An imaginery sketch done by the new paper:

http://newpaper.asia1.com.sg/mnt/media/image/launched/2005-04-19/4graphics.jpg

http://newpaper.asia1.com.sg/mnt/media/image/launched/2005-04-19/6graphics.jpg

The Electric New Paper :
The little red dot just got hotter
THEY can't wait for it to get going.
Regular travellers from Indonesia have been keenly following Singapore's plan for an integrated resort (IR).
20 April 2005

REPORTING FROM JAKARTA
By Jo Budimanin
tnp@sph.com.sg

THEY can't wait for it to get going.

Regular travellers from Indonesia have been keenly following Singapore's plan for an integrated resort (IR).

They said they often use Singapore as a stopover on flights to other destinations. Now they may be tempted to stay longer.

Many rich Indonesians frequent Singapore, and inject a considerable amount of money into top-end property and financial investments.

Indonesians are among Singapore's top tourist spenders with an average of $792 spent per visit last year.

Some even call it their second home.

Now they are excited by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong's announcement yesterday giving the go-ahead for two mega resorts to be built in Marina Bay and Sentosa.

WEALTHY INDONESIANS

For years, wealthy Indonesians have travelled around the world for the resorts and casinos.

Mr Eddy Widodo, 65, a semi-retired businessman, is one of them.

Along with his wife and siblings, he frequently goes on weekend cruises. He says it's a holiday with great shows, good food - and a casino.

Like him, the friends he travels with are usually businessmen, between the ages of 35 and 50.

In a few days, the 'big fish' among them can spend $100,000 to $200,000 on such trips.

Mr Widodo said it is about time that a major resort with gambling facilities is developed here.

He said: ''Now Singapore realises that they're losing potential monetary gain to places like Macau and Las Vegas. Singapore has wised up.'

Mr Tino Muljana's daughter - who works in Singapore - has been sending text messages on the latest news.

The 56-year-old visits his daughter every two or three months.

He was all for an integrated resort with major shows, restaurants and other entertainment outlets.

He said: 'I was happy when my daughter told me the news. It will be very convenient. When my wife shops, I can gamble.'

Mr Richard Mangaweang, 33, a magazine editor and a former civil servant, thinks it's about time for Indonesia to consider one too.

He said: 'I think that (legalising gambling) is something we (Indonesia) ought to have done a long time ago. We are clearly losing money from Indonesians going overseas to gamble.

'Islamic teaching forbids gambling, but we can regulate things properly the way the Malaysians do. Allow gambling for non-Muslims.'

Political analyst Effendi Gazali predicted that Indonesians will travel to Singapore in droves.

More Indonesian cash will be spent, not just at the IRs, but on everything from property to shopping.

Dr Hakim Murni, an economics lecturer at Jakarta's Atma Jaya Catholic University, agreed.

FOREIGN INVESTORS

He said there's also the possibility of foreign investors - who may have originally considered investing in Indonesia - moving their funds to Singapore. Because the IRs may make Singapore far more profitable.

Any advantages for Indonesia, then?

Mr Sukardi Rinakit, a political analyst, said there will be a decrease in illegal gambling activities at home as those who can afford it will travel to Singapore instead.

According to Indonesian law, all forms of gambling are illegal.

It is difficult for the government to overturn this law and legalise gambling as opposition by religious leaders is strong. Yet gambling is widespread.

Simple casinos exist in Hayam Wuruk and other areas of Jakarta's Chinatown.

So why not have a legal one in Indonesia too, some are asking now.

Mr Rinakit said: 'Although illegal, gambling continues to thrive business here. It's better to legalise it, so the state can benefit from the taxes.'

But Mr Rudy Bera, a lawyer and member of the Indonesian Bar Association, said the Muslim opposition is just too strong.

He said: 'Legally, it will be a disadvantage for local as well as foreign investors should gambling be legalised in Indonesia, as the law can be easily overturned at any time. The opposing party is too strong at the moment.'

MALAYSIA
Will Genting suffer?

By Faith Teo
wenli@sph.com.sg

TOURISM in Malaysia may be affected once the IRs are built in Singapore.

'Peripheral tourism services like hotels and transport will be affected,' analyst James Wong, of think tank Strategic Analysis Malaysia, said.

'Visiting Singapore is a whole travel package, shopping and sight-seeing included. So, building the IRs is a good idea as an income-earning project.'

Businessman Yu Khea has another concern: Security. And he's confident the IRs here will be safe.

'He was robbed five years ago as he left Malaysia's Genting Highlands casino resort.

'Our group of four was leaving Genting by car when we noticed another vehicle behind us. It then cut in front of us and stopped,' he said.

'Two men ran out, and threatened us with a gun. We gave them everything we had, including RM30,000 ($13,000) and two Rolex watches.'

Mr Yu, 48, who frequents Genting and regularly travels to casinos in Las Vegas and elsewhere, was excited to hear about the two IRs.

'I will definitely go to Singapore then. Things are generally better-run. Since I live in Johor, it will be easier and faster to go to Singapore,' he said.

He said if the resorts are world-class, he might even forgo other trips and come here more often.

Madam Wang Bao San, 46, who owns an import-export business, is also planning to turn her back on Genting.

She now goes there once a fortnight and spends up to RM5,000 gambling - more if her husband goes along.

'I was so excited when I first heard of a possible IR in Singapore, and now there are going to be two. If my luck isn't so good at one, I can go to the other one,' she said.

Mr Huang Sheng Hua, 35, a sub-contractor, said: 'We're definitely coming in droves to visit your resorts.'

But the analyst, Mr Wong, said Genting should not be written off.

'In the first few years, tourists may bypass Malaysia to visit Singapore. They want to see something new, but once the novelty wears off and they have weighed the pluses and minuses, they might well go back to Genting.

'Genting's advantage is in being a hill-top resort. The weather's cooler and people see it as a retreat from city life, unlike metropolitan Singapore.'

The Genting Group is confident that the IRs present itself with new investment opportunities. Malaysian newspapers reported that yesterday, Genting Bhd's share price rose to a three-week high (RM17.80) on strong volumes in reaction to the Singapore news.

But some analysts told the New Straits Times that Genting's gaming-heavy business profile could work against the group as Singapore does not want its integrated resort to be gaming-centric. However, they said, its tie-up with Universal was positive as it showed that it was committed to develop the non-gaming business as well.

'With Universal in the picture, they do have a fighting chance,' analyst Keith Wee of Avenue Securities told the paper.

Another analyst told the Star that if Genting does not win the bid, it would lose its Singapore customers as well as those in Johor, who would find it nearer to go to Singapore than to Genting Highlands.

THAILAND
'It will attract many Thais'

By Kor Kian Beng
kianbeng@sph.com.sg

SINGAPORE'S IRs will spur the Thai government to pursue its own casino plans.

That's what economics lecturer Samart Chiasakul of Chulalongkorn University believes.

Casinos are illegal in Thailand. But a study by the university found that in 2001 Thais poured 518.6 billion baht ($21 billion) into underground lotteries, overseas and illegal local casinos, soccer betting and other forms of gambling.

In 2002, the government said it was considering setting up an entertainment complex with a casino in Pattaya. But the plan was rejected.

Said Dr Samart: 'I'm sure the Singapore resorts and casinos will attract many Thai visitors, especially in the early stages.

'The Thai government will feel the pressure to reconsider its casino plans because of the competition, especially in the tourism industry.'

Every fortnight, Thai businessman Jiradach Huayhongchong takes a three-hour drive from Bangkok to the Cambodian border town of Poi Pet, which has nine casinos.

Mr Jiradach, 38, who owns a travel agency said: 'Singapore is safer than the Cambodian casinos, so I'm sure I'll make a visit to the resorts when they're ready.'

Mr Pirach Hansrishuk, 58, who owns a travel agency, said he and his friends have been following the news closely and are keen to visit the IRs once they're built.

'Visitors can probably reach them within 30 minutes from Changi Airport. Singapore will also attract the richer Thais who go for regular shopping trips,' he said.

Copyright © 2005 Singapore Press Holdings Ltd. Co. Regn. No. 198402868E. All rights reserved.

has anyone has the pics of the casino resort?

has anyone has the pics of the casino resort?

No rendering yet as they have not choose the final design........must wait about 6 months.....:yes:

21 April 2005

Wynn Resorts lack sufficient funds for Integrated Resort bid: Merrill Lynch
By Thomas Cho/Connie Tan, Channel NewsAsia

SINGAPORE: A perceived frontrunner for Singapore's integrated resorts bid, Wynn Resorts, may have run out of funds needed to finance the project.

This is according to US investment bank Merrill Lynch.

In a report out of New York on Wednesday, Merrill Lynch downgraded Wynn's stock to "sell", from "neutral"

It noted that Wynn had announced nearly $5 billion US dollars of capital projects since its initial public offering.

And so, Merrill had concluded that Wynn's balance sheet is probably exhausted.

Wynn had submitted one of 19 concept proposals to develop an integrated resort in Singapore.

The proposal is estimated to be worth between SG$2 and SG$3 billion.

Sources tell Channel NewsAsia that Wynn's concept may have included a proposal for the Singapore government to have 30 percent ownership of the development.

But, without naming any names, the idea of government involvement was rejected by Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew in Parliament on Tuesday.

With that part of the plan scuttled, sources say Wynn has to find another partner or get fresh funds for its project.

When contacted, Wynn declined to comment.

Several analyst reports had earlier named property firm, City Developments, as Wynn's likely partner.

CityDev said it had not entered into any exclusive arrangements with any parties at this stage.

US-based Wynn has been involved in several mega projects in the last few years.

Most notably, the US$2.7 billion dollar Las Vegas resort, the city's first new resort in five years, due to open next week.

Another adjacent development, called Wynn Encore, has also been expanded, bringing its estimated cost US$1.4 billion.

But Merrill's assessment isn't shared by New York-based Prudential Equity Group, which is keeping its "overweight" rating on Wynn.

Prudential said Wynn's valuations remain healthy, and does not believe that it needs to raise more equity to pursue other projects. - CNA /dt

Copyright © 2005 MCN International Pte Ltd

Casinos
New rivals for Sentosa
Now Hong Kong wants it, maybe China, too. By Seah Chiang Nee.
Dec 8, 2004

Hong Kong - Even before the Singapore government gives its official nod, Sentosa's proposed casino may soon spark off a similar trend - and strong rivalry - in Hong Kong and mainland China.

Even the communist giant is thinking the once unthinkable - moving into the casino industry - partly to keep money from flowing out.

I have just returned from a brief visit to Hong Kong where I was told that Beijing University will co-host an international conference on gambling this week.

This itself is a milestone because Mao Zedong had denounced this activity as a "bad social custom from a landlord era."


It might be bad news for Macau, though, just as the Sentosa project is worrying Genting.


http://www.littlespeck.com/region/CForeign-Hk-041208.htm

Politics in this world has come a long way:

First Communism by Communist, then Democracy by Democrat and now Casinolism by Casinoist :laugh:

If I'm the CEO of Genting, most probably I will not only lossing sleep but also lossing hairs as well:

If Genting win the licence here:

1. Gaming tax income to Malaysian Government will be reduced and this will upset the Malaysian Government

2. Malaysian will criticise him for pumping big money in Singapore but not Malaysia and the reason for bringing Universal Studio to Singapore

If Genting doesn't win the licence here:

1. Two IRs will dent a big hole in its earning

2. Malaysian will definitely ask Genting to bring Universal studio to Malaysia.

Sometimes is better to be security guard than to be CEO because security guard has little worry and can sleep like pig in the night. ZZZZZZZZ :laugh: :hilarious

Damned if you do, Dead if you don't

First Casualty, now left with 12 bidders, 18 proposals.


亚洲新闻网] 香港22日消息，香港新世纪集团星期五宣布，由于新加坡政府不接受其提呈的附设赌场综合娱乐城建议书，所以集团不会继续此计划。

集团总裁黄伟杰（音译Ng Wee Keat）在一份新闻稿中说：“新加坡政府已经以书信方式通知我们计划书不被接受，有鉴于此，公司将不会进行此计划。”

广告


新世纪并未提供其他资料。

该船务和地产发展公司今年二月表示，在新加坡公开邀请投资者提呈附设赌场的综合娱乐城计划书后，公司随即提呈了投资计划书。

新加坡政府日前公布，将在滨海湾和圣淘沙岛兴建两座综合娱乐城。业界预料，娱乐城将包括豪华酒店、主题乐园、会议中心和表演场地；国际著名的赌场经营商都纷纷联合娱乐集团提呈了计划书。

Theme park operator is not only good in operating theme park, good in free ride as well.


迪斯尼原想落户实里达
　　因我国不愿贱卖土地告吹

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

● 林顺华

　　政府曾向华特迪斯尼（Walt Disney）建议在实里达兴建一个迪斯尼乐园，并愿意在附近增建一个地铁站以方便游客前往玩乐。然而，谈判最终却因双方的不同经商模式而拉倒。

　　贸工部长林勋强昨天在国会上说：“我们在实里达物色了一片土地，甚至愿意在杨厝港地铁站和卡迪站之间增设一个地铁站，方便游客日后前往迪斯尼乐园。我们有实里达高速公路，所以交通便利。那是一个优美的地点，背景是实里达蓄水池。”

　　“但是，我们不愿意以低价出售300公顷的土地，并支付给华特迪斯尼高昂的发展和管理费用，因此谈判失败了。”

　　部长是针对国会议员在过去四天提出兴建一个没有赌场的综合度假胜地的建议，透露出政府曾多番尝试吸引国际业者前来本地开设没有赌场的主题公园，但都不成功。

所接洽的主题乐园

不愿投入大笔资金

　　他指出，政府在90年代和华特迪斯尼与环球影城主题乐园（Universal Studios）接洽后，了解到这些业者只提供主题公园的经营软件、专利权、品牌等，却不愿投入大笔资金，不要承担太大的财务风险。即使主题公园还未正式投入服务，它们便因“借出”品牌和景点概念而收取发展费。当主题公园接待游客后，无论业绩表现如何，它们都会征收部分的入门票收入作为管理费。

　　“当时有人告诉我，不要只把华特迪斯尼视为主题公园业者，它也是一个房地产业者。因为它们要一大片土地来建主题公园，而随着主题公园深受欢迎，附近地皮的价值上涨，它们便从增值中获利。”

　　林勋强指出，东京迪斯尼乐园占地70公顷，但华特迪斯尼在90年代和我国洽谈时，却要求300公顷的土地；第一阶段的景点占用70公顷，之后再发展第二和第三阶段，其余土地供日后使用。

　　“我们虽一直在努力争取这些国际业者，但除非我们愿意持有很高的股权，并资助这些主题公园，不然很多业者都不愿意前来落户。”

　　他以香港迪斯尼乐园为例，指出当地政府拥有57%股权，并可根据不同状况增加至75%。“但这并非我们愿意接受的经商模式，因为我们认为主题公园应该纯粹由私人企业经营，政府不应入股。”

　　他表示，国际业者具备丰富的专业经营经验、良好联系网络和保持景点新鲜感的能力，政府因此无需作出艰难的决定。

　　“好比业者决定推出鲸鱼水族馆，那便是业者的决定，而不是我希望看到鲸鱼在水族馆游泳。”

Politics in this world has come a long way:

First Communism by Communist, then Democracy by Democrat and now Casinolism by Casinoist :laugh:

If I'm the CEO of Genting, most probably I will not only lossing sleep but also lossing hairs as well:

If Genting win the licence here:

1. Gaming tax income to Malaysian Government will be reduced and this will upset the Malaysian Government

2. Malaysian will criticise him for pumping big money in Singapore but not Malaysia and the reason for bringing Universal Studio to Singapore

If Genting doesn't win the licence here:

1. Two IRs will dent a big hole in its earning

2. Malaysian will definitely ask Genting to bring Universal studio to Malaysia.

Sometimes is better to be security guard than to be CEO because security guard has little worry and can sleep like pig in the night. ZZZZZZZZ :laugh: :hilarious

Damned if you do, Dead if you don't


Oh I'd rather lose a few hairs and be one of Malaysia's richest tycoon :D

And he's a nice gentleman......met him once and have a nice chat with him ;)


Okay......first.........Gaming tax isn't a big contributor to the Malaysian economy. If Malaysia is so concerned about gaming tax, there would already be 3 more casinos in Malaysia ;) Apart from that.....we've also got 4D, Toto and horse-racing so those are bigger in gaming tax gainer than Genting alone :)


Seriously lah......this issue now is so hot in Malaysia that anyone and everyone is talking bout it. BUT no one is blaming Genting nor jealous that Singapore is gonna have a Universal Studios. In fact most Malaysians knew that Malaysia alone isn't enuf to support a themepark that scale and should any themepark of such scale be made.....it had to be at least at Johor or Melaka due to its proximity to Singapore and the availability of land (land around Klang Valley and state of Selangor and Negeri Sembilan is darn expensive). So having a Malaysian company bringing a world-class themepark to Singapore is a non-issue here at all. Even the media did not hype about it at all ( I am sure they would if it helps to sell :D ).


If Genting din win......none of those that you said would matter.

Firstly.....the gaming revenue at the highlands isn't too much to dent the company's balance sheet. Secondly Singaporeans and Johoreans isn't the main contributor to Genting's gaming although it is a substantial number.

Thirdly.....Genting are very diversified.......their Star Cruises would still bring in gaming revenue from Singapore, Thailand, China and HK. They are involved in the gas and oil business as well which I believe is extremely profitable esp given today's oil prices. Then they are also one of Malaysia's independent power producer which are a guaranteed money making business. They are also in real estate, plantations and is a major paper-maker.

They also have a substantial stake in Stanley Leisure ( now Stanley Genting Leisure :D ) and London Clubs. So they would be a big player in UK's gaming scene as well. Apart from that, they are also cash-rich which is also very favourable amongst govts around the world should they want any IR and casino to be built. A cash horde of USD $1 Billion is something not everyone had ya know :D

So they won't die....period. ;)

Second Casualty?


Wynn Resorts lacks sufficient funds for integrated resort bid: Merrill Lynch
By Thomas Cho/Connie Tan, Channel NewsAsia

SINGAPORE: A perceived frontrunner for Singapore's integrated resorts bid, Wynn Resorts, may have run out of funds needed to finance the project.

This is according to US investment bank Merrill Lynch.



In a report out of New York on Wednesday, Merrill Lynch downgraded Wynn's stock to "sell", from "neutral".

It noted that Wynn had announced nearly US$5 billion of capital projects since its initial public offering.

And so, Merrill had concluded that Wynn's balance sheet is probably exhausted.

Wynn had submitted one of 19 concept proposals to develop an integrated resort in Singapore.

The proposal is estimated to be worth between S$2 and S$3 billion.

Sources tell Channel NewsAsia that Wynn's concept may have included a proposal for the Singapore government to have 30 percent ownership of the development.

But, without naming any names, the idea of government involvement was rejected by Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew in Parliament on Tuesday.

With that part of the plan scuttled, sources say Wynn has to find another partner or get fresh funds for its project.

When contacted, Wynn declined to comment.

Several analyst reports had earlier named property firm, City Developments, as Wynn's likely partner.

CityDev said it had not entered into any exclusive arrangements with any parties at this stage.

US-based Wynn has been involved in several mega projects in the last few years.

Most notably, the US$2.7 billion Las Vegas resort, the city's first new resort in five years, due to open next week.

Another adjacent development, called Wynn Encore, has also been expanded, bringing its estimated cost US$1.4 billion.

But Merrill's assessment isn't shared by New York-based Prudential Equity Group, which is keeping its "overweight" rating on Wynn.

Prudential said Wynn's valuations remain healthy, and does not believe that it needs to raise more equity to pursue other projects. - CNA /dt

Second Casualty?

Sorry to ask, but who was the first ?

No rendering yet as they have not choose the final design........must wait about 6 months.....:yes:

oh ic quite long

First Casualty, now left with 12 bidders, 18 proposals.


亚洲新闻网] 香港22日消息，香港新世纪集团星期五宣布，由于新加坡政府不接受其提呈的附设赌场综合娱乐城建议书，所以集团不会继续此计划。

集团总裁黄伟杰（音译Ng Wee Keat）在一份新闻稿中说：“新加坡政府已经以书信方式通知我们计划书不被接受，有鉴于此，公司将不会进行此计划。”

广告


新世纪并未提供其他资料。

该船务和地产发展公司今年二月表示，在新加坡公开邀请投资者提呈附设赌场的综合娱乐城计划书后，公司随即提呈了投资计划书。

新加坡政府日前公布，将在滨海湾和圣淘沙岛兴建两座综合娱乐城。业界预料，娱乐城将包括豪华酒店、主题乐园、会议中心和表演场地；国际著名的赌场经营商都纷纷联合娱乐集团提呈了计划书。
Brother...you think everyone here can read Chinese meh....at least offer one line summarising its contents lah! :bash: :D Apparantly Pengui didnt get a clue!

Business Times - 22 Apr 2005

INTEGRATED RESORTS
Kerzner to improve proposal for Sentosa gaming resort

Atlantis owner sees 26% of sales from casino portion

(SINGAPORE) Kerzner International, owner of the Atlantis Resort in the Bahamas, said it's improving its proposal for an integrated resort in Singapore to outdo competitors that are offering a Universal Studios theme park and other attractions.

Kerzner, whose planned investment in Singapore would be in excess of US$1 billion, is among 13 bidders that submitted 19 proposals for two planned resorts in the country, which lifted a four-decade ban on casinos earlier this week. Singapore plans to award the projects by the end of this year and aims to have the gaming resorts open in 2009.

'It's a very attractive opportunity and the competition is going to be fierce,' said Ian Douglas, 43, Kerzner's development executive for the Singapore project, in an interview. 'We're improving on what we've done, and what we'd do would blow away the customer.'

Kerzner and other bidders, including Harrah's Entertainment Inc, are improving their proposals as competition intensifies with a second round of bidding after the casino decision. The government will name the winning bidders by the end of the year.

Kerzner is bidding for a site offered by the government on the resort island of Sentosa along with local partner CapitaLand, Singapore's biggest developer by sales and which is majority owned by the government.

Kerzner's competitors for the site include Harrah's, whose acquisition of Caesars Entertainment Inc will make it the biggest US casino operator; Tabcorp Holdings, Australia's largest gaming company; and Malaysia's Genting Bhd, which teamed up with the theme-park unit of Universal Studios on an investment that could cost as much as US$4 billion.

'The bid with Universal appears extremely strong based on information that's available,' said Winston Liew, an analyst at OCBC Investment Research in Singapore. 'The bidders are generally revising their offers because the competition is getting stiffer.'

Harrah's chief financial officer Charles Atwood said earlier this week the company will 'reinforce' its bid for the two proposals submitted for the Singapore casino resorts.

Singapore is offering another site for a casino resort at Marina Bayfront, near the main commercial district. CapitaLand teamed up with MGM Mirage, one of the two biggest casino operators in the US, on the downtown location.

Kerzner's Atlantis was the first example of a gaming integrated resort cited by the Singapore government when it floated the idea of a casino in parliament in March 2004.

Kerzner's US$1 billion Atlantis resort relies on the casino, the biggest in the Caribbean, for 26 per cent of sales, Mr Douglas said. He expects a similar revenue mix for the Singapore development, he said. - Bloomberg

Copyright © 2005 Singapore Press Holdings Ltd. All rights reserved.

Hohoho.....btw anyone saw the Disneyland article in the ST today? Think its addresses the concerns by some who wonder why we cant have IR without the casinos. ;)

Hohoho.....btw anyone saw the Disneyland article in the ST today? Think its addresses the concerns by some who wonder why we cant have IR without the casinos. ;)

This one ah?? ;)

April 22, 2005
S'pore almost had its own Disney park

SINGAPORE almost got its own Disneyland in the Seletar area, but the deal fell through, Trade and Industry Minister Lim Hng Kiang revealed yesterday.

Negotiations went as far as identifying the site, he said.

The Government was even prepared to add another MRT station to the North-South MRT Line, between Yio Chu Kang and Khatib.

With the Seletar Expressway, travel there would have been very convenient.

'It's a lovely site with the reservoir as a backdrop,' he said.

But in the end it did not work out, because Disney wanted a huge 300ha chunk of land and was not prepared to put its own money into paying for it.

Mr Lim told Parliament that this happened in the 1990s when the Government was keen to attract a major theme park like Disneyland or Universal Studios to set up here. It would have been an attraction without a casino.

He was addressing a question raised by several MPs over the last four days on why the Government could not just allow integrated resorts without casinos.

'We have tried many times to attract theme park operators to Singapore without a casino element, but without success,' he said.

The exercise proved to be a lesson in how the big players operate.

'Theme park operators are actually content companies. They really provide only the software and the intellectual property, the brand.

'And for that, they do not want to put too much of their own money,' he said.

'They earn a development fee even before the theme park operation starts. And then when the operation starts, they earn a management fee... and they take a cut of the gate takings.'

In negotiating with Disney, the operator appeared like a real estate developer in that it saw that if the project proved successful, capital value of the surrounding land would appreciate and they could make capital gains out of that land.

So even though Tokyo Disneyland had been developed on a site just over 70ha, Disney wanted more than four times to develop a Singapore attraction in three phases.

'But we were not prepared to pay the very high price needed to give away 300ha of land at a very low cost... So the deal fell through,' he said.

Hong Kong managed to attract the operator and its Disneyland is set to open later this year. But Mr Lim said that happened because the Hong Kong government owns 57 per cent of the whole operation.

'This is not the model we are prepared to go into because we believe that a theme park should be run essentially by the private sector.

'It should not be owned by the Government,' he said.

Copyright © 2005 Singapore Press Holdings. All rights reserved

Yeah. :D Think I heard of it before, and its that long streatch of land to the south of Upp Seletar Reservoir. Would you guys want a Disneyland there?

Yeah. :D Think I heard of it before, and its that long streatch of land to the south of Upp Seletar Reservoir. Would you guys want a Disneyland there?

I wonder how much more tourist will there be in Singapore if there is Disneyland and Universal studio?? :eek::lol:

Well.....Its kind of strange to have Disneyland here loh. Wha a strange cultural clash....muahaha.

Well.....Its kind of strange to have Disneyland here loh. Wha a strange cultural clash....muahaha.

In what sense?? Mickey Mouse speaking in 4 languages?? :lol:

Muahaha....or how about in Singlish? :D

Muahaha....or how about in Singlish? :D

Aiyo so Minnie Mouse will be "lancing" (dancing) around like Rosie of PCK lah.........:lol::jk:

Wah sekali they stage PCK musical in disneyland. Hmmmmmmmmmmmmm....

Well.....Its kind of strange to have Disneyland here loh. Wha a strange cultural clash....muahaha.

Got to agree with this.
I think it's completely out of place already in Hong Kong. Let's hope future will prove me wrong ^^

22 April 2005

STB invites selected resort operators to submit firm proposals
By Thomas Cho, Channel NewsAsia

SINGAPORE : Singapore's plans to build two integrated resorts entered the next phase on Friday.

The Singapore Tourism Board has started inviting selected resort operators to submit firm proposals.

The final shortlist has not been revealed, but those which made it to the list include South Africa's Peermont Global and Sun International, Bahamas-based Kerzner, US Harrah's Entertainment and Malaysia's Genting Berhad.

Australia's TabCorp would not comment, while Wynn Resorts, MGM, Las Vegas Sands and Eighth Wonder could not be reached.

It has not even been a week since the government gave the go-ahead for the integrated resort project in Singapore - but already the spotlight has been turning to the bidders, and who would be shortlisted.

One by one, the STB has been in touch with parties which submitted concept proposals.

For Hong Kong's New Century Group, it was an early end to the race.

The Hong Kong vessel chartering and property investment firm says its proposal has not been accepted.

Meanwhile, another small player, Macau's Greek Mythology, would only say it had yet to receive any answer.

But some of those who have made the cut wasted no time in sharing the good news.

South Africa's Peermont Global and Sun International, Bahamas-based Kerzner, US Harrah's Entertainment and Malaysia's Genting Berhad have all come out to say that they are still very much in the game.

These are the firms which have promised to bring in the likes of Universal Studio theme parks - and will invest billions to make the Singapore resort their flagship in the region.

Analysts say that the race will be intense.

Tony Raza, Head of Research, Merill Lynch, said, "They are all trying to add something that is very creative, iconic, something that raises eyebrows and creates a lot of interest in their project. So on that front, everyone is bidding aggressively on what they can add in to their proposals, but (the) bottomline line is they are also very aggressively in funds committed to this project."

The guidelines for the firm proposals are expected to be issued before June 30.

The deadline for the final submission has not yet been announced.

But the successful bids will only be unveiled in December. - CNA/ms

Copyright © 2005 MCN International Pte Ltd

22 April 2005

Integrated resort on Sentosa need not be an iconic landmark: Sun International
By Thomas Cho, Channel NewsAsia

SINGAPORE : South Africa's gaming operator Sun International thinks the integrated resort on Sentosa need not be an iconic landmark.

That is because it will be catered more for the family.

Sun International's architect Northpoint says the panoramic structure should be at the Marina Bayfront integrated resort instead.

Northpoint has a record of designing entertainment resorts in South Africa.

It is working with Sun on the Sentosa project - with the aim of turning the island into a "must visit" destination.

Sun City in South Africa has been dubbed the "City of Pleasure", drawing repeated visits by tourists from all over the globe.

And Sun International is hoping to work the same magnetic effect on Sentosa Island.

Peter Bacon, CEO, Sun International, said, "I think for the integrated resort on Sentosa, looking at the market segment, there'll definitely be a local market for the facilities, including the gaming component. But, I believe there is an opportunity to target not just the region, but markets which are farther a few. What we have in mind is to use this opportunity to profile Sentosa as a must visit destination internationally."

The concept behind Sun City came from Sol Kerzner - who was then Sun's CEO.

But he has since left the company and is now a luxury hotel and casino magnate.

He is himself bidding for the Singapore integrated resort project - together with developer CapitaLand.

Sun International welcomes the competition.

Mr Bacon said, "The company has been completely transformed over the last 7 or 8 years. We bid successfully in a highly competitive process for 8 new licences - casino licences throughout South Africa...We have developed successfully a number of new resorts/properties as well."

Sun is working with two local companies on its bid, and it aims for a high level of Singaporean participation in the development. - CNA/ms

Copyright © 2005 MCN International Pte Ltd

Got to agree with this.
I think it's completely out of place already in Hong Kong. Let's hope future will prove me wrong ^^
Come to think of it...what about Tokyo? I somehow think its ok there....maybe coz the Japanese are already kinda strange anyway considering the kind of inventions they keep poping out all the time? :D

Yeah. :D Think I heard of it before, and its that long streatch of land to the south of Upp Seletar Reservoir. Would you guys want a Disneyland there?

That's where I thought was an appropriate place for disneyland or any other theme park... but with a casino, the government will get more brickbat if they chose that area since it's so near to so many new towns.

Hohoho.....btw anyone saw the Disneyland article in the ST today? Think its addresses the concerns by some who wonder why we cant have IR without the casinos. ;)
When the race was on for the 5th Disneyland, saw a small report hidden in an obscure area in the newspaper that stated Singapore wasn't very keen on the project. Was rather perplexed by the decision. The reason finally come to light after so many years......

That's where I thought was an appropriate place for disneyland or any other theme park... but with a casino, the government will get more brickbat if they chose that area since it's so near to so many new towns.
Yeah...in fact I remember this was mentioned in the news a long time ago. If not for theme park, it was also considered as a possible site for a third university then.

BTW, it's time to announce the new MRT line now! Even if they start building now, it won't be completed before 2010.

Huh...why the sudden exclaimation on something totally irrelevant??? :lol:

Huh...why the sudden exclaimation on something totally irrelevant??? :lol:I meant the MRT line that brings everybody to the doorstep of Marina IR mar. still relevant right? :runaway:

Oh..haha. I have not heard they have a schedule to annouce this "marina line" anytime now?

I'm not sure it's still part of the plans, is it ?
Both Raffles Place and Marina Bay won't be that far from the IR, once the walkways are completed. And I think there will be an underground link connecting Raffles Place to the BFC site, so possibly all the way to the IR as well ?

There was also that plan to build a promenade around the bay, and a pedestrain bridge, allowing you to walk easily from the Esaplande to the Casino. :D

Singapore approved a controversial proposal to legalise casino gambling, clearing the way for two casino resorts worth US$3 billion to bring in tourist dollars and overhaul the island's strait-laced image.

In his first major policy decision since taking power in August, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has unveiled plans to build one casino on Marina Bay near the city centre and one on the resort island of Sentosa.

'We cannot stand still. The whole region is on the move,' Lee said, citing statistics showing Singapore receiving 6 percent of Asia-Pacific tourists in 2002, down from 8 per cent in 1998. 'If we don't change, where will we be in 20 years?'

The casinos are central to Singapore's ambitious target of doubling tourist numbers to 17 million a year, tripling annual tourist spending to US$18 billion, creating about 100,000 jobs and overturning the stereotype of a staid, sleepy island.

It opens a new avenue for tapping the growing affluence of Asian travellers, especially as China's middle class swells.

China's southern city of Macau, boasting 17 casinos, saw its economy expand 28 per cent in real terms in 2004.

But the plan provoked a rare open policy debate over whether the economic benefits would outweigh potential risks of gambling addiction and crime. 'Casi-NO' bumper stickers adorned some cars. Internet chat rooms buzzed with debate on the topic.

The decision comes as big casino operators are turning to Asia for expansion, and could spur Thailand, India, Taiwan and Japan into legalising casinos after explosive growth in casinos in the Chinese city of Macau, analysts say.

Singapore has received 19 proposals from nearly every big name in the global casino business -- including Las Vegas giants Harrah's Entertainment, MGM Mirage, Kerzner International, Wynn Resorts, and Australia's TabCorp Holdings.

'Several bidders said this would be their flagship project in Asia,' Lee said. Potential developers include Singapore's CapitaLand and Keppel Land.

The casinos, expected to open in 2009, will form the epicentre of two resorts boasting theme parks, shopping plazas, convention halls, 1,500 to 2,000 room hotels and museums. The resorts alone would generate 35,000 jobs, Lee said.

US investment bank Merrill Lynch estimates one casino resort alone would cost about US$2 billion to build, have an enterprise value of about $4.8 billion with a third of its estimated $2.1 billion a year in revenues coming from tourists.

Some bidders have been selected to submit a second proposal, the next phase in a selection process that ends in December with the awarding of licenses to build the projects.

The casino is part of plan to remould Singapore's economy as China's rapid economic growth erodes its manufacturing base and cities such as Bangkok compete for tourist dollars. Nomura Singapore economist Tomo Kinoshita reckons just one casino resort could boost the economy by 0.6 percentage point.

The decision came after spirited debate.

One group, 'Families Against the Casino Threat in Singapore', gathered 29,516 signatures in an online petition to stop it, while two opposition parties formally opposed the plan.

Founding prime minister Lee Kuan Yew, the premier's father, expressed concern before later saying it made economic sense.

'There is definitely a lot of concern in the community,' said Fong Hoe Fang, the 50-year-old founder of the online petition. 'It is so sad that after years of keeping the casino at bay, Singapore finally has to blink.'

Singaporeans already bet heavily in lotteries, on cruise ships and via illegal bookmakers. Merrill Lynch estimates that a casino could capture up to 60 per cent of the $735 million Singaporeans spend each year gambling abroad.

To reduce the risks of gambling addiction, crime and other social ills, the government said it would restrict access for locals through membership fees of S$100 ($62) per day or S$2,000 a year. The casinos also cannot extend credit to local residents.

Its often because of articles like these, which carries a certain tone when reporting things in Singapore, that somehow shapes western opinions on affairs here it seems. I mean....yes, it has to be salient, but somehow, I could also sense the underlying messages it is trying to suggest. I do wonder if I would agree with those...

The thread title is, given present circumstances, a misnomer.

There is a special on today's The Star (Malaysia's best-selling newspaper) on the Singapore casino and everything is kinda neutral or positive. ;) So far.....all Malaysian news article had been positive except for some comments by some Johor politician which seems to see the casino as an 'evil establishment' across the causeway. Or maybe that's jealousy? :D

I'll try to find it....hmmmmmm :)

Here's the 1st of the 3 special articles that appeared on the centerspread of today's paper ;)








It’s content, content, content



Now that Singapore has entered the lucrative world of casino-resorts, what form should they take? Three writers reckon the island state can do much better than brash Vegas with subtle Asian style.





VEGAS, baby, Vegas! The line from the 1996 movie Swingers sums up Las Vegas in all its glittery, ticky-tacky glory.

No wonder then that it drew 41.4 million visitors last year, not just gamblers, but also plenty of families and businessmen attending conventions.

Now that the Singapore Government has given the go-ahead for two integrated resorts (IRs) incorporating casinos, the question arises as to what exactly will be included in these mega-complexes.






http://www.thestar.com.my/archives/2005/4/24/features/sm_12caesars.jpg

Caesars Palace has built a US$95mil, 4,000- seat Coliseum auditorium for Celine Dion.








Gaming, it has been emphasised, will take up only 3% to 5% of the floor space.

