but declined to say whether it was considering an investment in Macao. Speculation about such a move was triggered by Genting’s decision last week to subscribe to $100m worth of notes issued by MGM Mirage, the US parent group. Genting is due to release its first quarter results on Thursday following those of Genting Singapore two weeks ago. 27 May 2009 Marina Bay Sands to boost Singapore's C&I drive Conference & Incentive Travel Mega-resort among the new venues opening over 18-month growth period The opening of the Marina Bay Sands , planned for the end of 2009, is set to boost Singapore’s C&I traffic from the UK. Singapore Tourism Board area director for Northern and Western Europe Divya Panickar commented: Marina Bay Sands is ideal for the meetings and events market and is one of a number of unique propositions that are currently being developed. The S$6bn project includes 2,600 rooms, 120,000sqm of C&I facilities, plus Singapore’s first casino. An 18-month period of development across the destination includes the opening of Universal Studios Singapore, the launch of the International Cruise Terminal in 2011, plus the regeneration of downtown Singapore River. Panickar added that the destination had seen a slowing of enquiries in quarter one. Like many long-haul destinations, Singapore has had to contend with issues of perception, but we are fortunate as pure incentives have never been the sole part of our event mix and we remain popular for conferences and larger-scale meetings. 27 May 2009 MEDIA Marina Bay Sands Shoppes pitches creative SINGAPORE - Marina Bay Sands Shoppes, the shopping mall within the luxury resort currently under development in Singapore, has invited six local shops to pitch for its creative account. According to reports, the first round of the pitch concluded recently and a shortlist is likely to be announced soon. Three agencies are expected to be shortlisted for the second round. Sources close to the pitch said that the resort’s developer is only interested in appointing local agencies primarily due to their familiarity with the “local way of working? Reports also suggest that the key focus for the new resort would be the burgeoning India and China markets. Marina Bay Sands is an affiliate of Las Vegas Sands Corporation. Marina Bay Sands Shoppes is being developed as a destination for shoppers across the world, with a mix of emerging labels and international luxury brands, as well as innovative entertainment options including boat rides along the canal flowing through the mall and an indoor ice skating rink. 26 May 2009 The Straits Times Taking IR visitors on ride of their lives Want in on Singapore's two integrated resorts (IRs)? A total of 20,000 jobs will be created when the Marina Bay Sands and Resorts World at Sentosa open, at the year end and next year respectively. In the second of this two-part series, The Sunday Times checks out five interesting jobs the IRs have to offer. Slots ambassadors This job, at Resorts World, requires candidates to master the A-Zs of the various slot machines. You will be part of a 24/7 team that keeps the fun level up, from helping first-timers to spotting those whose drinks have run out. You may want to advise someone on a losing streak to change to a different game or machine. You will also urge regulars to sign up for casino membership, where they pay an annual fee rather than pay per entry. 'Slot games can get very complicated these days,' said Resorts World's senior vice-president for human resources and training, Ms Seah-Khoo Ee Boon. 'That's why we need ambassadors to help the customers.' The job calls for someone meticulous, personable and easy to talk to. 'If you like meeting people and want to see that satisfied look on a customer's face, this is a fantastic job for you,' said Ms Seah-Khoo. Criteria: At least 21 years old, with a deep passion for customer service, meticulous and a team player. Number of positions: 200 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Beverage service team Over at the Marina Bay Sands, a crew of more than 350 sommeliers, mixologists, bartenders and managers will keep customers' spirits up. Their job is to select wines for the various wine lists, manage the inventory of wines and spirits and, more importantly, create a drinks menu for guests of the IR. Every watering hole will be covered, from the luxury hotel's atrium bar to the casino's VIP PaizaClub lounge and restaurant. 'Because of the size of the IR, we need a dedicated and experienced team that specifically looks after the wines and spirits offered to our guests,' said Mr Tamir Shanel, executive director of food and beverage at the Marina Bay Sands. Training will be provided for most of the crew but sommeliers and mixologists need to be experienced. A mixologist uses creative ideas to give cocktails a new spin while a sommelier is a wine expert able to give good recommendations. 'A sommelier needs the right disposition and customer service as he'll be serving guests with discerning tastes,' said Mr Shanel. 'He needs to know when to offer the $100 wine - or the $5,000 one.' Criteria: A passion for beverages and customer service, plus experience for sommeliers and mixologists. Number of positions: 350 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Theme park technicians They are the guys in overalls, the 'smooth operators' at Resorts World's Universal Studios Singapore. They will maintain all equipment and rides to ensure safe operation. Perks include a training course at Universal Studios in Orlando, Florida, lasting between three weeks and three months, and being the first to try out the various rides. With 24 rides and shows here, each technician will specialise in the repair and troubleshooting of a few. Ms Seah-Khoo said: 'They have a critical role to ensure everything is in tip-top condition before the park opens.' 'The safety of the park depends on them and park safety standards are crucial,' she added. 'So we want to hire the very best.' Criteria: Three to five years of maintenance experience. Experience in an amusement park is a plus. Must have normal colour vision, and skills and knowledge in mechanical, pneumatic, hydraulic and electrical areas. Also, be prepared to perform three shifts. Number of positions: 50 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Security staff Needless to say, the security at casinos - where large sums of money are involved - has to be flawless. At the Marina Bay Sands, a security officer does not just patrol the casino and ensure security within its premises. A big part of the job is escorting the cash and chips from the tables to the cage where the cashiers work. 'They have to be highly alert and sharp,' said director of security Tan Puay Kern, since 'they have to work within a concentrated zone, with people milling in and out'. Besides the security staff tasked with the casino areas, others will patrol the rest of the IR, from hotel towers and retail mall to public areas. Unlike in the usual mall, the challenge of managing security in an IR is much more intense due to the sheer number of people across the entire property. 'Our security staff will be working in a very demanding environment,' said Mr Tan. 'There's a need to be very focused and coordinated so any incident in one part of the IR does not escalate and affect the rest of the property.' All security personnel will have to be individually licensed by the police. For those who need it, there will be a basic training course given by the Workforce Development Agency before a police licence is issued. Criteria: Must be fit and reliable. Number of positions: 450 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------