Disney to Buy Marvel Comics for $4 Billion

The Walt Disney Company said Monday that it would buy the comic book giant Marvel Entertainment for about $4 billion.

Under the terms of the deal, Marvel shareholders will receive a $30 a share in cash plus about 0.745 Disney shares for each Marvel share they own. The boards of both companies have approved the deal, which was valued at $50 a share.

With the acquisition, Disney will acquire more than 5,000 Marvel characters.

“We believe that adding Marvel to Disney’s unique portfolio of brands provides significant opportunities for long-term growth and value creation,” the chief executive of Disney, Robert A. Iger, said in a statement.

Ike Perlmutter, Marvel’s chief executive, said: “Disney is the perfect home for Marvel’s fantastic library of characters given its proven ability to expand content creation and licensing businesses. This is an unparalleled opportunity for Marvel to build upon its vibrant brand and character properties by accessing Disney’s tremendous global organization and infrastructure around the world.”

Mr. Perlmutter will oversee the Marvel properties, and will work directly with Disney’s global lines of business to build and further integrate Marvel’s properties.

F J Benjamin Signs With Marina Bay Sands

GUESS, RAOUL and La Senza Poised to Open at Singapore’s Premier
Retail Destination

Marina Bay Sands™, through its retail arm Sands Retail Asia,announced that Singapore-based retail group F J Benjamin will expand its portfolio of lifestyle brands tores with three new outlets in Marina Bay Sands Shoppes® located in Singapore’s premier integrateden tertainment destination.

Currently celebrating 50 years in the industry, the retail powerhouse has confirmed that it will bring edgy
US brand GUESS, international lingerie giant La Senza, and the company’s own fast-growing fashion
label, RAOUL, to the new mall when it opens early next year. F J Benjamin is also considering opening
stores for several other brands within its extensive portfolio of apparel labels.

“Retail is all about looking for the newest and latest location,” says Mr. Douglas Benjamin, Executive
Director of F J Benjamin. “Marina Bay Sands will be a unique experience for shoppers, which makes it
the perfect platform for brands to show off. We are very excited to be part of something so exceptional
and we will offer customers something special.”

With over 800,000 square feet of retail and restaurant space, Marina Bay Sands Shoppes will be a dream
destination for shoppers from across the world offering over 300 stores with a refreshing mix of
international luxury brands and cutting-edge, emerging labels new to Singapore.

“We are delighted that F J Benjamin has chosen to be a part of what we are creating at Marina Bay Sands
Shoppes. It will deliver a shopping experience unlike any other,” says Mr. David Sylvester, Vice
President of Retail Asia, Las Vegas Sands Corp. “I can’t think of any greater affirmation than having the
confidence of one retailer who clearly knows the Singapore market inside out.”

When it opens early next year, Marina Bay Sands will feature large and flexible convention and
exhibition facilities, approximately 2,500 luxury hotel rooms and suites, the breathtaking rooftop Sands
2 SkyPark™, a museum, Las Vegas-style gaming, the Paiza Club for premium players, theatres,
entertainment, an outdoor event plaza, and unparalleled range of shopping and dining outlets.

10,000th Hit For Sentosa Theme Park Blog Thank You

Thank You all for taking the time to check out Sentosa Theme Park Blog and to the other sites that have sent people to my Blog (see the Links on the left side of the page please check out there web sites).

Universal Studio's Singapore Updated Picture's Aug 28th 2009

Singapore Resort Openings to create opportunities for Foreign Investors, Entrepreneurs and Professionals

The opening of two large casino resort projects in the next 6 months is likely to create a number of opportunities for foreign investors, professionals and entrepreneurs who are considering immigration to Singapore.

Singapore -- Based on past statistics from the gaming industry, GuideMeSingapore.com predicts that a significant number of jobs and new business ventures will be created in tourism-related industries over the next two years as a result of the new gaming resorts that are set to open in Singapore.