Vegas provides an instructive example of what’s possible. The mother of all casino hotspots since 1941 has not aged but has continually refreshed its appeal with non-casino draws.

There are family-friendly resorts like Circus Circus and Treasure Island, and attractions like Freemont Street Experience, a stunning state-of-the-art light and laser show unfolding over five blocks of glass-enclosed streets.

It is an entertainment capital, boasting star fixtures like Celine Dion and Cirque du Soleil.

It has even got hip quotient, thanks to sleek new resorts like Rio and The Palms – which attract megawatt revellers like J. Lo and Matt Damon – known as much for their happening clubs as for gambling.

Vegas has even got culture – the 7,660-sq ft Guggenheim Hermitage Museum. Okay, so the collaboration between two world-respected institutions, which opened in 2001, has sloppily-curated, second-string exhibitions. But, hey, it is a start.

Gamblers pour an estimated US$8bil (RM$30.4bil) a year into the city’s coffers. But the city’s real income is doubled when revenue from hotel, food and beverage and other tourist expenditures are factored in.

That is nothing to sniff at. Singapore’s IRs can draw useful lessons, but instead of offering brash American neon, it should go for subtle Asian class.

That means the perpetual bugbear of Singapore’s arts and entertainment scene – scarcity of talent – is going to bite. Because the keyword is content, content and content.

Vegas willingly coughs up big bucks for top-drawer acts. Caesars Palace is not only paying Dion US$3.3mil (RM12.5mil) a year for three years, but it also built a US$95mil (RM361mil), 4,000-seat Coliseum auditorium for her.

MGM Mirage’s bill for its Cirque du Soleil show, Ka, added up to a US$135mil (RM513mil), 1,900-seat theatre and some US$15mil (RM57mil) more in production costs.

These numbers work out in the end when you consider that tickets in Vegas start from a pricey US$75 (RM285) to top out at a whopping US$225 (RM855). The latter incidentally is the price tag if you want to get up close to Dion’s gold-plated pipes.

The crucial lesson here is that if you have the star attraction, you can charge heavyweight prices because the crowds cannot resist big names.

So what the IRs here need will be arts and entertainment extravaganzas on a par with these attractions, but with an Eastern bent and Asian talent.

Instead of a carbon copy of Treasure Island on Sentosa, how about a wuxia-themed resort with a show choreographed by Matrix maestro Yuen Wo Ping?







http://www.thestar.com.my/archives/2005/4/24/features/sm_12rio.jpg

Las Vegas has even got hip quotient, thanks to sleek new resorts like Rio – which attract megawatt revellers like J.Lo and Matt Damon – known as much for their happening clubs as for gambling.








Rather than think Western draws like Dion and Cirque du Soleil, why not build a theatre, and a show, around say J-pop idol Ayumi Hamasaki, Taiwan boyband F4 or even Hong Kong legend Sam Hui?

Asia is also an untapped well for performing arts troupes with the potential to offer novel world-class acts.

Japan’s crowd-pleasing dance troupe, the Condors, for example, could be an arthouse crossover on a par with Vegas’ popular Blue Man Group.

Jacky Cheung’s celebrated musical Snow.Wolf.Lake could be a permanent big-ticket draw.

How about Vietnamese water puppets and Indonesian wayang kulit? After all, Broadway’s The Lion King uses puppets to great success.

It would not hurt either to commission the best of Asia’s architectural talents to build something that would rival Frank Gehry’s Bilbao Guggenheim.

Tokyo’s Shigeru Ban and Yoshio Taniguchi, who reconceived New York’s Museum of Modern Art, are talents who could probably dream up something outrageous to put Singapore on the architectural map.

To recap, the additional attractions need to be polished world-class draws. In other words, no half-hearted tourist trap scenarios like, say, Igor’s dinner theatre offerings.

Approving IRs is only the first roll of the dice.

By taking to heart the lessons other destination resorts have to offer, Singapore can load the dice in its favour.

After all, the house always wins. – Asia News Network

Make a big deal of it

BY YVONNE KWOK




IMAGINATION and a strong branding are the elements that will transform Singapore’s two proposed integrated resorts (IRs) into world-class tourist attractions.

With casinos taking up just 3% to 5% of total floor area in both resorts located at Sentosa and Marina Bay, it will take a good deal more than just gambling to lure the tourist dollar.

From exciting theme parks to spectacular shows and shops, the IRs should be all-in-one stops that cater to non-gamblers as well, as evidenced by successful outfits such as Las Vegas’ The Venetian and the Bahamas’ Atlantis.







http://thestar.com.my/archives/2005/4/24/features/sm_12arena.jpg

There’s a good deal more than gambling to lure the tourist dollar … why not model something after the 40-yearold hillside resort of Genting Highlands, which boasts a 6,000-seat concert hall that has been graced by the likes of Andy Lau and Jacky Cheung?









Closer to home, the 40-year-old hillside resort of Genting Highlands boasts an amusement park with ever-changing rides such as a hang-gliding roller coaster and a 6,000-seat concert hall that boasts gigs by the likes of Andy Lau and Jacky Cheung.

The IR in Marina Bay is envisioned as an architectural icon that will draw business and convention visitors while the one in Sentosa is targeted at families.

But while it is easy to point out the attractions each resort should have, developers will need to keep reinventing both to keep visitors coming.

Competition is brutal with the likes of Macau, Hong Kong and Australia posing potent competition.

As frequent traveller Caroline Wong, director of marketing communications for HBO Asia, puts it: ‘It’s all about ‘what have you done for me lately?’” – Asia News Network

So what elements will work?




SUJIN THOMAS’ wish-list of what Singapore’s integrated resorts should have – and suggestions of what developers should avoid.





Go big on themes


RATHER than opt for a typical resort approach, be bold. Think Las Vegas’ over-the-top casino and entertainment complex Excalibur with its medieval architecture as well as the Luxor Las Vegas Resort Hotel and Casino with its elaborate re-creation of the gaudy decadence of ancient Egypt.

Everything – from hotel rooms and staff costumes to shopping arcades – follows the design theme to a T.







http://thestar.com.my/archives/2005/4/24/features/sm_13spa.jpg

Singapore’s IRs should have its own mega day spas that echo the resorts’ themes.






In this light, Singapore’s IRs could distinguish themselves from their Western counterparts by going Asian.

How about a 16th-century Siamese palatial reconstruction or colonial era-Singapore circa 1819?

“I think the challenge is for them to accurately create a theme with authenticity. Choosing themes carefully is also important to suit visitors,” says Mr George Ong, 27, an electrical engineer.







Hold me, thrill me, kiss me


Out go the quaint rides: the ferris wheel, the rotating octopus arms, and, awww, the tea cup. Leave those to the heartland amusement parks.

Singaporeans have been salivating for world-class thrills. A good example is the famous Knott’s Berry Farm in California which has such death-defying rides like The Xcelerator, a roller coaster ride that goes from zero to 128km per hour in 2.3 seconds, and the Supreme Scream, a ride that raises thrill-seekers to a height of 30 storeys and drops them to ground level in three seconds.

The farm is part of a sprawling resort in California which has a water theme park, a shopping and food mall and a resort hotel.

However, Mr John Ting, 49, an architect, says: “We may not be able to replicate the same kind of rides as the ones in the United States basically because our weather is unpredictable.”





The show must go on


Gambling not your cup of tea? The resorts here should take a leaf from the Las Vegas show scene.





http://thestar.com.my/archives/2005/4/24/features/sm_13roller.jpg

Incorporate world-class thrills to tantalise the masses.






The place is famous for outre Broadway extravaganzas put on by the likes of singers Cher, Celine Dion and Elton John; and performers like standup comedian Jerry Seinfeld and entertainer Wayne Newton.

Singapore should have a similar staple of Asian and international acts.

The casino at Marina Bay can sign artistes who have cross-nation appeal such as Malaysia’s Siti Nurhaliza, J-pop idol Ayumi Hamasaki and American glam rock legends Kiss. These shows must be refreshed once or twice a year to keep audiences coming back.







Prime cuts only



Everybody loves food. Get premium stores like London’s Harrods to replicate its ambrosia of gastronomical delights in a mega-store setting.

Think shelf-to-shelf stocked with specially imported high-end foods such as Norwegian salmon, European boutique beers and French caviar.

Even small-quantity production items such as Camembert cheese from a family-run business in Wisconsin or wine from a small winery in South Australia’s Barossa Valley could become big business draws.

Such supermarkets would offer an experience that will set themselves apart from shopping at a neighbourhood grocer. The key is exclusivity – products and services need not be pricey but should be available only at these outlets.






Buy me the best

Have concept stores rather than run-of-the-mill shops which you find in any shopping mall in town centres and even Orchard Road. Think Toys ‘R’ Us in New York with its 18m-tall ferris wheel.





Pamper me silly

Just as The Sentosa Hotel has Spa Botanica, which is set in the tranquillity of a garden setting, so should Singapore’s IRs have its own mega day spas that echo the resorts’ respective themes.

Imagine yourself soaking in a Roman bathhouse or a Japanese hot spring bath.




Child’s play

The resorts should be for the whole family. While adults are busy shopping and rolling their dice at the casinos, the kids can be let loose in a haven exclusively tailored for them.

Why not reconstruct the whole set of the Hollywood movie The Pirates Of The Caribbean in a mega day care centre, and get the children to set in their own mini-adventures?





Better where it’s wetter

WHY limit yourself to activities above ground? Explore the waterfront location of the two IRs at Sentosa and the Marina.

Red Sea Star, a restaurant located off Israel’s Eilat Bay, was built 6m below sea level. Imagine the experience of sipping champagne and slicing into a slab of smoked salmon steak while colourful wild marine fish swim past.

Water activities like jet-skiing and wakeboarding could also cater to the growing interest in sea sports. – Asia News Network

Wah sekali they stage PCK musical in disneyland. Hmmmmmmmmmmmmm....



Hahahhaha....that is not bad enuf and it won't happen because PCK isn't an intellectual right of Disney ;)

I could however imagine PCK having a permanent show ala Celine Dion's at Caesars Palace :D

That would be funny! :rofl:

Hm..come to think of it....you do know there is an upcoming PCK musical, dont you? :D

http://www.mediacorpsingapore.com/005_radio/2000/20000424_4b.htm

ANITA SARAWAK

http://www.mediacorpsingapore.com/005_radio/2000/images/20000424_4d.jpg

Our home-grown star is now based in Las Vegas and performs at the Caesars Palace regularly. Although she just celebrated her 48th birthday last month, Anita still looks stunning and confident and has enormous stage presence. Her fluency in both English and Malay reflects her versatility, and recently, she has even extended her talents to the fashion scene and now has a fashion line to her name.



Having been married three times, Anita still remains on good terms with her ex-husbands. She keeps herself occupied by working out at least an hour daily and singing and her new fashion interest. She declares that 'being lonely' and 'sleeping' are not in her vocabulary, indicating her dedication to work and her strength of character.

Anita calls herself not a diva, but 'an entertainer'. She enjoys performing very much and has recently had to deal with the death of both her parents. The superstar also wants to adopt children when she finally settles down with the right man… why not have her own children? "There are so many suffering children in the world." Anita firmly insists on a strong marriage foundation before she will have children, as she wants her kids to have both parents around so that she will not repeat her own experience of knowing her father only when she was nine years old.

25 April 2005

Keppel Land and Harrah's JV gets invitation to submit plans for integrated resorts

Singapore : Keppel Land Limited announced that Keppel Land Investment Pte Ltd's joint venture with Harrah's Asia Pte Ltd has been invited by the Singapore government to submit plans for two world-class iconic destination resorts in formal proposals.

It said on Monday that the proposed integrated resorts of the joint venture will aim to present a must-have destination experience in Asia.

It will leverage on the complementary and combined strengths of the joint venture partners, offering the best in their entertainment, hospitality and leisure capabilities as well as extraordinary designs from world-celebrated architects. - CNA /ch

Copyright © 2005 MCN International Pte Ltd

April 25, 2005
Wynn Resorts moves ahead with casino proposal

SINGAPORE - US casino operator Wynn Resorts has advanced to the second round in the bidding to build casinos in Singapore, the company said on Monday.

'The company has been notified by the Singapore Tourism Board that it has qualified to participate in the request for (a) proposal for an Integrated Resort that will be issued by the Singapore Government in the second quarter of 2005,' the Las Vegas-based operator said in a statement.

After months of debate, Singapore said last week that it would lift a decades-old ban to allow the building of two resorts with casinos, in a bid to boost tourism and overhaul Singapore's image.

Singapore received 19 proposals for casinos. The Singapore Tourism Board began meeting last week with some of the bidders.

The STB refuses to say how many groups made the cut. -- AP

Copyright © 2005 Singapore Press Holdings. All rights reserved.

April 25, 2005
Growing pains
Are we playing roulette with S'pore's culture?
Social ills aside, there's yet another issue to consider when it comes to casinos

By Don Shiau

OVER the past few months, every last argument has been drawn out in the casino debate.

By now, the opinions are so familiar we can almost recite them without feeling. There seems to be nothing new to bring to the table. Or is there?

Some people have pointed to how, since last Monday's announcement, the debate ceased to be one of casinos and became a debate on integrated resorts (IRs), of which casinos are just a small part.

There is talk that this shift in emphasis is the Government's way of cooling down a potato that has grown too hot to handle.

Perhaps this is true. I feel, however, that there is a much larger issue at stake.

Unlike many vocal Singaporeans, I do not have any intellectual or emotional leaning for or against casinos.

But I do have an interest in, and will be affected by, the development of the resorts.

I fear the attention paid to gambling's social consequences ignores the fact that building world-class tourist attractions has social consequences of its own.

Come 2009, our own Luxors and Caesar's Palaces will not only pull in tourists and create 35,000 jobs by bringing in international brands and offering first-class entertainment in a big way.

They will also diversify the consumption patterns of Singaporeans.

They will become the haunts of the new rich. This will no doubt irritate the heartlander-cosmopolitan divide here - a worrying trend Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong drew attention to some six years ago.

Changes in our physical landscape, such as the construction of the Esplanade, the new National Library building and 50-storey HDB flats, are not merely cosmetic. They also incur changes in our cultural landscape.

I believe we are on the cusp of a transformation that will render the Singapore of today as unrecognisable to the youth of tomorrow as the attap-and-bullock Singapore of my father's childhood is to me.

The effects of such changes reach further and run deeper than families broken by gambling addiction.

I am not saying this is any more a pressing concern than the adverse effects of gambling, or it is any easier to deal with. For all I know, it may turn out to be a non-issue in time to come.

The Government have said that the casinos will occupy only 3 to 5 per cent of land allocated for development. Yet, it should be prepared to acknowledge that the other 95 to 97 per cent of the resorts will leave an indelible mark on the people too.

-- The writer is pursuing his honours degree at the National University of Singapore.

CHANGING LANDSCAPE

MORE ATTRACTIONS NEEDED TO DRAW TOURISTS

'If Singapore does not possess differentiated attractions that give tourists reason to spend more time here... there is no reason why they will not go elsewhere.

Even with two IRs, attractions need to be added... This can include promoting ecological attractions like Chek Jawa and reinvigorating the heartlands of mature HDB estates... by arranging more guided tours to such areas.'
-- CHRISTOPHER CHOO, Singapore Management University

DEBATE HIGHLIGHTED EVERYBODY'S CONCERNS

'The concerns of the people are clear: social problems like gambling addiction. The concern of the Government is economic.

The debate managed to highlight these two concerns... Support groups and measures to curb addiction have been introduced...

It was likely that, had no debate taken place, such measures might not have been implemented.'
-- DAHLIAWATI M. AMIN, Singapore Management University

MORALS ARE IMPORTANT, BUT SO IS OUR SURVIVAL

'Before any government can spend money for the benefit of its citizens, it has to generate the money.

I don't think I can explain to my child 30 years down the road that he has to suffer increased taxation and lower subsidies because we lost the revenue the casinos could have provided.

Morals are important, but our survival is equally important.'
-- AARON NG, National University of Singapore

Copyright © 2005 Singapore Press Holdings. All rights reserved

Source: Online Casinos News Staff
Saturday, 23 April 2005

Singapore’s plan to open two casinos has given rise to concern from two of China’s Special Administrative Regions (SAR), but Chinese tourism officials believe that the new casinos shouldn’t affect Chinese tourism to Hong Kong or Macau.

Since Singapore is not as close to Mainland China as the two SARs, many believe that it doesn’t pose a significant threat to their economies. In addition, both Hong Kong and Macau have special tourist attractions that set it apart from other tourist destinations. Hong Kong is known as the “Gateway to China” and has many festivals, including the Flower Festival, the Buddha Festival, and the Dragon Boat Festival. Macau, on the other hand, has landmarks of Chinese heritage and history.

In addition, Macau is fast becoming the most popular casino destination. Revenues have grown 30% in the past three years, while there has only been a 4% revenue growth in Las Vegas, currently considered the number one gaming city in the world. Las Vegas made US$5.3 billion last year, but Macau wasn’t far behind with US 5 billion in revenues. With the Macau gambling industry fast rivaling that of Las Vegas, Chinese tourism officials are convinced that Singapore’s two casinos pose virtually no threat to its SARs, particularly Macau.

25 April 2005

Peermont wants to bring Asian Louvre to Singapore
By Thomas Cho, Channel NewsAsia

SINGAPORE : South Africa's Peermont Global plans to feature Asian arts in integrated resort in Singapore if it is finally selected for the project.

Peermont told Channel NewsAsia its final proposal will include an Asian version of the famous Louvre museum, with a high-rise postcard iconic structure standing at the Marina Bayfront.

Peermont said it supported the idea of having two integrated resorts here, as it would bring in a critical mass of tourists.

South Africa's Peermont Global is better known as a resort operator.

But it hopes to make a bigger name for itself globally by developing an integrated resort in Singapore.

Said Ernie Joubert, chief executive of Peermont Global, "Our project will include a museum, a gallery for Asian contemporary art. We do not intend to have another Guggenheim style museum. What we intend to do is something unique to Asia. What we would like to do is to celebrate the Asian artists who maybe currently do not have the profile worldwide."

Peermont prefers Marina Bayfront for their project as it offers a higher revenue potential and a bigger space for the resort.

And it is not deterred by the limitation of using less than 3 percent of the gross floor area at the Marina resort for gaming.

Mr Joubert said, "That allows 2,500 slot machines. By any standard worldwide, it is quite a large casino and the table gaming is unlimited. So, on one hand, there is a limitation but on the hand, there is no limitation. And of course with 1,500 square metres available, that presents a limitation; we do not think it is a problem at all."

Sharing Mr Joubert's view as well was Harrah's Entertainment.

The US gaming operator believes that the key is to attract tourists to Singapore.

Said Charles Atwood, Harrah's chief financial officer, "Many of these attractions I think will be part of the offerings intended to bring million of tourists to Singapore."

Peermont expects such huge investments to have a payback period of around seven years. - CNA /ct

Copyright © 2005 MCN International Pte Ltd

Business Times - 25 Apr 2005

Keppel Land to submit formal casino plans

SINGAPORE - Mainboard-listed property firm Keppel Land Ltd said Keppel Land Investment Pte Ltd's joint venture with Harrah's Asia Pte Ltd has been invited by the Singapore government to submit plans for two world-class iconic destination resorts in formal proposals.

The proposed integrated resorts of the joint venture will aim to present a must-have destination experience in Asia, leveraging the complementary and combined strengths of the joint venture partners, offering the best in their entertainment, hospitality and leisure capabilities as well as extraordinary designs from world-celebrated architects, its announcement to SGX said on Monday.

Wynn Resorts moves ahead with casino proposal

US casino operator Wynn Resorts Ltd has advanced to the second round in the bidding to build casinos in Singapore, the company said.

'The company has been notified by the Singapore Tourism Board that it has qualified to participate in the request for (a) proposal for an Integrated Resort that will be issued by the Singapore Government in the second quarter of 2005,' the Las Vegas-based operator said in a statement.

After months of debate, Singapore said last week that it would lift a decades-old ban to allow the building of two resorts with casinos, in a bid to boost tourism and overhaul Singapore's image.

Singapore received 19 proposals for casinos. The Singapore Tourism Board began meeting last week with some of the bidders.

The tourism body refuses to say how many groups made the cut.

Copyright © 2005 Singapore Press Holdings Ltd. All rights reserved.

http://sg.yimg.com/i/sg/providers/reuters.gif

April 25
FACTBOX-Singapore draws up shortlist for casino bids

SINGAPORE, April 25 (Reuters) - Singapore, which last week approved casino gambling in the city-state, is putting together a shortlist of bidders for two planned casino resorts.

Following are key details of the plan.

* Successful syndicates to be announced in December with construction starting in June 2006 and resorts to open in 2009.

* Operators from the United States to Australia have been drawn by the call for an "iconic" development complete with performance venues, luxury hotels and a museum.

* Two land parcels for the project have been set aside -- a 12 hectare (30 acre) waterfront plot in downtown Marina Bayfront and 35 ha (87 acres) on the resort island of Sentosa. * Merrill Lynch believes the resorts will have combined investment of US$3.5-4 billion and could possibly be the most expensive casino developments in the world.

The following gaming operators and property developers are confirmed to be on the shortlist. Some have also provided estimates of their possible investments:

* Keppel Land Ltd. and Harrah's Entertainment Inc. - Marina/Sentosa. Design concept by Studio Daniel Libeskind. Libeskind was the master planner of the "Freedom Tower" at New York's Ground Zero.

Harrah's, the world's largest casino operator with the completion of its acquisition of Caesars Entertainment Inc. , has also said it would seek a local listing for its Singapore venture if awarded the bids.

* CapitaLand Ltd. and MGM Mirage - Marina. On its way to become the world's second-biggest casino operator, MGM Mirage runs Las Vegas resorts such as the Luxor, the Bellagio.

* CapitaLand Ltd. and Kerzner International Ltd. - Sentosa. Kerzner's Atlantis resorts have been cited by the Singapore government as a business model where only a quarter of earnings are generated by gambling.

* Star Cruises Ltd. , Genting Bhd and Universal Studios - Marina/Sentosa.

* TabCorp Holdings Ltd. with a likely partnership with Village Leisure, a division of theme park operator Village Roadshow Ltd. - one casino for either Marina or Sentosa. Design by Arata Isozaki, who designed the Los Angeles Museum of Contemporary Arts. The planned resort is believed to feature an aquarium large enough for a whale.

* Peermont Global - Marina site. The South African firm is looking to find a local majority-stake partner for its proposed plan worth more than $2 billion.

* Wynn Resorts Ltd. - Marina (about $1 billion). Headed by gaming impresario Steve Wynn whose opulent $2.7 billion casino recently opened in Las Vegas. The firm could be in talks with local developer City Developments Ltd. (CityDev) for a partnership.

The following groups have submitted concept ideas but have not said whether they are on the shortlist:

* Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide Inc. and Eighth Wonder - possibly the most expensive proposal for Sentosa island ($1.8 billion).

* Las Vegas-based CPAmerica Inc. and Innovation Properties - Marina/Sentosa ($1.5 billion).

* Las Vegas Sands Corp. - rumoured Guggenheim Museum involvement. The firm operates the Venetian in Las Vegas and operates a successful Macau casino. Las Vegas Sands is said to be in talks with local developers, possibly Hotel Properties Ltd. or CityDev.

* Macau casino mogul Stanley Ho's Melco International Development Ltd. and Australia's Publishing and Broadcasting Ltd. - Marina (S$2.5 million). The group has hired I.M. Pei, the architect behind Hong Kong's Bank of China building and the Lourve's glass pyramid in Paris.

The following groups may have submitted idea proposals:

* Sky City Entertainment Group Ltd. .

* Sino Land Co. Ltd. .

* Stanley Leisure Organisation Plc. .

* Barrick Gaming Corp.

* Hotel Properties Ltd.

* South Africa's Sun International Ltd. .

($1=1.6444 Singapore dollar)

Copyright © 2005Reuters Limited. All rights reserved.

SINGAPORE : The Singapore Tourism Board has released the list of 14 groups who have been invited to submit final proposals for two integrated resorts in Singapore.

As Channel NewsAsia reported earlier, the list includes big names in the gaming industry like US operators Harrah's Entertainment, Wynn Resorts, MGM Mirage, Kerzner International, Eighth Wonder and Las Vegas Sands.



Australia's TabCorp and PBL/Melco, and South Africa's Sun International and Peermont Global are also on the list, as well as Malaysia's Genting International.

But there were surprise entrants in the list, including little known US gaming company, Argosy.

Singapore's developer Guocoland and a partnership between Ong Beng Seng's HPL Properties and departmental store Metro Holdings are also in the race.

Last week, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong mentioned Mr Ong during the debate in Parliament on the integrated resort issue.

"Mr Ong Beng Seng found out that the house always wins and decided to be on the other side. He bought a casino and later sold it for a good profit," said Mr Lee.

The list means that Hong Kong's New Century Group and Macau's Greek Mythology have had their concept proposals rejected.

STB said this was because they did not comply fully with requirements. - CNA

S'pore, HK in running for US$250m Guggenheim

26 Apr 05

Museum project will fill missing Asian link in world network, says director

By PARVATHI NAYAR


(SINGAPORE) Singapore could fill a missing link in the world-famous Guggenheim museum chain. Thomas Krens, director of the Solomon R Guggenheim Foundation, indicated yesterday that the city-state is in the running with Hong Kong for the project - which will be on a spectacular scale.


http://business-times.asia1.com.sg/mnt/media/image/launched/2005-04-26/pnkrens-232131.jpg
How spectacular? Judging by a glimpse at preliminary plans, think 40 storeys high - and a construction cost of as much as US$250 million.

Mr Krens, who is visiting Singapore to present the vision, refused to be pinned down by figures yesterday, but said the museum will be 'better' than the acclaimed Guggenheim in the Spanish city of Bilbao.

His comments add weight to a bid by Las Vegas Sands Corp - one of 14 companies to make the second stage of the integrated resort (IR) exercise - with a concept that includes a Guggenheim museum.

Singapore Tourism Board executive Chang Chee Pey said yesterday that 19 submissions from 16 companies were received in the first stage of the exercise - Request for Concepts - and that two companies failed to make the second - Request for Proposals - stage.

They are New Century Group Hong Kong and Greek Mythology Entertainment Group. The two 'did not comply with the requirements set out in the RFC', Mr Chang said.

But there's also a surprise entrant in the list, US-based Argosy Gaming, which operates entertainment complexes in Baton Rouge, Chicago, Cincinnati, Kansas City, St Louis and Sioux City.

Where does Mr Krens' Guggenheim vision fit in? He is looking to complete the two missing links of a global network of museums - Latin America, where there is a proposal in the Mexican city of Guadalajara, and Asia.

For the Asian link, there are two Guggenheim bids - proposed as part of Singapore's IR and Hong Kong's West Kowloon Cultural District project. A glimpse of what a Guggenheim museum here could look like is exciting, going by a dramatic concept the Guggenheim foundation has commissioned from Baghdad-born, internationally acclaimed architect Zaha Hadid.

Hadid's plans take on board Singapore's desire for an 'architectural icon' by proposing a free-standing museum on the waterfront. It would be some 40 storeys high - but all that height would be divided into just 15 floors to create soaring exhibition spaces including a huge atrium on a scale resonant with that in the original Guggenheim museum in New York City.

Space would be reserved for exhibits and commissioned artwork from Asia. And structurally, the building could incorporate Asian elements such as Islamic grille-work to integrate interiors and exteriors.

It would also include educational facilities, a 500-seat auditorium and a space leading to the entrance large enough to hold, say, a work being developed by American artist - and former commodity trader - Jeff Koons, which consists of a crane suspending a full-size steam locomotive 25 metres above the ground.

Going by these initial plans, the museum would add up to about 300,000 sq ft - and that's about 50,000 sq ft bigger than the Guggenheim in Bilbao. Add inflation since the Bilbao museum opened in 1997, plus the price of creating a 'spectacular' to top Bilbao's US$150 million construction cost, and the figure could be US$250 million - the potential cost of a Zaha Hadid proposal for a Guggenheim in Taiwan that did not go through.

When these numbers were put to Mr Krens yesterday, he did not refute them. But nor would he commit to figures at this stage. Nothing is cast in stone yet, he said. The images and ideas are simply Guggenheim's calling card to show what it is capable of. What Guggenheim is floating is 'the scale and ambition of the project' rather than the details, he said. But several themes emerged from his comments on the museum that is proposed. It would showcase 'international, cutting-edge, contemporary art' and have 'access to Guggenheim's international network of museums'. It would also seek to be a part of Singapore's network of cultural institutions, such as the Singapore Art Museum, the Asian Civilisations Museum and the Singapore Tyler Print Institute.

Listing the major exhibitions hosted by Guggenheim in the past five years - six of the 18 were Asian - Mr Krens said he sees major cultural 'narratives' coming out of Asia.

'We see ourselves as an international museum and act that way already,' he said. 'We have the credentials to operate as an Asian museum.'

Although Mr Krens clearly wants an Asian Guggenheim museum, he would not get into an 'auction' between Singapore and Hong Kong as an eventual venue. He said he and his team are here to present their vision and to see whether it is 'consistent with the expectations' of what Singapore wants.

OMG WE MUST HAVE THE GUGGENHEIM! SKYSCRAPER MUSEUM!

yes..hope we get it :eat:

so it is going to be a tall structure, according to that proposal :cool:

now... the complex has a 40 storey tall museum, hotel as large as the three marina centre hotels, so that would be how many skyscrapers?

that depends...they could have more short skyscrapers, or house more rooms in one massive tall one....I want tall!

but based on URA's last plan I saw, the heights there were planned to be 30-40 something storey?

hrmm if only no height limits there could be somthing super spectacular. imagine a 700m tower there - the real centre of the city! just the right position imho. maybe we could have the biuldings arranged like the uhmmm El Temple Expiatori de la Sagrada Família - gambling as the ultimate religion!

let me find a picture of the complete temple expiatori de la sagarada famílianow..

this a screencap of a model of the complete temple i managed to find. click on it to go to the website where you click on 'model'

http://img188.echo.cx/img188/848/templedelasagradafamilia3fb.jpg (http://www.sagradafamilia.org/eng/home/arquitect.htm)

I dont think they would build that in Singapore though, I know its supposed to be iconic, but that is very jarring with the skyline

of course not, i was imagining the casino could be built to copy the layout of the temple :p in a style suitable locally of course.

omg..lets hope Singapore gets the Guggenheim:yes::yes:

S'pore, HK in running for US$250m Guggenheim

26 Apr 05

Museum project will fill missing Asian link in world network, says director

By PARVATHI NAYAR


(SINGAPORE) Singapore could fill a missing link in the world-famous Guggenheim museum chain. Thomas Krens, director of the Solomon R Guggenheim Foundation, indicated yesterday that the city-state is in the running with Hong Kong for the project - which will be on a spectacular scale.


http://business-times.asia1.com.sg/mnt/media/image/launched/2005-04-26/pnkrens-232131.jpg
How spectacular? Judging by a glimpse at preliminary plans, think 40 storeys high - and a construction cost of as much as US$250 million.

Mr Krens, who is visiting Singapore to present the vision, refused to be pinned down by figures yesterday, but said the museum will be 'better' than the acclaimed Guggenheim in the Spanish city of Bilbao.

His comments add weight to a bid by Las Vegas Sands Corp - one of 14 companies to make the second stage of the integrated resort (IR) exercise - with a concept that includes a Guggenheim museum.

Singapore Tourism Board executive Chang Chee Pey said yesterday that 19 submissions from 16 companies were received in the first stage of the exercise - Request for Concepts - and that two companies failed to make the second - Request for Proposals - stage.

They are New Century Group Hong Kong and Greek Mythology Entertainment Group. The two 'did not comply with the requirements set out in the RFC', Mr Chang said.

But there's also a surprise entrant in the list, US-based Argosy Gaming, which operates entertainment complexes in Baton Rouge, Chicago, Cincinnati, Kansas City, St Louis and Sioux City.

Where does Mr Krens' Guggenheim vision fit in? He is looking to complete the two missing links of a global network of museums - Latin America, where there is a proposal in the Mexican city of Guadalajara, and Asia.

For the Asian link, there are two Guggenheim bids - proposed as part of Singapore's IR and Hong Kong's West Kowloon Cultural District project. A glimpse of what a Guggenheim museum here could look like is exciting, going by a dramatic concept the Guggenheim foundation has commissioned from Baghdad-born, internationally acclaimed architect Zaha Hadid.

Hadid's plans take on board Singapore's desire for an 'architectural icon' by proposing a free-standing museum on the waterfront. It would be some 40 storeys high - but all that height would be divided into just 15 floors to create soaring exhibition spaces including a huge atrium on a scale resonant with that in the original Guggenheim museum in New York City.

Space would be reserved for exhibits and commissioned artwork from Asia. And structurally, the building could incorporate Asian elements such as Islamic grille-work to integrate interiors and exteriors.

It would also include educational facilities, a 500-seat auditorium and a space leading to the entrance large enough to hold, say, a work being developed by American artist - and former commodity trader - Jeff Koons, which consists of a crane suspending a full-size steam locomotive 25 metres above the ground.

Going by these initial plans, the museum would add up to about 300,000 sq ft - and that's about 50,000 sq ft bigger than the Guggenheim in Bilbao. Add inflation since the Bilbao museum opened in 1997, plus the price of creating a 'spectacular' to top Bilbao's US$150 million construction cost, and the figure could be US$250 million - the potential cost of a Zaha Hadid proposal for a Guggenheim in Taiwan that did not go through.

When these numbers were put to Mr Krens yesterday, he did not refute them. But nor would he commit to figures at this stage. Nothing is cast in stone yet, he said. The images and ideas are simply Guggenheim's calling card to show what it is capable of. What Guggenheim is floating is 'the scale and ambition of the project' rather than the details, he said. But several themes emerged from his comments on the museum that is proposed. It would showcase 'international, cutting-edge, contemporary art' and have 'access to Guggenheim's international network of museums'. It would also seek to be a part of Singapore's network of cultural institutions, such as the Singapore Art Museum, the Asian Civilisations Museum and the Singapore Tyler Print Institute.

Listing the major exhibitions hosted by Guggenheim in the past five years - six of the 18 were Asian - Mr Krens said he sees major cultural 'narratives' coming out of Asia.

'We see ourselves as an international museum and act that way already,' he said. 'We have the credentials to operate as an Asian museum.'

Although Mr Krens clearly wants an Asian Guggenheim museum, he would not get into an 'auction' between Singapore and Hong Kong as an eventual venue. He said he and his team are here to present their vision and to see whether it is 'consistent with the expectations' of what Singapore wants.

WAH!!!!!!! This is spectacular if they build it......:eek:

April 27, 2005
Bidder: Singaporeans can run resort and own a share of it too
South African firm promises top jobs, 50% ownership for S'poreans eventually

By Glenys Sim

SINGAPOREANS will eventually own a share of the integrated resort and hold top jobs in the project, a South African company has promised.

Making its pitch for the chance to build a mega-resort here, gaming and hotel operator Peermont Global said that if it wins the tender, it plans to list the resort and turn over more than 50 per cent ownership to Singaporeans.

Mr Ernie Joubert, the company's managing director and group CEO, said: 'It's such a controversial subject. People are saying: Why should all the opportunities be given away to foreigners?

'A gaming concession is a national asset. Locals should share in the benefits and success of such a project.'

Mr Joubert said Peermont's planned US$2 billion (S$3.3 billion) Marina Bayfront development would employ more than 5,000 people.

If successful, the company will set up a school to teach local staff the necessary hotel, restaurant, slot machine and gaming table skills.

'In the beginning, we'll bring in an experienced team that can develop and operate these facilities,' said Mr Joubert.

'With the high education standards and strong numerate ability here, all the jobs from entry level to senior management should eventually be filled by Singaporeans.'

Apart from hotels, convention space and food and retail outlets, Peermont's resort will also have an indoor amusement park, serviced apartments and a contemporary Asian art museum or gallery.

'There's no reason why Asia should follow existing models in the world. We hope the museum or gallery can focus on Asian art in the last 100 years and offer artists in the region a world-class platform to showcase their work,' he said.

For its bid, Peermont has teamed up with British design firm Atkins, the company behind the famous sail-shaped Burj Al Arab hotel in Dubai.

Mr Simon Criste, one of Atkins' architects, said Singapore is also looking for a similar 'iconic' structure, the one image that 'fully encapsulates the spirit of the city'.

'It must be simplistic enough that a five- or six-year-old can draw it in a couple of lines and you'll immediately recognise it, like the Eiffel Tower in Paris or the Opera House in Sydney,' said Mr Criste.

'It's not just about being unique, it's about something that will be intrinsically part of Singapore, recognisable worldwide.

'When a tourist comes here, it will be the symbol that he remembers 10, 20 years after his visit.'

Peermont's announcement follows Las Vegas casino operator Harrah's Entertainment's offer last December to sell shares in Singapore's casino resort. Harrah's has tied up with local developer Keppel Land to bid for the Marina Bayfront and Sentosa sites.

