Marina Bay Sands - Singapore

Singapore (24 April 2010) – Marina Bay Sands announces its plans for its Preview opening and what first-time visitors can expect when doors are open at Phase One of Singapore’s newest business, leisure and entertainment destination next week.

At 3:18 p.m. on April 27, an auspicious day and time, visitors will get to sample what’s to come at Marina Bay Sands. Opening for Preview on Tuesday will be 963 hotel rooms, dozens of stores, part of the exhibition and convention center, some restaurants and bars, the event plaza and the casino, subject to obtaining the necessary government approvals.

“Marina Bay Sands is working round-the-clock to deliver a unique destination to make Singapore proud. While the Preview aims to give visitors a taste of what’s to come, the Grand Opening on June 23 will be the day when we show Singapore and the world why Marina Bay Sands is Asia’s leading destination for business, leisure and entertainment,” said Mr. Thomas Arasi, President and Chief Executive Officer of Marina Bay Sands.

The rest of Marina Bay Sands will open in phases.  The Sands SkyPark atop the hotel towers will open for the Grand Opening on June 23, when Marina Bay Sands will invite all of Singapore for a spectacular celebration.  The theaters, museum and Crystal Pavilions on Marina Bay will open later in the year.

There will be a handful of dining options available in the property, such as Rise, the all-day restaurant at the Marina Bay Sands Hotel. Jin Shan Lou (金山楼), a new high-end restaurant serving exquisite Chinese fare, will make its debut in the Singapore culinary scene at the hotel lobby.

Elsewhere in the property, the outdoor event plaza – which features state-of-the-art adjustable steps – will be ready for the preview, while the Sands Expo and Convention Center will be hosting its very first event from 2 May.

The casino is expected to be open, subject to Marina Bay Sands being granted a casino license.

Grand celebrations in June

Marina Bay Sands invites all of Singapore to view its Grand Opening celebrations on June 23, when the rest of the Marina Bay Sands Hotel, the Sands SkyPark, luxury designer shops and signature restaurants will open. The Grand Opening celebrations will be a spectacular event filled with surprises and entertainment.      

 “We hope all our visitors will enjoy the sneak Preview next week as we move forward to our Grand Opening event. Marina Bay Sands is excited to be making tourism history in the heart of Marina Bay and we look forward to delivering on our promise at our Grand Opening,” Mr. Arasi said.

Openings throughout the year

Marina Bay Sands will open the museum, theaters and the remainder of the shops towards the end of the year.

At The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands, 93 per cent of the retail shops have been successfully let to date and the company has secured commercial terms for an additional 5 per cent.

In the second half of the year, Marina Bay Sands will unveil its high-end luxury boutiques including Ralph Lauren. The brand will be housed in a 5,500 square foot duplex – its most luxurious retail location in Southeast Asia. Parisian luxury brand Cartier will have a stand-alone boutique designed by renowned French architect Bruno Moinard. CHANEL will create a unique 7,500 square foot multilevel flagship store and Hermes has announced that it will feature a range of products selected exclusively for its store at Marina Bay Sands.

This week, as Marina Bay Sands counts down to its April 27 Preview opening, the destination is running simulation exercises involving 2,000 ‘guests,’ made up of Team Members. Approximately 450 itineraries have been prepared for these guests, as they test various aspects of the property for the opening teams to gear up for the first day of operations and beyond.

1.       Take public transport to Marina Bay Sands

Parking at Marina Bay Sands starts at S$8 per hour. Parking is limited, so we urge commuters to take public transport. Commuters can board buses that embark from starting points in Jurong East, Ang Mo Kio, Pioneer Road North, Pasir Ris and Bukit Batok, with the re-routing of 8 public bus services by operators SBS Transit and SMRT. These buses come directly to our property:

•           SBS 97 / 97e : Jurong East to Marina Square (loop)

•           SBS 133 : Ang Mo Kio Interchange to The Esplanade, Raffles Avenue

•           SBS 502 : Pioneer Road North to Marina Square (loop)

•           SBS 518 : Pasir Ris to Suntec City (loop)

•           SMRT 106 : Bukit Batok Interchange to Marina Centre Terminal

•           Night-rider service:  NR1 and NR6 (Available on Fridays and Saturdays)

2.       Consider alternatives beyond MRT Stations
While Promenade and Marina Bay MRT stations are nearest to Marina Bay Sands, visitors can take buses from 20 different MRT stations that make it much more convenient for visitors. Most of the public bus routes ply popular MRT stations such as Orchard, Bugis, City Hall and Dhoby Ghaut. They also serve the heartlands, such as Jurong East, Ang Mo Kio, Serangoon and Toa Payoh. (Please refer to Appendix)

Marina Bay Sands will open at the auspicious time of 3:18 pm on April 27^th. Car parks and casino queues will begin at noon. However, the general public can access the hotel lobby only after 5 pm.

4.       Dress appropriately for the casino

In our casino, smart casual wear is required so please come appropriately attired.  For all of our guests, beach wear including flip flops, slippers, and casual short pants are not allowed. For men, sleeveless shirts are not allowed.

5.       Bring the right ID along
For Singaporeans and permanent residents, proper identification is a NRIC card, driver’s license or SAF identification card.  For Foreigners, bring your passport.

6.       Allow us to guide you

This is a Preview giving you a first look at Marina Bay Sands and a sneak peek of what is to come, so some areas are still under construction. There will be over 200 Marina Bay Sands ambassadors in red jackets at key locations to answer questions for you.

You can visit our hotel towers, the Sands Expo and Convention Center and The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands B2.

On April 27^th, if you are visiting the casino, you will be guided indoors to Sands Expo and Convention Center, Level 1, and given a numbered tag and a seat. This is our way of ensuring you wait in comfort. You will be guided to the casino entrance in the order that you arrived.

7.       Food kiosks and entertainment are available while you wait

Inside the Sands Expo and Convention Center, there will be 15 hawker stalls selling local food.  Roving performances will also be available in the Halls to keep casino guests entertained while they wait.

8.       Pay casino levy online to minimize queuing time

Singaporeans and permanent residents can purchase their entry levies using cash, NETS or credit cards inside the Sands Expo and Convention Center after they get their numbered tags. The easiest way to pay your levy is online from Tuesday, April 27 onwards, at www.marinabaysands.com. 

There will also be 12 levy kiosks, 12 levy counters and 12 internet booths in the Expo hall.