Two such resorts are slated to open in Singapore in the next 6 months: The Marina Bay Sands and The Resorts World at Sentosa. The Marina Bay Sands project, which is scheduled to open in the late first quarter of 2010, will include 2,600 hotel rooms, 1.2 million square feet of convention and exhibition space for 52,000 attendees, an art and science museum, various theatrical venues, as well as a trio of linked marina-facing botanical gardens. The total cost of the development is placed at S$8.0 billion. The Resorts World at Sentosa project will open in early 2010. It will occupy 121 acres, house six hotels with 1840 hotel rooms, Universal Studio's Theme Park, a Water Park and numerous other attractions. The project will cost nearly S$7 billion. While the Singapore government has been keen to highlight the non-gambling attractions of the two integrated resorts, various gaming industry analysts expect 75 percent of revenue to come from gaming in the first year of operation.

This represents a very good opportunity for foreign entrepreneurs, investors and professionals who wish to setup a business in or immigrate to Singapore. By investing in or launching businesses that cater to these growing industries, foreigners can obtain quick immigration to Singapore and simultaneously participate in the economic growth that these industries will bring to Singapore
Currently Singapore receives just 5 percent of its GDP from tourism. Using these resorts as the main attraction, Singapore aims to double its tourism arrivals to 17 million annually and triple its tourism receipts to $19 billion by 2015. The Singapore government has given its full backing to the launch of this new industry; given the government's successful track record, the success of this industry is all but assured. The anticipated rise in tourism will result in strong growth in a number of ancillary sectors. Among the businesses opportunities that these resorts will create in the hospitality and tourism sector are the following:

* Travel agencies that facilitate tours from foreign countries to the resorts


* Junket operators that organize tours for VIP gambling clients. Singapore's Casino Control Act stipulates that all junket operators must be licensed through the newly-formed Casino Regulatory Authority (CRA)


* Event Management companies that focus on organizing business conferences and exhibitions


* Transportation services that provide limo and other transportation services.


* Security companies that provide event security


* Recruitment companies that facilitate the hiring of card dealers, waitresses, etc. for the casinos. Earlier in the year, Marina Bay Sands lamented that it had managed to fill only 2,000 out of 4,500 dealer positions available.


* Training companies that provide training for casino staff


* Restaurants


"This represents a very good opportunity for foreign entrepreneurs, investors and professionals who wish to setup a business in or immigrate to Singapore. By investing in or launching businesses that cater to these growing industries, foreigners can obtain quick immigration to Singapore and simultaneously participate in the economic growth that these industries will bring to Singapore," said Jacqueline Low, Director of Janus Corporate Solutions Pvt Ltd. - the firm that operates the GuideMeSingapore website. "The developers of these projects have promised to create 20,400 direct jobs but that is just the tip of the iceberg. For nimble local and foreign entrepreneurs, this represents an enormous new business opportunity. We are already seeing a lot of interest, especially from overseas business professionals who wish to establish an early foothold in these businesses," she added.

Individuals who want to explore this opportunity have three main options: Global Investor Program, Employment Pass, and Entrepreneur Pass (EntrePass). Under the Global Investor Program (GIP), foreign investors can make an investment of one million dollar or more in Singapore and relocate to the country as Permanent Residents. A minimum investment of one million dollars can be used either to launch a new Singapore-based enterprise or beef up an existing one. Another highly popular immigration scheme is the Employment Pass (EP) issued to foreign professional employees, managers, owners or directors of Singapore companies who possess a good educational and professional background. Alternatively, entrepreneurs who do not qualify under the EP category due to lack of educational qualifications can apply for the Singapore Entrepreneur Pass (also known as EntrePass).

OMD Singapore Lands Resorts World at Sentosa Business

Singapore: OMD Singapore today announced that it has secured the account handling all media duties for Resorts World Sentosa (RWS), Singapore’s largest integrated resort, and family destination that will be opening its doors to the world come early 2010. In addition to Singapore, the account portfolio will
also include regional media placements.

Angela Lam, Director of Resort Marketing at RWS said, “OMD as a media agency has both a global reach and strong local presence. It has also demonstrated both strategic and creative thinking capabilities. We are confident that OMD will be able to work hand-in-hand with Resorts World Sentosa to communicate our offerings and messages to all our partners and consumers.”