Copyright © 2005 Singapore Press Holdings. All rights reserved.

26 April 2005

Argosy Gaming pulls out of Singapore integrated resort race

SINGAPORE: Argosy Gaming of the US has pulled out of the bidding process to build one of Singapore's integrated resorts with casinos, citing its pending merger with Penn National Gaming.

Argosy said in a statement it was pleased to be shortlisted but it had to withdraw because the deadline for the final proposal was expected to be in the coming few months.

Argosy said it began work on the project in 2004, in response to a Request for Concept, when the timeframe for legalization of casino gaming in Singapore and development of the integrated resort project was unknown.

Argosy is in the process of merging with Penn National Gaming in a US$1.4b deal that will create the third largest casino company in the US.

In light of the pending merger, the two partners agreed not to move forward with the Singapore integrated resort bidding process. - CNA/ir

Copyright © 2005 MCN International Pte Ltd

Singapore resort will benefit us, says Matta


KUALA LUMPUR: Instead of having a negative impact, the Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (Matta) believes that the Malaysian tourism industry might benefit from an integrated resort in Singapore.

Its president Tunku Datuk Seri Iskandar Tunku Abdullah said tourists visited integrated resorts for reasons apart from the casino and that the casino was one component of a larger package.

“Many foreign tourists come with families for conventions, theme parks or sightseeing, and Malaysia still offers room, meals and shopping at better value than Singapore,” he said at a press conference following the Matta Fair 2005 prize presentation ceremony yesterday.

He said an integrated resort in Singapore might even enhance Malaysian tourism.

“The cake is big and what we often see in Asean is that whatever increases volume in one country is positive for the neighbours as there is always spillover traffic,” he said.

However, Tunku Iskandar warned that the country might lose much of the Singapore market if airfares between Singapore and Malaysia remained unrealistically high and low-cost carriers (LCCs) were still prevented from travelling between the two countries.

He said preventing LCCs to fly from Singapore to Malaysian domestic destinations, and forcing Singaporeans to travel to Johor to enjoy LCC services did not help Malaysian tourism.

“Singaporeans find it cheaper and more convenient to fly from Changi (airport in Singapore) to Medan, Phuket, Bangkok and even the Philippines than to Malaysian destinations,” he said.

He added that incoming tourism was expected to increase this year to 16.5 million people from 16 million, while the International Air Transport Association was predicting a seven to eight percent overall growth for travel.

Matta Fair 2005 organising committee chairman Ngiam Foon said the fair had been successful even though sales had dropped from RM85mil in March last year to RM80mil this year and visitor numbers had dropped from 76,000 to 72,000.

Las Vegas Sands plan is not only impressive but also agressive, even thinking of building Cruise Centre and LRT to link up the IR, see below:

金沙公司构思
　　度假胜地
　　富水乡情调

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

● 谢仲贤　林顺华

　　威尼斯河变新加坡河，贡多拉(Gondolas)变舢板。

　　想像乘着舢板畅游19世纪初的新加坡河，沿河两旁是甘榜屋和葱绿的树木，划船姑娘边摆渡，边哼小调。

　　如果拉斯维加斯金沙公司的构想被我国政府采纳，他们将把在拉斯维加斯以威尼斯为蓝图的度假胜地概念搬到新加坡。不同的是，威尼斯河将变成新加坡河，而意大利贡多拉将以富有本地色彩的舢板取代。

　　拉斯维加斯金沙公司是国际酒店与赌场业者，经营拉斯维加斯的威尼斯度假胜地与酒店。去年，该公司在澳门开赌场，打破澳门“赌王”何鸿燊垄断澳门赌场业40多年的局面。金沙也将在澳门兴建拉斯维加斯型的度假胜地，预计工程首阶段2007年完工。

　　执行总裁威廉·怀德来新与旅游局官员会面，他昨天受访时，透露了金沙提呈的综合度假胜地的概念。度假胜地以花园城市为主题，“新加坡河”贯穿全城，沿河建筑结构像花朵和叶子般往外伸展，从高空鸟瞰是一座大型的花园城市。

　　金沙公司在拉斯维加斯和澳门的度假胜地都以威尼斯为蓝图，不过却不打算把这个概念完全复制到新加坡，因为新加坡要的是独一无二的度假胜地。

　　怀德不愿公开画家笔下的构想图，不过到过金沙在拉斯维加斯度假胜地的游人不难想像，因为两个构想同样以水乡为主题。

　　或许有人怀疑人工主题度假胜地，对本地人和本区域游客是否有魅力？怀德却很有信心，他说：“我们在拉斯维加斯复制威尼斯街道和贡多拉，船夫为游人唱歌剧，可其实歌剧在美国并不怎么受欢迎，但是让游人坐在贡多拉听歌剧，这个点子却很受欢迎。”

　　怀德证实已邀请全球最多产的著名赌场建筑师保罗·斯蒂尔曼（Paul Steelman）“操刀”，他就为金沙设计澳门赌场。怀德说，附设赌场的度假胜地总面积约500万平方英尺，其中五分之一是大型会展中心。配合花园城市主题，建筑设计着重实用美观。

　　度假胜地还设有以莱佛士助手法奇尔（Farquhar）命名的剧院，法奇尔在新加坡开埠初期曾使赌博合法化，所以这个历史人物与赌场挂钩。剧院将呈现新加坡历史故事，还会有“历史人物”沿着新加坡河步行。

　　游人走过历史长廊后将来到旅游教育中心，认识现代的新加坡。这里将展现大幅新加坡地图，让游人了解新加坡的各个景点，吸引他们参观。

　　旅游局拟在滨海湾设立新游轮中心，而为了吸引更多游客，金沙向旅游局建议由他们承建游轮中心，不过条件是把中心移到较靠近综合度假胜地的地方。

　　这个建议似乎能增加金沙投标的筹码，不过怀德坦言还不知道当局意向如何。如果建议被接受，度假胜地将兴建单轨列车把渡轮中心的游客载到地铁站。

^
Yeah and the convention centre will take up to 20% of the 529000 sqm floor space.......:yes:

Actually I dunno how Genting and Sands is gonna built the Cruise Ctr as the Marina South site is facing Marina Bay instead of the Singapore Straits. When the Marina Barrage is up....the cruise ships wouldn't be able to get into Marina Bay..... :? :? :?

Actually I dunno how Genting and Sands is gonna built the Cruise Ctr as the Marina South site is facing Marina Bay instead of the Singapore Straits. When the Marina Barrage is up....the cruise ships wouldn't be able to get into Marina Bay..... :? :? :?

I thought the cruise hub is facing the Singapore straits?? :? (At Marina South)

The cruise ships will not be coming into Marina Bay.

Even now, ships cant enter.

The cruise centre will be at the southernmost tip of Marina South, by the open sea.

40 storey museum....I want!!!

The cruise ships will not be coming into Marina Bay.

Even now, ships cant enter.

The cruise centre will be at the southernmost tip of Marina South, by the open sea.


Yea....blocked by the Ben Shears Bridge but the thing is that when they proposed the cruise ctr thingy.......isn't that supposed to be part of the IR at the proposed Marina South site? Separating it would make it a separate project all-together thus cheating loh :D

And I tot the cruise ctr is a govt-funded project? :?

Well do you remember the cruise centre model at URA?

and it was there way before they announced the IR..... :sly:

Well do you remember the cruise centre model at URA?

and it was there way before they announced the IR..... :sly:


Hmmm.....I dun remember.....all I remember is that it is all empty at the Marina South area :?

Okay.....since I have no recollection of it......is the cruise ctr model located at the proposed IR site on Marina South? If it is then how the ships are getting into it? :?

But from some other proposals I've seen.....the cruise ctr is located facing the Sg Straits. That would be more likely but wouldn't that be a bit detached from the IR thus making those proposals with the cruise ctr kinda a bit funny leh?

Hmmm.....I dun remember.....all I remember is that it is all empty at the Marina South area :?

Okay.....since I have no recollection of it......is the cruise ctr model located at the proposed IR site on Marina South? If it is then how the ships are getting into it? :?

But from some other proposals I've seen.....the cruise ctr is located facing the Sg Straits. That would be more likely but wouldn't that be a bit detached from the IR thus making those proposals with the cruise ctr kinda a bit funny leh?

I guess thats the reason why they're incorporating a LRT system in the proposal.......:yes:

Yeah it is rather detached. It will be in the middle of nowhere...so to speak, until its surroundings are developed.

Yeah it is rather detached. It will be in the middle of nowhere...so to speak, until its surroundings are developed.


Wah.....if those bidders with the cruise ctr kena selected then the govt would be getting another freebie lah rite? :D

Wah.....if those bidders with the cruise ctr kena selected then the govt would be getting another freebie lah rite? :D

Haha.....sort of.......;)

Huh....aiyah its so confusing now. Some seems dulicated and such...and I just want that 40 storey thing! :D

i couldn't care less about the casinos if you have a guggenheim!!! All those years of trying to change an image (or make one), the one thing that may really make a dent in perceptions is a guggenheim museum.

as for the casino, i personally think that it's trading off morality and values for financial gain. but governments around the world do it for exactly that reason: $$$!!! as for the design of the so-called "IRs" (btw, i think that's a silly name), i hope for one thing for Singapore's sake: DON'T LET IT BE TACKY (like casinos all over the world)!!! Classy is good. Tacky is a trap. Themes are a trap - trust me - you will become a mickey mouse country in no time if you build something like the Sun City resort in South Africa or the Sunway Pyramid or the Mines Resort or the Palace of the Golden Donkeys in KL. It's so cheap and tacky and it will reinforce the image of singapore as a city/country with "no taste". If you HAVE to build a casino complex, don't look to Las Vegas & Macau. Look to urban casino models like, dare I say it, Crown Entertainment Complex in the heart Melbourne. (sigh). Classy, up-market, designed so that you can walk through it without seeing the casino - and not a roller coaster in sight. In fact, if you don't know that it's a casino, you won't even know it's there. Think high-roller, not roller-coaster. That's my "two cents" worth (pun intended). :D

Muahah!! I actually more or less agree, although I think they can design something revolutionary, but not tacky. :D

i'm quite sure a casino will bring in more tourists than a museum. well maybe not so if the museum has really fantastic architecture, but why not have both?

Lets have a museum on gambling.

IR bidder offers S'pore redux

28 Apr 05

Las Vegas Sands plans colonial-era theme, fireworks and Guggenheim for US$2b-plus Marina resort

By DANIEL BUENAS

(SINGAPORE) An iconic project that encapsulates Singapore's culture, heritage and history - that's what US-based Las Vegas Sands has in mind for the integrated resort (IR) site at Marina Bayfront.


http://business-times.asia1.com.sg/mnt/media/image/launched/2005-04-28/djsands28-211956.jpg

Ending months of speculation, the company has given BT the first details of what Singaporeans can expect to see if it gets to build an IR. Singapore has opened up sites at Marina and Sentosa for the resorts.

Las Vegas Sands intends to recreate a colonial-era Singapore River theme at Marina, where characters from those days - such as William Farquhar, the right-hand man of modern Singapore's founder Sir Stamford Raffles before they fell out - will be brought to life by actors who will entertain visitors.

'Our early colonial Singapore River will have Malay-style kampungs, maybe an overlay of a Johor sultanate, Indian styles, ancient Chinese styles, showing the confluence of all the different cultures,' said Las Vegas Sands president and chief operating officer William Weidner. 'It's a way of being able to teach people what Singapore is.'

Las Vegas Sands is no stranger to such concepts. Its Venetian on the Las Vegas Strip - a dazzling project with more than 4,000 suites, restaurants and high-end shops - has its own version of Venice's Grand Canal, complete with gondolas rowed by singing boatmen who ferry guests.

In Singapore, the gondolas will give way to traditional Malay boats. And instead of gondoliers singing Italian opera, local boatmen from days gone by will croon best-loved Malay songs.

'The idea is to create a tourist attraction that has real content, that popularises history and culture and gets visitors interested enough to stay longer, plan another visit or talk about it,' Mr Weidner said.

Another feature will be a Farquhar Theatre - so named because William Farquhar, Singapore's first governor and colonial commandant, was also Singapore's first gaming magnate, according to Mr Weidner. After Raffles initially left Farquhar in charge of Singapore, Farquhar approved gambling to raise money for development, Mr Weidner explained. The theatre will detail the history and transformation of Singapore.

But Las Vegas Sands doesn't just have an eye on the past. Recreating early colonial Singapore is just one part of its US$2 billion-plus proposal - the other elements are equally ambitious.

The buildings at the proposed resort will be designed and laid out in the shape of a flower - meant to represent Singapore's garden city image - with a suggested 40-storey high Guggenheim Museum towering over the development.

Huge images of the Vanda Miss Joaquim orchid - Singapore's national flower - will be projected onto nearby skyscrapers and the building housing the resort's one million sq ft of exhibition space.

Renowned contemporary artist Cai Guo Qiang, acclaimed for his spectacular use of fireworks, has also been engaged to create a 'pyrotechnic bridge' using fireworks that explode in the shape of an orchid.

Las Vegas Sands has also proposed a cruise ship centre - to help capture the regional cruise market - and a monorail as part of its project.

'The idea is to present Singapore as a resort, and to figure out ways to make it exciting and interesting, with some artistic content,' Mr Weidner said. 'We've done all this before, we've had relationships with people like the Guggenheim for a decade, and we want to bring these things to bear.'

On working with a local partner, Mr Weidner said he is in discussions with property tycoon Ong Beng Seng, but there are no concrete plans to join forces yet.

'We're talking, but he's been a friend for 20 years,' Mr Weidner said of Mr Ong. 'We are open to figure out how to have participation. We don't need a partner, but we believe it's appropriate to have Singaporeans involved with what we are doing.'

He pointed out, however, that Las Vegas Sands plans a 'very aggressive' bid that local players may find too risky.

'If you put up a couple billion dollars, there is always risk in it,' he said. 'We don't want to be in a situation where we have, let's say, an equal partner who may not necessarily share our return analysis.'

Asked about the similarities and differences between the company's Singapore proposal and its existing Sands Macau casino, Mr Weidner said the latter will serve as a 'conduit' to channel those looking for more 'mature markets' to visit.

'Macau is primarily a day-trip market. The average stay in Macau is 1.1 days,' he said. 'It's an immature destination with only 1,500 branded rooms and an export-driven primary economy. Singapore is a tertiary economy with higher added value that can draw more mature customers from the region.'

He indicated that the door may not be closed entirely to more such resorts."Let's see how it goes and if , in five or six years' time after these have taken off, we are satifisied that it has not caused us a problem and it looks like there is a possibility for some more, I'm prepared to think about it". "Never say never, But to restart off with, I think twins are enough" - PM Lee (when speaking to a group of community and religious leader)

With the southern islands still not develop and with plenty of empty lands at Marina South and East, my guess: we will have at least five or six IRs in 2014 or 2015.

Marina East: one
Marina South: one
Southern islands : two (with 135 ha land & when the infrastructure such as bridge, LRT are ready)

Bidders that do not win this time, shouldn't be too disppointed, their time\turn will come sooner or later.

Quite suprised that its satellite museums have shown exhibitions of Gorgio Armani suits, not sure whether they will bring Victoria Secret's G strings to Singapore or not. :laugh:



SINGAPORE : It has been a busy week for investors who have been shortlisted for the integrated resort projects.

And the gaming operators have roped in their partners to help promote their bids.


Las Vegas Sand's Venetian Resort is in partnership with Guggenheim Museum.

They want to bring the world-famous museum to Singapore to fill the missing Asian link in its global chain.

Guggenheim's chief curator Thomas Krens presented his vision to the Singapore Tourism Board on Tuesday.

With the resorts in Singapore, Guggenheim will be free to consider other options such as setting up a museum in other key Asian cities.

But the museum is eager to have a presence in Asia to fill a missing link in its global chain.

The original Guggenheim Museum was set up in New York in 1939.

It has since branched out to Venice, Bilbao, Berlin and Las Vegas.

The museums exhibit primarily "high" modern and postmodern art.

But, some of its satellite museums have shown exhibitions of Gorgio Armani suits and as well as motrocycles.

Guggenheim museums are famous for their distinctive architecture.

In fact some industry players the Guggenheim buildings are themselves more famous than the art works on display inside them. - CNA/de

huh the only skyscraper is the guggenheim museum? what about the hotel? all that singapore culture thingy feels a bit tacky though. like another asian village.

dont care about victoria's secrets, just want my apple store.

i couldn't care less about the casinos if you have a guggenheim!!! All those years of trying to change an image (or make one), the one thing that may really make a dent in perceptions is a guggenheim museum.

as for the casino, i personally think that it's trading off morality and values for financial gain. but governments around the world do it for exactly that reason: $$$!!! as for the design of the so-called "IRs" (btw, i think that's a silly name), i hope for one thing for Singapore's sake: DON'T LET IT BE TACKY (like casinos all over the world)!!! Classy is good. Tacky is a trap. Themes are a trap - trust me - you will become a mickey mouse country in no time if you build something like the Sun City resort in South Africa or the Sunway Pyramid or the Mines Resort or the Palace of the Golden Donkeys in KL. It's so cheap and tacky and it will reinforce the image of singapore as a city/country with "no taste". If you HAVE to build a casino complex, don't look to Las Vegas & Macau. Look to urban casino models like, dare I say it, Crown Entertainment Complex in the heart Melbourne. (sigh). Classy, up-market, designed so that you can walk through it without seeing the casino - and not a roller coaster in sight. In fact, if you don't know that it's a casino, you won't even know it's there. Think high-roller, not roller-coaster. That's my "two cents" worth (pun intended). :D


There is a fine line between classy, tacky, funky and revolutionary :D And it all depends who you ask lor ;)

Tacky might be a trap but it could also be a tourist trap which what Singapore wants. Although many Singaporeans wants classy design (and as much as I want a classy design), but sometimes those classy & up-market design like those of Crown are simply not attractive enough if compare to let say to Palace of the Lost City in South Africa or the Atlantis in Bahamas. Dare I say that Crown isn't half as 'attractive' as Sunway Lagoon Resort or The Palace of the Golden DONKEYS :lol: Seriously ........I've seen people goes "WHOA!" when seeing those two buildings. Even tourist passing the Palace of the Golden Horses along the NS Highway would normally ask what is that and most would like to go near to have a glimps of it. And the fact that many celebrities choosed to stay there does say a thing or two about it rite? :D

Even the Palace of The Lost City at Sun City, SA have a lot of my friends and relatives whom had visited that place saying how wonderful and great looking that place is and wish that Malaysia would have something like that. :D

So what is tacky and gaudy to you and me might not be to others. To em places like that is simply revolutionary and gorgeous! :D In fact the extremely gorgeous Frank Gehry's 'metallic flower' of Guggenheim Bilbao is nothing short of being showy and gaudy......it doesn't reek the sophistication of urban chic that Crown is. ;)

Seriouslyloh.......urban entertainment ( casino :D ) complex like SkyCity (Auckland, NZ), StarCity (Sydney) and Crown (Melbourne) doesn't attract the crowd that even non-casino ventures like Sunway Lagoon Resort did. ;)

Mickey-mouse country? Tell that to Orlando. :lol: The city is basically a themepark city :D But it draws tourist in hordes. So does Las Vegas or Atlantic City because of the casinos. But of course Singapore would like to stay away from the likes of Vegas but why not Orlando? Afterall it is about attracting tourist the non-gambling way ;)

Guggenheim is great....it did wonders to the sleepy industrial town of Bilbao. But do note that Singapore is no Bilbao and different approach had to be taken. Personally I would like to see a world-class art museum like Guggenheim or the Hermitage in Asia - in particularly Singapore because it is closer to home :D

And the proposed design by Sands is just fantastic :okay: .......40-storeys!!! :eek:

Lee: End public debate on casinos


SINGAPORE: Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has called for the public debate on casinos in the city-state to end, warning further discussion would risk polarising society, a report said yesterday.

“It's not fruitful to continue going over grounds we have gone over already,” the Straits Times quoted Lee as telling a community forum on Tuesday night, less than two weeks after he announced two casinos would be built in Singapore.

“Beyond a point, this can be counter-productive because the risk is we may harden views for and against, and polarise our multi-racial, multi-religious society.

“And I think that is something we should avoid at all costs.”

The announcement on April 18 to allow Singapore's first two casinos to be built by 2009 led to a rare display of criticism against the government from many sections of society, including religious leaders. – AFP


So are we changing the title of this thread?.....it seems so passe now :D

Only one skyscraper from the sands?? I thought should have somemore.......:?

He indicated that the door may not be closed entirely to more such resorts."Let's see how it goes and if , in five or six years' time after these have taken off, we are satifisied that it has not caused us a problem and it looks like there is a possibility for some more, I'm prepared to think about it". "Never say never, But to restart off with, I think twins are enough" - PM Lee (when speaking to a group of community and religious leader)

With the southern islands still not develop and with plenty of empty lands at Marina South and East, my guess: we will have at least five or six IRs in 2014 or 2015.

Marina East: one
Marina South: one
Southern islands : two (with 135 ha land & when the infrastructure such as bridge, LRT are ready)

Bidders that do not win this time, shouldn't be too disppointed, their time\turn will come sooner or later.

Yeah with more theme parks too........:yes:

Crazy. Marina South is meant for a forest of condos. Marina East is the next Marina South, complete with offices and homes. Then again, that was for plans made a decade ago. :D

I would prefer that they locate the next IR in Seletar!

Cannot based on those plans lah, all outdated.
It was still CasiNO at that time, but now CasiYES.

We cannot beat Thailand in population size, land area and labour cost, but can definitely beat them in the number of Casino to be constructed with our first mover advantage.

Which option will you choose?

Option 1: Struggle to sell Marina South/East land in pieces for residence development over 15 to 30 years

Option 2: sell Marina South/East mega piece of land to IR developer in one go and gain land cost + Gaming tax incentive + job creation + tourist vistors + billion dollar of fixed asset investment (which cannot move away easily to China/India)

Only one skyscraper from the sands?? I thought should have somemore.......:?

I hope so, and it is possible..maybe there will be some skyscraper hotels there to take advantage of the sea views. The skyscraper museum was just a centre of attention for the museum I think.

Lets wait and see :yes:

Cannot based on those plans lah, all outdated.
It was still CasiNO at that time, but now CasiYES.

We cannot beat Thailand in population size, land area and labour cost, but can definitely beat them in the number of Casino to be constructed with our first mover advantage.

Which option will you choose?

Option 1: Struggle to sell Marina South/East land in pieces for residence development over 15 to 30 years

Option 2: sell Marina South/East mega piece of land to IR developer in one go and gain land cost + Gaming tax incentive + job creation + tourist vistors + billion dollar of fixed asset investment (which cannot move away easily to China/India)
Well...then you are sacrificing our land needs to sustian the city's growth just for a few IRs. Wont have made economical sense, since the IRs are supposed to be rejuvenating city growth itself!

Look at little Macau....its population is tiny, but what stops it from becoming a gambling mecca? :D

Actually what I'm thinking of are two mega piece of lands, definitely not the entire Marina East & South for IRs.

IR can actually add value to residence development, just look at the price of CDL's Sail@Marina now.

Look at this report, IR can a very good pull factor:

Residential projects near integrated resorts attract keen buyers
By Chua Chin Chye, Channel NewsAsia


SINGAPORE : Property developers reported keen buyer interest in the two weeks after the government's decision to go ahead with two integrated resort projects.

This is for both residential properties near the two sites earmarked for the resorts.

City Developments, which is developing The Sail at Marina Bay, projected increases in property prices of as much as 10 to 15 percent.

Given that the property market has been undergoing a slow recovery, the forecast by City Developments might seem a little bullish.

The developer expects price increases of 10 to 15 percent in properties near the integrated resorts.

But analysts said it might be realistic if seen over a period of four years or more.

That is about the the time needed to complete the integrated resorts.

Nicholas Mak, Director of Research at Chesterton International, said: "A price projection of 10 to 15 percent - the question is over what time period? If it is 10 to 15 percent over the development period of IR, which is about four years, I think that's quite possible because then we are talking about a price increase of 2.5 to 4 percent per annum."

CDL says its Marina Bay Tower development, with 681 units, is already 97 percent sold - with only 21 left.

It is now considering three options for its Central Park Tower, which has 430 units - either a public launch, enbloc sale or a Reit.

Meanwhile, Keppel Land reported heightened interest in its Caribbean at Keppel Bay project which faces Sentosa Island.

It said potential buyers were pleased with the idea of having an integrated resort, just a stone's throw away from their waterfront homes.

ERA, one of the marketing agents for Caribbean, said more than 20 deals were clinched, after news of the resort project at Sentosa.

Caribbean at Keppel Bay has 969 units, of which about half are already sold.

As for the rental market, property consultants said demand for rental units might not just be concentrated in the vicinity of the two integrated resorts, but could spread well beyond, thanks to Singapore's excellent transport infrastructure. - CNA/de

Yeah....but too much, and it starts to sacrifice other land uses what. :D

The IR is not going to take up the entire bayfront stretch facing the skyline right? If so there will still be some bits left over for development besides BFC. Perhaps URA should unveil a new masterplan soon.

Business Times - 29 Apr 2005

CityDev wants role in IR at Marina, but no partner yet

By ALEXANDRA HO

CITY Developments (CityDev) prefers the Marina Bayfront integrated resort (IR) site but does not rule out bidding for the Sentosa site, its spokesman told BT.

CityDev executive chairman Kwek Leng Beng said at the company's annual general meeting yesterday that before the government's request for proposals (RFP) closes in the third quarter of this year, it aims to finalise partnership agreements with a contender that has qualified for it. The government received 19 bids for the two sites in its initial request for concepts. CityDev did not take part in the earlier stage of the process.

While Mr Kwek did not reveal which parties CityDev is in talks with, its spokesman Gerry de Silva said the company has viewed various concepts.

Sources say that Genting International, which is interested in both sites, could be one of the parties. They say it is common knowledge that Genting founder Lim Goh Tong is on good terms with Mr Kwek.

Mr de Silva explained that with its focus on conventions and hotel businesses, the Marina site is more compatible with CityDev's businesses.

The site is also near CityDev's upcoming condominium project The Sail @ Marina Bay. Moreover, the Marina area will house Singapore's future downtown and financial centre - the Business and Financial Centre - for which CityDev is expected to enter a bid. Bidding for that closes in June.

Mr de Silva said CityDev wants to be involved in an upmarket IR development. CityDev could incorporate its hotels into the resort through its hotel arm, Millennium and Copthorne Hotels, but it is 'flexible' on the arrangements.

It is understood that Sentosa is not CityDev's preferred site due to what it considers potential limitations there.

The size of the Sentosa site is smaller than Marina's, and traffic and congestion could be problems by the time the IR is up and running because Sentosa would have a sizable residential population there by 2009.

Mr Kwek had also said that he was the first person to express his preference for the IR to be located at Marina.

Copyright © 2005 Singapore Press Holdings Ltd. All rights reserved.

Eighth Wonder to tap Singapore's location, culture for integrated resort
By Wong Siew Ying/Connie Tan, Channel NewsAsia


SINGAPORE : Something not seen anywhere else on the planet -- that is resort operator, Eighth Wonder's ambitious take on its eventual proposal to build an integrated resort on Sentosa.

Its chairman Mark Advent, who is in talks with the Singapore Tourism Board, hopes to put the Sentosa integrated resort on top of the heap by tapping on Singapore's unique culture and location.



Said Mr Advent, "We'd like to emphasise the natural beauty of the island, the natural surrounding, the setting, the water, the tropical lushness. Whatever we present to the government is something you won't see someplace else, and you don't have any comparison to it to any projects on the planet.

"They will be things that are spectacular, things that I think the entire world will take note of and certainly would push Singapore into the forefront of innovation and tourism."

At a projected investment of S$3 billion, the Sentosa attraction will cost three times more than Eighth Wonder's "New York, New York" hotel resort in Las Vegas.

Without giving the game away, Mr Advent said his proposal would involve big-name players that will make the world sit up.

It would also preserve most of the greenery there, with building structures no higher than 10-storeys.

Like operator Kerzner International, who is in the running for the same project, Eighth Wonder will evaluate the possibility of a marine feature.

Mr Advent said, "Lots of hospitality, wonderful world-class food and beverage, innovative entertainment, taking advantage of the waterfront, its connection to what I call the Singapore mainland -- unlimited possibilities."

Eighth Wonder also spoke with some local and regional companies.

The operator, who is working with Starwood Hotels & Resorts on the Singapore project, said it was important to have solid local know-how, and it was open to more partnership deals if they were suitable.

It said cross-marketing would also bring more visitors to the integrated resort in Sentosa, and it expected its annual marketing budget to be in excess of $20 million. - CNA /ct

Hmm....seems like the battle just starting to heat up......:yes:

29 April 2005

HK Disneyland not threatened by Singapore's integrated resorts
By Derek Cher, Channel NewsAsia

SINGAPORE : Hong Kong Disneyland has said it does not see Singapore's plan to build two integrated resorts as a threat to its business.

The classic theme park is scheduled to open in the territory on September 12.

Disney says the growing tourism market in Asia offers huge opportunities for resorts and theme parks in this region.

First, it was Tokyo, now Hong Kong -- come September, Disney will have two theme parks in Asia.

But it is not ruling out the possibility of expanding further in this region.

Still, Disney told Channel NewsAsia it had not been approached by gaming operators to submit a joint proposal for Singapore's integrated resorts.

Its rival Universal Studios, on the other hand, is working with casino operator Genting to bid for the project.

Disney says it does not feel threatened, as it is confident that both theme parks can co-exist in the same region.

Besides, the theme park operator says it is out of its character to tie-up with gaming companies.

In fact, Disneyland has no relationship with any gaming operator.

It says it is a classic theme park focused on families, so the gaming business is not really that compatible with its business model.

It also does not want to be associated with such activities.

Disney believes the growing tourism market in Asia is offering great opportunities for resorts and theme parks in this region.

Said Donald Robinson, managing director of Hong Kong Disneyland, "If you believe in how fast China is growing, that percentage could increase in China. So I don't believe there's going to be competition between Hong Kong and Singapore.

"There's huge amount of growth in the number of people who want to travel, especially out of China, and with the pure volume of travellers in this market, as long as you've got a great, high quality location resort destination, people are going to seek it out."

Hong Kong Disneyland expects to attract as many as 5.6 million visitors in the first year, with a third each coming from China, Hong Kong and other parts of Asia. - CNA /ct

Copyright © 2005 MCN International Pte Ltd

Business Times - 30 Apr 2005

Eighth Wonder goes for ninth

It's roped in Starwood chain for Sentosa bid

By ALEXANDRA HO

(SINGAPORE) When New York New York Hotel and Casino opened in Las Vegas in 1997, it started the craze for city-themed casino resorts on the Strip, notably Paris Las Vegas and The Venetian Resort. New York New York's creator, Mark Advent, claims to be confident of being a trend-setter again if he wins the concession to build the integrated resort (IR) on Sentosa.

Here to meet the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) to discuss stage two of the process - the Request for Proposals, which Mr Advent's company, Eighth Wonder Asia, has qualified for - Mr Advent said he is looking to invest $3 billion. He has tied up with Starwood Hotels and Resorts, the global hospitality chain with brands including Sheraton, St Regis, Westin and the uber-hip W hotels.

'Embarking with Mark Advent and Eighth Wonder on this new frontier in Singapore is an exciting opportunity,' Starwood's Asia Pacific president Miguel Ko said. 'We are confident that together, we can create one of the finest integrated resort experiences in the world.'

Starwood will run five-to-six-star hotels for the IR, Mr Advent said. But he does not intend the resort to be solely a playground for the rich.

'My fundamental belief is 'I don't care who you are, and where you come from, how much money you have and how much money you don't have'. Ultimately, it's about creating something special for everybody. People are looking for a high level of entertainment value. People want escapism, they want something that takes them out of their average, everyday lifestyle.'

Some elements Mr Advent has envisioned for the IR include signature restaurants, facilities for 'live' entertainment, such as Broadway-type shows by Andrew Lloyd Webber, pop stars and theatre.

Family entertainment will not be left out either - Mr Advent said he is exploring attractions with theme park elements, such as rides.

Eighth Wonder's IR won't have a theme or be a replica, but it would be timeless and environmentally sensitive to Sentosa's nature and topography, Mr Advent said.

He admitted to not having realised that the choice of architect for partnership would be of great significance. But he promised to work with the most creative minds. Mr Advent said he is in touch with one of Singapore's top architects, Liu Thai-Ker, although they do not have a formal tie-up.

Mr Advent expects to create 6,000 to 8,000 jobs under his IR plans. He is quick to deny that the jobs would be low-end and low-skill. 'Integrated resorts are one of the few businesses where you are really tackling lots of disciplines - you have from engineering, to accounting, to legal, marketing, food services, hospitality, entertainment, retailers. It's like running a little nation.'

Asked how he feels about going up against big names like Kerzner International, Genting International, Harrah's Entertainment and Tabcorp, Mr Advent said he is confident his company has as good a chance as any. He sees Eighth Wonder's privately-held status as an advantage - it will make decisions that are right for it, rather than worrying about chasing up share prices and pleasing investors.

Eighth Wonder has casino resort projects in Argentina, Poland and the US, where it is developing a US$900 million mega-resort in San Francisco. It also has restaurants and entertainment venues in the New York City tourist centre of Times Square.

Copyright © 2005 Singapore Press Holdings Ltd. All rights reserved.

May 1, 2005
Hitting the jackpot
Singaporeans poured $600m into slot machines last year, equal to one-third the health budget or the cost of 800 Ferrari sports cars

By Jeremy Au Yong

THERE was hardly anyone in the theme park at Downtown East resort in Pasir Ris. It was Friday morning.

But across the park, a small room was filling up. Within an hour, at least 30 people had packed the room with 40 slot machines. Eyes glued to the screen of their jackpot machine, their finger never strayed from a button.

Most are women in their 40s and 50s.

Among them is Madam Agnes Tan, 47, a staff member at an electronics company. Before her is a mini plastic bucket filled with coins. She dips into it, almost mechanically, to feed the machine, rarely taking her eyes off the screen.

But she is not addicted, she insists. 'Just once a month, to pass the time,' she told The Sunday Times.

Jackpot players like her fed more than $600 million worth of 20-cent, 50-cent and one-dollar coins into slot machines in Singapore last year.

That's one-third the current health budget - enough to build the Esplanade, buy 800 Ferrari sports cars or two Boeing 777 jumbo jets.

The taxman says jackpot machines contributed $261 million in taxes last year, as each machine hands in 41.25 per cent of its takings. The tax collected has been rising. In 1970, it was $752,426. It rose to $5.3 million in 1980, then to $69 million in 1990.

Such gambling rooms have been in the spotlight since the recent casino debate in Parliament when Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong highlighted their crucial role in NTUC Club.

He said: 'NTUC Club generates millions of dollars a year from the jackpot machines which helps to pay to build the rides and other facilities in the clubhouses. Without this revenue, NTUC Club would close shop.'

Clubs agree, saying it would be a struggle otherwise. Between 30 and 60 per cent of private clubs' total revenue come from the jackpot room. Across the island, 86 clubs run 1,902 such machines.

NTUC Club has 200 - the maximum allowed under police guidelines - evenly spread among five clubs and Downtown East.

Its chief executive, Mr Chng Hee Kok, said the machines contribute between 50 and 60 per cent of its total income. 'If these machines were taken away abruptly, I wouldn't say we would have to close, but the whole business model will have to change,' he told The Sunday Times.

The machines' income helps build new facilities and upgrade current ones for NTUC Club's 450,000 members, he added. For instance, the takings made up the bulk of the $1.2 million it cost to build its first dance club at the Esplanade - DXO.

Safra - the club for national servicemen - similarly said they derive 60 per cent of its income from fruit machines.

Said Ms Agnes Ong, general manager of its clubs and public affairs: 'Thanks to income from these machines, we can keep membership prices low, subsidise sports facilities and build new club houses.'

Safra, which charges members $32 a year, has 114 machines in five club houses.

The situation is mirrored at private clubs across the island.

The Automobile Association's 64 machines rake in $3.9 million a year while the Singapore Recreation Club, $3.4 million. Both say the machines provide one-third of their income.

Jackpot room regulars are hardly surprised their vice is a lucrative source of income.

Said the 49-year-old owner of a delivery service business: 'I go into the room with just $50. I leave my ATM card in the car. I rarely leave a dollar richer.'

Speaking on condition that he not be identified, Mr Leow said in Hokkien that he visits jackpot rooms about three times a week.

'It will cost me the same if I go bowling or karaoke. Besides, I can play alone on jackpot machines. Not like mahjong where I have to find three people.'

Copyright © 2005 Singapore Press Holdings. All rights reserved.

Business Times - 02 May 2005

IRs not shaking up hoteliers

The hotel, retail and convention centre industry does not seem to regard the IRs as extra competition as ARTHUR SIM finds out

IF hoteliers, retail mall managers and convention centre operators are scared, they are not showing it.

