Marina Bay Sands is SG Clean
Marina Bay Sands was awarded the SG Clean quality mark in April 2020 following a rigorous certification process. The SG Clean certification, which is awarded by the Singapore Government, applies to the hotel, casino, Sands Expo and Convention Centre, The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands and its tenants, restaurants, as well as attractions such as ArtScience Museum.
We speak with Wong Kim Sung, Director of Public Area Department (PAD), Marina Bay Sands, on how the team worked tirelessly to make this happen.
Q: Could you share the process of how Marina Bay Sands became SG Clean certified?
With the COVID-19 situation evolving every day, we knew we had to work quickly to get Marina Bay Sands certified to reassure guests of our commitment towards their health and well-being. Having stepped up cleaning measures progressively and aggressively since January, we knew we started in a good place.
The auditing process ensured that we were on the right track – we ensured that our measures met all seven criteria on the SG Clean sanitisation and hygiene checklist for integrated resorts. We are committed to uphold this standard, and look forward to surpassing regulatory requirements by the time we re-open. Our PAD team for example has been receiving continuous on-the-job training sessions on how to use newly procured cleaning solutions and machinery safely, and how to harness technology for a more effective and complete clean.
Q: What other measures are in place to provide guests with an additional level of security for their health and well-being?
On the hotel front, all our key cards will be sanitised before they are re-used, and hospital-grade disinfectants will be used to clean guest rooms especially high-touch items such as TV remote controls and light switches. We will also enhance our guests’ well-being by providing them with wellness amenity kits containing surface disinfectant, spray hand sanitiser, a touchless tool key, disposable gloves and a mask container. Linens will also be washed at a high temperature of 70 degrees Celsius in order to eliminate any possible viral and bacterial pathogens and prevent cross-contamination. Staggered check-in and check-out timings will be implemented to prevent overcrowding at our hotel lobbies. We will also be limiting venue capacities across our property, including at our iconic infinity pool.
Q: What are the next steps in Marina Bay Sands’ hygiene and sanitisation journey?
Our journey is a continuous one, and we aim to leave no stone unturned. This means looking at everything from the obvious (high-touch contact surfaces) to the invisible (the air and innocuous items such as switches).
To do this, we’ve sourced widely to get the most effective medical-grade disinfectants that are often used in hospital settings. Using the latest electrostatic spray technology (Lufter EA-X3 misting machine), we will disinfect contact surfaces and hard-to-reach places after every check-out. Being electrically charged, each spray allows the hospital-grade sanitisers and disinfectants to wrap around and evenly coat all types of surfaces for a more complete clean.
Other non-visible back of house areas will also be scrutinised by our army of cleaners. Luggage trolleys will be sanitised after each use and storage rooms will be sanitised three times daily. Limos are sanitised after each use, as will linen delivery trucks, trolleys, linen chute rooms and drop chutes.
We are actively exploring technology such as self-cleaning escalator handrail sterilisation systems at Sands Expo and Convention Centre, applying self-disinfecting coatings in high-touch areas such as lift buttons, as well as using UVC light to sanitise enclosed spaces such as meeting rooms.
Our Facilities team are also maximising our fresh-air intake to increase external air flow into the building and optimising exhaust air quantities for removal. Where possible, we’ve installed hospital-grade HEPA filters to trap and remove particles and viruses.
The list is endless, and we will continue to build on our SG Clean certification to ensure the highest level of hygiene and cleanliness for our property, for COVID-19 times and beyond.
