This is worth going back to!

Spectacular in Singapore
Text by Malou E. Rosal

　

You can see it from the sea. There it stands, with towers strong and mighty, dominating the landscape with its awesome and powerful beauty. But unlike monoliths of old, the Marina Bay Sands does not guard and defend against foreign invaders. Instead, it welcomes visitors to Singapore with the graciousness of Asian hospitality and the promise of memorable good times ahead.

Along with his high-powered team, Sheldon G. Adelson, Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of Las Vegas Sands Corporation recently translated the integrated resort concept to a wider Asia-Pacific and European markets with the opening of the Marina Bay Sands in Singapore. This is the same concept that successfully shifted the perception of Las Vegas from "sin city" to one that offers visitors "an amazing collection of amenities and experiences - like celebrity chef restaurants, world-class entertainment, all-suite accommodations, expansive shopping, spa and fitness facilities, and more" under one roof. Departing from the "casino-centric" paradigm, Adelson has proven that gambling is not the primary reason why people go to Las Vegas. In fact, more of them just want to enjoy "enertainment for grown-ups". "We broke the mold," Adelson says. "We taught Las Vegas that you can make money out of the casino-centricity."
　
Betting on the best
The Marina Bay Sands Casino, then, is not the hub but only one of the spokes that help the whole integrated resort's wheel run. Oh, but what a spoke it is. Housed in its own building and complemented by four levels of gaming, the casino offers a luxurious setting by which to win (or lose). Players can enjoy a wide array of popular table games like roulette, blackjack, baccarat, and sic bo, as well as slot machines with the latest games such as video poker, as well as electronic sic bo and roulette.


                        Look up!


Every once in a while, players look up from their cards or bets. And when they do, they behold a most magnificent sight. For suspended 40 meters over the casino's ceiling is one of the world's largest crystal chandeliers. Made of 132,000 Swarovski crystals, the chandelier weighs 7.1 tons. Its brilliance emanates from 16,500 light nodes custom made in Korea totaling 66,000 LEDs.




What the cricket is it?

Different eyes offer different perspectives of the Marina Bay Sands Hotel and Sands SkyPark. For some, it looks like a table with three legs. Another one was reminded of Stonehenge. Still, a Brit remarked how the towers looked like cricket stumps. Many more saw a boat on top of three towers. But in fact, world renowned architect Moshe Safdie who designed the Marina Bay Sands, explained the design evolution.

From day one, Safdie wanted to create an exciting design. Yet the original idea of one grand building tended to block off the view of the city and the sea. So they opted for three towers instead, with the gaps between the towers providing a glimpse of both city and sea, a free-flowing concept that was both transparent and inviting.


And so with a total of over 2,500 rooms and suites, the Marina Bay Sands Hotel is now the biggest hotel in Singapore. It was said that one new hotel floor was built every four days, "the fastest pace ever for a development of this scale in Singapore." From their rooms, guests are afforded breathtaking views of the South China Sea, the Marina Bay, and the Singapore skyline. The hotel offers eclectic dining choices. Serving buffet and ala carte breakfast, lunch, dinner, and late supper, Rise is an all-day restaurant featuring world cuisine, particularly South East Asian specialties. The lobby lounge called Rise Loung serves ;ight fare, express continental breakfast, afternoon tea, and refined wines and cocktails. Fuse is the lobby bar, while Sweet Spot is an espresso bar, bakery, and cake shop. Jin Shan is a high-end Chinese restaurant.


A resort up in the sky

After the hotel and other features such as the Sands Expo and Convention Center had been built, the team realized that they had run out of space on which to place the resort facilities. Safdie turned his eyes to the sky and created the SkyPark.


                  Top shot of SkyPark

            
            'Tis me at SkyPark

The Sands SkyPark is an architectural masterpiece that straddles the three towers of the Marina Bay Sands Hotel. At 1.2 hectares, it is longer than the Eiffel Tower and large enough to park four-and-a-half A380 jumbo jets. At 200 meters up in the sky, it offers a spectacular view of the city and the harbor from its observation deck. The SkyPark also holds a 150-meter infinity swimming pool, "the world's largest outdoor pool at that height". Landscaped gardens fill this space and guests can lounge on cozy chairs, lost in their own reverie.

Celebrity bites

    Moi again, this time with celebrity chef Daniel Boulud

Guests at the Marina Bay Sands do not only get the chance to reach for the sky at the SkyPark. They can also enjoy stellar bites at the seven world-class dining destinations in the hotel, each with a renowned celebrity chef at the helm. Catch sightings of Chef Daniel Boulud while dining casually on French-American cuisine at db Bistro Moderne; Chef Guy Savoy at the fine dining French restaurant that bears his name; Chef Santi Santamaria at the melange of Mediterranean and Catalan at Santi; Chef Tetsuya Wakadu's subtle flavors at Waku Ghin; Chef Wolfgan Puck with the finest prime rib available at CUT; Chef Mario Batali and Italian favorites at Osteria Mozza and Pizzeria Mozza; and of course, Singapore's culinary son Chef Justin Quek serving Asian flavors with a modern twist high up at the SkyPark.

Marina Bay Sands' CEO and President Thomas Arasi remarks: "Individually, these celebrity chefs are culinary stars in their own right. But collectively, these chefs, with their talent, repertoir, and dedication, make up a dream team that is nearly impossible to surpass. Marina Bar Sands is most happy to have the privilege to introduce such a diverse and world-renowned group of chefs to Singapore. They will bring the authenticity of their cuisine and pursuit of perfection to the table, and raise the bar for Singapore as a must-visit dining destination."
　
MICE matters
With over 120,000 square meters or 1.3 million square feet of meeting space, the Sands Expo and Convention Center is the biggest MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions) facility in Singapore. It also has the largest ballroom in Southeast Asia, which can host up to 6,600 for sit-down dinners or 11,000 delegates on a theater-style set-up. With five floors of exhibition and convention space, the center can accommodate 2,000 exhibition booths and offer 250 meeting rooms. Then after convention hours, the delegates have easy access to the finest leisure and entertainment facilities in the country.
　
So there it stands, the destination that would make for an even more spectacular Singapore. Perfect for conventions, leisurely stays, shopping sprees, or just enjoying the finer things in life. Or even as Adelson himself puts it: "No longer will Singapore be looking for something to do at night."