They put on a poker face when asked how the impending integrated resorts will affect them. Their response does not vary far from the stock answer, 'We welcome the government's decision to go ahead with the Integrated Resorts (IRs)'.

One has to wonder if any of them have really considered the scale of the IRs.

The Marina Bay site will be larger than Suntec City and have more hotel rooms than The Oriental, Marina Mandarin and Pan Pacific put together. A mega 30,000 square metre convention centre that can hold up to 15,000 people is also likely. And with an allowable gross floor area of up to 524,000 sq m, there will be room for a large shopping mall too.

Marina Square shopping mall, which will be the closest mall to the IR is 315,172 sq m. But a spokesman for Singapore Land said: 'Marina Square will complement the retail segment of the IR.'

Singapore Land, along with United Overseas Land, Overseas Union Enterprise, the Government of Singapore Investment Corporation, Indonesia's Ciputra group and a Hong Kong vehicle of Indonesian businessman Liem Sioe Liong, form Marina Centre Holdings which owns 50 per cent of the hotels and 100 per cent of the mall.

Most in the hotel, retail and convention centre industry welcome the IRs as an attraction they think can help boost Singapore's attractiveness as a tourist, business and meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibition (MICE) destination. None seem too worried that the IRs will eat into their business and create a more competitive business environment.

Undercutting fears

Competition can be a good thing because it encourages more creative thinking. A downside, however, is that the industry might choose to resort to promotional pricing or worse, undercutting.

Some of this undercutting is already taking place. Pan Pacific Hotels and Resorts president Ichigo Umehara told BT last year that hotel rates were about 30 per cent lower than similar hotels in Shanghai or Taipei. More alarmingly, he believed hotel rates had remained stagnant for the past 10 years even though operational costs had gone up.

In a perverse form of passive undercutting, hotels are apparently not prepared to be the first to raise rates for fear of being priced out of the market. The Singapore Tourism Board's (STB) latest figures show that average room rates have stayed at $130 for the last two months, down $1 from January.

For The Oriental Singapore, about 20 per cent of its business comes from MICE, says general manager Rajesh Jhingon. The hotel's target market is mainly business and leisure travellers, he says, so he is not too worried about competition.

'A hotel-rates war might occur for some hotels. However, most luxurious hotels will maintain rate integrity as rates are closely linked to the brand and positioning of the hotel.'

But the nature of the tourism, business and MICE market is such that the person staying in the hotel is not likely to be the one booking it. Most will be familiar with how travel agents and travel packages work. Airfares and hotel rates are usually bundled together. The MICE market is a more sophisticated version of this.

Warren Buckley, CEO of Suntec Singapore International Convention & Exhibition Centre, gives an insight into how it works. As a standalone convention and exhibition centre, Suntec has to find hotel partners, institutional contacts and even government bodies to develop packages that will attract MICE. According to Mr Buckley, the global competition for the MICE market is so great that potential customers expect promotional packages right from the start of negotiations. You are expected to 'recognise their value', he says.

Suntec has 'joint marketing alliances' with several hotels already, including all three hotels at Marina Square. The alliance also has STB's help. Mr Buckley says Suntec helps to generate about $250 million in spin-off revenue for Singapore with about 1,300 events a year. In 2006, it will host the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank meeting, which is expected to bring in 20,000 visitors and an estimated $40 million in spin-off revenue. He says a convention centre should have at least one major event every month. This year, it has managed to secure six such events. Neighbouring cities like Sydney and Melbourne managed between eight and 10 such major events.

Yu Lai Boon, managing director at Jones Lang LaSalle, agrees that whether Singapore sees a boom in the convention centre business depends on what our neighbours are doing. But he does feel Singapore has a lot going for it.

'We have an early mover advantage with the initiation of the IRs,' he says. The challenge is to convert this early mover advantage into putting clear blue water between us and the others who may be contemplating similar strategies.'

But it is the competition from within that the Suntec CEO is concerned about. Suntec Singapore, which measures 24,000 sq m, can handle events of up to 12,000 people. The smaller convention centre at Swissotel The Stamford - about 6,500 sq m - takes in smaller events and has a maximum capacity of about 6,000 people.

Renovation fever

Most of the business comes from international associations (Rotary Club, SIBOS, World Congress of Nephrology), and industry insiders say there are only about 5,000 of these in the world. If the convention centres at the IRs go after the same market, Mr Buckley says, 'We will compete'.

It is not clear what plans the government has for the existing players, but if changes in the old central business district are anything to go by, new zoning and incentives may make it feasible to convert some of the hotels and convention centre spaces into residential developments. Sources say the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) was very keen to promote Far East Organisation's redevelopment of the NatWest Centre to the public as a successful private sector initiative to renew the old CBD. Theoretically, the same formula could apply for Marina Square or any area that needs renewing.

But a quick check with existing industry players shows that few are likely to go down this road. Suntec is undergoing renovations in preparation for the IMF and World Bank meeting next year already. The whole of Marina Square is undergoing a revamp and $120 million will be spent on renovations on the mall, to be completed in 2006. The Oriental Singapore has also undergone a multi-million dollar renovation and it is understood that the Marina Mandarin will soon follow suit.

The Pan Pacific hotel spent $25 million on renovations. Julie Beattie, executive assistant manager, says the management has a five-year plan to position the hotel as one of the top three in the vicinity. 'We have a responsibility to continuously improve our product, so as not only to meet international guest expectations, but also to keep our associates motivated,' she adds.

Its new Executive Centre will be the largest hotel business centre in Singapore.

All about land

None seem to be giving in to competition yet. Besides, Tay Huey Ying, associate director for research and consultancy at Colliers International, points out that the hotels in Marina Square as well as the Conrad Centennial and the Ritz Carlton Millenia fall under URA's list of safeguarded hotels and unless regulations change, redevelopment is not an option.

She says Raffles City Shopping Centre could do with more retail space, but doubts if its owners will want to give up its convention centre facilities because it is a crucial component for the hotels there.

As the IRs are yet to be built, a conservative approach would be to consider the individual components very carefully - and make sure they complement existing facilities, not compete with them. Judging by the projected budgets for the IRs, they may not be that big after all.

One factor that has not been made much of yet is the cost of the land for the IRs. Previous estimates put the price on the 60-year-lease Marina Bay site at between $600 million and about $1 billion. More recently, analysts say they expect the price to be at least what City Developments paid for the land for The Sail @ Marina Bay, which was said to be $227 per square foot per plot ratio (psf ppr). As the bid for that site came at a time when the market conditions were less optimistic, some believe it could be closer to $300 psf ppr now.

The cost of land will have an impact on how much the developers have left to spend on the actual buildings. A figure being bandied about is $5 billion for both IRs, including the cost of the land. Will this be enough for an iconic structure? Disneyland in Hongkong is reported to be costing HK$22.5 billion (S$4.7 billion), and it doesn't even have a convention centre.

The Esplanade cost close to $700 million. Realistically, $2.5 billion will not buy you very much these days. Maybe that's why the competition is not too worried.

Copyright © 2005 Singapore Press Holdings Ltd. All rights reserved.

The Marina Bay site will be larger than Suntec City and have more hotel rooms than The Oriental, Marina Mandarin and Pan Pacific put together. A mega 30,000 square metre convention centre that can hold up to 15,000 people is also likely. And with an allowable gross floor area of up to 524,000 sq m, there will be room for a large shopping mall too.


I guess this probably means a highrise complex

May 3, 2005
High-tech casinos at work

SINGAPORE'S integrated resorts (IRs) can be a showcase of infocomm technologies at work. Among the bids from companies interested in taking on the mega projects, there is an example from across the Causeway, the Genting Highland resort, that uses IT to run IR operations.

Visitors to the resort can sign up for the World Card, a card with a magnetic strip that captures information on how they use the facilities.

A gaming control system prevents fraud and theft in the casino. Its website and call centre take bookings for rooms and shows. A surveillance system keeps an eye on security.

While there are IT technologies aplenty, the challenge lies in their integration for a smooth and seamless front-to-back operation with the aim of keeping visitors coming back for more.

More of these stories in Digital Life today. Also watch out for a test-drive of Tiger, the latest Mac OS X operating system.

Plus a special 24-page pullout of the Enterprise Solutions Guide on painkillers that chief information officers can take to relieve aches like keeping expenses in check.

Copyright © 2005 Singapore Press Holdings. All rights reserved.

May 3, 2005
Singapore IRs: Impact on region

The tourism authorities in the region are digesting the odds of Singapore's money on two Integrated Resorts upping the stakes in wooing visitors to our shores. Is Singapore on the right track? Our correspondents tap industry watchers for their assessment.

By Jason Leow
China Bureau Chief

China tours won't mention 'casino'

SHANGHAI - NO MENTION of casino. Just a great recreational spot for winding down. A fine place to be pampered.

China's tour operators can promote Singapore's two integrated resorts (IRs) with descriptions such as these. But they will have to dance around the fact that the resorts will have onsite casinos because gambling is illegal in China.

'We cannot play up publicity for recreational sites that have casinos,' said Ms Chen Suiqin, Shanghai China Travel International's manager for outbound travel.

Her agency takes Chinese tourists to Malaysia's Genting Highlands, where there is a casino. But it is included as one of many stops on the itinerary and it does not get special mention in its advertising.

She expects to do the same with Singapore's IRs. They will be on the list of stops in Singapore, but the word casino might not be used in promotional materials.

'Chances of us advertising the IRs alone are slim, and it's even less likely we'll mention the casinos,' she said.

This approach actually fits in with the Singapore Tourism Board's (STB) strategy. 'We will advertise the IRs not by themselves but as one of many tourist attractions in Singapore,' STB Greater China spokesman Jasmine Ma said in Shanghai. 'We won't draw attention to the casinos, since they form only a small component of the IRs.'

Gaming will account for just 3 to 5 per cent of the total development for the IRs.

Meanwhile, the Chinese are known to flock to Macau and Pyongyang to try their luck at the casinos there.

Shanghai Spring International, the city's largest tour agency, said it takes bookings for up to 30,000 tourists each year who go to Hong Kong and Macau. But it does not know how many go there just to gamble.

Shanghai China Travel's Ms Chen said most of the 6,000 tourists who book tours to Macau every year end up at the casinos, even though gambling is not mentioned in her itinerary.

Chinese tourists to Singapore mostly arrive in groups, en route to Malaysia and Thailand. They pay around 4,000 yuan (S$800) to visit the three countries.

Tour agents said group tourists are not likely to be the ones who will spend time - and money - at the IRs or their casinos. China's big spenders are likely to be on business visas.

'Those who really want to gamble won't join tour groups because they run on tight schedules,' said Mr Dun Jidong at China Travel Service's Beijing office.

Copyright © 2005 Singapore Press Holdings. All rights reserved.

May 3, 2005
KL welcomes spillover effect

By Reme Ahmad
Malaysia Bureau Chief

KUALA LUMPUR - SINGAPORE'S casinos are likely to boost tourism in its neighbouring countries.

This is the view of Malaysian tourism and travel officials, who cite the preferences of travellers to this region.

When tourists travel to South-east Asia, the officials say, they usually want to see as many countries as possible. So they believe that many visitors to the two Integrated Resorts would then move on across the Causeway and northwards.

They expect more tourists to be drawn to Singapore. But they say that is good, too, as Malaysia will likely also be on their itinerary because Singapore travel agents often market the two countries together.

'I don't think the casinos will pose a real problem or concern at all. The trend is when you go somewhere far, you don't do a one-stop but you take in as much as possible, so there will be spillover effects,' a Tourism Ministry official said.

This view was shared by Tunku Iskandar Tunku Abdullah, president of the Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents.

'The cake is big and what we often see in Asean is that whatever increases volume in one country is positive for the neighbours,' he said.

'Many foreign tourists come for conventions, theme parks or sightseeing, and Malaysia still offers room, meals and shopping at better value than Singapore,' Tunku Iskandar added.

Using the term 'Integrated Resorts' is in itself a good way to market the products, as being mere 'casinos' might deter families from visiting, said Mr Joseph Xavier, business development manager at World Discovery Travel.

'Genting used to be a gambling site, but now it is full of other activities and has become our own integrated resort,' he said. 'People do not look at it as 'evil' anymore.'

On the other side of the fence was Mr Goh Kheng Sneah, a Member of Parliament from the ruling Barisan Nasional coalition.

Concerned that the Singapore resorts might change tourism flow, he said Penang must build a casino to compete.

'The existence of a casino will spur other economic activities. For example, it is possible for a theme park to emerge beside the casino,' he said in Parliament recently.

But Tourism Minister Datuk Leo Michael Toyad, aware of a possible backlash from the Muslim majority population, said Malaysia would not do this or promote the country as a gambling destination.

'Tourists who come to Malaysia are not here for the casino. We have many other attractions,' he said. He was confident that the Malaysian tourism industry would continue to grow despite Singapore's integrated resorts plan.

Copyright © 2005 Singapore Press Holdings. All rights reserved.

May 3, 2005
Aussies are not overly concerned

By Roger Maynard
Australia Correspondent

SYDNEY - SINGAPORE'S planned casinos and theme parks will have to come up with something special to attract tourists.

This is the assessment of those in related industries in Australia who spoke to The Straits Times.

Even large travel agencies such as Flight Centre do not expect much of an increase in Singapore bookings once the new Integrated Resorts open.

'Singapore is a popular route and it may tempt more people to stop off there on their way to Europe, but I don't think it will be a big draw unless it's particularly unique in some way,' said Ms Margo Shearer Smith of Flight Centre.

'To be successful you have to be able to offer something on a grand scale these days or have a worldwide brand like Disneyland,' she added.

It was a view shared by most Australian tourism specialists. They contend that with so many casinos to choose from at home, there is little incentive for Australians to try their luck overseas.

In the Northern Territory, which is only a few hours' flying time from Singapore, tourism chiefs scoffed at the idea of locals deserting their own casino to head for the Republic.

Said the tourism authority's Jo Hull: 'Seventy to 80 per cent of the customers at Darwin's casino are locals. And it's never attracted many Asian customers either.'

Tabcorp, Australia's largest gambling and entertainment group, is one of 14 companies invited to take part in the next bidding round to develop the resorts and casinos.

The company is proposing a fully integrated facility with luxury hotels, restaurants and shops, as well as a theme park and casino.

Chief executive Matthew Slatter said: 'Tabcorp is extremely excited by the opportunity for an integrated resort to contribute to the economy, the tourism sector, and the lifestyle of every one in Singapore through the transformation of both the Marina Bay area and Sentosa Island.'

Also through to the next bidding round is Australian company PBL, which has an Asian venture partner, Melco International.

PBL has a good track record in marketing itself to the so-called premium player market.

The company is run by Australia's richest man, Mr Kerry Packer, a regular at casinos worldwide. He has been known to win or lose millions in just one night.

Copyright © 2005 Singapore Press Holdings. All rights reserved.

May 3, 2005
What fun: Koreans expect longer stays

By Lee Tee Jong
South Korea Correspondent

SEOUL - SOUTH Korean tourists are likely to spend even more days holidaying in Singapore, drawn by the excitement the two Integrated Resorts look set to offer.

Sejin Tours manager John Kim said: 'The resorts will add a fun element to Singapore's image on top of its famed cleanliness, landscaped beauty and efficiency.'

When the resorts are completed in four to five years' time, Mr Kim said he believed that South Koreans would either extend their Singapore holiday by a day or make repeat visits.

Singapore Tourism Board (STB) South Korea office head Addison Goh told The Straits Times that businessmen tend to stay for only a night in Singapore, compared to holidaying tourists who stay for two nights.

Mr Goh felt that the resorts may tempt the businessman to stay an extra day to unwind and try his luck at the casino.

He said that the Sentosa resort may lead to families extending their stay to three nights if there are enough offerings for every family member.

Mr Goh added: 'A casino by itself will not be attractive to South Koreans as there are closer casino destinations in, say, Macau, a four-hour flight away versus the six hours to reach Singapore.'

Mr Lee Jin Koo, a spokesman from Young Il Tours, added that health-related activities such as yoga and fitness programmes would also draw South Koreans.

Several factors showed that the country has much potential as a source of travel-related income for Singapore.

A government survey last year showed that nine in 10 South Koreans had yet to travel abroad.

But since the introduction of a five-day work week last July, they have been heading out of the country in droves on Friday evening and returning on Sunday.

Singapore has already benefited from this, as the number of South Korean visitors hit 35,560 last July. This was a 10 per cent increase on the number for the corresponding period in 2002, according to the STB.

Singapore tourism was badly affected in 2003 by the Sars outbreak.

A Singapore-South Korea free trade agreement due for ratification by both parliaments in June is also likely to spur business travel.

Of the 17 casinos in South Korea, locals are only allowed access to the one at Kangwon province, a four-hour drive from Seoul.

Young Il Tours' Mr Lee said Singapore is heading in the right direction with the decision to build the resorts.

It is just a matter of time before the number of South Koreans landing at Changi Airport swells significantly, he believes.

Copyright © 2005 Singapore Press Holdings. All rights reserved.

May 3, 2005
A definite draw for some Indians

By Ravi Velloor
India Bureau Chief

NEW DELHI - WHEN Indian corporate lawyer Ravi Singhania was in Singapore for a conference this month, he spent two nights wondering what to do after the official dinners.

'For a place that is famous for its food, the restaurants close mighty early,' said Mr Singhania. 'I couldn't expect my resident friends to hang out with me late. If there had been a casino, killing a little time would have been no issue at all.'

He also believes such facilities will help to build Singapore's reputation as a place to have fun.

'A casino will make a huge difference to the image,' he said.

Mr Subhash Misra, a consultant with Unicef, chose to arrange a reunion with friends in Phuket.

The beer is cheap, the place is safe, and there is plenty of water sports in Phuket, he explained.

Would he have considered Singapore if it had a casino?

'A casino is definitely an additional plus point for Singapore. Up to a point, they do help act as a lure,' he said. 'But other issues are also important.'

Mr Misra, who has lived in Kathmandu, pointed out that the Nepalese capital's casinos draw Indian tourists because the city is cheap and close.

Star Cruises has wooed thousands of middle- and upper-class Indians to fly to Singapore or Kuala Lumpur to board their cruise liners, where mums and dads generally steal out to use the ships' casinos once the children are asleep.

From September, Star Cruises will base its Superstar Libra in Mumbai to cater to Indian clients, clearly expecting to tap into the market that would have headed for Singapore.

Casinos on the ships open once they are in international waters.

'No visas or travel documents required, just a photo I-card,' said Mr Sumit Banerji, Star Cruises' head of sales and marketing for north India. 'And you can reach Mumbai by train.'

As Singapore has marketed itself in India as a family destination, he wondered how the gaming plan would fit in with this.

'Casinos are not exactly a family thing,' he pointed out.

Tourism Malaysia's Mumbai-based director, Mr Manoharan, doubted that gambling in South-east Asia would be a big draw for Indians.

Last year, 180,000 Indians visited Malaysia. But Mr Manoharan said he had been marketing Genting Highlands more as a 'family-rich' destination than as a gambling spot. 'If it was just for gambling, Indians always have Nepal, which is just 90 minutes away and needs no visas,' he said.

'Besides, you don't see many Indian high rollers. Unlike the Chinese, the Indians are not that big on gambling.'

Copyright © 2005 Singapore Press Holdings. All rights reserved.

http://business-times.asia1.com.sg/mnt/media/image/launched/2005-05-03/050503asview23copy.gif

http://business-times.asia1.com.sg/mnt/media/image/launched/2005-05-03/050503assen23copy.gif

very interesting articles... I hope to see more developments within 5 - 10 years rather than 18 years mentioned in the articles... :)

btw, does business times allow hotlinking to these images? would it be archived after 3 -7 days or so?

Wow.....exciting articles...good to see the new rail lines too..:eek::D

03 May 2005

Eighth Wonder eyes 'flagship' S'pore deal
By Tor Ching Li , TODAY

SINGAPORE : "NEW York, New York" hotel resort in Las Vegas may have propelled its creator, Mark Advent, to fame in 1997, but the big apple of his eye is now sunny Singapore.

Said the 44-year-old chairman of Eighth Wonder Asia: "If we are fortunate enough to have the opportunity to work with the government and people here on the integrated resort (IR), Singapore will be the flagship project of our company."

Mr Advent was speaking with Today during a three-day visit here last week to meet with the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) regarding its Request for Proposals, after sailing through the first round with its concept plans.

One of the 13 companies and consortiums selected to bid for the IR projects - located in Sentosa and Marina Bay - the privately-owned company is committing $3 billion on its proposed Sentosa IR. This is three times more than its investment in "New York, New York".

Eighth Wonder is also setting aside an annual marketing budget of over $20 million to draw visitors here.

The IR player currently has casino projects in Argentina, Poland and is developing a US$900 million ($1,470 million) mega-resort in San Francisco.

"My primary focus would be dedicating a large part of my life to Singapore and this project," he said, adding that his company has not studied any other alternative country location for its IR project other than Singapore.

While the Marina Bay site was considered, Mr Advent said that he felt "emotionally and passionately drawn" to Sentosa - which he has visited three times in as many months since January.

Without going into specifics, Mr Advent said his company was "not into the theme park business", nor will the IR have a particular theme.

"What it will be is something out of this world. We are exploring many different alternatives. We have the notion of some special attraction that will be creative and innovative. The resort will be a must-see destination that will not be just about the casino."

It will comprise some theme park elements such as rides, and also signature restaurants and facilities to bring in "live" entertainment such as Broadway musicals, theatre and concerts.

In collaboration with Starwood Hotels and Resorts - a global hospitality chain that includes Sheraton, St Regis, Westin and W hotels - Mr Advent envisages the IR to appeal both to the high-end and mass market. "It's about creating something special, of high entertainment value for everybody," he said.

For the design of the IR, Mr Advent wants to substantially involve a local architect in the process. He has been in touch with one of Singapore's top architects, Mr Liu Thai-Ker, though no formal tie-up has been made.

He also expects his IR project to create some 6,000 to 8,000 jobs, spanning from engineering, food services, hospitality, retailers and entertainers.

Said Mr Advent: "We don't view our project to be the one and only aspect of Sentosa, because there are so many developments happening there. We want to work closely with the Sentosa Development Corporation from a long-term perspective, as a good neighbour to the occupants of Sentosa and Singapore."

Bidders have to submit their proposals to STB by the end of the third quarter this year.- TODAY

Copyright © 2005 MCN International Pte Ltd

Thai call to build casinos

Tuesday • May 3, 2005

THAILAND's government should build as many as four casinos to boost tourism and compete with coming attractions in Singapore and Hong Kong, The Nation reported, citing a local hotel operator.

Mr Pitak Rangsritham proposed that a casino be built in Thailand's south to offer an alternative to the region's beaches, the newspaper said. Tourism in the south of Thailand was hurt by the Dec 26 tsunami.

Casinos should be built in each of Thailand's four tourist regions to compete with two casinos that Singapore will build and Hong Kong's Disneyland, scheduled to open in July, the newspaper said, citing Mr Pitak.

His proposal was submitted to Tourism and Sports Minister Somsak Thepsuthin last week. — Bloomberg

Copyright MediaCorp Press Ltd. All rights reserved.

BIL owner eyeing S'pore IR project

Tuesday • May 3, 2005

SINGAPORE-based BIL International, the owner of Thistle Hotels, is planning to apply for casino licenses for three of its Central London hotels, the London-based Times newspaper said.

BIL, which is controlled by Malaysian billionaire Quek Leng Chan, has hired Paul Collis, a former managing director of Stanley Leisure — the largest UK casino operator — to run BIL's gaming business, the newspaper said.

Mr Quek Leng Chan is one of the world's biggest high-rollers and has long harboured hopes of having his own London casino. He is understood to have met Mr Collis while gambling at Crockfords, Stanley's plushest casino in the capital.

Mr Collis is aiming to get gambling licenses for the Thistle Victoria, the Thistle Hyde Park and Guoman at Marble Arch.

BIL may also apply for a license of incorporating a casino into a planned £100 million ($311 million) upgrade of the Thistle Tower Hotel.

Last year, BIL made a dramatic return into the black with a net profit of US$62.6 million ($108 million). Revenue rose 385.6 per cent at US$297.7 million, due to the inclusion of the results from its core business, Thistle Hotels, which is wholly owned by BIL.

Closer to home, Mr Quek is also eyeing Singapore's integrated resort (IR) projects.

His Singapore-listed property developer company, Guocoland, was a surprise entry into the list of 13 groups that have made it to the next round of bidding.

Interestingly, his Singaporean cousin Kwek Leng Beng — Singapore's richest man — is also keen on the Singapore IR project.

His firm, City Developments is in talks with the groups bidding to construct the casino resorts and may link with a partner before the final proposals are due in the third quarter, Mr Kwek said last week.

Copyright MediaCorp Press Ltd. All rights reserved.

03 May 2005

HPL, Metro withdraw from race to build Singapore's integrated resorts
By Wong Siew Ying, Channel NewsAsia

SINGAPORE: Another bidder has pulled out of the race to build integrated resorts in Singapore.

Hotel Properties and Metro Holdings say they will not proceed with a joint bid to build the resort.

About a week ago, US casino operator Argosy Gaming also threw in the towel.

The withdrawals narrow the contenders to just 12.

HPL and Metro did not give a reason for their pullout.

But it is clear that the race is intensely competitive, and the project a massive one requiring billions of dollars in investment.

Analysts tell Channel NewsAsia that HPL and Metro could have realised that they are up against some of the biggest names in the gaming industry and they have pulled in heavyweights as partners.

The plan to build two integrated resorts has attracted experienced world players from the Bahamas, the United States, South Africa and Australia.

These players are able to table bids amounting to several billion dollars.

Some of the bidders have spent as much as US$1m alone on their concept proposals.

As the bidding exercise kicks into gear, the stakes will only be higher.

HPL is a regional hotel and resort operator while Metro is a retailer.

Analysts say HPL and Metro may have felt that they suffer a disadvantage when compared to big names like Las Vegas Sands, Mirage and Kzerner.

For the bidders, it may make more sense for them to pull out now rather than pumping more money into the project.

This is especially so if they think the returns may not match up or if they feel the competition is too strong and will present proposals that are more attractive.

One key point to remember is that it could be many months before the winning bid is announced.

The government has yet to announce the deadline for the submission of the final proposal. - CNA/ir

Copyright © 2005 MCN International Pte Ltd

Business Times - 04 May 2005

On offer for S'pore resorts: cutting-edge Vegas technology
US company Avaya says its system can easily be applied in Singapore
By RAJU CHELLAM
IN LAS VEGAS

CUTTING-EDGE communications technology in use at The Wynn - the world's newest and poshest integrated resort and casino in Las Vegas - will be available for Singapore's IRs.

US company Avaya said yesterday its world-first system for The Wynn - based entirely on Internet Protocol (IP) technology - can easily be applied in Singapore.

'We can work with partners to customise a similar solution for the two proposed IRs in Singapore,' Avaya chairman and CEO Don Peterson said. 'Given Singapore's propensity to adopt the latest technology, I'm sure an IP-based integrated solution would have Singapore lead the region.'

Avaya set up an integrated voice and data network that connects The Wynn's 2,698 guest rooms and about 4,000 IP phones throughout the resort with colour LCD screens that offer voice and data access and control all guest service functions from a central server. Avaya tied up with Juniper Networks, Citrix Systems, Nice Systems and System Development Company to provide the system in the US$2.7 billion resort, which opened on April 28.

New Jersey-based Avaya was spun off from Lucent Technology in 2000 and is now a US$4 billion company. It is a world leader in IP telephony revenue, voice messaging and unified communications, and call centres. It employs 20,000 people worldwide, including 200 in Singapore, its Asia-Paci fic-Japan headquarters.

The Wynn's chairman and CEO Stephen Wynn said he wanted to use the best and latest technology in innovative ways at his signature resort. 'Superlative guest service is a hallmark of Wynn Las Vegas,' he said. 'Avaya met our challenge with an intelligent communications solution that enables guests to enjoy new levels of customer service throughout the resort.'

New York-listed Avaya would not say what this solution cost. But market analysts estimate the cost at US$5-6 million for the software and IP phones alone.

The entire infotech installation at The Wynn could have cost US$35-50 million, including computers, servers, 50-inch LCD TV sets and multi-function faxes in each room. There's also broadband access and a single access card that controls guest entry and accounts throughout the hotel, including the casino.

'It's exciting to be part of Steve Wynn's vision of creating the ultimate guest experience and the future for hotel service,' Avaya's Mr Peterson said. 'Our IP solution is built on open standards to create communication capabilities that set a new benchmark in the luxury hospitality industry.'

The system provides the resort's staff with speech access to their voice and e-mail boxes, lets them use speech to manage data messages, and perform guest management functions - all via IP phones.

The Wynn's professional staff use another feature in which their cell phone rings simultaneously when their office extension is dialled, so customers don't need to be put on hold. Other software houses guest information and instructions and personalises rooms based on guest preference.

The Wynn, which sits on 217 acres in the middle of the gambling strip of Las Vegas, is Mr Wynn's fourth and biggest project. He owns and runs The Bellagio, The Mirage and Treasure Island, also on the strip in Las Vegas. Mr Wynn's previous company, Mirage Resorts, was taken over by MGM several years ago.

Copyright © 2005 Singapore Press Holdings Ltd. All rights reserved.

very interesting articles... I hope to see more developments within 5 - 10 years rather than 18 years mentioned in the articles... :)

btw, does business times allow hotlinking to these images? would it be archived after 3 -7 days or so?
Think better save the articles to the PC. :D Anyway I am surprised they do that for the text as well?

04 May 2005


Architects call for independent panels to judge integrated resort proposals
By Wong Siew Ying, Channel NewsAsia

SINGAPORE : How iconic will the proposed integrated resorts in Singapore be?

As operators work out their plans, some Singaporeans are anticipating the shape of things to come.

Architects hope the government will set up independent panels to judge the proposals.

Built at a cost of $600 million, the Esplanade was a symbol of Singapore's artistic ambition.

The famous domes and spikes are now iconic, and attracts world famous acts to perform and tourists as well.

Now, Singapore's integrated resorts are also supposed to be "iconic structures", but just what does this mean?

Mr John Ting, Founding Chairman of the Academy of Singapore Institute of Architects, said: "Iconic is something that one identifies that place with the building. For example, France. The first thing that comes to mind is Paris and then the first thing that comes to mind when you say Paris is the Eiffel Tower."

While the resorts should ultimately be as Singaporean as the Esplanade, architects said this must be done in good taste, or risk destroying the downtown skyline.

They said the key was how to be innovative and novel without being outlandish or gimmicky.

Mr Ting said: "You will see probably very outstanding architecture, man-made edifices sitting on land next to the waters edge...very modern, very progressive and it should really shine in the sun, it should stand out and interact with the skyline.

"When you go to Sentosa, again let us try not to do Balinese style, or Thai or Malayan style."

Architects said the downtown resort should link the waterfront, financial centre, and the new Marina Barrage and Botanical Gardens.

They said the Sentosa resort should be a tropical paradise with low-rise buildings and impressive landscaping.

They added that unique attributes like Singapore's tropical climate and maritime location should be incorporated.

Architects hope the government will set up panels - not just one - but several to evaluate separate aspects of the plans like the business case, the activities at the resort and the architectural design.

This way more are involved in the final design - which will be evaluated not just on economic merits but also on aesthetics. - CNA/de

Copyright © 2005 MCN International Pte Ltd

Business Times - 05 May 2005

IRs will boost key property sectors: Savills

Consultancy says supply of retail space, hotel rooms won't be enough

(SINGAPORE) Singapore's property sector - be it residential, commercial, or retail - will experience a boost from the development of the two integrated resorts (IR), said property consultancy Savills Singapore.

Examining the IRs' impact over the short, medium and long term, Savills concluded that Singapore's experience will mirror that of Macau, which saw higher tourist arrivals, tourism receipts and GDP figures after the gaming industry there was liberalised in 2001.

In the short term, Savills expects local property prices to rise. 'Up to and during the construction phase, we are likely to see increased demand for short-term accommodation due to the inflow of foreign expertise in the areas of architecture, engineering, information technology and consulting,' the firm said.

Savills foresees that the beneficiaries will be hotels and service apartments in and around the area of the two development sites. Commercial property also stands to gain as the professionals will need office space, leading to rental hikes in those areas.

Once the IRs are completed, Savills expects strong demand for service apartments as well as rental properties near the IRs and in the higher-end residential areas of District 9, 10 and 11. It predicts demand from overseas gaming operators with specific skills being employed here to impart their know-how.

Savills reckons that rents for retail space could also rise as the retail sector enjoys an increase in tourist arrivals, which could push up total retail sales.

In fact, the firm is concerned there may not be enough retail space in the years ahead. It estimates that the total supply of retail space here over the next five years is 4.2 million sq ft. 'We believe both existing and future supply of retail space will be insufficient,' stated the report.

Savills also expects a shortage of hotel rooms by then, based on its estimate of 1,717 hotel rooms over the next five years, with another 3,000 from the two IRs. With a shortfall, hotel operators would be able to raise room rates, especially those in the central and downtown areas, Savills said.

Copyright © 2005 Singapore Press Holdings Ltd. All rights reserved.

There is a fine line between classy, tacky, funky and revolutionary :D And it all depends who you ask lor ;)

Tacky might be a trap but it could also be a tourist trap which what Singapore wants. Although many Singaporeans wants classy design (and as much as I want a classy design), but sometimes those classy & up-market design like those of Crown are simply not attractive enough if compare to let say to Palace of the Lost City in South Africa or the Atlantis in Bahamas. Dare I say that Crown isn't half as 'attractive' as Sunway Lagoon Resort or The Palace of the Golden DONKEYS :lol: Seriously ........I've seen people goes "WHOA!" when seeing those two buildings. Even tourist passing the Palace of the Golden Horses along the NS Highway would normally ask what is that and most would like to go near to have a glimps of it. And the fact that many celebrities choosed to stay there does say a thing or two about it rite? :D

Even the Palace of The Lost City at Sun City, SA have a lot of my friends and relatives whom had visited that place saying how wonderful and great looking that place is and wish that Malaysia would have something like that. :D

So what is tacky and gaudy to you and me might not be to others. To em places like that is simply revolutionary and gorgeous! :D In fact the extremely gorgeous Frank Gehry's 'metallic flower' of Guggenheim Bilbao is nothing short of being showy and gaudy......it doesn't reek the sophistication of urban chic that Crown is. ;)

Seriouslyloh.......urban entertainment ( casino :D ) complex like SkyCity (Auckland, NZ), StarCity (Sydney) and Crown (Melbourne) doesn't attract the crowd that even non-casino ventures like Sunway Lagoon Resort did. ;)

Mickey-mouse country? Tell that to Orlando. :lol: The city is basically a themepark city :D But it draws tourist in hordes. So does Las Vegas or Atlantic City because of the casinos. But of course Singapore would like to stay away from the likes of Vegas but why not Orlando? Afterall it is about attracting tourist the non-gambling way ;)

Guggenheim is great....it did wonders to the sleepy industrial town of Bilbao. But do note that Singapore is no Bilbao and different approach had to be taken. Personally I would like to see a world-class art museum like Guggenheim or the Hermitage in Asia - in particularly Singapore because it is closer to home :D

And the proposed design by Sands is just fantastic :okay: .......40-storeys!!! :eek:
ok szehoong - i accept what you're saying but i'm asking a different question: what kind of IMAGE does Singapore want to project? And the fact is, Singapore has been DESPERATELY trying to portray a more sophisticated, cultured, type of image for the last 10 years - to show that it is really a "world city". So yes, you can build your Venetian or Golden Donkeys, but is that the RIGHT IMAGE for Singapore? If everyone is happy with it, good lor. But I wouldn't be happy with it. Does Singapore want to be more like Macau/Vegas/Orlando or more like New York/Tokyo? If Orlando is OK for Singapore then OK lor...but um...I don't think so...

I never said that Crown was "beautiful". It's not. I don't even like the place. But it projects a different image from the Sands, doesn't it?

Btw, as for the Guggenheim, I think HK deserves it more than Singapore because it is a gateway to China and East Asia, whereas Singapore struggles with the concept of (modern) art and culture...but then again, HK got Disneyland, which severely diminishes its standing, so maybe Singapore deserves its big break hehehe :D

If I were someone to decide at the URA, for the casino I would definitely go more Monaco-style than Macau-style ;-)

But what is the monaco style?

Huh... Like this ? ^^

http://www.espere.net/Poland/Netdays/img5MonacoCasino.jpg

The pic doesn't show to well :-( There's no ultra-expensive car or velvet dress or red fluffy carpet on it :-(
I mean like, classier, richer, more exclusive :-)
Well if they want a popular one, they can put it on Sentosa, I don't care ^^

eeww...I dont think that will be appropriate..looks kinda out of place and context for the Marina site.