Torie Henderson, CEO of Omnicom Media Group Singapore said: “It is an honour for OMD to have landed this prestigious account. Our team is delighted about this great piece of news and we are looking forward to demonstrate how we can work with this very dynamic organization through strategic media planning and communications.”

When complete, the Integrated Resort on Sentosa island will house Southeast Asia’s only Universal Studios theme park, the world’s largest oceanarium, six hotels, a luxury spa and a casino - among an array of entertainment, dining and shopping offerings.

One of the most expensive and extensive integrated resorts in the world, the S$6.59 billion (US$4.3 billion) Resorts World Sentosa is developed by Asia’s biggest gaming operator, the Genting Group.

Resorts World at Sentosa Unleashes Power of Virtualization via Cisco Networking Platform

RWS' Network Will Include Innovative Cisco EnergyWise Solution to Reduce Energy Consumption of Internet Protocol Devices


SINGAPORE-- Resorts World at Sentosa (RWS) is putting into place a comprehensive network built primarily with equipment from Cisco (NASDAQ: CSCO) that will serve as a platform for the resort's integrated operations when it opens next year. Spanning 49 hectares and comprising six hotels, a casino, Universal Studios Singapore and three other large theme parks, in addition to a corporate office and data center, RWS requires a sophisticated technology and communications setup that will rely on the intelligence of the network to support high-levels of availability, security, and reliability.

The Cisco® architecture includes virtualization and energy-conscious capabilities incorporated in Cisco data center, routing, switching, and network security solutions. RWS will use the Cisco unified computing solution to orchestrate all forms of communication and collaboration across its data center to unleash the power of virtualization by aggregating storage, computational and network resources, operating systems, and applications, in a unified, shared resource pool linked with an intelligent unified fabric. This will then be optimized for users across the entire organization and will dynamically respond to rapidly changing business requirements.

"We are essentially building an IT infrastructure for a small city so we needed a robust and mission-critical network platform. We have more than 40,000 network points which means we need a network that can handle that level of magnitude as well as be flexible enough for us to scale up when necessary," said Yap Chee Yuen, senior vice president of information technology at Resorts World Sentosa. "Cisco has the track record and the breadth and depth of networking solutions that suited our needs. We also really liked the environment-friendly nature of the solution that will help lower our carbon footprint as well as lower our energy costs."

Cisco EnergyWise, a feature of Cisco Catalyst® switches, provides real-time, granular measurement capabilities to give chief information officers better visibility into energy savings across an entire organization as well as specific places in the network such as the campus, branch office and data center.

"This is a landmark deployment in Singapore because of the scale and complexity of RWS' requirements. Cisco's ability to use the intelligence of the network to solve a lot of that complexity is a very powerful proposition for RWS. The network will help to solve many of its challenges as well as give RWS the confidence to deploy innovative applications and services," said Chris Khang, vice president, Asia Pacific, Cisco.

7,000 Show Up for Jobs at Universal Studio's Singapore and Resort World at Sentosa

By Valarie Tan & Ting Kheng Siong, Channel NewsAsia


SINGAPORE: Singapore's tourism sector provides the widest range of jobs in 2009.

The Manpower Ministry's (MOM) annual Labour Market Highlights this year showed that there are over 30 types of positions waiting to be filled in the hotels and the two upcoming integrated resorts.

The salaries for these jobs range from S$800 to some S$4,000. More details are available at www.mom.gov.sg.

On Saturday, jobseekers started queuing up nearly two hours before doors opened, hoping to fill the 5,000 operational and frontline positions at the Resorts World at Sentosa.

Priority was given to Singaporeans and permanent residents, and Day 1 of the weekend recruitment saw a turnout of some 7,000 people.

Fifty of them were given jobs on the spot. These include dealers, who are expected to earn S$1,800 per month, before tips.

Jeremy Tan, who is hired as a croupier and expected to start training in October, said: "This is a new industry. Uncharted territories, I would say, so everybody is new and I’m given a chance to prove myself."

