Category Archives: Sentosa Property

Singapore’s eighth wonder

Faced with competition from regional countries also eyeing the benefits of the casino gaming industry, the two IRs cannot afford to be complacent

A FEW weeks ago, Singaporeans watched in awe the hoisting of a seven hundred 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.

MAJOR MILESTONES
Not only will the integrated resorts be iconic attractions, but within five years they could bring in 17 million top-quality tourists and help create over 100,000 jobs

Just how awesome these two integrated resorts (IRs) are is becoming more visible by the day. Together, they will cost in excess of $13 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 $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. Continue reading

Resorts World Sentosa places $21m bet on SingTel

RWS is one of the first corporate backers of SingTel’s pay-TV service

SINGAPORE Telecom’s corporate pay-TV ambitions got a boost yesterday from a $21 million deal to provide a multimedia entertainment system and other technology services to Genting Singapore’s Resorts World Sentosa (RWS).

All-in-one: SingTel will equip rooms with an in-room entertainment system and high-speed wireless Internet

Under the seven-year contract, the operator will equip all 1,800 rooms at the integrated resort’s six hotels with an in-room entertainment system and high-speed wireless Internet.

Guests will be able to surf wirelessly and access computer games, music and content from SingTel’s mio TV service.

RWS is one of the first corporate backers of the operator’s fledgling pay television service, which until recently has been offered to consumers only.

Businesses such as hotels, restaurants and pubs are central to SingTel’s pay-TV strategy, as they could be more lucrative than the consumer segment. Having paid a premium for the English Premier League (EPL) broadcast rights, SingTel also needs to tap the corporate segment to help recoup costs.

SingTel previously told BT it has conducted in- house trials to see how it can deliver mio TV content such as the EPL to business customers.

Besides wireless Internet and multimedia entertainment, SingTel will also deploy a location-based mobile advertising service for RWS.

This will allow guests to receive text and multimedia messages when they are near pre-defined locations. For example, a customer might receive an electronic dining coupon via their mobile phone when they are walking towards a particular restaurant.

The multi-million dollar contract also includes a system to manage and track RWS’ fleet of limousines.

Source : Business Times – 6 Nov 2009