I would like something more sculptural and glassy....

i thought that might be more appropriate for sentosa :)

something more 'singapore' in style would be

http://www.*************/architects/hadid/BMW_Plant/Photo-1.jpg

or perhaps

http://www.bbc.co.uk/liverpool/features/2002/08/fourth_grace/alsop_lead.jpg


http://www.skyscrapernews.com/4th_grace_alsop1.jpg

colourful enough for casino :)

Business Times - 06 May 2005

LETTER TO THE EDITOR
IR in Marina Bay will be a landmark

I REFER to the article, 'Live, Work... and Play - Marina Bayfront 2009', by Arthur Sim (BT, May 3). The article contained several inaccuracies.

URA provided the reporter with a 'night perspective' of the future Downtown at Marina Bay. URA also provided a map showing the location of upcoming developments at Downtown at Marina Bay, including the integrated resort. This night perspective was changed without URA's permission, but attributed to URA.

Your rendering gave a false impression about the form of the IR and could mislead people. Also, the IR does not stretch along the whole Bayfront, so the scale reflected in your rendering is incorrect.

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said in Parliament that the IR at Downtown at Marina Bay is envisaged as 'an iconic development, of excellent architectural design, one that will enhance the city skyline and complement our role as a business and financial hub'.

The IR is, therefore, an important development for Singapore and will be a landmark for Marina Bay.

URA will work closely with other government agencies to ensure a quality development with modern architecture in keeping with the image of Downtown at Marina Bay as a dynamic 24-7 city centre.

Your article said the 'cultural loop' around Marina Bay will be 1.5 km. In fact, the entire promenade that will link all bayfront attractions will be 3.3 km.

URA will construct 1.5 km of the promenade, as well as a bridge that will span the Marina Channel, as part of its plan to put in the necessary infrastructure to open up Downtown at Marina Bay.

URA is currently assessing design proposals for the waterfront promenade and the bridge, and a consultant is expected to be selected by mid-2005.

Your article said - based on our media release last year - that the promenade will be completed by end-2006 and the bridge by 2008. We would like to update that the completion dates will be slightly later. The promenade will be completed in 2007 and the bridge in 2009.

The report added that URA released sites in the heart of the CBD after the strong public response to residential projects in the city, such as Icon, The Arris and Duxton Plain. This is not correct. The intention to inject more live-in population in the city is not new. In fact, it has been one of the key development objectives outlined in the Concept Plan as far back as 1991. The sale of such sites as Craig Place (1997) and Icon (2001) were part of URA's plan to enliven the city.

The Sail@Marina Bay was sold in 2002 as a 'white' site, and the developer chose to develop it for residential use. The residential developments that are coming up around the city in fact demonstrate the market's response to URA's plans to inject more live-in population.

Finally, your article said developers became interested in BFC only after URA came up with an 18-year project completion period. This seems to suggest that prior to the introduction of sales conditions, there was no market interest.

In fact, as with all site sales, URA consulted market players to structure sales conditions for BFC before launching it on the reserve list in May 2004.

The market could not have been disinterested in BFC before 2004 because the site was not available for sale.

Since the release of the BFC site on the reserve list, URA has received significant market interest, which eventually led to the site being triggered for tender in March this year. The tender for BFC will close on June 21, 2005.

Ang Hwee Suan (Ms)
head, public relations
Urban Redevelopment
Authority

Copyright © 2005 Singapore Press Holdings Ltd. All rights reserved.

Hahaha....the URA is complaining about that huge ship-like thingy?

06 May 2005

Local architects roped in to design Singapore's integrated resorts
By Wong Siew Ying, Channel NewsAsia

SINGAPORE : DP Architects has been roped in to design the proposed integrated resorts in Singapore. No stranger to iconic designs, the architectural firm is also looking to spread its wings in the Middle East.

The brains behind the shiny Esplanade domes will be hard at work again -- this time on the integrated resorts.

DP Architects has been engaged to conceptualise designs for both projects in Marina and Sentosa.

While the designers won't describe Singapore's integrated resorts as monuments, they say they believe they will pull in the crowds.

Said Ti Lian Seng, design director at DP Architects, "In the Marina Bay, one would have to not be too wild and stand out too loudly, probably have to complement the buildings that are already existing within the CBD area. For Sentosa, that's on an island; it's meant to be fun, meant to be more festive and carnival. The more imaginative it is the better it is for the place."

The company is also eyeing the Middle East market, as a recent trip there with Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong unveiled many business prospects.

The company is forming a consortium of some 15 companies from the construction sector to make forays into the Gulf; it is looking in particular at Qatar.

The consortium will sign a memorandum of understanding on Monday and will be making trips to the Middle East in the weeks ahead to seek out more opportunities.

Said Angelene Chan, director of DP Architects, "We are building up an office and some staff over in the Middle East to help us with business development. We are looking at all sorts of projects, from master planning to retail, residential, hotels and even institutional projects."

She said the company is currently involved in several large projects in Dubai worth millions of dollars. - CNA /ct

Copyright © 2005 MCN International Pte Ltd

Business Times - 07 May 2005

S'pore integrated resorts could well be a boon to M'sia

It's highly probable that neighbouring countries will enjoy the spillover effects from the two grand playgrounds

By EDDIE TOH

WILL Singapore give Malaysia a run for the tourism money following the nod for two world-class integrated resorts with casinos? Probably. But there is no reason to believe that Singapore's success will harm its neighbour.

Malaysian officials have been watching Singapore's plan closely as the 'tender' for the new resorts has attracted big names such as MGM Mirage, Las Vegas Sands, Wynn Resorts, Harrah's, Kerzner and Malaysia's own Genting.

There is probably concern that the two new sites at Marina Bayfront and Sentosa - with a combined land area bigger than 60 soccer fields - will affect Malaysia's tourism hotspots.

Is the concern justified? Or will the pie be big enough for the closely interlinked neighbours? This need not have to be a zero-sum game. Victory for one does not automatically come at the expense of the other.

Singapore's lifting of the long-standing ban on casinos, after much soul-searching, will definitely help change the tourism profile in the region in the long term.

While details of Singapore's integrated resorts are still sketchy, it is clear that Singapore needs them to give its tourism drive a shot in the arm. Singapore's tourism record has been dismal of late, even though it is the shipping and aviation hub of the region.

While Malaysia and Singapore each attracted fewer than eight million visitors in 1999, the gap has widened considerably. Last year, close to 16 million visitors flocked to Malaysia and just over eight million headed to Singapore.

Malaysia's incredible tourism performance has not come about by accident. Former premier Mahathir Mohamad had pushed the country to the forefront as a venue for major sporting, social and cultural events before he retired in 2003.

Thanks to his foresight, Malaysia completed its world-class racing circuit at Sepang and hosted one round of the Formula One World Championships by 1999. Since then, Malaysia has featured prominently in the annual F1 radar screen. As an indication of its popularity, almost all hotel rooms in the Malaysian capital are booked during an F1 race at Sepang.

Singapore could have the buzz too with the integrated resorts, which will cost the private sector up to $6 billion when completed by the turn of this decade. It's highly probable that Singapore's neighbours, including Malaysia, will enjoy the spillover effects of the two grand playgrounds as the two countries are generally complementary destinations.

But the same cannot be said about the gambling crowds to the region. Malaysia's Genting, which has been the predominant casino resort in the Asean region for over three decades, could be the key in the new regional tourism equation.

Genting Highlands is no ordinary Malaysian tourist destination; it is possibly the country's biggest tourism magnet. Genting last year attracted 17 million local and foreign visitors - more than the combined number of visitors to Malaysia and Singapore in 2003.

This may help explain why Genting, which is controlled by tycoon Lim Goh Tong's family, has submitted proposals for both integrated resort sites up for grabs in Singapore. In the bid for the bigger Sentosa site, Genting has teamed up with the heavyweight Universal. Incidentally, Malaysia's plan to set up Universal's theme park in the southern state of Johor has yet to materialise.

It therefore makes sense for the Malaysian company to put in strong bids for the Singapore integrated resorts. A win will help the Malaysian casino operator capture new business, and offset any loss of Singapore visitors to its highland casino when the Singapore resorts are completed.

But can the Malaysian company help the country capture a slice of the new Singapore tourism pie? With such heavyweights in the battle for Singapore's resorts with casinos, it's still unknown if the odds will be in Genting's favour.

The writer is a Malaysian

Copyright © 2005 Singapore Press Holdings Ltd. All rights reserved.

Hahaha....the URA is complaining about that huge ship-like thingy?

what ship thing?

09 May 2005

Singapore's quest for world-class glitz
By Christie Loh, TODAY

SINGAPORE : "SINGAPORE rocks!" screams the T-shirt on Michael Widowitz, a 26-year-old business consultant from Austria who is doing some of his postgraduate work here.

He trots out a long list of things he loves about the island, including its efficiency, cleanliness and excellent transit system.

Yet, for all its plus points, Mr Widowitz would choose the vibrancy of London's West End to the attractions of Orchard Road.

"Culturally, London has more to offer. Maybe because Singapore is a young country, it doesn't have much heritage," he said.

In August, the Lion City turns 40, a seedling compared to oak-tree London. But Singapore has always been ahead in the curve, most notably in its fast-tracked economic success. Now the tiny country wants to pull another stunt and become a "global city" in double-quick time.

According to the Urban Redevelopment Authority, global cities such as New York and Paris are "dynamic, cosmopolitan, alive with activities, have a high standard of living and an educated workforce".

More importantly, they attract foreign investment and top talent - which is why Singapore is intent on re-inventing itself as a global metropolis. To this end, it is prepared to invest in high-profile projects such as the recently announced integrated resorts (IR).

Any discussion of Singapore's quest to become a global city inevitably centres on the Republic's need for "buzz". The consensus among experts is that mega projects alone cannot generate enough of it.

What is needed, they say, is a multi-pronged approach that includes a relaxation of regulations and a marketing blitz to improve the Republic's image.

The nature of the "urban buzz" defies precise definitions. But most agree it encompasses a variety of activities and a lively exchange of ideas among individuals of various backgrounds.

"The buzz can just be that you hang around somewhere and something interesting happens - like when I go for an evening out in Paris," said Dr Hellmut Schutte, dean of Insead, a European business school with its Asia campus here.

"Maybe Singapore is too well-planned. Let's say you go to New York's CBD, there's a mix of activities besides working life. Our own CBD after office hours has no life," said Ms Feng Zhi Wei, head of research at Jones Lang LaSalle.

And perhaps Singapore is "too clean", suggested Dr Schutte.

"A global city comes with an enormous diversity of activity, not just glamour. It comes with sleaze because things are not sterile," he said.

Think New York City and you get glitzy Broadway alongside "ghetto Harlem". The image of the global city is multi-dimensional.

Will casinos and theme parks such as Universal Studios help spice things up here? Some think not.

"The casino will not bring much because it's very much the extreme of American entertainment. And look at Paris. EuroDisney hasn't enriched life, although it has definitely brought in more visitors," said Dr Schutte.

But Deutsche Bank senior economist Sanjeev Sanyal said the integrated resorts are "one of many interconnected factors" aimed at drawing people from around the globe.

Prior to its decision to build the IRs, the Government had set in motion several key initiatives such as building homes in the Central Business District, promoting creative thinking among the nation's students and offering tax incentives to encourage more philanthropic activities here.

It is the combination of these activities that should help Singapore move towards becoming a global city in the coming years, said Jones Lang LaSalle's Ms Feng.

But throw in some "soft" marketing, too.

Insead's Dr Schutte, who has lived here for four years, feels the outside world's mistaken impressions of Singapore hurt its bid to be a global city.

"When I step outside of Singapore, predictably the issue of chewing gum comes up. There is an image problem. Normally, you will get the public relations people to do something about it," he said.

A recent survey by human resource consultancy, Mercer, corroborates his view.

In its annual "Quality of Life" survey, expatriates worldwide gave Tokyo 133 points and Hong Kong 113 points in the Social/Cultural category against Singapore's base score of 100.

Said Mercer's Dr Sattar Bawany, head of global information services: "Expats feel there is a limitation on personal freedom and expression here. For instance, they felt films were censored too much."

Expats also rated Singapore "very poorly" in terms of recreation, such as theatrical and musical performances and sports, added Dr Bawany.

While the Mercer survey was based on perceptions, a look at the reality suggests things may be improving. Since Esplanade - Theatres on the Bay opened in 2002, blockbuster shows such as Ms Saigon and Mamma Mia, among others, have been staged here.

And looking at the future of sports here, 2007 will see the opening of Marina Barrage, which holds the promise that more water sports events will be held here.

But more could be done, as the writer of a recent letter to Today suggested.

"Singapore is dead as a doornail after 10pm," wrote reader Lim Boon Hee, adding that the places that remain open after that time- Geylang, discotheques and bars - are unsuitable for families.

"Unless the mentality of the shopping malls and public transport operators is drastically altered, we will never be able to compete with cities such as Taipei, Hong Kong and Bangkok, which truly do not sleep," he said.

That said, the Government has made a number of changes in recent years designed to make Singapore more "fun".

One of its latest decisions involved giving mall owners greater licence to rejuvenate Orchard Road. Then there was last year's green light for consumers to rent videos rated NC16 and M18 rather than just PG or G - a small but significant move allowing for more choice.

With these changes in mind, Dr Schutte said he believes Singapore will gradually metamorphose into a global city: "We're moving in the right direction although it could be speedier. Letting loose will help." - TODAY

Copyright © 2005 MCN International Pte Ltd

09 May 2005

Hotels in Marina area look forward to building of integrated resorts
By Wong Siew Ying, Channel NewsAsia

Hoteliers in the Marina area are rubbing their hands in eager anticipation, ahead of integrated resorts in 2009.

http://www.channelnewsasia.com/imagegallery/store/phpaNMLc5.jpg

They say the resorts across the bay is more of an opportunity than a threat.

The integrated resort promises bigger and better things - thousands of hotel rooms, large retail and convention space.

It could possibly give businesses in the vicinity a run for their money but not so, say some hotels in the Marina area.

The Ritz Carlton and Pan Pacific hotels hope there will be a river taxi service to ferry guests across to the resort.

And they're optimistic about business prospects come 2009.

Competition is inevitable but hoteliers said the development of the integrated resort in Marina will generally have a positive effect on businesses in the area by providing better infrastructure and attracting bigger events.

While businesses may benefit from the vibrancy of the resort, they will not be sitting on their hands when it comes to competition.

Pan Pacific is working with the Oriental and Marina Mandarin to market their promotions.

Scott Swank, General Manager, Pan Pacific, said: "We will always be aggressive because we feel we have a good base of synergy with the shopping area and commercial towers, the hotels, I think it's possible we could ultimately expand the Marina Bay to include the integrated resort, so I wouldn't preclude that we'll be absolute competitors, we may compete with other parts of the city like Orchard Road."

And with some 5 million more tourist arrivals expected in the next 5 years, Mr Swank said the impact of additional rooms offered at the resort would not be too dramatic.

Like others in the area, the Ritz Carlton caters mostly to business and convention travellers, a likely stable market even when the resort opens.

Jennifer Cronin, Executive Assistant Manager, Sales & Marketing, Ritz Carlton, said: "As always with large conventions or events, we all benefit in the extra rooms that are brought into the city. Having been in a casino property previously that there are a number of corporate organisations when they hold conferences, would prefer that their delegates do not stay in a casino property."

Retaining workers is just as important.

And many hotels will look at beefing up their programmes for staff to ensure they do not make that switch across the Bay. - CNA /ch

Copyright © 2005 MCN International Pte Ltd

^

wow those imaginery renderings look exciting :cool:

Sentosa may trail Marina resort award by 6 months: sources

10 May 05

But both resorts are still expected to open at same time

By ALEXANDRA HO

(SINGAPORE) Investors hoping to clinch the concession to build an integrated resort (IR) on Sentosa may have to wait a little longer than those gunning for the Marina Bayfront site - about six months longer, sources have told BT.


The government is apparently looking to award the concession for Marina as scheduled - by the end of this year - but not for Sentosa.

Trade and Industry Minister Lim Hng Kiang announced on April 18 in Parliament that the concessions would be given out by the end of this year. The assumption was that both would be awarded at the same time.

But sources say that during meetings between investors and the Singapore Tourism Board (STB), it emerged that things may have taken a different turn, and Sentosa's concession may only be awarded in the middle of next year.

Consortiums invited to take part in the second round of the IR process - the Request for Proposals (RFP) - have been meeting STB and government officials since late April.

When contacted, STB's director of sightseeing and cruise, Chang Chee Pey, would only say: 'Preparations for the Request for Proposals are in progress. We will provide further information on the RFP at the appropriate time.'

Several reasons have been suggested for the possible time differential.

One is that the buildings and developments for Sentosa will be low-rise, so construction can be completed quickly. The Request for Concepts (RFC) stipulated that a building height of 10 storeys should be taken as a guide. A lag at Sentosa would give construction at Marina - which will be high-rise - enough lead-time so both IRs could open at the same time. The RFC stated that some buildings at Marina could go up to 245 metres above mean sea level, or about 60 storeys.

Another reason given by industry players is that those who failed to win the concession for Marina would have time to regroup and bid for Sentosa.

It is also believed that land-lease issues on Sentosa have not been completely ironed out.

Sentosa Development Corporation (SDC) is trying to buy back land that now houses a food centre at Sentosa's ferry terminal building, as it could be part of the proposed IR site. The 7,120 sq m food centre's 30-year lease is held by Wah Khiaw Developments. Its managing director Tan Seng Ong said there are about 16 years left on the lease and he is negotiating with SDC on a price.

Talks started three months ago but are deadlocked because the two sides could not agree on the compensation price, Mr Tan said. He told BT that independent valuers calculate that Wah Khiaw ought to be paid $9.3 million, but SDC's offer is $3.6 million.

An SDC spokesman confirmed that the food centre may be in the vicinity of the proposed IR and that both parties are in negotiations. 'We are indeed hopeful that a deal will be worked out to the benefit of both the operator of the food centre and the resort island,' the spokesman said.

Contenders for the Sentosa site are: CapitaLand, partnering Kerzner International; Eighth Wonder Asia; Genting International, Star Cruises and Universal Parks and Resorts; Harrah's Entertainment, working with Keppel Land; Sun International; and Tabcorp Holdings.

A total of 12 consortiums have made it to the RFP stage for the two IRs.

10 May 2005

Singapore's construction industry set for turnaround within three years: contractors
By Derek Cher, Channel NewsAsia

The construction industry is set for a turnaround within three years as development of Singapore's integrated resorts gets underway, says the Singapore Contractors Association.

In the meantime, major players are actively tapping on huge overseas markets such as the Middle East to grow their businesses.

But some appear to shy away from China and India.

The construction industry is on the road to recovery with an estimated 5 to 10 percent growth this year and some key players have been actively venturing overseas to boost their bottomline.

The association says the Middle East market can offer returns of up to 20 percent but contractors are less optimistic about India and China.

There are concerns about operating in these countries as business dealings can be rather complicated.

Simon Lee, Executive Director, Singapore Contractors Association, said: "Sometimes we don't know the designer, developer. Being a small member along the value chain, we may be exposed to more risks. If we go in a group, we take the project right from the beginning, say even at the development stage, that means we do have a certain amount of control so that minimises the risks."

Such difficulties aside, the association says the Singapore brand and expertise are valued abroad.

Not only do overseas markets recognise the brand as representing a high standard of construction, they also find that Singapore firms offer better rates than Western contractors.

But to venture abroad, contractors need to have the financial muscle to take on projects in those markets.

So the Contractors Association says only the big players can afford to do so.

The majority of local contractors will still be focusing their resources on the Singapore market.

Even though construction firms are now faced with a shrinking local market, the association says there is still potential for growth.

It expects the industry to recover in 3 years time with many contractors hopeful of participating in the construction of two integrated resorts worth some S$5 billion. - CNA /ch

Copyright © 2005 MCN International Pte Ltd

http://www.channelnewsasia.com/imagegallery/store/phpaNMLc5.jpg


!!!!
I want it !!

11 May 2005

Integrated resort at Marina to benefit malls in the area
By Wong Siew Ying, Channel NewsAsia

SINGAPORE : The integrated resort project in Marina is literally retail therapy for shopping malls in the area, as they look to leverage on its positive spillovers.

Some are also sinking in funds to upgrade their property. But what is in it for shoppers and retailers?

Variety is everything where the retail business is concerned -- it is one of the reasons tourists flock to Orchard Road.

And some shopping malls in the Marina area want a share of this tourism pie, which they believe the new integrated resort will help achieve.

Locals now make up over 60 percent of visitors at Suntec City Mall and 90 percent at Raffles City.

With the Orchard Road shopping belt set for a S$40 million makeover, shopping mall operators here hope the integrated resort will add a new shine to the Marina area, making it Singapore's prime entertainment hub.

The development has also triggered more investment.

For a start, Suntec City Mall will splash some S$30 million over the next three years to strengthen its presence and tenant mix.

Said Quek Kar Tung, CEO of Suntec Real Estate Investment Trust, "The fashion component takes up 15 percent; we want to bring that up to 35 percent to strengthen the fashion element. We are creating a youth zone for youths and young adults. We are creating another zone with huge critical mass on accessories for men and women."

Mall operators don't expect the shops planned in the integrated resort to hurt their businesses.

Raffles City says it has set aside S$25 million to build a connector to the Circle Line MRT station and will look at not only bringing more traffic but also more retailers.

Said Anthony Yip, general manager at Raffles City, "It just means that we can grow the support base for retail. That means more overseas retailers and international brands would be prepared to come in to Singapore because of the pick up in demand, and that will help the whole retail sector."

They expect rental and property prices in the area to go up as well. - CNA /ct

Copyright © 2005 MCN International Pte Ltd

Its a good thing that Marina Square is undergoing a facelift in time for the resort's opening

Resorts bidding process gets thumbs up, and note of caution

14 May 05

By ALEXANDRA HO


SINGAPORE has done a superb job in being transparent in conducting the request for concepts stage for Singapore's integrated resorts, and it should continue along that path for the second stage, the request for proposals.


The verdict comes from international gaming experts, here for a casino conference organised by US investment bank Merrill Lynch. William Eadington, professor and director at the University of Nevada's Institute for the Study of Gambling and Commercial Gaming, called the initial stage 'well-studied, with clearly stated objectives'.

For the request-for-proposals stage, the Innovation Group's managing director, Scott Fisher, called for clear, well-defined explanations of what the projects should be.

The University of Salford's director for the Centre for the Study of Gambling and Commercial Gaming, Peter Collins, observed that while losing bidders would never be happy, the effect on them could be managed by clearly explaining the process in advance.

Dr Fisher warned about overbidding, as companies could try to win the contract by promising astronomical investment sums, and then bankrupt themselves when they have to deliver on their grandiose pledges.

As well as overbidding, consultants fear overbuilding. During his session, gaming consultant Dean Macomber said that though he was sure the two resorts would be world-class, he cautioned against the risk that the eventual winners might build too much and cannibalise Singapore's other tourist attractions and retail areas.

The gaming experts agreed that Singapore is a coveted prize as there are few emerging markets for the competing corporations. 'The UK could have been, but it's not going to be the size that gaming companies had thought it was going to be. Thailand and Japan might happen in the next couple of years, but they might not. Here, it's a certainty,' said Dr Fisher.

The experts estimate that Singapore's gambling revenue could hit $2 billion a year - with gaming tax, at a proposed 15 per cent, far lower than Macau's 40 per cent or Malaysia's 26 per cent.

The experts were bullish on the resorts' chances of attracting custom, especially high-rollers. Kelvin Tan, a specialist in the VIP market, said the present demand by gamblers is outstripping supply.

'South Korea has 13 casinos, and only one is open to locals; the other 12 depend on tourists. If tourists from Japan, Taiwan and China can support the 12, what does this tell you about the two that Singapore will have?' Mr Tan asked.

Too much official control in design of IRs: casino mogul

14 May 05

He says excessive official direction interferes with the creative process

By VIKRAM KHANNA


(SINGAPORE) Too much direction and control by officials managing the bidding process for Singapore's integrated resorts (IRs) is counter-productive and could compromise the quality of the final product, says Las Vegas casino mogul Steve Wynn.


Mr Wynn, creator of some of the best-known IRs in Las Vegas, has praise for Singapore's fundamental strengths of good governance, safety, a world-class airport and laissez-faire economic policies - as well as the choice of the Marina Bayfront site for an IR.

But he is critical of what he sees as micro-management by 'bureaucrats' on several issues leading up to the submission of bids, particularly design-related issues. 'There's an awful lot of control and direction in the documents we've received which, frankly speaking, is unsophisticated,' he told BT in an exclusive interview in Las Vegas.

'It's control and direction given by people who've never done this before. I don't think it's appropriate to tell someone: Give us an attraction that's irresistible, that will reach into India and China - but we'll tell you how to design it.'

According to Mr Wynn, for instance, the requirement to submit line drawings by Sept 30 won't serve a useful purpose. 'By definition, anything done by Sept 30 will be a partially finished product,' he said. 'Everybody will make big promises and have fancy drawings. But you can't tell from a drawing or a rendering what space moves the human spirit. You have to be in it to understand.'

Mr Wynn's resorts in Las Vegas include The Mirage, Treasure Island, The Bellagio and, most recently, the US$2.7 billion Wynn Las Vegas - billed as the world's most expensive and up-scale resort. He also has a gaming licence in Macau, where he is constructing a resort due for completion next year. His company, Wynn Resorts is among the 12 remaining bidders for one of the proposed IRs in Singapore.

Mr Wynn told BT that Singapore government officials also want to know 'exactly what the show (in the resort) will be'. But it took more than three years to create shows such as the sellout O show, currently running at The Bellagio, and Le Reve, showing at Wynn Las Vegas, he said. The creation of such shows involves intricate choreography, music and lighting effects and is often an organic process over a period of time and perfected after audience feedback 'If I'd ever tried to describe the O show on a piece of paper to someone, they'd have laughed at me,' he said.

Rather than trying to specify detailed design requirements in documents, Mr Wynn suggested that Singapore officials visit Las Vegas and see the work done in the resorts there. 'Infer from what you see what you like,' he said. 'Don't issue thunderbolts of wisdom from the top of Mount Olympus. You're talking about the people of the world and what makes them go. That's the ballpark we play in. Running the government is the ballpark they play in. Those are two different games. Both sides have to be open and flexible. 'Telling us to go get a world-class architect with no specific name is not the way to go about it. On the other hand, telling us 'show us your work' and then asking us how to create something in Singapore as best we know and in a way that's not repugnant or antithetical to the sensibilities of the city is a perfectly valid instruction.

'And if someone does something that's offensive, you reject it, plain and simple. But you don't tell an expert how to do an expert's job. You ask.'

Mr Wynn said he accepts the rules governing the bidding for IRs. But according to him: 'The question is, do the rules interfere with the creative process? The question is, can we keep the promise to Singapore? There's a very definite agenda on the table here: We want to change Singapore's tourism profile from 5 per cent of GDP to closer to 15. Ultimately, this is not between me and the government, it's between me and the public'.

Business Times - 16 May 2005

Can 2 IRs sustain tourism growth?

The experience of Las Vegas suggests that more will be needed, says VIKRAM KHANNA

SINGAPORE cannot, will not, and probably should not, be the 'Las Vegas of Asia'. However, now that Singapore has decided to take the plunge and set up integrated resorts (IRs) with a view to expanding its tourist arrivals, it might have something to learn from the experience of Las Vegas, which pioneered the IRs that have been hugely successful in driving inbound tourism.

The economic logic of IRs is essentially that the range of industries they aggregate - casino gaming, hotels, conventions, retail, food and beverage, entertainment, spas and sporting facilities - all feed off each other. Facilities located outside the IRs proper - shopping malls, restaurants and a host of other services - also benefit. All this is now well known.

However, the experience of Las Vegas points to another dynamic at play, which is perhaps less well known, or at least less appreciated: The more the number of IRs, the more the number of visitors.

In other words, IR growth helps to drive visitor growth - which in turn drives further IR growth. The thought that Las Vegas can only take three or four IRs never occurred to its entrepreneurs, who just went ahead and added more and more. And every time a new IR was added, the number of visitors jumped.

The creation of The Mirage, Treasure Island, The Luxor, the Venetian, Mandalay Bay and The Bellagio - all were followed by increases in the number of arrivals. Rob Powers, senior vice-president at the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors' Authority (the Las Vegas equivalent of the Singapore Tourism Board), told me in a recent interview: 'I remember in 1993, about 11,000 hotel rooms were added with the opening of The Luxor and Treasure Island. Some people said 'Las Vegas can't possibly fill 11,000 more rooms.' Well, the following year, there was a 20 per cent jump in the number of visitors: we had more visitors than we had rooms.'

The total number of visitors to Las Vegas in 1993 was 28.2 million. By 2004, more IRs, convention space and other attractions had been added, and the number of visitors soared to 37.4 million. There are currently about 132,000 hotel rooms in Las Vegas - about 50 per cent more than in 1993, and occupancy is running at 95 per cent, compared to the US average of around 70 per cent. And nobody now suggests that Las Vegas is overbuilding.

Clustering effect

If you look at these patterns, what seems to be at play is a powerful 'clustering' effect centering on the entertainment industry. This industry seems to be driven by a different dynamic than most others: additions to supply (in the form of more attractions) seem to have created more demand rather than leading to overcapacity. As Mr Powers put it: 'Constantly having new products has been extremely important in growing tourism.' About 80 per cent of Las Vegas' visitors are repeat visitors, he added. And many of them want to see and experience something different the next time they come.

All of which raises an important question that Singapore must face, and the sooner the better: Should Singapore limit the number of IRs it permits to just two?

If so, where is renewal going to come from to drive continued growth in visitor arrivals? If the vision is for one-time growth that tapers off, two might be sufficient. But if Singapore wants visitor arrivals to keep growing, year after year, for several years, it would have to consider continuous additions to supply - if not of IRs, then of other equally compelling attractions.

One of the reasons why Las Vegas succeeded with IRs was that it embraced the industry enthusiastically, rather than tolerating it as a 'necessary evil' and thus limiting its scope and size. It also avoided creating monopolies or duopolies and reaped the benefits of free entry and competition. Singapore must consider to what extent it will do likewise.

Copyright © 2005 Singapore Press Holdings Ltd. All rights reserved.

2 IRs at Marina instead?? :?

17 May 2005

Casino magnate Wynn says family-style integrated resort on Sentosa may not be feasible
By Ken Teh, Channel NewsAsia

US casino mogul Steve Wynn has questioned the feasibility of a family-style integrated resort that Singapore is planning to create on Sentosa.

He said integrated resorts with casinos were for adults and not for children and that it would be futile to compete with big family resorts like Disneyworld.

He cited the example of Las Vegas which in the early 1990s experimented with a family destination branding concept which failed.

Since then marketing efforts to portray Vegas as a 'Disney on Dice' have been abandoned and the city is once again luring visitors with hedonistic slogans, such as "Vegas: What happens here, stays here".

Instead of a family-style resort on Sentosa, Mr Wynn is proposing the building of two integrated resorts with casinos in the Marina Bay area.

He believes that two casino resorts in the centre of the city with hotels located near them will create the critical mass necessary for the success of the entire project.

His vision is one of two S-shaped buildings facing the city with lush gardens in between.

But he said this may not be possible because the government is proposing to build a road through the Marina Bay area, which would affect the design of the resort.

The proposed road, he said, should be repositioned so that more room can be created for the construction of the integrated resort.

Mr Wynn also touched on the possibility of bringing an art museum to Singapore

He said that if that is what the government wants, he could easily bring to Singapore his huge art collection, which is on display in Vegas.

The government cannot rush proposals which are now due for submission at the end of September.

He added that concepts take time and needs at least six months to develop.

In recent days, Mr Wynn has been quoted in media reports complaining of too much control by government officials handling the integrated resort project in Singapore.

He is the man behind the US$2.7 billion Wynn Las Vegas resort and has also designed successful casino resorts like the Bellagio, Venetian and Treasure Island.

His company Wynn resorts is now developing its Asian flagship casino resort in Macau.

It is due to open next year. - CNA /ch

Copyright © 2005 MCN International Pte Ltd

Gawd Mr Wynn is such a diva. right, might as well reconfigure NDT to accentuate the casinos. might as well dump the premise of building a new city for the gala opening of a Vice City on the Bay, all that blingbling along the waterline. As much as Steve Wynn can give us GDP hormone pumps, he is also capable of ruining singapore's destiny with his filthy vegas attitude. for all we know he may already have our administration in a stranglehold because WE JUST CAN'T DO WITHOUT THE MONEY DAMMIT.

URA better put her foot down on this one. Our descendents will have a field day, i mean lifetime, bemoaning kitsch culture land in NDT and tabula rasa in singapore. A landscape void of sensitive tropical architecture and heritage, purely the physical manifestation of all our utilitarian implements.

steve wynn go and die.

FYI, Tabula Rasa has already happened. Kitsch? We already have truck loads of them, with or without Mr Wynn.

Too much official control in design of IRs: casino mogul

14 May 05

He says excessive official direction interferes with the creative process

By VIKRAM KHANNA


(SINGAPORE) Too much direction and control by officials managing the bidding process for Singapore's integrated resorts (IRs) is counter-productive and could compromise the quality of the final product, says Las Vegas casino mogul Steve Wynn.

Mr Wynn, creator of some of the best-known IRs in Las Vegas, has praise for Singapore's fundamental strengths of good governance, safety, a world-class airport and laissez-faire economic policies - as well as the choice of the Marina Bayfront site for an IR.
......


May 18, 2005
Only broad guidelines specified for IRs

WE REFER to the article, 'Casino mogul: Too much control' (The Sunday Times, May 15).

The Singapore Government has chosen the Request For Proposal (RFP) approach for the proposed integrated resorts (IRs) at Marina South and Sentosa, instead of the traditional tender process.

This is to provide opportunities for developing exciting and innovative concepts and designs for the IRs within the context of their locations.

Like many major cities, Singapore has planning and urban-design guidelines which ensure that developments fit well into our city. These cover broad parameters like building height, good pedestrian access and open spaces for the public.

This is especially important for the Bayfront, which is a prominent site in the heart of our future Downtown. An IR at the Bayfront will leave a major physical imprint on our skyline for many years to come.

As part of the RFP process, we have held dialogues with potential investors on the broad parameters set for the IRs. Many have found these sessions useful.

We are mindful of the need for developers to make their project work. Within these broad guidelines, we will give developers maximum flexibility to come up with innovative and unique design proposals.

Chang Chee Pey
Director, Sightseeing & Cruise
Singapore Tourism Board

Michael Koh
Director
Urban Planning and Design
Urban Redevelopment Authority

Copyright © 2005 Singapore Press Holdings. All rights reserved.

FYI, Tabula Rasa has already happened. Kitsch? We already have truck loads of them, with or without Mr Wynn.

yap, and the biggest ticket out of death penalty disney land in the form of a new intelligent sophisticated city on the bay - now given a kick in the groin with parliament's decision to approve a casino on Marina. Who came up with that idea anyway!?

granted, it revs up the engines of revolution in the NDT for the gratification of those on whom the onus falls and have not the luxury of LKY's term to serve out their promise.

meanwhile i was of the opinion that cultural kitsch would one day disappear (in a few generations) because dust would have finally settled on the atrocities in chinatown. it would finally acquire that sageness with age (unless we continued reinterpreting chineseness every other decade and implemented the cardboard embellishments with regularity) and its street activities would have become relics in themselves whilst a world moved on. Because kitsch in chinatown has a lot to do with imaginary streetscape vis a vis trading and tourism activities. Kitsch in Marina bay, on the other hand, takes gloated centrestage with the Merlion, invulnerable for as long as its plaster cast holds. Even if the tasteless miniatures and touristy pilgrims disappeared, this govt's monument to ersatz culture, erected on cultural tabula rasa, will continue flooding the bay with her bountiful excess, diametrically complicit with an enterprise of exploitation across the bay.

From Artlex.com:
The art critic Clement Greenberg (American, 1909-1994) defined kitsch in the 1930s as ersatz culture, "for those who, insensible to the values of genuine culture, are hungry nevertheless for the diversion that only culture of some sort can provide." Kitsch can be deceptive, he warned, adding, "It has many different levels, and some of them are high enough to be dangerous to the naïve seeker of true light." The Merlion is a case in point. An invented culture icon for such insidious purposes of nationalism!

18 May 2005

Singapore presence a 'must-have' for resort bidders: Merrill Lynch
By Thomas Cho, Channel NewsAsia

SINGAPORE : Singapore is one place in which big resort operators must have a presence, according to US investment house Merrill Lynch.

Merrill Lynch told members of the American Chamber of Commerce that resort and gaming operators who missed out on setting up a resort in Macau would not want to be left out of the cold here.

It said Singapore held a high attraction for high rollers because of the low tax rate here.

High rollers are usually people who usually spend at least US$1 million at the gaming tables.

Merrill said the integrated resort at Marina Bayfront would be the world's second most expensive resort to build.

It would also rank as the most upscale resort after Steve Wynn's newly opened Wynn Las Vegas.

The resort is expected to cost between US$2 billion and US$2.5 billion.

Merrill expects the two resorts in Singapore to affect those in Australia and the Philippines, the casino in Genting, and cruise ships operating in the region.

The casino is also expected to draw high rollers away from Macau.