Seah-Khoo Ee Boon, senior VP, HR & Training, Resorts World at Sentosa, said: "We will have several of such events from now on. Our recruitment is ongoing. We've been tying up with CDCs and WDA, and we go to the various constituencies to do recruitment so it is ongoing."

Scores of mid-career professionals and fresh graduates also visited another weekend job fair at Suntec Convention Centre.

One said: "I'm trying to find new job opportunities where I can develop myself further in other skills."

"Trying to explore the market right now. Got a job already, but I'm trying to look for other sectors," another added.

To help jobseekers, MOM's latest Labour Market Highlights has added in new information like wage range and required qualifications.

Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Manpower and Health, Hawazi Daipi, said: "We also include training pathways in the Labour Market Highlights, through which jobseekers would be able to find out what are the qualifications and training required to do the job well and at the same time, how to improve."

Organisers expect some 60,000 people to show up for the two-day job fair – about 20 per cent more than the turnout last year.

The number of exhibitors has also increased this year to 110, with a quarter of them from the government sector.

Who says Singapore Casino job's aren't hot?

Thu, Aug 20, 2009
my paper




BY CHERYL LIM

MORE people than expected turned up for a conference session on floor positions in the integrated resorts (IRs), contrary to the perception that Singaporeans are not keen on taking up such jobs.

The session on career expectations and talent management in the gaming sector, which was part of the inaugural Gaming Asia Conference, drew 160 participants.

This exceeded the expected figure of 100 to 120, and more chairs had to be added, organiser Comexpo told my paper.

The two-day conference at the Singapore Expo, which started yesterday, brought together human resource and business leaders in the gaming industry from the United States, Macau and Singapore.

Earlier, upcoming integrated resort Marina Bay Sands lamented that it had managed to fill only 2,000 out of 4,500 dealer positions available. But later on Aug 1, it received more than 3,500 applications for 1,000 dealer positions at its job fair.

When asked about the possible reasons for Singaporeans shunning dealer jobs in the IRs, 61-year-old speaker Alan Soh, president of casino college Agmi International, said that a big reason is their aversion to shift work, which includes working on weekends and the graveyard shift. He said: 'They also feel the pay is a bit too low.'

The starting pay is $1,800 before tips. Three months' training is provided.

But some Singaporeans do aspire to gain a foothold in the gaming sector as dealers with Marina Bay Sands or Resorts World at Sentosa.

Shatec graduate Daryl Gan, 21, who has a diploma in culinary skills and has already submitted an application to be a dealer, told my paper: 'The prospects, good pay and tips attract me. I intend to carve out my career in the IRs.

'I used to be a cook and so have experience in working the graveyard shift. I was also used to working up to 17 hours (at a stretch).'

Mr Gregory Huang, 29, was in bank sales and, like Mr Gan, is also a student of the pro-dealer programme at Agmi International.

'This is something new, it's exciting and I like the energy of the gaming industry. It also allows me to meet different people,' he said.

Marina Bay Sands Appoints Executive Team to Lead Final Phases of Development and Preparations

Singapore– Las Vegas Sands President Mike Leven announced two new senior
executives to lead Marina Bay Sands Pte Ltd.

Thomas Arasi has been appointed to the newly-created role as president and chief executive officer of
Marina Bay Sands Pte Ltd. Ronen Nissenbaum has been appointed executive vice president for
operations.

“As Marina Bay Sands approaches the opening of this world-class integrated resort in early 2010, we
have put together a world-class team of executives to make it an unrivalled success,” Mr. Leven said.
“Marina Bay Sands will be an exceptional destination and this executive team will bring the depth of
talent and breadth of experience we believe will make it truly outstanding,” Mr. Leven said.
Mr. Arasi has more than two decades of experience as an executive in real estate development and
hospitality. Mr. Nissenbaum has worked as a senior executive in the hospitality industry for more
than 20 years.

Mr. Arasi steps into his role immediately and Mr. Nissenbaum will begin in late August.
“I’m honored and gratified to be leading a project of this magnitude and a team of such high quality,”
said Mr. Arasi. “I’m pleased to be working so closely with the Singapore government and the local
community, and look forward to helping fulfill our commitment to creating a truly unique and
magnificent integrated resort destination,” he said.