Merrill said the low tax rate on premium players here would attract the high-stakes players.

Said Tony Raza, director and head of Singapore research at Merrill Lynch, "The tax rate is lower than anywhere else in Asia. It's a big part of why this site is so attractive compared to other locations and why the bidders are bidding aggressively.

"The tax rate for the high end is only 10 percent, whereas we're seeing in Macau as high as 39 percent and Malaysia 25 percent. It really means the high-end rollers would be treated better and have more commission and overall be treated better than other markets. In the eyes of the bidding companies, they really think this is a great location to build a really big resort."

High rollers are valued by casino operators because of the revenue they help to generate.

The bidding process in Singapore is highly competitive.

Each bidder is expected to spend at least S$2 million to S$3 million on their preparations for the submission of their proposals.

The two licences for the integrated resorts are expected to be awarded towards the end of this year. - CNA /ct

Copyright © 2005 MCN International Pte Ltd

May 19, 2005
Too much control over IR design? Not true, says PM Lee
Guidelines flexible, all reasonable comments will be considered

By Sue-Ann Chia

CASINO mogul Steve Wynn's recent criticism that there is too much bureaucratic control over the integrated resort (IR) projects is not entirely fair or accurate.

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said there are planning guidelines to consider as Singapore wants projects that will fit the landscape here and stand the test of time.

Still, he assured that guidelines will be 'sufficiently clear but sufficiently flexible' for developers to come up with successful projects.

The authorities will also consider all reasonable and sensible comments from the bidders before the formal tender documents are issued.

Mr Lee was speaking in a wide-ranging interview with Japanese journalists on Tuesday. He was asked to respond to comments by Mr Wynn published on Saturday about micro-management by bureaucrats in the submission of bids, particularly on design-related issues.

Mr Lee said he did not want to get into a public debate with Mr Wynn, who is likely to bid for one of the resort projects.

But he noted formal tender documents had yet to be put out and there were ongoing discussions with project participants.

'We want a successful project. At the same time, we want a project which will fit in to Singapore and be an asset to Singapore,' he said.

The Marina Bay area, for instance, is a prime site in the centre of the business district 'and we want a good iconic development'.

'If after you have built it, you have got flashing lights and dancing girls on the facade, and next door to that you have banks and the banking and financial centre, I'm not sure that we will feel happy about it for another 30 or 60 years,' he said.

'So we want something which will stand the test of time. And there are legitimate urban planning considerations which have to be taken into account.

'At the same time, we have to let the business, the people who develop the project, have as much flexibility as possible because they understand the business.'

The Urban Redevelopment Authority and Singapore Tourism Board said in a recent statement that only broad guidelines were specified for the projects to ensure they fit well into the city landscape.

Both agencies also promised to give developers maximum flexibility to come up with their designs.

Copyright © 2005 Singapore Press Holdings. All rights reserved.

Marina Bayfront IR will be my best yet: Wynn

19 May 05

Entire property will be enclosed in vast air-con greenhouse

By ALEXANDRA HO
IN LAS VEGAS


THE man credited with reviving Las Vegas by building spectacular resorts such as the Bellagio, Mirage and the new Wynn Las Vegas says the integrated resort (IR) he proposes for Singapore's Marina Bayfront will be his best yet.

http://business-times.asia1.com.sg/mnt/media/image/launched/2005-05-19/ahwynn-234303.jpg

'Even though I've done all those buildings, I look upon them as practice. My career is to try to make the next one better,' Steve Wynn told BT.

He said he plans to build around what he sees as Singapore's downside - the hot, humid weather - while playing up its advantages, including its reputation as a lush garden city.

'The stores, the casinos, everything will be involved in gardens,' he said. The whole property will be enclosed in a vast air-conditioned greenhouse. And at its heart will be a multi-level botanical garden, with shops, convention space and restaurants.

Mr Wynn also sees entertainment as a major component - with one-of-a-kind shows, concerts and performing arts. And as an avid art collector, he even suggests a gallery with his personal collection, which includes Picassos, Renoirs and van Goghs.

Under his plan, hotel guests would be housed in two slim S-shaped high-rises that would be the mirror image of each other. The buildings, which could be up to 60 storeys, would flank each side of the property's central area. But Mr Wynn wants all hotel guests to have a room with a view of the city. So the two buildings would have 'single-loaded' corridors - with rooms on only one side and glass on the other.

Mr Wynn said he would work with a local architect to come up with the specifics - but he did not name anyone.

Singaporeans could also get to own the resort, as Mr Wynn is considering floating the company on the Singapore Exchange. Other bidders, including Harrah's Entertainment and Peermont International had said they may do the same.

Among the bidders for Singapore's two IRS, Mr Wynn has probably been the most publicity conscious - and outspoken.

While competitors have said they are comfortable with the government's parameters, he told BT: 'I don't do second-rate projects, even if it means quick money. I build things that last forever and I'm not a short-term planner. I don't care what the other guys say, I know what it takes to do something good.'

In line with this, Mr Wynn says his proposal hinges on the government agreeing to move a road from the centre of the Marina site, as the road could render his concept unfeasible by splitting the property into two.

He said he has put a request to the authorities to move the road to the side, so that the entire resort site could be intact. Other bidders are said to have put in similar requests.

Mr Wynn has also queried a requirement that the gaming component of an IR resort should make up no more than 50 per cent of its profit. He says it's hard to predict sales, and IR operators cannot dictate whether customers gamble or go shopping.

The 50/50 profit condition - specified in the government's Request for Concepts, called late last year - would kick in after a resort's fifth year of operation.

It is not known whether the condition is in the second stage Requests for Proposals. The Singapore Tourism Board said it did not wish to comment.

^
This fellow has been making a lot of noise lately.....:lol:

^

he seems to be the only one making noise...hmmm...he sounds so sure like he will win..or will he? :sly:

Maybe that's his tactic ;)

Sometimes being active is good :okay: It gives some sort of a vibe to the whole thing. What I am wondering is that would such a tactic works considering he's doing this in a region where govt are often well-respected and people expect to be respected ;)

He sounds darn confident but maybe's he really capable of it...

here is the wynn resort in las vegas - not exactly the best looking building. wouldnt fit in well in singapore.

http://www.lasvegasvegas.com/pokerblog/images/110104-4.jpg

http://plaza.rakuten.co.jp/img/user/17/91/12061791/122.jpg

^

no gold please!

have you seen the Golden Sands Casino in Macau? :puke:

In fact, I think they should go all out to design the casino-resort such that it DOESNT look like a casino-resort ;)

May 19, 2005
Too much control over IR design? Not true, says PM Lee
Guidelines flexible, all reasonable comments will be considered

By Sue-Ann Chia

CASINO mogul Steve Wynn's recent criticism that there is too much bureaucratic control over the integrated resort (IR) projects is not entirely fair or accurate.

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said there are planning guidelines to consider as Singapore wants projects that will fit the landscape here and stand the test of time.

Still, he assured that guidelines will be 'sufficiently clear but sufficiently flexible' for developers to come up with successful projects.

The authorities will also consider all reasonable and sensible comments from the bidders before the formal tender documents are issued.

Mr Lee was speaking in a wide-ranging interview with Japanese journalists on Tuesday. He was asked to respond to comments by Mr Wynn published on Saturday about micro-management by bureaucrats in the submission of bids, particularly on design-related issues.

Mr Lee said he did not want to get into a public debate with Mr Wynn, who is likely to bid for one of the resort projects.

But he noted formal tender documents had yet to be put out and there were ongoing discussions with project participants.

'We want a successful project. At the same time, we want a project which will fit in to Singapore and be an asset to Singapore,' he said.

The Marina Bay area, for instance, is a prime site in the centre of the business district 'and we want a good iconic development'.

'If after you have built it, you have got flashing lights and dancing girls on the facade, and next door to that you have banks and the banking and financial centre, I'm not sure that we will feel happy about it for another 30 or 60 years,' he said.

'So we want something which will stand the test of time. And there are legitimate urban planning considerations which have to be taken into account.

'At the same time, we have to let the business, the people who develop the project, have as much flexibility as possible because they understand the business.'

The Urban Redevelopment Authority and Singapore Tourism Board said in a recent statement that only broad guidelines were specified for the projects to ensure they fit well into the city landscape.

Both agencies also promised to give developers maximum flexibility to come up with their designs.

Copyright © 2005 Singapore Press Holdings. All rights reserved.

Is it just me or his reply sounds like "ohhhh, now I've got to mend the holes"? A less firm reply compared to URA's.

19 May 2005

Singapore scraps ceiling on gaming revenue at integrated resorts: Sands
By Thomas Cho, Channel NewsAsia

SINGAPORE : Singapore appears to have abolished a ceiling on gaming revenue that it originally imposed on casino operators who want to build integrated resorts here, according to one of the remaining biders.

During the request-for-concept stage, operators were told to limit the amount of revenue from gambling to half of the total revenue generated in the resort.

Las Vegas Sands has said the Singapore authorities have done away with this restriction for the request-for-proposal phase.

It is becoming increasingly clear that there have been intense negotiations between government officials and consortia bidding for a pie of the action.

In an interview with Channel NewsAsia, Las Vegas Sands revealed that it has had to return to the drawing board to make sure that the centrepiece of its proposed resort complied with specifications.

But the government has also been listening.

It is relaxing on an earlier ruling that restricted the amount of revenue from gambling to only half of total revenue generated in the integrated resort.

Las Vegas Sands is one of 12 bidders still in the race for the two much-sought-after integrated resort licences in Singapore.

It is proposing to build a Garden City at Marina Bayfront, and the centrepiece of its US$2.5 billion project is a 40-storey iconic Guggenheim museum.

But it has to redesign its plans because the Urban Redevelopment Authority says this could interfere with the views of the Marina Bay.

Said William Weidner, chief operating officer at Las Vegas Sands, "We called our resort 'The Garden City' resort. Much of the building itself is designed to be leaf-like, or call it garden-like. We'll be having botanical garden as part of it as we learn the integration of the Bayfront site and the new botanical garden has a transition. Our building is intended to be involved in that process to ensure the new Bayside reflects the new botanical garden."

In addition, Sands is planning to replicate the Singapore river on the second level of its resort.

The complex will include Asian operas, performing arts and boat rides along the canal banks.

Said Mr Weidner, "One of the concepts is to do a Singapore river attraction that'll talk of the culture, history and background of Singapore. The idea of that development is to get people interested into seeing what goes on in Singapore."

Sands operates the Venetian in Las Vegas.

"The gondola ride is a very popular attraction. We do US$7 million of gondola rides a year. People seems to like that kind of environment," Mr Weidner said.

The resort operator says it will be able to incorporate more non-profitable attractions, because the government has now relaxed its rules on the gaming revenue.

Said Mr Weidner, "The government has again, because it is very flexible in its approach, decided that's not an absolute. The guidelines are, now we don't have to be concerned about the 50 percent rule.

"We can now use casino revenue to subsidise those things that don't make economic sense -- for example the Guggenheim museum doesn't make sense by itself; it can't possibly make money. So the government has allowed us, or changed its guidelines, to use income from the casino to build things that Singapore doesn't have."

Sands has an agreement with Guggenheim that says if it does not win a licence, no other operator will be able to partner the Guggenheim.

Sands adds that 70 to 90 percent of the integrated resort needs to be operational before the casino can be opened.

The resort operator is currently in negotiations with local hotelier Ong Beng Seng and some other parties for a possible partnership.

Sands considers itself a frontrunner in the race for the Marina resort, alongside Wynn Resorts and MGM Mirage.

The request-for-proposal phase is expected to begin at the end of June.

Sands says it is awaiting further guidelines from the Singapore authorities. - CNA /ct

Copyright © 2005 MCN International Pte Ltd

^
This fellow has been making a lot of noise lately.....:lol:

he is very donald trump. but arrogance is all part of the mien of a mogul.

Business Times - 20 May 2005

Harrah's goes big on entertainment

It'll bring in top acts if it wins bid for integrated resort

By ALEXANDRA HO
IN LAS VEGAS

THE likes of Celine Dion and Elton John don't drop by Singapore often. But that could change if Harrah's Entertainment gets to build integrated resorts (IRs) here.

Harrah's, which is partnering Keppel Land for the Marina Bayfront and Sentosa bids, says its IRs would be big on entertainment. So expect top entertainers not just to fly in for one-night stands, but to be rotated to perform multiple shows.

Harrah's chief financial officer Charles Atwood told BT: 'It's got to be good enough that someone would travel a distance to see. It would be something you would like to go home and tell your family and friends: I saw so-and-so over the weekend in Singapore.'

Dion and John are performing at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. And Harrah's will soon become the world's biggest gaming company by completing its acquisition of Caesars - the brand it would use for its Singapore IRs.

And it would be more than the name that's familiar. As in Las Vegas, Michelin-star chefs would cook up a storm in fine restaurants here. And shopping would be more than just many different shops - it would be ''fun'. Like it is in Las Vegas where Caesars' mall, called The Forum Shops, attracts 18 million people a a year - or half of all visitors to the city.

Harrah's senior vice-president of development, Richard Mirman, is confident the company could do the same in Singapore. 'Having done our homework on what the market is, where we think customers are coming from, where tourists are going to come from, what they currently have available to them, we felt that left a lot of opportunities to create entertainment and attractions that really do hit that sweet spot,' he said.

Mr Atwood sees Harrah's investing US$1 to $2 billion for each IR. And the plan is to attract a broad spectrum of customers with different price points.

Cross-marketing to attract customers and tourists would be a part of this strategy. For instance, US patrons could be sold the attractions of Harrah's in Singapore.

To boost its bids, Harrah's has engaged two renowned architects. Mr Mirman said Daniel Libeskind will design a simple yet powerful concept at Marina, while Jon Jerde will develop a resort for Sentosa. 'Daniel Libeskind taught us about what it takes to develop for an urban environment,' he said. 'Jerde is just completely different. He will make it a beautiful place that people will go to get away.'

Harrah's reckons its IRs here would create more than 5,000 jobs. And it's interested in grooming management-level talent through its President's Associate Programme, said vice-president of talent development Susan Hailey.

The programme, aimed at promising MBA students, offers about 10 internships a year. Ms Hailey said about 80 per cent of these people are usually offered jobs at the end of their internship. And their starting salary is US$85,000 a year. 'It's a programme that could absolutely be replicated in Singapore, where education levels are high and it is valued,' she said.

But will Harrah's get the IR deals? Mr Atwood said the competition is impressive - but 'I don't believe anybody's better than us'.

Copyright © 2005 Singapore Press Holdings Ltd. All rights reserved.

May 21, 2005
Johor expects to benefit from Singapore IRs

JOHOR BARU - JOHOR expects to enjoy the spillover, especially in terms of rising numbers of tourists, from the integrated resorts containing casinos to be built in Singapore.

State Tourism and Environment Committee chairman Freddie Long said that more tourists going to Singapore meant more opportunities for Johor to entice them to visit the state.

Describing the situation as a 'bigger cake', he said: 'Let them gamble and watch the cabaret shows, but after that they can come to Johor for eco-tourism and adventure and savour authentic Malaysian food.'

He was commenting on Singapore's plan to build two multi-billion-dollar resorts, including casinos, after witnessing the signing of a memorandum of understanding between KPJ Healthcare and Rumah Sakit Harapan Bunda of Batam on Thursday.

Mr Long also said that budget airline AirAsia had agreed to resume its Johor Baru-Jakarta service that was terminated last year because of a lack of aircraft.

'AirAsia will probably resume the service in August with a daily flight,' he said.

He said the resumption of the service was agreed on after a series of discussions between the state government, Transport Minister Chan Kong Choy and the airline's management. -- BERNAMA

Copyright © 2005 Singapore Press Holdings. All rights reserved.

Business Times - 21 May 2005

MGM bets on high-wire act to help bring in tourists

By ALEXANDRA HO
IN LAS VEGAS

THE circus is coming to town - and it could be here to stay. And it won't be just any circus. It'll be Cirque du Soleil - one of the world's best, with its dazzling brand of acrobatics, costumes and drama.

MGM Mirage, which hopes to bag the Marina Bayfront integrated resort (IR) site with CapitaLand, is betting that the magic of the Cirque could boost its bid. Cirque has an exclusive tie-up with MGM. Its four different shows at MGM Las Vegas casinos play to capacity crowds nightly, with a fifth being developed.

MGM chief executive Terrence Lanni told BT yesterday that MGM's strength in entertainment is unparallelled.

'There's no one that matches us in the world from an entertainment standpoint,' he said. 'Half a million people see our 15 shows in Las Vegas. We have half a billion US dollars of revenue a year. Another two arenas do US$100 million a year of revenue.'

A range of programmes - from Cirque to the Three Tenors, Madonna and even boxing and hockey matches - run regularly at MGM casinos.

But MGM, the world's second-largest gaming company, says it has even more aces up its sleeve.

Art would be another feature for the Singapore IR. Mr Lanni said MGM plans to work with PaceWildenstein Gallery - one of New York's most prominent contemporary outfits - to bring in collections. PaceWildenstein's blue chip artists include Jean Dubuffet and Pablo Picasso. The gallery helped MGM bring in the largest collection of paintings displayed in the US by Impressionist Claude Monet at its flagship property, the Bellagio.

As for plans to attract tourists, Mr Lanni said MGM has these down pat. 'We really are a company that very much deals with tourists - and that is our focus,' he said. 'We have marketing offices throughout the US and the world, to bring people to our properties. There are casinos here that specialise in locals. We don't.'

The architect for MGM's planned IR hasn't been chosen. The company is evaluating various ideas in a competitive process to find someone who will produce a design that's exciting yet compatible with Singapore's existing skyline, Mr Lanni said.

But as a hint of the calibre and stature that MGM could bring to the table, he cited the company's recent hire - Cesar Pelli, who is working on MGM's US$4 billion project in Las Vegas - but is best known in this region for designing Malaysia's Petronas Towers.

Mr Lanni is coy about how much MGM would invest in its proposed IR, saying the situation is fluid while the contents and functions are being determined. Similarly, he could not say how many jobs it could create, except that there would be 'thousands'.

MGM is one of 12 groups invited to stage two of the IR process. Asked what makes MGM different from its competitors, Mr Lanni brought up its guiding principle - the willingness to commit capital to regularly rejuvenate, or even overhaul existing properties, so that the product remains fresh and customers feel there is variety.

'Frequent visitors want to see something new, something different, so I think it would be a mistake for anyone to look at purely the original investment,' he said. 'The real questions are: How do people maintain their properties? What do they do to create new enhancements and excitement?'

While MGM is keen to operate in other Asian countries if the opportunity arises, Mr Lanni said this would not be at Singapore's expense. 'We wouldn't be interested in creating an involvement in something that will take business away,' he said.

MGM is also investing in Macau with Stanley Ho's Shun Tak Holdings. 'Singapore is sufficiently distant from Macau that there can be a symbiotic relationship, rather than a competitive relationship,' Mr Lanni said. 'If something became available in Malaysia, we would be more interested in re-investing and strengthening our position in Singapore.'

Copyright © 2005 Singapore Press Holdings Ltd. All rights reserved.

26 May 2005

Las Vegas Sands to start gaming courses with local schools if it wins bid for integrated resort
By Ken Teh, Channel NewsAsia

SINGAPORE: With 35,000 new jobs created after Singapore's 2 integrated resorts are built, employment will be foremost on the minds of resort companies.

One resort said it plans to train staff from scratch and even start gaming courses with educational insitutions if it wins the bid.

Resorts are confident that the majority of their staffing needs in Singapore will be met locally, and training they said, isn't a problem either.

"When we were in Macau, instead of hiring a single dealer from the existing casinos, we trained 1,700 people and we trained them the way we felt the game should be dealt, but more importantly how the customer should be treated. That would be the type of dedication we would have in Singapore." said Bradley H. Stone, Executive Vice-President for Las Vegas Sands.

On top of that, Sands hopes to leverage on its extensive staff benefits.

"We're the first hotel to offer a daycare at the hotel. We spend alone just on staff dining a million dollars a month just feeding people if you work in most places in the US its a foreign concept to have free meals 24 hours a day." said Robert G. Goldstein, President of Las Vegas Sands. - CNA /dt

Copyright © 2005 MCN International Pte Ltd

LAS VEGAS : Tourist numbers have been going nowhere but up in Las Vegas with casino resorts springing up over the years.

Visitors last year hit an all-time high of 37.4 million, up from 28 million a decade ago - something Singapore can aspire to with its two new integrated resorts.



Casino resorts have dramatically changed Las Vegas.

Glitzy, sleazy, or just plain 'over the top'.

However you slice or dice Vegas, one thing is for sure, the tourists just keep coming.

Vegas has a population of just 1.7 million, but 20 times more tourists.

And gone are the days of dirt cheap lodging and food meant to keep people glued to slot machines.

Tourists are now spending more money on other luxuries.

Mr Rob Powers, Vice President of Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, said: "We have gone from being recognised as a gambling destination to a destination that is known for shopping, for golf and for spas. So it has been quite a dramatic transformation for us in recent years."

In new resorts like Wynn Las Vegas, the casino is just one of its many offerings.

There are also lavish wedding chapels and courtyards.

And if you are thinking of doing a Britney Speares there, you better think again because prices are about a hundred times more expensive than regular street chapels in Vegas.

A wedding there could cost anywhere from $5,000 to a couple of million dollars.

Interestingly, it is precisely because of its fun image that businesses too are flocking to town.

Over 15 percent of its 37 million visitors per year come to Vegas for conventions.

One centre there is the largest convention centre in Vegas and it has over three million square feet of convention space.

But while tourists crave a total resort experience, gaming is still very much on their minds - seven out of eight tourists say they gamble.

Still it is what gaming has brought to Vegas - the creation of a total resort destination - something Singapore also hopes to accomplish. - CNA/de

30 May 2005

Sun International plans to list Singapore integrated resort if it wins bid
By Farah Abdul Rahim, Channel NewsAsia

Singaporeans will have a stake in the integrated resort on Sentosa if South Africa-based Sun International, which is bidding to build a resort there, has its way.

It will kick off a survey next month so Singaporeans can give their views on what they will like to have there.

On top of that, Sun International, which is planning to build the resort with a partner, plans to list the joint venture in Singapore if it wins the bid.

Peter Bacon, Chief Executive, Sun International, said: "We will probably pursue an IPO. I think that would give Singaporeans an opportunity to participate from the ownership of the project and benefit from its success. We think this is a sound option for the financing of this project."

The South African-based firm is reported to be looking for partners to develop the Sentosa site.

It hopes that by tapping the equity market in Singapore, it can help create a sense of ownership of its integrated resort among Singaporeans.

But its CEO has cautioned that Singapore must brace itself for regional competition in the casino-resort industry, even after the resorts have been built.

Sun is launching a survey next month to let Singaporeans give their inputs in hopes of creating ownership for the project.

But that's only the start.

Sun is only bidding for the Sentosa site but it has big ambitions for its integrated resort.

Mr Bacon said: "We've got to put our minds creatively for a solution that will maintain the integrity of the location, the wonderful vegetation, the tranquility Singaporeans enjoy on Sentosa and come up with something iconic. I would suggest that at this stage that companies vying for the opportunities should really focus on the vision and some of the big picture issues what the large-scale developments can achieve for Singapore. Details can be addressed at a later stage."

But Sun remains mindful about regional competition, which it says will create major challenges for marketing and positioning the Sentosa resort.

Mr Bacon said: "There're already large scale developments in Macau, Taiwan, Japan Shanghai - these are the markets which we would be required to attract casino customers - so we have to understand the competitive landscape 2 to 3 years out so we can size our investment appropriately."

So what would be the best bet for Sentosa?

Just like Sun's resort in Durban which takes into account the very heritage and character of the people here, which shows up the Zulu architecture and theme, it's hoped that the integrated resort on Sentosa would also do the same to retain the island's charm and unique character as a holiday playground for Singaporeans and tourists alike.

So instead of a Zulu-themed resort, one would probably look forward to a uniquely Singapore resort on Sentosa down the road.

Copyright © 2005 MCN International Pte Ltd

31 May 2005

South Africa's unique integrated resorts - a lesson for Singapore?
By Farah Abdul Rahim, Channel NewsAsia

SINGAPORE: No two integrated resorts all over the world are ever the same.

Each would have its unique identity.

The same goes for the upcoming resorts in Singapore.

To take a peek at what Sentosa island's integrated resort is likely to have, Farah Abdul Rahim checked out what's on offer in South Africa.

Will it be a blast from the past for Sentosa's integrated resort?

At Cape Town's GrandWest Casino & Entertainment World, Victorian architecture comes alive, adding an old-world charm to the resort which has the new-world attraction of an Olympic-sized skating rink, cinemas, shops and of course, the casino itself.

That's not all.

There's also a gaming information centre in the resort, the first of its kind in South Africa, which teaches novice gamers how to play the games before they hit the floor for real, complete with croupiers and machines alike.

Will Sentosa's resort build on the beachfront theme like that at the Boardwalk Casino & Resort in Port Elizabeth?

Here, visitors could revisit the island's cultural heritage.

They could also grab a bite at any of the restaurants, check out the bowling alley or karaoke and do a spot of gaming in the casino.

Away from the hustle and bustle of Durban's city centre, visitors to Sibaya Casino & Entertainment Kingdom are greeted with a traditional Zulu welcome dance.

There are also guided tours to see life in a real Zulu village.

The theme continues indoors as well, with the food court and casino.

Sentosa's new resort could also be iconic like the famed Sun City, which attracts both tourists and South Africans.

With its animal theme and safari tours to the nearby game reserve, Sun City's distinctive architecture and monumental size makes it a "must-see" destination.

But is big better?

Not necessarily, argues Sun International, the South African-based resort-cum-casino operator vying for the Sentosa site.

Sun International's CEO, Peter Bacon, said: "We looked at the requirements of each location and came up with different approaches for the architectural theming."

"Big is not necessarily best, especially for the case of Sentosa," he added.

Results of bids for Sentosa's integrated resort are due later this year or early next year. - CNA/ir

Copyright © 2005 MCN International Pte Ltd

June 2, 2005
Las Vegas casino school to open here

By Ho Ai Li

A LAS Vegas college known for gaming courses will soon be offering lessons here on how to run a casino.

The William F. Harrah College of Hotel Administration will set up campus here next year. One of its two programmes will be a bachelor's degree in hotel administration, with gaming electives.

These include courses on money management, casino security and the maths of the game, said Dr Stuart Mann, dean of the college.

The college, named after the founder of United States gaming giant Harrah's Entertainment, is part of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.

Dr Mann stressed that gaming is only part of the programme. It includes other hospitality and leisure management courses.

The dean of its Singapore college, Dr Andy Nazarechuk, said he was now looking at locations for the school. One of these is in the central business district.

The bachelor's degree will be a two-year programme offered to third and fourth-year university students.

Dr Nazarechuk explained that students may not know, initially, whether they want to go into the tourism and hotel industry.

'We want them to transfer into our school so that, for two years, they focus on their professional careers,' he said.

The degree awarded here will be the same as that given in Nevada.

Besides the bachelor's programme, the college is also offering an executive master's degree in hotel administration.

It will take in a total of 25 to 50 students for the two programmes in the first year and hopes to get about 250 students in five years. Eighty per cent of students are expected to be from the region, with Singapore students making up the rest.

Fees will be US$5,500 (S$9,200) per semester for the bachelor's degree and US$35,000 for the master's.

Mr Kenneth Tan, director of education services with the Economic Development Board, said the school had 'evolved to become the largest hotel college in the US'.

It will add diversity to the education scene here, he added.

Copyright © 2005 Singapore Press Holdings. All rights reserved.

02 June 2005

Asians flock to South Africa's integrated resorts
By Farah Abdul Rahim, Channel NewsAsia

CAPE TOWN : Asians have been flocking to integrated resorts in South Africa in the past 10 years.

People from this region now make up 20 percent of international visitors there. They come from places like China, India, Malaysia, Indonesia and even Singapore.

Resort operator Sun International is seeing such huge opportunity that it wants to take its resort to Asia.

Just what is it about integrated resorts that make Asians want them also for their own backyard?

Some seven million tourists headed to South Africa last year, more than double the number a decade ago.

They came for the safari rides, the scenery, and also to check out the new casino-resorts that have been springing up around the country.

In one Cape Town casino-cum-resort alone, some 17 million people have visited since its doors opened four years ago.

Tourist arrivals have gone up in South Africa in recent years across the board, with visitors from Europe, the United States and Asia.

But officials say this increase is not due to just the casinos, but the entire resort experience, new tourist infrastructure and the many other tourist attractions here.

It is the idea of everything-under-one-roof that seems to be the biggest attraction for tourists.

Said Nokhuthula Dube, chief executive of Cape Town Routes Unlimited, "When visitors come to our region the key hook is not coming to gamble -- that's one of many activities, experiences they are engaging in, from eco to nature and cultural experience to our food and wine. We've got amazing wine and it's one component of a bigger picture of richness and depth of experience offered here, and additional attraction that is an important anchor to our region."

And visitors, like some from India who have come to Sun City in Johannesburg, just can't get enough of the resort.

"All the works are here. It's not only about gambling -- at the lions' park kids got to hold baby lions and all and tomorrow we're going to the game reserve," said Deepak Modgil, a tourist from India.

"I think it's a great place for the entire family. There is a huge demand and there is a huge middle class who have the capacity to spend. I am sure Singapore with the infrastructure and all would be able to build a place that'll attract tourists and provide wholesome entertainment," added tourist Manish Gupta.

It is precisely that wholesome entertainment that Singapore wants to provide with its own integrated resorts.

And that could well be the draw to keep tourists coming back -- very much like the South African experience. - CNA /ct

Copyright © 2005 MCN International Pte Ltd

should change the title... it's no longer to build or not...

Sultan there will have new toy: "Micky Mouse" to play with. Not sure how he going to dispose off his current 200 pet crocodiles.


Disneyland across the Causeway will benefit Singapore's IRs, say observers

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(JOHOR) It may sound like a fairy story, but there are rumours that the 'world's most famous mouse' could squeak across the Causeway.


Mr Abdullah: 'If Disneyland wants to come to Johor, I will not object. I will say, good'
There is talk that the Johor state government is 'in discussions' with the Walt Disney Company to set up a Disneyland.

And at a news conference yesterday during an offical visit to Johor, Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi neither confirmed or denied the gossip.

'This is a matter for the state government to decide. I'll go along with what the state government wants,' Mr Abdullah said. 'If Disneyland wants to come to Johor, I will not object. I will say, very good.'

There are already two Disneylands in Asia - in Tokyo and Hong Kong. And Singapore came close to hosting Mickey Mouse in the 1990s.

In April this year, Trade and Industry Minister Lim Hng Kiang told Parliament that Singapore almost got a Disneyland in the Seletar area, but the deal fell through after Disney asked for 300 ha of land but wasn't prepared to use its own money to pay for it.

Johor, too, has had some near misses. Universal Studios was reported to have toyed with the idea of teaming up with the former Renong group for a theme park in Johor more than three years ago, but that plan fell through.

Industry sources said yesterday it is possible that Malaysia and Disney are in talks.

But they said it is doubtful that Disney would commit to another Asian project just yet, as its hands are full with Hong Kong Disneyland which opens this year.

'Johor and Disney could be in discussions and talks, but just because people talk doesn't mean it's going to be realised,' a source said.

If a Disneyland ever did sprout across the Causeway, it would certainly benefit Singapore's integrated resorts.

'Disneyland and the IRs would very much complement each other,' an industry oberver said.

'Disneyland would be a strategic benefit to the IRs as it would create a greater tourism-value proposition,' a source said.

Mr Abdullah also said yesterday he wants a 'masterplan' to coordinate the major projects Johor has embarked on in recent years.

These include the estimated 15 billion ringgit Danga Bay development and the Nusajaya project, which is set to house Johor's new RM1 billion Administration Center, scheduled for completion in 2007.

Mr Abdullah said the federal government would help with a masterplan and Malaysia's investment arm Khazanah Nasional may also provide its expertise.

But he stressed that Johor's projects must be for the people of Johor and not just for the wealthy - so projects must meet certain criteria.

Asked if such projects would be 'complementary or competitive' in relation to Singapore, Mr Abdullah said that they would be neither. 'We're not thinking of complementing. Neither are we thinking of competing. We have to think of what is in the best interest of Johor,' he said.

sigh.. i wonder what's wrong with using local funds for a disneyland

sigh.. i wonder what's wrong with using local funds for a disneyland


Government here learnt a hard lesson from one of their investment: Micropolis, a hardidsk company. They lost around S$500 million in that failed venture.

Okay to use local fund if the project takes off, but they will have hard time if the project kaput.

oh cool! Set it up in Malaysia... But, disallow alcohol and smoking in their disneyland.

Basically this will be a Win - Win Situation for us, they will have a Disneyland to pull in the crowd/tourists and we will have at least six IRs in the long run.

Johore has plenty of land, they can give million ha to Disney if they want to.

Not sure whether this will be their third time lucky or not, the previous floating city and the Universal Studio failed to take off.

hmm... shall wait and see. :) It is good that Disneyland is coming to Asia (i.e. HK and hopefully Malaysia). Good news for the children (and probably the parents' wallet ;) )

there's a scary possibility the disneyland in malaysia will be like more downmarket than other disneylands since the sultan wants it to be suitable for johor ppl.

hmmm... I don't think Disney would allow that to happen.

hmmm... I don't think Disney would allow that to happen.
i think disneyland is really starting to loose the "exclusiveness" and is starting to look real boring especially after Paris and the "incomplete" HK one, with another at Malaysia... i wonder what will happen

maybe that's true for older kids (especially those who have seen some and made comparison ;) )

But, for young kids, Disney characters never fail to interest them... :) It's also good for families because they do not have to pay for hefty airfares and maybe entrance fees if Disneyland is not far away.

Disneyland is becoming like Starbucks..bleah

Disneyland = StarBucks
Host country = Goofy

Look at this HK's hard bargain deal:

HK Govt investment: HK$30 billion , 57%
Disneyland investment: HK$2.5 Billion , 43% share + cut in ticket sales, Consultancy & etc.

Disneyland in Hong Kong
Mmagic or madness?
Hong Kong has poured $6 billion into the theme park which is to open on Sept 12. But will it really generate thousands of

May 29, 2005
The Straits Times
IT WAS 1999 and Hong Kong was still feeling the effects of the recession brought about by the Asian economic crisis two years before.

While other governments were tempted to tighten their belts, the Special Administrative Region decided to do just the opposite - it decided to pour billions of dollars of public money into a theme park.

The HK$15 billion (S$3 billion) Hong Kong Disneyland, as then-Chief Executive Tung Chee Hwa saw it, would rebrand Hong Kong and inject new life into the tourism industry.


Most people hailed the move as a coup for Hong Kong. It reportedly beat cities such as Singapore and Shanghai in the race to host the theme park.

But there are also critics who question the use of almost HK$30 billion in public funds to provide land, co-pay for the theme park and build infrastructure such as additional railway lines. The Hong Kong government has a 57 per cent share in the theme park, making it the majority shareholder.

Spread over 126ha on Lantau Island, the theme park will be the second Disneyland in Asia after Tokyo. Lantau is the largest of over 230 isles that comprise Hong Kong and is a 30-minute train ride from central Hong Kong.

The territory hopes that the Magic Kingdom will be a magnet for tourists. This year alone, Hong Kong is expecting to welcome a record 21 million tourists, up 37 per cent from last year.

The theme park itself is expected to host about 5.6 million tourists a year. And that's just for starters. With future expansion, the figure is expected to hit 10 million.

Other estimated economic spin-offs from Disneyland are equally impressive. The territory's government is expecting returns on investment of some 25 per cent over the long term. In investment terms, this kind of returns is nothing short of spectacular.

In dollar terms, Hong Kong Disneyland is expected to reap HK$150 billion for the city over four decades. It is projected to create about 18,000 jobs immediately, with another 36,000 positions to be filled over 20 years.

The impact of Disneyland is being felt even in the tertiary institutions. Hong Kong Polytechnic University's Professor John Ap said the theme park has raised the profile of the tourism and leisure industry significantly.

Before the deal was announced in 1999, the university received 5,000 to 7,000 applications a year for the 70 places in the tourism management programme. After the theme park deal was announced, the number of applications tripled to around 18,000 a year for the 90 available places.

Given that Macau is also building multi-billion-dollar casino and tourism projects, Prof Ap said job prospects for service industry workers have never been brighter.

Of course, no investment is foolproof and detractors fret that the Hong Kong government could be spending too much money on Disneyland.

A veteran leisure analyst, who declined to be named, said: 'Hong Kong is spending HK$30 billion in public funds on Disneyland, including infrastructure building and land costs. Disney is only spending HK$2.5 billion, and yet it gets a hefty shareholding of 43 per cent. Where's the fairness in that?'

People who share this sentiment like to cite the experience of Australia. Apparently, a deal to set up a Disneyland Down Under was scuppered after the theme park demanded subsidies, land grants and tax breaks worth more than US$500 million (S$800 million) - about a seventh of Hong Kong's investment. As Queensland Premier Peter Beattie said then: 'Only Goofy would have picked up such a deal.'

But Hong Kong officials maintain that their Disneyland investment will pay off in the long term. They also argue that the money poured into Disneyland would have gone towards developing the land for recreation and tourism anyway.

Still, the leisure analyst felt that the expected economic benefits of HK$150 billion over 40 years is an unrealistic forecast.

'Many things can happen in 40 years,' he said.

'What if Disney, as reported, acts on its interest in Shanghai or South Korea? Hong Kong Disneyland's share of tourists would surely drop then.'

Apart from its 43 per cent stake, Disney will also reportedly receive a 10 per cent cut from ticket charges, 5 per cent in royalties from food and merchandise sold, as well as management fees and incentive bonuses if the park does well.

Another source said: 'It's a great model for Disneyland especially since it did not put in as much money. Singapore may have missed out on Disneyland but you can't lose what you didn't buy.'

He was referring to the fact that Singapore was among the cities that Disney was considering before picking Hong Kong. Shanghai and Hengqin Island on Zhuhai were also said to have been in the running.

The source added: 'Some of these places were used as leverage for Disney to get a good deal out of Hong Kong. It's a legitimate business tactic and a conglomerate like Disney knows how to get a good deal. Singapore didn't want to pay and that was it. Mainland China was a possibility but being a big US company, Disney found it hard to talk big business amid all the bureaucracy there.'

Hong Kong was the logical choice, he said, as Disney could get direct access to the world's largest market without having to bribe officials or negotiate through suspicious contracts. The New York Times reported that Disney expects one-third of the park's business to come from the mainland.

Although Hong Kong Disneyland is scheduled to open its doors on Sept 12, the money-making machine has already started churning. Disney began taking reservations for its two hotels seven months ahead of opening day, at some of the most expensive rates in town.

A night at the 400-room Victorian-style Hong Kong Disneyland Hotel is priced from HK$1,600, compared with an average of HK$1,300 for luxury hotels in the territory last year. The going rate for the 600-room Hollywood Hotel is at least HK$1,000 a night.

Admission charges for the theme park are set to be the cheapest among the Disney parks. An adult ticket will cost HK$295. For kids aged three to 11, the ticket is priced from HK$210. Senior citizens 65 and above will pay HK$170. In comparison, a one-day adult ticket for Tokyo Disneyland comes to about HK$400, with the most expensive Disney park being the one at Orlando, Florida, at about HK$430.

Most people expect the tickets to be snapped up faster than you can say Mickey Mouse. That is easy enough to predict. But it's a different story when it comes to the supposed economic benefits that the theme park will bring. Only time will tell if Hong Kong's big gamble will pay off.




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Taking no chances with feng shui


FENG shui plays an important part in the design of Hong Kong Disneyland.

The New York Times reported that Walt Disney executives decided to shift the angle of the front gate by 12 degrees after consulting a feng shui master, who said the change would bring prosperity to the theme park. To ensure the flow of positive energy, or chi, does not slip past the entrance and out to the China Sea, Disney put a bend in the walkway from the train station to the gate.

Other features influenced by feng shui:


Sept 12 was picked for the opening day because it is considered auspicious.


One of the park's main ballrooms measures 888 sq m because eight is an auspicious number.


There are no fourth-floor buttons in the hotel elevators because four, in Chinese, is pronounced like the word for death.


Cash registers are close to corners or along walls because these spots are believed to increase prosperity.


One of the park's restaurants has a virtual koi pond. The pond is one of the five feng shui elements in the restaurant including wood, earth, metal and fire.

Another source said: 'It's a great model for Disneyland especially since it did not put in as much money. Singapore may have missed out on Disneyland but you can't lose what you didn't buy.'

quite true...however if Johor decides to have one, I think the spinoffs will also be a boost to our tourism industry.

Good news, my best horse for the Great Singapore Casino Race.....

SINGAPORE PRESS:Harrah Confident Of Success In Casino Bid

SINGAPORE (Dow Jones)--Harrah's Entertainment (HET) has become more confident of winning the bids for two integrated resorts with casinos in Singapore following the completion of the acquisition of rival Caesars Entertainment (CZR), The Business Times reports.

"I don't think anyone has a chance against this combination of Harrah's and Caesars now," Harrah's chief executive Gary Loveman told a conference call, according to the report.

The new confidence marks a reversal of Loveman's view in February, when he said Harrah's had less than a 50-50 chance of winning a concession. Keppel Land (K17.SG) is a partner with Harrah for

Business Times - 15 Jun 2005

Odds in our favour now: Harrah's

CEO sees likely success in bid for IRs following Caesars takeover

By ALEXANDRA HO

(SINGAPORE) With the completion of its acquisition of rival Caesars Entertainment, Harrah's Entertainment - which is vying for both the integrated resort (IR) sites at Sentosa and Marina Bayfront with Keppel Land - reckons its Singapore bid will be unbeatable.

'I don't think anyone has a chance against this combination of Harrah's and Caesars now,' Harrah's chief executive Gary Loveman said in a conference call yesterday. 'Our chances are very good.'

It's a reversal of Mr Loveman's view in February, when he said Harrah's had less than a 50-50 chance of winning a concession. But Mr Loveman gave this explanation yesterday. 'When I answered that question, it was largely out of respect for the very high-quality competition that are competing for these opportunities in Singapore. These are very capable people and capable companies that are competing against us.'

But now, Mr Loveman believes Harrah's has a formidable edge over the other 11 consortiums left in the race. 'We have resources available to us - financial resources, marketing resources, institutional and integrity resources - as a result of which, really no one can rival us.'

Harrah's newfound might, Mr Loveman said, could give it the ability to work with travel and tourism companies, while it leverages on its strength to partner entertainment providers to bring the best shows and retail concepts here.

Mr Loveman reiterated that Harrah's will use the Caesars brand for its bid. 'The Caesars brand really is the luxury brand in our portfolio. Either of these developments, or both, are deserving of the highest level of luxury in the Singapore market.'

Harrah's Singapore casino resorts would be aimed at high-end customers, Mr Loveman added, although they would welcome tourists who would want a quality experience - be it in gambling, shopping, dining or spa treatments.

Elaborating on Harrah's plans for the two sites, Mr Loveman described the Sentosa site as a recreational concept that will be aimed more at leisure travellers. And though Harrah's plans aren't finalised yet, he said there could 'potentially' be a theme park element in its bid. The Marina site, meanwhile, would be 'elegant, high-end and adult-oriented', he said.

Mr Loveman disclosed that, besides Keppel Land, Harrah's could also work with other non-gaming companies, such as for the entertainment component. But he said it's unlikely that Harrah's would team up with another gaming company, even as the stakes get higher.

Harrah's has previously offered to sell shares of the casino on the Singapore Exchange if it clinches a concession here.

The Caesars acquisition cost Harrah's US$1.9 billion in cash and US$4.9 billion in Harrah's shares. Harrah's will also assume about US$4 billion of Caesars' debt. With the acquisition completed, Harrah's becomes the world's largest casino operator.

'Our Singapore integrated resort will be the first project combining both companies from the very beginning,' Mr Loveman pointed out. 'I'm confident that Harrah's can create a landmark destination integrated resort.'

Copyright © 2005 Singapore Press Holdings Ltd. All rights reserved.

16 June 2005

Govt to launch next phase of bidding for integrated resort in Q3

SINGAPORE : The government will launch the next phase of the tender process for the integrated resort project in the third quarter of 2005.

This is one quarter later than earlier indicated.

In a statement Thursday, the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) says the move is in response to feedback given by the companies who are shortlisted.

In April, the government announced the shortlist of companies which have been invited to take part in the next phase of the bidding process for the integrated resort project.

All in, 14 groups made the cut but two have since withdrawn.

Up to now, no clear date has been given for when the bidders must submit their final proposals.

The STB says it is currently reviewing feedback from the shortlisted companies and will give due consideration to all constructive feedback.

It will give the timeline for submission of the final proposals when the next stage of the bidding process is launched.

The project is expected to be awarded in December, but now it is unclear if this has also been pushed back.

The government will award two licences for the integrated resort at Marina Bayfront and another on Sentosa Island.-CNA /ls

Copyright © 2005 MCN International Pte Ltd

The Business Times

June 18, 2005

From American landmark to Singapore resort
By Arthur Sim

(SINGAPORE) Bad boy of architecture Daniel Libeskind will leave his distinctive mark if his proposal for the integrated resort at Marina Bayfront is chosen.

'You have to have a signature. You have to be unique,' he says emphatically, referring to his 'expressive architecture'.

To say that his buildings look like an explosion of glass and steel would be an understatement.

Mr Libeskind, 59 - that's young in architecture years - burst on to the international scene with his design for the Jewish Museum in Berlin in 2001. It took 12 years to build, but the final work, which is literally a zig-zagging lightning bolt of spaces, cemented his career.

Many commissions followed, culminating in the world's 'most important building' - the Freedom Tower in New York, to built on the site of the former World Trade Center.

Giving an insight into his design for the IR, which will be developed jointly by Harrah's Entertainment and Keppel Land, the Polish-born American architect says he envisions it to be a 'gateway between the old and the new'.

Drawing inspiration from the 'uniqueness' of the site and its history is how Mr Libeskind will approach the design. 'The place (site) is not a tabula rasa (clean slate) for some universal formula,' he says.

He won't reveal details of his design, but many of his earlier works involve users in interactive ways. For his powerful Jewish Museum, the zig-zag nature of the plan is more than a whim of design. It forces visitors to walk in a certain way, to confront images and spaces they may not want to confront.

Of course, as he rightly points out, the IR will be nothing like the museum. 'How can you compare a museum to a shopping centre?' he asks.

'I will be looking at the social and cultural aspects of the city. The design will have to create a fabric of continuity.'

For most people, this will sound a bit vague. But this is not surprising, as Mr Libeskind was once considered one of the leading lights in an architectural movement known as deconstructivism.

Simply put, in the architecture of deconstruction there is no centre - an alarming proposition if you are in the business of building buildings. An offshoot of 20th century French philosopher Jacques Derrida's influential theories, the precepts of deconstruction have influenced many contemporary works of architecture, including the acclaimed Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao in Spain by Frank Gehry.

But Mr Libeskind does not want to be referred to as deconstructivist anymore. 'Architecture is about construction, not deconstruction,' he says.

Still, he was part of the seminal architecture exhibition on deconstructivism at the Museum of Modern Art in New York in 1988, organised by that doyenne of architecture, the late Philip Johnson.

'I told Philip Johnson that I didn't think deconstruction was a good word,' says Mr Libeskind.

Indeed, if there was anyone who could have told Philip Johnson off, it had to be Libeskind. So Singapore's urban planners may be in for a bumpy ride if his work is selected.

Asked for his opinion about Norman Foster's Supreme Court building here in Singapore, Mr Libeskind demurred and simply said: 'I am not much interested in high-tech.'

He does not think building icons - for their own sake - is very important either. 'Architecture is not just about a building by a famous architect,' he says.

Copyright © 2005 Singapore Press Holdings Ltd. All rights reserved

^

sounds so exciting..

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June 21 2005
TabCorp, P&O Cruises in joint Singapore casino bid

SINGAPORE, June 21 (Reuters) - Australia's largest gaming group, Tabcorp Holdings Ltd. , said on Tuesday it has teamed with P&O Cruises to submit a joint bid for one of Singapore's two proposed casino resorts.

"TabCorp and P&O today announced the signing of a memorandum of understanding under which P&O Princess will work with TabCorp to support its bid for Singapore's Integrated Resort," P&O Cruises said in a statement.

"We both see Singapore as a natural base for our expanded businesses in the region," the statement said.

P&O Princess Cruises, formerly part of UK group P&O , has merged with U.S. company Carnival Corp in 2000.

Analysts say the partnership would help the Australian group sharpen its edge against rivals such as a Malaysian consortium comprising Star Cruises Ltd. and Genting Bhd , which has roped in U.S. entertainment giant Universal Studios .

Along with 11 other groups, TabCorp has been shortlisted for Singapore's casino developments estimated to cost $3.5-4 billion.

The government will formally seek detailed proposals from these groups in the third quarter.

Copyright © 2005Reuters Limited. All rights reserved.

21 June 2005

Winning bids for integrated resorts may not come from highest bidders: Merrill Lynch
By Derek Cher, Channel NewsAsia

Investment bank Merrill Lynch says the winning bids for Singapore's two integrated resorts may not come from the highest bidders.

Instead it expects the government to choose the proposals that will best complement the existing landscape.

Singapore is counting on the integrated resorts to help boost economic growth but Merrill warns of increasing competition in the gaming industry in the region.

And it says that Singapore's two-tier tax structure - where operators pay a 5 percent tax on revenue from high rollers and 15 percent on the rest - may potentially be unsustainable.

The investment bank expects other countries such as Thailand to copy this structure in a few years time thus diminishing Singapore's tax advantage.

At an industry event on Tuesday, Merrill Lynch cited Australia as an example where wrong casino operators were chosen because they had offered the highest bids.

But the investment bank does not expect to see the same mistake in Singapore.

Merrill says the government here will be choosing operators that it can best work with, in both the construction and operating phases.

Sean Monaghan, Vice President - Research, Merrill Lynch, said: "Sometimes the most expensive shining thing isn't the best for a city. Sometimes the less expensive one that's operated by a different part better matches the city. How many casinos in the world are successful in the middle of the city? So you've really got a very well functioning city here, you don't want to introduce something that can destabilise that."

Merrill Lynch expects the winning bidders to have the lowest operating risks and are most capable of surviving in an increasingly competitive market as casinos sprout up across the region.

Merrill predicts that Thailand will have 3 legalised casinos and Japan up to 10 mega casinos before 2010.

Some 12 bidders are still in the running for the integrated resort project in Singapore.

The government has delayed the next stage of the bidding process to the third quarter of this year. - CNA /ch

Copyright © 2005 MCN International Pte Ltd

IR architects - rivals in S'pore, partners in Italy

22 Jun 05

By ARTHUR SIM

(SINGAPORE) The race to design the integrated resort at Marina Bayfront has just got more interesting, with architect Arata Isozaki revealing that his closest rivals - Daniel Libeskind and Zaha Hadid - are also his close collaborators on a major project in Milan, Italy.

The trio are working on Fiera Milano, a large mixed-use development that will be topped by three tower blocks. 'We have a design studio together in Milan,' said Mr Isozaki, adding that each architect will design one tower block.

The three architects are among the world's hottest.

Mr Isozaki, 74, is Australian contender Tabcorp's architect for the integrated resort (IR) at Marina Bayfront. They have never collaborated before, but Tabcorp CEO Matthew Slatter says a major reason for choosing the Japanese architect is a belief that he will achieve a design that will be 'culturally sensitive, yet fits'.

'We think that it is very important that the IR is uniquely Singaporean in an Asian context,' said Mr Slatter. 'It's not about recreating something out of Vegas or Australia or out of anywhere else.'

Best known for the design of the Museum of Contemporary Art in Los Angeles and the Sant Jordi Sports Palace for the Barcelona Olympics, Mr Isozaki was a protege of pioneer Modernist Japanese architect Kenzo Tange.

A highly respected architect in his own right, Mr Isozaki says it was he who discovered Zaha Hadid's talent more than 20 years ago. 'I was on the judging panel for The Peak competition in Hong Kong and I saw a model that had been rejected on a technicality,' he said. 'I managed to persuade the other judges to allow it to be entered. The model was by Zaha Hadid.'

The Peak, an architectural competition in 1983, plucked Baghdad-born, British architect Ms Hadid from obscurity. She has since designed the Mind Zone-Millennium Dome in London and, more recently, the Rosenthal Centre for Contemporary Art in Cincinnati. She has also been awarded architecture's Pritzker Prize. In Singapore, she designed the masterplan for JTC Corporation's One-North and will be Las Vegas Sands Corp's architect for the Guggenheim museum at its proposed IR here.

Musing over having to compete with Ms Hadid and Mr Libeskind, who Mr Isozaki is also friends with - 'I introduced Libeskind to many people in Japan.' - he says he is looking forward to seeing what they come up with. Mr Libeskind is Harrah's Entertainment and Keppel Land's architect.

For his part, Mr Isozaki says he will not only be looking at ways to differentiate his work from that of Mr Libeskind and Ms Hadid but also from the 'ready-made concepts' that have been built in Las Vegas.

Hinting that his main focus may be on a museum for the promontory site at the Marina Bayfront, he said Chinese art and calligraphy could play a part in how he will design the building. 'Pop Art dominated the art scene in the 60s and 70s. Now it's the turn of Asian artists. If Singapore wants a building that is world class, it must be based on this,' he said.

Giving an idea of how the design might evolve, Mr Isozaki described a museum project in Spain. For that project he drew on traditional methods of construction. 'I actually used traditional methods of construction in the building,' he explained.

He says he realises the Marina Bayfront site 'does not have many cultural traditions except for imported ones', but even so he seems prepared. 'I have just done a project in Doha, which is just a dessert,' he said.

If Mr Isozaki's design for an IR gets built, it would be his biggest project to date. Asked if he is comfortable designing something that seems diametrically opposed to his more subdued style of architecture, he said: 'I understand the need for an icon, if I didn't I would not be here.'

22 June 2005

Harrah's eyes stake in Macau, while bidding for Singapore casino

SINGAPORE : Harrah's Entertainment, the newly crowned world's biggest gaming firm, said it had its sights on a stake in booming Macau even as it competes for two casino licences in Singapore.

Harrah's senior vice president for business development, Richard Mirman, told reporters here the company intended to use Singapore as a base to expand throughout Asia with Macau one of the most enticing prospects in the region.

"Macau is one of the largest gaming markets in the world. It's hard for a company like ours... not to consider an opportunity (in Macau)," Mirman said on the sidelines of the Asian Casinos Expo.

"That being said, we're more interested right now in Singapore as the jumping off point in Asia.

"But it's really hard to ignore the opportunity in Macau. It's just a tremendous gaming market and one that continues to grow year over year."

Macau, the former Portuguese enclave that reverted to Chinese rule in 1999, has become the world's hottest gambling den after authorities lifted a decades-old gambling monopoly in 2002.

Three licenses were awarded -- one to former monopoly holder Stanley Ho while US giants MGM Mirage and Las Vegas Sands won the rights to be the first foreign competitors.

Macau has since been transformed from a seedy, gambling backwater into Asia's Las Vegas, with the industry expected to be worth 7.5 billion dollars this year.

Mirman said the restriction of three licenses was the major obstacle for Harrah's, which last week acquired US rival Caesars for 6.8 billion US dollars to form the biggest gaming company in the world.

"We now have the leading brand in the world under Caesars and we think the Caesar's brand would fit into Macau very nicely," he said.

"(But) there are no licenses to bid on... there are sub concessions, but it is a very tricky problem to solve."

Asked if Harrah's was holding discussions with authorities in Macau on how to enter the market, Mirman replied: "I don't have any comment on that... but we are always interested in Macau."

On Singapore, where 12 international and global firms are competing to build the city-state's first two casinos, Mirman said Harrah's was still bidding for both licenses and he expected smaller rivals to soon drop out of the race.

"When you are talking about two billion dollars (to develop a casino resort), that actually cuts out many people... there are only a few players who have access to that kind of capital," he said.

Among the 12 players bidding for the casinos, which are due to be built by around 2009, are Las Vegas Sands, MGM Mirage, Wynn Resorts, Australia's Tabcorp and Malaysia's Genting International.

Mirman said Harrah's was also keenly anticipating other countries in the region to follow the lead of Singapore and allow casinos.

"I think that once people see what they (Singapore) are doing and the level of interest and the kind of investment and the driving of tourism and jobs, I'd be hard pressed to believe that other countries in the region are not going to open up," he said.- AFP /ct

Copyright © 2005 Agence France Presse. All rights reserved.

22 June 2005

Casino operators see more bidders dropping out of Singapore integrated resorts
By Derek Cher, Channel NewsAsia

SINGAPORE : Casino operators Harrah's Entertainment and Tabcorp expect more bidders to drop out of the race for Singapore's integrated resorts.

They say exorbitant costs will push smaller operators out of the ring.

Some estimates say only 7 out of the present 12 bidders will remain at the end of the bidding process.

These comments were made on the sidelines of the Asian Casinos Expo held in Singapore on Wednesday.

A total of 16 consortiums started out vying to build Singapore's integrated resorts.

Only 14 made the cut into the second stage, but it did not take long for the number to drop to 12 as prospective bidders began to pull out.

Now, some bidders expect more of their rivals will drop out of the race as costs mount.

Gaming analysts estimate that costs will add up to some US$3 million to US$5 million for a final proposal.

Said Matthew Slatter, chief executive officer of Tabcorp, "Inevitably with any project of this size, I am sure the field will get smaller, the competition will get more intense because smaller number of people will be more acutely focus on this."

Richard Mirman, senior vice president of Harrah's Entertainment, said, "When you think about some of the smaller players that are involved in this, I think it is quite a burden to try to get that to go. Plus, the numbers that you are talking about in terms of the capital, multiple billions of dollars, there are really only a few operators in the world that can really deliver something at that level."

Harrah's is one of the 12 players still in the running.

It plans to pursue an "entertainer strategy" rather than just staging production shows, and is currently in partnership talks with local entertainers.

Harrah's is still interested in both the Marina Bayfront and Sentosa sites.

It says this isn't about spreading its chances, but rather it is about the different opportunities and benefits that both sites present.

Harrah's believes the Singapore government will try to encourage as many bidders on both sites as possible.

Harrah's plans to spend over US$2 billion to build the resort at Marina Bayfront, and between US$1 billion and US$2 billion to develop the Sentosa site.

Rival Las Vegas Sands, meanwhile, is expected to bid as much as US$2.5 billion for the downtown site.

It says it plans to build an 832 room hotel, a convention centre and an arena there.

Said William Weidner, president of Las Vegas Sands, "The idea is to try to take what's here, try to help it repackage and then drive more visitation, drive occupancy and the average daily rate overall. We see the key to developing here in Singapore is to drive more overnight visitors and to really synergise and energise what is here. We can synergise what is here by developing a lot more carpetted meeting space."

As for Australia's gaming operator Tabcorp, it says it is still in talks with investors to fund its US$2 billion bid for the project.

It plans to keep a majority stake and fund the development through its own cash and those raised in the market.

Tabcorp on Tuesday signed up P&O Princess Cruises International to enhance its bid. – CNA /ct

Copyright © 2005 MCN International Pte Ltd

22 June 2005

Resort operators hope to get visitors to stay longer in Singapore
By Wong Siew Ying, Channel NewsAsia

SINGAPORE : Resort operators will be pulling out all the stops to get visitors to stay longer and, it is hoped, spend more.

The target is to raise the average length of stay in Singapore from three days to three-and-a-half days.

Other plans are in store to encourage repeat visitation.

The gaming industry is always evolving, and delegates at the Asian Casinos Expo in Singapore tried their hand at some new ways of playing old games.

Meanwhile, resort operators pitching to build the integrated resorts in Singapore have their eyes on other winning formulas.

Las Vegas Sands is aiming to push up occupancy by re-packaging Singapore's current attractions to make them more exciting to visitors.

Said William Weidner, president of Las Vegas Sands, "If we can move Singapore's average length of stay from 3.1 days to a Las Vegas style 3.5 or 3.6 days, you take current nine million tourists here and you have 4.5 million visitor days right there alone."

It is not just about getting tourists to stay longer, but also to keep them coming back.

Harrah's Entertainment has a loyalty programme that has some 40 million members.

Through cross-selling, it is hoping to channel these potential tourists into Singapore.

Repeat visitors to Singapore linger at 60 percent, compared to over 80 percent in Las Vegas.

Said Richard Mirman, senior vice president at Harrah's, "This whole repeat visitation strategy is key to what we're focused on. We are now out there across the world looking for unique attractions that could fit into our IR to achieve that objective to entertain people in a dynamic way that changes consistently over time, so people want to come back over and over to see what's there. "

So far, 12 players are still in the bidding game to build flagship resorts in the city state.

But this number could fall.

Said Matthew Slatter, CEO of Tabcorp, "Inevitably with any project of this size, I am sure the field will get smaller, the competition will get more intense because a smaller number of people will be more acutely focus on this."

Technology is one of the trump cards of the trade; it is being used in areas like security, gaming facilities, entertainment even architectural design.

And resort operators bidding for the projects in Singapore say they have a few aces up their sleeves.

The operators have also not ruled out bringing in more partners into their ventures. – CNA /ct

Copyright © 2005 MCN International Pte Ltd

Interesting.
the more competition, the better chance for Singapore to grab large slice of international spotlight !

:runaway:

Business Times - 23 Jun 2005

Harrah's to announce more partnerships in IR bid

More bidders are expected to drop out as the costs are staggering

By ALEXANDRA HO

HARRAH'S Entertainment, the world's largest gaming company, may already have Keppel Land in its corner for its bid for the two integrated resorts (IR) with casinos.

But expect it to announce more partnerships, Harrah's senior vice-president for business development Richard Mirman said.

He was tight-lipped about who those partners will be but said the company would announce them in the next few months.

Pressed to elaborate, Mr Mirman said Harrah's is working on an entertainer strategy rather than a production shows strategy.

'You will be surprised and you will be excited,' he said cryptically. 'One in particular that we are working on, very hard, has never been done anywhere in the world. It's a brand new idea.' He added that the partners are both international and local.

Despite its competitors choosing to focus on one site after original intentions to bid for both, such as Tabcorp Holdings, Mr Mirman said Harrah's is still interested in both the Marina Bayfront and Sentosa sites, as both present different benefits and opportunities. Mr Mirman also expects more bidders to eventually drop out of the race as the costs are staggering.

Harrah's is looking to invest around US$2 billion for the Marina site and between US$1 and US$2 billion on the Sentosa site, if they clinch the concessions.

Mr Mirman said the delay in the launch of the Request for Proposals (RFP) was unexpected, but Harrah's does not have a problem with it.

'It is consistent with the government's approach to be very thoughtful about the process. They had asked us, as other operators too, to give feedback on the preliminary RFP and we gave a lot of feedback and I suspect that they were considering all the different ideas that were put out there and hopefully, they will improve the RFP as a result,' he said.

Last week, the government announced that the RFP launch would be pushed back to the third quarter of this year, instead of Q2 as originally planned. It did not say if the award of the concessions might be delayed from the year-end target.

Still in the race are 12 consortiums, including Genting International, MGM Mirage, Kerzner International, Sun International, and Wynn Resorts.

Mr Mirman - who's here for the Asian Casino Expo - also said that Harrah's is focused on getting repeat visitors to Singapore in its IR plans.

He estimates that more than 80 per cent of its visitors should be repeat visitors for the venture to be successful.

Copyright © 2005 Singapore Press Holdings Ltd. All rights reserved.

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June 23 2005

Universal Studios says still in Singapore casino
By Sebastian Tong

SINGAPORE, June 23 (Reuters) - Global entertainment giant Universal Studios said on Thursday it remained committed to a Malaysian-led consortium bidding for one of Singapore's two casino resorts, dismissing industry rumours that it had left the group.

"We are very much still partnering with Genting and are an integrated part of their proposal," Universal spokeswoman Cynthia Gordon told Reuters in an email.

Malaysian casino company Genting Bhd and cruise operator Star Cruises Ltd. said in April that they had teamed up with the theme parks arm of Universal Studios, controlled by General Electric Co. , for its proposal to develop a casino on Singapore's resort island of Sentosa.

Gordon said Universal would derive revenue from royalties on licensing if their bid was successful.

"Our energies are now focused on Singapore. We're excited about our partnership with Genting to develop an integrated resort," she said.

The Singapore development would boost Universal's presence in Asia if the proposal is accepted.

The company, behind successful Hollywood movie franchises such as Jurassic Park and Jaws, already runs a theme park in Japan but its expansion plans for the region were hit last year when China withheld permission for a planned theme park in Shanghai.

"We are not moving forward in Shanghai. We worked for several years on a proposal for a tourist destination in Shanghai before the Chinese government pulled the plug on the projects as part of a redirection of resources in the past year as the country undergoes and unprecedented building boom," she said.

The Genting-led consortium is up against global gaming giants including Harrah's Entertainment Inc. , MGM Mirage and Las Vegas Sands Corp. to build what could be the world's most expensive casino developments at $3.5-4 billion.

Originally seen as a dark horse in the race, Genting -- which runs Malaysia's only casino on the hilltop resort of Genting -- was singled out in April by Singapore's founding prime minister Lee Kuan Yew as having the "most interesting" proposals among those he had seen.

Genting and Star Cruises, both controlled by Lim Goh Tong and his family, are also bidding for the other available site in Singapore's downtown Marina Bay.

Ahead of the official request for proposals in the third quarter, speculation is mounting that the 12 shortlisted bidding groups will further narrow.

"A lot of bidders are going to start falling off the process now. That's because it's very expensive (to run a casino) and you need a lot of resources," said Harrah's Vice-President for Business Development Richard Mirman at a recent gaming conference in Singapore.

He declined to name any dropouts.

One of those shortlisted, South African hotel and casino company Peermont Global said in May that its chances of winning the bid was "realistically" low.

In a report released in June, PriceWaterhouseCoopers said the fastest growth for the theme park industry would be in the Asia-Pacific. Spending in the region is set to rise 5.7 percent a year to $8.1 billion in 2009, against annual average global growth of 4.5 percent over the same period.

Copyright © 2005Reuters Limited.

I hope Genting + Star Cruises + Universal Studios wins the Sentosa IR bid. Cool (and super well known) theme park in a cool location.

I hope Harrahs wins the Marina Bayfront bid. Classy (and super well known) museum as part of a classy proposal in a classy location.

All this stands for now...until someone else reveals details about their proposals...

I hope Genting + Star Cruises + Universal Studios wins the Sentosa IR bid. Cool (and super well known) theme park in a cool location.

I hope Harrahs wins the Marina Bayfront bid. Classy (and super well known) museum as part of a classy proposal in a classy location.

All this stands for now...until someone else reveals details about their proposals...

Haha.....I'm a bit more greedy.....I want all of this plus P&O cruise here.....:lol:

Don't forget...P&O will be here no matter what...

I WANT EVERYTHING HERE!!!

Imagine hearing ''Welcome to Universal Studios SINGAPORE!!!''. Doesn't that sound better than ''Welcome to Singapore, A City Within A Garden...''.

What about ''Welcome to the Guggenheim Museum Singapore.'' rather than ''Welcome to Singapore's New Merlion Park.''

That welcome note will certainly change other's opinions about our good ole dullsville.

Don't forget...P&O will be here no matter what...

I WANT EVERYTHING HERE!!!

Imagine hearing ''Welcome to Universal Studios SINGAPORE!!!''. Doesn't that sound better than ''Welcome to Singapore, A City Within A Garden...''.

That welcome note will certainly change other's opinions about our good ole dullsville.

Then might as well include Disney also plus some exotic resort at southern islands......:D

Then might as well include Disney also plus some exotic resort at southern islands......:D

Forget Disney. They are already taken. And since I am not a kid haha anymore I have no interest in visiting that theme park and riding on kiddish rides and expect to be charmed and impressed by the dreamlike and happy happy world.

Forget Disney. They are already taken. And since I am not a kid haha anymore I have no interest in visiting that theme park and riding on kiddish rides and expect to be charmed and impressed by the dreamlike and happy happy world.

Hahaha.....ok.....maybe some stylo-milo,extravagant looking,out of this world resort then......:lol: (i think i insane liao)

I just want super fast and fun rides...not the rides in Escape Theme Park...360 degrees of nothing...

I want exposure to internationally well known works of art.

These are things Singapore never had, or had but no one knew about it...

By the way, just in case anyone was wondering, VivoCity's structure is super visible now...can see the oddly shaped structure rising...its curves etc...

The new MRT signs are up...some are multilingual, while those on the SMRT's lines now even have station to station travel times, like what we saw on NEL last time...

Even the digital CCTV is up and running (notice their old bulky CCTV viewing monitors in the station control room is replaced by LCD screens).

Sorry, don't know where else to post these things I see...

I just want super fast and fun rides...not the rides in Escape Theme Park...360 degrees of nothing...

I want exposure to internationally well known works of art.

These are things Singapore never had, or had but no one knew about it...

By the way, just in case anyone was wondering, VivoCity's structure is super visible now...can see the oddly shaped structure rising...its curves etc...

The new MRT signs are up...some are multilingual, while those on the SMRT's lines now even have station to station travel times, like what we saw on NEL last time...

Even the digital CCTV is up and running (notice their old bulky CCTV viewing monitors in the station control room is replaced by LCD screens).

Sorry, don't know where else to post these things I see...

Vivocity stuff can post here:
http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?p=4018767#post4018767

MRT stuff can post here:
http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?p=4495446#post4495446

I WANT EVERYTHING HERE!!!

Imagine hearing ''Welcome to Universal Studios SINGAPORE!!!''. Doesn't that sound better than ''Welcome to Singapore, A City Within A Garden...''.

What about ''Welcome to the Guggenheim Museum Singapore.'' rather than ''Welcome to Singapore's New Merlion Park.''

That welcome note will certainly change other's opinions about our good ole dullsvill

yah i want everything too.

plus 'welcome to caesar's tropical palace' instead of 'a;sdklfaj;sdklfjasfjGEYLANGasd;fkaj;slkfja;sldkfj'

June 24, 2005
ONLINE GAMING
International Net bookie eyes S'pore
But Betfair's bid to interest Singapore Pools may have failed

By Krist Boo

NOW that Singapore has given the green light to casinos, one online bookmaker has arrived at its door for a piece of the punting action.

The people behind British-listed Betfair.com yesterday confirmed reports that it has tried to interest Singapore Pools in setting up a gambling exchange.

Speaking to The Straits Times at the sidelines of the three-day Asian Casinos Expo, its head of business development and marketing (Asia), Mr Ben Edwards, said Singapore is clearly one of the largest markets in the region.

'We want to introduce Singapore Pools to what Betfair can present,' he said.

Betfair's pitch has apparently fallen flat with Singapore Pools, the only legal gambling player here besides the Singapore Turf Club.

Its chief financial officer, Mr John Teo, said Singapore Pools constantly explores different channels.

But it said 'it is not in discussions with Betfair on any business arrangement, including that of helping it set up a betting exchange in Singapore'.

Betfair is among dozens of bookmakers keen to enter Asia, which has more than 30 legal casinos dotting countries from Macau to South Korea, Malaysia and Cambodia. There are plans for at least a dozen more, including three in Macau and two in Singapore.

Betfair runs a gaming exchange, a variation of the bookie. Like a stock exchange, punters' bets are treated like bids, accepted only when other punters agree to take them up. The exchange then handles the transaction and makes a commission from the deal.

Singapore Pools has rejected it for legal and business reasons.

While the operator will start a telephone soccer betting service in August, it has yet to get the legal go-ahead for online punting, said Mr Teo.

'Our product menu is presently limited and we currently do only football betting, so an Internet channel may not make business sense at this point in time,' he added.

Singapore Pools' snub is unlikely to deter Betfair, which takes a variety of bets that range from horse-racing to which city the 2012 Olympics would be staged.

It is also facing hurdles in countries such as Australia and Hong Kong, where it wants to be a licensed operator. It has, to date, got its papers only in Britain, Austria and Malta.

Singapore, alongside countries such as the United States and Thailand, outlaws online gambling, citing reasons like it attracts underage gamblers and is hard to regulate.

The six online-gambling experts present at the conference said the ban was unlikely to be lifted soon, although virtual wagering will boom.

As for Singapore, whose eye is trained on the casino resorts now, Betfair hopes to get its official stamp of approval in the future.

The company takes three million bets a day. Its clients are mainly from Britain, Ireland and Australia, with very few Asians, whose proportion is below 10 per cent.

Its revenue in the last financial year ending last month was £107 million (S$327 million) and its profits, £22 million.

Betfair believes a nod from Singapore will open the door to the rest of Asia, and boost its credibility as a bookmaker.

Said its managing director, Mr Mark Davies: 'There is additional credibility in Singapore because people know that those the Singapore Government regulates are whiter than white.'

Copyright © 2005 Singapore Press Holdings. All rights reserved.

July 1, 2005
FRIDAY MATTERS
Design IRs inclusively, like the fun worlds of the past

By Kog Yue Choong

SO, THE integrated resort development is meant to be. Could one then hope that it can integrate far more than just different forms of entertainment and tourism services?

The integrated resort development is an opportunity par excellence for urban design to integrate the proposed new downtown developments - the makeover for Orchard Road as well as the neighbouring areas of Singapore's cityscape.

Furthermore, can one also hope that the divide among Singaporeans over whether we should include casinos in the integrated resort development inspires effort to provide an inclusive urban design, rather than a potentially 'gated' urban space that some fear the resorts could turn out to be?

Are families going to be accommodated in the design of the space or, for that matter, the tourists as well as the locals?

Could one also wish for an 'inclusive' urban design effort that has a role for small and large design firms, the local and the international?

Tall order, some may say.

But is it so far-fetched if one considers how tiny Singapore has housed an affluent nation?

The 'big' and 'small' players in the transformation of our built environment have amply demonstrated their capacities in the last four decades.

Consider the airport and port infrastructure that have been put in place.

Urban space here is equally defined by urban transit - the public bus and MRT stations - as well as new towns and glamour zones like Raffles Hotel, the Esplanade, Boat Quay and Clarke Quay.

The first provides interconnectivity and public access as well as mobility for a world city and the latter, international and global spaces.

Urban designs that have been rolled out so far span wet markets, hawker centres, eating houses, coffee shops, foodcourts as well as cafes, alfresco dining, service apartments, five-star hotels and upmarket shopping malls.

Ambassador-at-large Tommy Koh, who spoke at the Urban Redevelopment Authority's corporate seminar recently, pointed out that Singapore went global without the kind of polarisation so familiar in other similar cities around the world with their ghettos and gated communities.

Add a clean Singapore River and Kallang River, an off-shore landfill and the marine barrage now being built at Marina Bay, and we have an urban spatial planning legacy that has not been easily deterred by the odds.

Our urban design legacy, and its integrative strengths - social and spatial - is one that we should bear in mind in the development of the integrated resorts.

We have a design tradition for theme parks in Singapore.

Great World, Gay World and New World were built in the past to house a mix of restaurants, shopping and entertainment activities from carousels to ronggeng, Cantonese wayang, tea dances and movies.

Like these fun worlds of the past, the integrated resort development could, if designed to do so, be inclusive.

It can bring together the past and the present.

Integration could consider space for mothers and fathers with their children as well as the young and elderly.

If the integrated resort development together with the other proposed add-ons to urban spaces can extend its integrative role by design, then it can potentially bring together a society now divided over the casino.

If the urban design of the future is therefore to include an integrated resort development, the hope is that the proposed new developments be aimed at integrating the past with the present and, in turn, the different segments of society.

Indeed, the integrated resort development should not mean a space meant solely for tourists.

Few such spaces or places have thrived in the world, least of all in a global city.

If local small design firms - architectural and engineering - could be integrated in the development of the integrated resort, this will present an opportunity to showcase the work of not only the large local firms, but the small and talented ones as well.

Better still, the integration will allow the coming together of international and local designers that can be visibly reflected in our new urban spaces.

The integrated resort development could be the coming together of place and people - plus the making of the Singapore identity as a city, one that is among the safest cities to live in, with the social stability so sought after by so many elsewhere in the world.

Just as the city is seeking to integrate the arts and culture into its global image, so the integrated resort development should seek to insert itself effectively in the city and hence, its society.

The writer, a civil engineer by training, is a consultant in private practice and an adjunct professor at the National University of Singapore.

Guest writers alternate with Chua Mui Hoong in this weekly column.

Copyright © 2005 Singapore Press Holdings. All rights reserved.

July 6, 2005
Take cue from Aussie casinos, IR planners told

By Daryl Loo

PLANNERS of the two integrated resorts in Singapore can pick up a few lessons from Australia, said an analyst.

One of them is that the casino must be designed by an architect familiar with the needs of such developments, said Mr Sean Monaghan of United States investment bank Merrill Lynch at a conference yesterday.

No less important is for the Government to be aware of problems that will arise.

'It helps that Singapore has recognised the problems of gambling early, and is taking steps to minimise them,' said Mr Monaghan.

However, this was not the case in Australia. The government's initial focus was tax gains, he told 150 delegates at a one-day meeting to discuss new property developments here.

When the gambling problem emerged and grew, the Australian authorities introduced new rules, such as shorter opening hours and restrictions on advertising. It hurt business, said Mr Monaghan.

In Singapore, the problem is to be tackled by such safeguards as an entrance fee of $100 a day, or $2,000 a year, for Singaporeans who want to enter the casino.

Singapore's two integrated resorts with casinos, expected to be ready in 2009, will be in Marina and Sentosa.

Picking the right architect is vital, said Mr Monaghan, pointing to the Star City Casino in Sydney. Its architect had never built a casino before. 'So it ended up poorly designed and failed to draw crowds.'

Location is also important. Treasury Casino in Brisbane was housed in a building designated as a heritage site.

The operator could not alter its structure, so the gaming tables were spread among rooms on different floors. 'It's so badly laid out, I always got lost,' said Mr Monaghan.

Both casinos struggled, and now have new owners.

Another Merrill Lynch analyst, Mr Tony Raza, is confident the estimated 100,000 sq m of new retail space at the two IRs is unlikely to wipe out retailers elsewhere.

He said: 'Something new and shiny is going to attract attention. Orchard Road and Suntec City retailers will be affected at first, but business tends to revert to normal after a while.'

Copyright © 2005 Singapore Press Holdings. All rights reserved.

GuocoLand chooses WoHa to design its IR

14 Jul 05

By ARTHUR SIM

GUOCOLAND has appointed award-winning WoHa Architects to design its proposed integrated resort (IR) at Marina Bay, giving Singapore's architecture community a thumbs-up in the process.

Operating very much under the radar, GuocoLand - Malaysian tycoon Quek Leng Chan's Singapore unit - surprised some market watchers when it was revealed in April as a contender for the IR after the government's request for concept (RFC) closed.

Its choice of architects is similarly surprising, especially as other bidders are counting on big-name ar chitects such as Libeskind, Isozaki and Hadid to deliver the much sought-after 'icon'.

When contacted, a spokesman for GuocoLand confirmed the appointment of WoHa and added: 'Our concept for the IR will capitalise on our tropical environment, with emphasis on lifestyle and recreational activities and facilities that will bring Singaporeans and tourists together. So we chose WoHa for their local know-how, as we believe they understand how people live, work and play in the Singapore context, which is vital in developing this kind of urban destination.'

WoHa, best known for award-winning designs like the Church of Saint Mary of the Angels (Bukit Batok) and One Moulmein Rise, was also recently in the news after being appointed as architects to Jack Investment's $100 million Urban Entertainment Centre in Bugis (which the architects have already dubbed the 'baby IR').

WoHa partner Richard Hassel believes that the firm has the ability to compete with the world's best architects. It is a great boost for all Singaporean architects too.

'By choosing WoHa, GuocoLand has signalled their confidence in the world-class design capability of a local firm. They have put us on an equal basis as other international architects for the IR site, and not in a secondary role,' he said.

Being a Singapore firm has other advantages. As Mr Hassel explains: 'We have a much deeper understanding of the local culture, history and climate based on years of research into local conditions, and this will be reflected in our design.

'Importing recognisable designs from brand-name architects may result in something iconic and international, but we are committed to creating something that is both iconic and uniquely Singaporean.'

Whether WoHa really has the 'home advantage' remains to be seen as all bidders (and architects) are still eagerly awaiting the request-for-proposal stage of the IR to commence, which is expected some time this quarter.

thats nice; i really like WOHA, but it doesnt come with universal studios or cirque du soleil right?

I want SANDS!!!!! :D

Resorts bidder Tabcorp flies out its entire board

16 Jul 05

All 16 directors visited Marina site to map out $2b plan

(SINGAPORE) It's crunch-time for those bidding for Singapore's integrated resorts (IRs). And Australia's Tabcorp has responded by flying its entire board of directors - all 16 of them - here to make a first-hand assessment of how they intend to proceed.

http://business-times.asia1.com.sg/mnt/media/image/launched/2005-07-16/astab16-220156.jpg


Led by Tabcorp chairman Michael Robinson and CEO Matthew Slatter, the delegation went to the Marina Bayfront site on Thursday and deliberated yesterday. Explaining the significance of the visit, Mr Robinson said: 'This is going to be a huge investment, and us being here is a statement of how important the IR is to us. I want the board to be in the best possible position to make the best decision.'

If the stakes seem to have risen, it could be because the neighbouring Business and Financial Centre (BFC) site has just been tendered out by the government at an unexpectedly high price of $1.8 billion. At 3.55 hectares, it is only about a third of the size of the Marina Bayfront IR site. And judging by the way government land valuers have worked in the past, the new market-high price for the BFC will certainly have some impact on the land value of the IR, possibly even raising overall development costs.

Tabcorp, which plans to spend around $2 billion on its proposed IR, remains upbeat. 'We don't anticipate that there will be a price for the land. We anticipate a submission for a total cost of the proposal which will include the cost of the land and the building that's going to go there. It will be a total package,' said Mr Robinson.

Just how the 'package' will be structured will be determined when the Government's Request For Proposal (RFP) is released this quarter. Salient points include the conditions of the lease of the IR land and the land premium quantum.

Asked whether Tabcorp is concerned about the cost of the IR, CEO Mr Slatter said: 'Our perception is that ... the development of the IR is not just about the land as such, but that the Government wants an IR that gives value to lives of Singaporeans and drives tourism. There is an economic value that goes with this. The Government has set a high target and the IR is a lynchpin.'

Mr Slatter's confidence about the future of Marina Bayfront is perhaps buoyed by discussions Tabcorp has had with the authorities. 'Our architects indicated that the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) is thinking about further development that will extend down towards the BFC area,' he said. 'There appears to be some discussion that that section, which will not be part of the IR, will have the possibility of being developed into apartment buildings.'

Talk of residential development in the Marina Bayfront area is not new. In 2003 - before there was any mention of IRs - URA indicated that two sites near the Marina Bayfront Promontory had been earmarked for residential development. However, these sites have since been subsumed by the larger IR site and as yet there are no new sites designated for residential development there.

On the BFC, Mr Slatter said the price is a 'large number' but added: 'We are not anticipating that the IR will be of a similar level.'

He reiterated that the land price will only become clear when the RFP is released but qualified this by saying: 'If the government does decide to put a price on the land, it will impact what development can go on the site. And we have to assess going into the next stage. Our approach is to assess what is acceptable to us in terms of financial requirements and our concept for the IR.'

In Australia, where Tabcorp manages Star City and Jupiters casino, an important part of its operations is customer education and care. Mr Slatter said the company has launched educational programmes such as 'Responsible Service of Gaming' through Australian universities to help operators better deal with problem gambling. Tabcorp would expect to introduce the same model in Singapore and has already spoken to local tertiary institutions to get this started.

This was not the initial approach taken in Australia, he said. 'State governments there tended to focus first on the product, not the customer.' But now there is 'harm minimisation legislation' to protect customers. And to varying degrees this has affected gaming operators. At a recent forum, Merrill Lynch vice-president Sean Monaghan said 'politically driven' legislation had 'impaired industry performance' in Australia. This legislation includes restrictions on operating hours, types of gaming products and bans on smoking. And describing Australia as a 'relatively mature market', Mr Slatter said the need to expand outside is vital for growth - so vital that Tabcorp is prepared to share the pie.

It has spoken to six potential partners and will name a partner in four to five months' time, despite having earlier said it has the financial muscle to go into an IR alone.

'We think there is a potential value in involving local partners,' Mr Slatter said. 'We think there are partners in this market who can bring their expertise and capabilities to the integrated resort.'

He also said these would be 'equity partners', not operational partners like the recently-announced partnership with Carnival Corporation's P&O Princess Cruises International, which will not have a stake in the IR.

Teaming up may be the only answer to the cost question. The other option would be to scale down an IR to 'cut costs', but this is not on Tabcorp. 'Philosophically, scaling down does not make sense,' Mr Slatter said.

Business Times - 16 Jul 2005

IRs must enhance Singapore's standing

PM Lee says resorts must fit tone of Singapore while livening it up

By JEAN CHUA
IN LAS VEGAS

THE two integrated resorts (IRs) in Singapore scheduled to open in 2009 won't make the island another Las Vegas, but they will be venues that enhance its long-term standing as a tourist and business destination, says Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.

Speaking to reporters in Las Vegas on the final day of his introductory visit to the US as Prime Minister, Mr Lee said the resort city in the Nevada desert is a lively, vibrant place but also 'a bit surreal'.

'You know, you have the Eiffel Tower next to the Pyramids. And there's the Empire State Building,' he said. 'I am not sure we want in Singapore the Eiffel Tower next to the Empire State Building at Marina South. I am not sure that we want Las Vegas in Singapore.'

The Government is finalising the documents that will be issued to formally call for bids to build IRs at Sentosa and Marina South. An RFP - Request for Formal Proposal - is expected to be issued in the third quarter of the year, after which the Government will consider each proposal and decide by year-end or early next year which casino or resort operator will get to build and operate Singapore's first IRs.

Mr Lee said after visiting four big resorts in Las Vegas - Caesar's Palace, Wynn Resorts, MGM Grand/Bellagio and The Venetian - that the tour gave him a sense of what it will be like to have such a destination in Singapore. But he insisted that the resorts in Singapore will be quite different.

'Singapore has a different ethos, but I think within this ethos we can fit in integrated resorts which are compatible with the tone of the city while livening it up,' he said.

Mr Lee said it is important to remember that the IRs in Singapore will go beyond the concept of a stand-alone casino.

'The gambling itself is already a very complicated operation, but it's also putting all the other parts - the entertainment, the food, the hospitality, the design of the resort, the integration into the broader economy,' he said.

'And the ecosystem - how the different resorts here fit into different segments of the market. It will help us when we see the proposals, then we will be able to refer that against this spectrum, and know where they fit in. I mean, how is it going - is it going high end, is it going middle end, is it going with conventions and conferences, is it going for visitors, tourists, repeat-visitors. There is a range of possibilities, so it gives you some sense of it.'

Mr Lee also rejected speculation that the government already has a favoured candidate among the many who submitted preliminary proposals earlier this year, or that it already has an idea of what sort of IRs it wants. 'We have to see what the proposals are and from there, winnow down to a few, or a handful, and decide what is best and somehow decide on one,' he said.

Mr Mah Bow Tan, Minister for National Development, who is in Las Vegas with Mr Lee, added: 'I think it's really not our job, our place to tell them what kind of IR we want. They are the ones who are going to put the big money into Singapore, and I think they know what kind of IR they want.

'But we also want to understand what it is that they are trying to put in Singapore, and to see whether it, in our context, blends in well with our city. It will have to help to add to the city skyline and so on.'

The IR needs to 'have the convention facilities, to have the shows, to have the nice hotels, to have the food, the nice restaurants, the retail,' Mr Mah said, but the final shape and form will have to depend on the proposals.

Foreign Minister George Yeo said there is a great deal of interest in Las Vegas in the IRs that Singapore plans to build. 'If we do this well, we will be able to add a significant amount to our GDP, great jobs, great facilities, and make Singapore more interesting to visit and to live in. That's what we want to be,' he said.

Copyright © 2005 Singapore Press Holdings Ltd. All rights reserved.

World talking about S'pore and casinos

25 Jul 05

By Krist Boo

SINGAPORE'S two proposed casino resorts are creating a buzz worldwide, four years before they are scheduled to open.

There have been more than 5,000 reports on them by media around the world over the last 12 months - double the number on Hong Kong's upcoming Disneyland.

The figures were culled from more than 9,000 publications in 22 languages and wire agency stories by business intelligence company Factiva, an outfit owned by wire agencies Dow Jones and Reuters.

The buzz has been mostly about the casinos planned for the developments.

The word 'casino' was used in 4,169 reports, which made no mention at all of the integrated resorts of which the casinos will be a part of.

In an interview with The Straits Times, Factiva's chief executive, Ms Clare Hart, traced the interest to the public-listed companies involved in the bidding and the keen rivalry these have.

'There is only Disneyland in Hong Kong, whereas there are many major players involved here,' she said.

And given the pageant-like way Singapore is selecting the winner, 'there is a lot of competition going on', she said.

There are 12 bidders now vying to set up and run the resorts. They include big-name casino operators Las Vegas Sands, Wynn Resorts and MGM-Mirage from the United States and Malaysia's Genting International.

To date, they have employed varied media strategies for boosting their bids, with some making overtures to the media every month, and others shunning it.

Australia's Tabcorp Holdings has made the headlines the most often, averaging 15 reports a month here and 19 a month in Asia.

At the other end of the scale is the Macau-Australian team of Melco International and Publishing Broadcasting Ltd, which has been mentioned in only one story.

Media watchers say publicity helps, but it will not determine who will get to build the resorts.

Associate Professor Lee Chun Wah, who teaches communications at the Nanyang Technological University, said: 'Media spectacle makes the bid stronger.

'It creates top-of-mind recollection, high awareness... Of course, the bidders must still provide a feasible plan.'

Public relations veteran Rick Clements, head of Rick Clements & Associates, sees one winner in all this - Singapore. 'Apart from strengthening positive perceptions about Singapore as a destination, it reflects the high level of public interest, and the Government's commitment to an open public debate and transparent process.'

And the buzz will go on.

The Government is likely to award the deal at Marina Bayfront early next year, and follow that with the one for Sentosa.

^
Wow....never expect such buzz......:eek:

:eek:
Never realised that this resort issue is gonna be such a sensation... :runaway:

Business Times - 27 Jul 2005

Marina Bay IR could cost a whopping US$3.1b: Merrill

Lack of global opportunities for casinos expected to fuel high bids

By ALEXANDRA HO

(SINGAPORE) The Marina Bay integrated resort (IR) with casino could be one of the most expensive projects of its kind ever developed - with a price tag of US$3.1 billion. And the Sentosa IR's price won't be very much cheaper - at about US$1.9 billion.

That's according to the latest research note on the development of the Singapore casino scene by US banking giant Merrill Lynch.

The figures estimated by Merrill Lynch include land prices. Pegging it to the recent tender of the Business and Financial Centre (BFC) site at Marina Bay - which, at S$1.8 billion, works out to $381 per square foot of potential gross floor area - Merrill Lynch calculates that the Marina site would cost more than $2 billion.

But it reckons the government won't push IR land prices to such a level because the aim is to maximise long-term tourism, not to make short-term gains. Moreover, the Marina and Sentosa sites are likely to have 60-year leases, versus the BFC's 99-lease.

Still, Merrill Lynch believes the land price at Marina will be US$900 million, while Sentosa's will be US$600 million.

And the 'size, scope and importance of the project is causing the timetable to drift a little', Merrill Lynch analyst Sean Monaghan says in the research note. He thinks the Request for Proposal (RFP) - in which conditions and rules of the tender process will be released to bidders - could be issued in August or September.

But Merrill Lynch believes that this will only be for the Marina site, and that the RFP for Sentosa will be launched separately next year. When contacted, the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) said it will reveal details when it launches the RFP this quarter. The RFP will come with a string of conditions, Merrill Lynch says. One could be a two-envelope format, with the first envelope outlining such things as the bidder's architecture plans, its proposal to drive tourism and its ability to address social issues such as problem gambling. From these, Merrill Lynch predicts that the government would shortlist three to five candidates.

In the second envelope, bidders would state the amount they are prepared to pay for the land, with the highest bidder among the shortlisted candidates winning the concession.

Merrill Lynch believes the key strategic point won't be the total bid value but how bidders apportion the total bid. So a bid could technically be lower, but if it gives a higher consideration to the land price, it could beat a higher total bid.

The government could also ask for a bidding deposit of $50 million and require a performance bond from the successful bidder. Merrill Lynch says this could be set at 5 per cent of the total investment. 'The performance bond would be required to ensure that the successful bidder completes the development to the precise specifications agreed to with the government,' Mr Monaghan says.

'The scarcity of new casino opportunities globally, coupled with the economic growth in East Asia, has focused the attention of all the major casino groups on Singapore,' he adds. 'In addition to the issue of scarcity, past bidding history and a company's 'global' status may also be amplifying bidding in Singapore.'

Harrah's Entertainment, which has teamed up with Keppel Land for both IR sites, could 'be driven to bid aggressively in Singapore due to the fact that it has yet to secure a property in Asia', according to Merrill Lynch.

Other companies it considers 'aggressive' bidders are MGM Mirage, which has partnered CapitaLand for the Marina Bay site, and Genting International.

As the size of the investment rises and the competition intensifies, Merrill Lynch says bidders could drop out or others may emerge in the months to come.

It also predicts that each IR will have Ebitda - earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation - margins in the mid-20 per cent range, with casino operations generating 80 per cent of total IR revenue.

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Copyright © 2005 Singapore Press Holdings Ltd. All rights reserved.

Whoa.. thats alot of money involved!! :O
Really hope that the end result justifies its cost

I wonder if they can actually open in 2009, given all the digging involved and the new MRT lines to be built there.

Nevertheless I look forward to an 'iconic' design.

besides.... the request for proposals not even released yet.

IRs will trigger 5-year boost for economy: NUS economists

6 Aug 05

Their simulations also show 1.8% GDP rise in long term

(SINGAPORE) A confluence of economic positives generated by building two integrated resorts (IRs) will give the economy a five-year boost and add 1.8 per cent to GDP in the long term, according to simulations by two university economists.

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The study by Tilak Abeysinghe and Choy Keen Meng, both from the National University of Singapore's Econometric Studies Unit (ESU), assumes that with the two IRs in place and attendant effects, the economy will see:



a 10 per cent increase in visitor arrivals, spurred also by budget airlines;


a 20 per cent growth in private construction contracts, thanks to spillover spending on supporting infrastructure such as new hotels, restaurants and tourist attractions;


a 10 per cent jump in share prices as travel-related and property stocks appreciate, which should spur consumer spending; and


a one per cent rise in government spending as a new regulatory agency for the casinos is formed, law enforcement is beefed up, and social services and safeguards enhanced.

Assuming, for simulation purposes, that these effects all occur at the same time, the services sector will see an immediate output boost of 0.13 per cent, and 0.28 per cent after six months. The commerce sector stands to gain most, with a near 0.5 per cent rise in value-added compared with the baseline scenario of the status quo. The influx of tourists and other visitors is expected to create a 'virtuous investment cycle' with higher capital spending on construction projects and investment in machinery and transport equipment.

While capital spending may have long gestation lags, overall economic activity will peak after two quarters, according to Dr Abeysinghe and Mr Choy, who presented their findings at the Singapore Economic Review conference on Thursday. The 'peak' GDP, at 0.2 per cent above baseline, may seem small, Mr Choy said. But the cumulative impact on total economic activity is not so. 'Higher national income in turn generates positive multiplier effects on employment and wages, albeit with some delay,' he said. And the inflationary effects of the economic boost kick in only after two years.

Overall, the mini economic 'boom' should result in 20,000 new jobs, according to the simulations - and this excludes the direct IR employment estimated at around 10,000 jobs, Mr Choy said. 'Under our assumptions, the increase in total output is comparable in magnitude, but opposite in direction, to that of the Sars outbreak in 2003,' he noted.

The two economists emphasise that their study is strictly an econometric exercise that could not quantify the full effects of the IR projects, such as the social costs of gambling and the economic costs associated with law enforcement. 'Neither do we dismiss them (other costs) as trivial.'

The NUS economists' estimates of the IR impact - generated by ESU's main macroeconometric model - are comparable to those produced by the government and other economists. The government has said the two IRs will reap $5 billion in investments, create 35,000 jobs and add $1.5 billion to the economy each year.


By ANNA TEO

Govt to seek final request for IR proposals by end Aug: analysts
By Matthias Chan, Channel NewsAsia



SINGAPORE: The government is likely to seek the final request for proposals for the two integrated resorts (IR) before the month of August is out, according to market watchers.

They also expect the IR licence for Marina Bay to be awarded in the first quarter of 2006 and the one for Sentosa to follow six months later.

The government has said that it will launch the next phase of the tender process for the integrated resorts in the current quarter but gave no date.

Together with the final request for proposals, analysts believe, the government is likely to release documents detailing the rules.

According to one timeline, the Gaming Act will be passed later this year and the final submissions for the proposals will take place by end of December.

With the award of the licences drawing closer, analysts have begun to pick winning sub-sectors within the property realm.

Charles Neo, UBS' director of research, said: "It is part of Singapore government's strategy to create a vibrant global city and benefit from the rising tourism, particularly the middle-income tourists from India and China. In terms of sub-sectors that will benefit, they include residential and shopping centres."

Analysts see CapitaLand and Keppel Land as front-runners in the race for the integrated resort project.

But the boost to their share prices would depend on the actual valuation of the properties that are built and the earnings of the development.

Sean Monaghan, vice president of equity research, Merrill Lynch (Singapore), said: "We would say it would be significantly value accretive. We probably have to wait for the final details to be released. But we would expect the financial market to boost the share prices of both the listed entities if they were to win."

Merrill Lynch currently has a price target of $3.31 for CapitaLand and $3.35 for Keppel Land.

With CapitaLand and Keppel Land seen as leading the race, analysts have already computed possible upside to their price targets.

Hypothetically, should both bids be won, CapitaLand's price target could be boosted by 9% and Keppel Land's by 18%.

CapitaLand has tied up with Kerzner for the Sentosa site and MGM Mirage for Marina Bay.

Keppel Land's partner is Harrah's International for both sites.

CapitaLand is likely to take a 40% stake in the bids and Keppel Land up to 30%. - CNA/ir

Disneyland sucks ! Thank goodness they're not coming to Singapore !

The whole "Disney" thing is long past it's prime - disney hasn't produced a good movie in years, and it is slowly losing it's hold on young minds. Let's be honest about it here. Who really gives a damn about mickey mouse ? Do they actually show mickey mouse on television ?

Just look 10-15 years down the line - there's a new generation of children would have never even heard of Disney. And Disneyland will be nothing more than fond nostalga - appealing to no more than a niche group of animation conniusoors who still sing praises about "The Lion King" - mark my words on this. If we got disneyland - It's just a matter of time before we have another har par villa - except on a much grander scale.

Let's be forward looking, people. Disneyland is a project bound for failure.

S'poreans seen landing only entry-level jobs at IRs

25 Aug 05

US professor says they're unlikely to have expertise for higher positions - not initially, at least


By DANIEL BUENAS

THE proposed integrated resorts are expected to generate some 10,000 jobs, but most of the mid-level and senior positions are unlikely to be filled by Singaporeans - at least not immediately, a US academic and tourism expert has said.

http://business-times.asia1.com.sg/mnt/media/image/launched/2005-08-25/djcasino25-211520.jpg
Employment spinner: the propose integrated resorts are expected to generate 10,000 direct and 25,000 indirect jobs


Chris Roberts, a University of Massachusetts professor who teaches and does research on casino and resort management, said that he believes Singaporeans are unlikely to have the expertise to take up mid- and high-level jobs at the IRs until they are properly trained.

'I don't think the casino industry, in my personal opinion, is going to view the labour market here as experienced and ready for middle management and senior management jobs,' he said. 'I think they are going to rely on the bulk of entry level jobs on Singaporeans.'

However, Dr Roberts - who is here to give a three-day seminar on 'Insights to casino management - a possible career track' - points out that this doesn't mean that there will be no jobs for Singaporeans. 'It's a narrow pyramid, but there is a big base at the bottom, and there will be a lot of jobs for Singaporeans,' he said. 'But they will not be the sophisticated high-paying job.'

Dr Roberts added that many aspects of the casino industry - such as in finance, accounting and marketing - have 'nuances' and 'fundamental differences' when compared to usual business practices.

'For many people (not) in the casino world, it's about understanding what to do, because what works in retail as marketing, may not work at casinos at all,' he said. 'So I bet they (casino operators) are going to get a blend of outside people they bring in, combined with local people they can teach, bring along and develop.'

Even so, he believes that a lot of middle-level jobs will be filled by Singaporeans after they have been trained, although this may take 'a couple of years' to accomplish.

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said in Parliament earlier this year that the IRs are expected to create an estimated 10,000 direct jobs and a further 25,000 jobs in the wider economy.

Going by similar developments and analyst estimates, this could possibly translate to about 1,000 casino-related jobs, 3,000 hotel-sector positions and 6,000 jobs in retail, F&B and other sectors.

However, for those thinking of becoming a high-earning card dealer, Dr Roberts said that the average annual salary of croupiers was only about US$30,000 - not a lot of money compared with other jobs in the US.

Even so, he expects most croupiers to be Singaporeans, as most dealers work for only about five years before moving on.

'Casinos are going to count on Singaporeans stepping up to those jobs,' he said. 'You can't keep importing those workers.'

The whole "Disney" thing is long past it's prime - disney hasn't produced a good movie in years, and it is slowly losing it's hold on young minds. Let's be honest about it here. Who really gives a damn about mickey mouse ? Do they actually show mickey mouse on television ?

maybe pixar park is the future we should look to.

actually i dont think young people (not me even) really associate disney movies / shows with disneyland. the disney movies may not be anything to crow about, but i think disneyland is still THE theme park for most. the closest would probably be universal studios, but 'universal studios' sounds no where near as fun as disneyland or disneyworld. after that what do we have? lotteworld? probably only known to koreans, and people who visit korea. disney is still a very strong brand i'd say.

25 August 2005

Integrated resort projects set to revive Singapore's construction sector
By Matthias Chan, Channel NewsAsia

SINGAPORE : There is growing optimism among analysts that the construction sector in Singapore has seen the bottom and is set for a rebound.

They say the development of the integrated resorts will have a big hand in the revival of the sector, and the construction industry is starting to see signs of recovery.

Over the past few years, the sector has been languishing even though the economy was on the mend.

Contracts awarded last year totalled S$10 billion, a far cry from the close to S$23 billion at the peak of construction activities in 1997.

But now, there are signs of new life.

According to the Manpower Ministry, the construction sector recorded a net positive increase of 4,500 jobs for the first two quarters of this year.

This is its first net increase since the end of 2000.

And industry players say they are finally seeing better workload.

Said Wan Chee Hong, director of Sim Lian Construction, "Last year the number of tenders we participated as compared to this year, I think this year we have twice as many tenders for us to work on."

And with the upcoming development of the integrated resorts in Singapore, construction companies see the positive momentum continuing for the next few years.

Said Mr Wan, "The IR developments are the first of its kind in Singapore. So if you talk about project name to project name, I believe none of the Singapore contractors have done one in Singapore. If they do not perform the role of the main contractor, they can still enjoy the spillover effect because the foreigners still rely on local players for their services due to their competitive edge."

Construction of the integrated resorts is expected to start sometime next year.

In about a year, construction will spill over to Marina Bay as Singapore gears up for the integrated resorts.

Construction companies are hopeful that with the development of the two integrated resorts, the good times will roll again.

Analysts have conservatively estimated the integrated resorts to generate S$2.5 billion worth of construction work. - CNA /ct

Copyright © 2005 MCN International Pte Ltd

maybe pixar park is the future we should look to.


What is Pixar Park?

Heirloom is refering to Pixar studios, the guys who did Toy Story, a Bug's Life, the Incredibles... And are going to get out of Disney, if I'm right.

oh ok

I used to be obsessed about Disney when I was young, and I used to associate Disney very much with USA. I've only visited one Disney once, years ago in Paris. Nowadays I'm not that crazy about visiting Disney, once in a BLUE moon is sufficient for me :D

they're getting out because eisner was terrible or something. now with someone new at the helm, they may go into another partnership, i think i remember reading that.

maybe pixar park is the future we should look to.

actually i dont think young people (not me even) really associate disney movies / shows with disneyland. the disney movies may not be anything to crow about, but i think disneyland is still THE theme park for most. the closest would probably be universal studios, but 'universal studios' sounds no where near as fun as disneyland or disneyworld. after that what do we have? lotteworld? probably only known to koreans, and people who visit korea. disney is still a very strong brand i'd say.

Maybe so, but still you must admit Disneyland Singapore would be a 'priated' Disneyland - yet another duplicate of a the original park in the states ... c'mon who really wants to sweat it out in a visit to a replica of Disneyland in the hot and humid Singapore ?

all the disneylands are based on the the original one no meh? uh look at sentosa or escape. hot and humid, and you cant say they're more interesting than disneyland - still got ppl... but escape opens at night only is it? anyway, hot or not, i'm quite sure many in the region would flock to disneyland if it opened here.

come to think of it, it makes much more sense for disneyland to open here. tokyo is pretty near hong kong... singapore could serve australia + SEA and perhaps hong kong and china since singapore is infinitely cheaper than tokyo. and india too.

i have to admit though, the idea of having to sweat is really quite gross. maybe could have the world's first fully air conditioned theme park.

Very bold & innovative idea but I guess will only work on Southern Islands which apparently lacks of an effective transport system. A new MRT route to China Town is in the pipeline and government has invested billion more in the past to construct MRT underground.

Also keeping wild animals in the city area is very dangerous and the smell will definitely turn away a lot of visitors & tourists. May end up getting another Tiger under the billiard table of Raffles Hotel again. :laugh: :laugh:



A vision for Marina Bay
Local architect proposes a cultural centre to go with the IR

Jose Raymond
jose@newstoday.com.sg

Imagine having dinner on a bamboo raft under sail on a moonlit night in Marina Bay, sipping coconut wine while tigers, jaguars and lions stalk in the vicinity and the sounds of native drums throb in the background.
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Such a scenario could well be possible if this vision of an Indo-Pacific identity for Singapore by renowned architect and self-confessed idealist Tay Kheng Soon becomes reality.
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With the Government set to launch the Request For Proposals for the Integrated Resorts (IR) in the third quarter of this year, Mr Tay is proposing that it consider building an Indo-Pacific Cultural Centre in the Marina Bay area to coincide with the development of the IR there.
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His grand plan — to immerse visitors in the panorama of Indo-Pacific diversity — includes linking the centre by cable car to key downtown locations of interest such as Little India and Chinatown.
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Other interesting elements include a 20-storey vertical zoo and aviary, an Omnimax cinema, an aquarium displaying Indo-Pacific river ecologies, a festival tent, a heritage museum, a pedestrian suspension bridge and a shopping mall.
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But why an Indo-Pacific" identity?
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"I got this idea when I was on a visit to Panama recently and realised that Singapore is at the confluence of two great oceans — the Pacific and Indian oceans," said Mr Tay, a principal partner of Akitek Tenggara, who devoted two weeks of the company's time last month to the project.
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Now is the time, he said, to weave together the diverse strands of Indo-Pacific history and culture and tell this "compelling story of how we all came to be in this region".
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Mr Tay, armed with site maps and colourful architectural illustrations, intends to share his plans and ideas during a talk — "Icons and Identities" — this Saturday at the National Heritage Board.
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Speaking to Today about his vision, he said: "From Singapore's perspective, the Integrated Resorts is a breakout event which will bring new dimensions to Singapore and the way we think.
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"As such, it would be a challenge and a great opportunity to enlarge our imagination. "We must dare to dream."
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Stating that Singapore had already broken the mould with its decision to go ahead with the IRs, he said: "There should not be anything stopping us from trying to make Singapore truly unique."
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Mr Tay, whose design for the Sarimbun Scout Camp was featured at the Venice Biennale architectural show last year, hopes that the Government and the developers of the IRs will embrace his idea of a cultural centre.
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Mr Tay, known for his strong views on preserving national heritage in buildings, said he hopes his ideas will "get people thinking about the endless possibilities."
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He said: "This is my gift to the Singapore people."

20 storey zoo does sound very intriguing indeed, but i can't get over the phrase "this is my gift to the singapore people." how pompous.

I wouldn't say pompous, singapore needs more people with that attitude, then this city / country will get some truly unique skyscrapers, buildings and designs.

Love the zoo idea, aquarium would be good too ... the one on sentosa is truly awful.

i always thougth the one on sentosa was all right, but i havent been there for a really long time. i've been to the huge aquarium in osaka, and thought the one on sentosa could not compare. however the underwater world seems to be the only aquarium that features in some discovery channel list (no 10) so i thought it couldnt be that bad...?

I always used to think it was good, then I went to sydney and other cities ... I think the one on sentosa used to be good, but has since faded from glory.

i have to admit though, the idea of having to sweat is really quite gross. maybe could have the world's first fully air conditioned theme park.

In fact I think only Singaporeans and fat american tourists (sorry for the cliché ^ ^ ) care so much about the all-aircon thing. The vast majority of the foreigners I know here don't think the climate is bad as long as you can get some shadow.

But well, I'm also not really enthusiastic about the Disney park. I'd rather have a giant Wild Wild Wet or, well, the idea of the Universal Studios park is quite attractive to me, in fact ^ ^

i always thougth the one on sentosa was all right, but i havent been there for a really long time. i've been to the huge aquarium in osaka, and thought the one on sentosa could not compare. however the underwater world seems to be the only aquarium that features in some discovery channel list (no 10) so i thought it couldnt be that bad...?


Did you see a whale in the aquarium?

i saw a whale shark, not sure if i saw a whale.

@pengui
i'm sure the tourists would rather not sweat it out if they had a choice

Thanks.

The whale shark is a the biggest shark and the biggest fish. It is NOT a whale. (http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/sharks/species/Whaleshark.shtml)

If Kernzer International wins the bid for an IR @ Sentosa, we will be able to see a
Whale in a gaint aquarium.

interesting idea proposed... i think it will be much better than a mega-sized botanical garden :X

If Kernzer International wins the bid for an IR @ Sentosa, we will be able to see a
Whale in a gaint aquarium.

I thought that was just a marketing gimmick? wow :eek:

Is Kernzer amongst the favourites?

I want a giant new Botanical Garden ... with a giant new aquarium in it / under it, somewhere :)

i want everything :D EXCEPT a NTUC golf course

I want the gardens to be really tropical and beautiful :D

Sorry to nitpick, but it is "Kerzner", not "Kernzer".