Thomas Arasi, President and CEO, Marina Bay Sands Pte Ltd

Thomas Arasi is now the president and CEO of Marina Bay Sands Pte Ltd and will oversee every
aspect of the development. He brings a wealth of experience in hospitality operations and real estate
development and has been integral in many noteworthy resorts and convention hotels in his
exceptional career.

In hospitality, Mr. Arasi was president and CEO of Lodigian Inc., which operated 110 hotels in the
U.S. and Canada. He led three international businesses for Bass Hotels and Resorts which does
business as Intercontinental Hotels, including serving as global brand manager of Crowne Plaza
Hotels and Resorts and as president of the group’s Americas division.

In real estate development, Mr. Arasi was president of Portman Holdings, a multi-billion dollar
hospitality company with properties in North America, China, India and Korea. He served as chief
investment officer for CNL Hospitality Corp., owner of leading hotel and resort properties, and as
president of CNL Capital Management. He was president of Tishman Hotel Corp. which owns and
manages large resort and convention assets.

He has a BA in hotel and restaurant management from Cornell University.
Mr. Arasi brings industry expertise, including the management and oversight of large and complex
hospitality projects and deep organizational leadership experience to his new post at Marina Bay
Sands.

Ronen Nissenbaum, Executive Vice President for Operations, Marina Bay Sands Pte Ltd

Ronen Nissenbaum is now executive vice president for operations. He has worked as a senior
executive in hospitality for more than 20 years and will help create an unrivalled luxury hotel
experience at Marina Bay Sands.

Mr. Nissenbaum has been with the Intercontinental Hotels Group since 1994, most recently as
regional vice president of operations for North America. He also was general manager of
Intercontinental Hotels’ properties in Atlanta, Georgia in the U.S., Tel Aviv and Berlin, and the
manager of the group’s hotel in Paris.

He developed his expertise at the Forte Hotel Group in Paris and London.

Mr. Nissenbaum graduated with honors from the prestigious Swiss Hotel Association and has an
executive MBA from Emory University.

CHANEL to open at Marina Bay Sands

New concept boutique for Singapore’s premier retail location

Singapore (19 August 2009) – Luxury French fashion house CHANEL has announced it will open a
unique concept boutique at Marina Bay Sands™, Singapore, boosting its presence in Southeast Asia.
The new fashion boutique will be a prominent fixture in the resort’s upscale Marina Bay Sands
Shoppes®. It will encompass 7,600 square feet of space spread over two levels.

"CHANEL is very excited to be part of the Marina Bay Sands concept. It is a great opportunity to join the
ultimate house of luxury with a truly innovative and creative retail environment. Singapore has a young,
progressive and energetic retail scene,” said Mr. Vincent Shaw, President of CHANEL Asia Pacific.
“With a dynamic environment, Marina Bay Sands presented CHANEL with the perfect opportunity, in
line with our brand's heritage, creativity, modernity and accessibility.”

The concept boutique will feature a stunning new look. It will be designed by legendary New York-based
architect and longtime CHANEL collaborator, Peter Marino, the creative genius behind the interactive
black-and-white signature design of the house’s boutiques worldwide.

It will showcase the brand’s distinctive line of ready-to-wear women’s clothing and footwear as well as
accessories including bags, eyewear, costume jewellery, as well as CHANEL’s fragrance and beauty
products.

"Given the architecture of Marina Bay Sands, CHANEL decided it had to employ the best architects to
create a luxurious and practical environment to fit harmoniously with the Marina Bay Sands concept.
Peter Marino Architects were hence contacted to create a stunning, modern and engaging unique
boutique," said Mr. Shaw.

“Marina Bay Sands’ vision for Singapore has always been to create a spectacular retail experience so we
are delighted and honoured that CHANEL has chosen Marina Bay Sands Shoppes for such an exciting
store,” said Mr. David Sylvester, Vice President Retail Asia, Las Vegas Sands Corp. “This unique store
by a quintessential luxury brand like CHANEL is recognition of Marina Bay Sands’ success in achieving
its vision,” he said.

"CHANEL does not believe in mass distribution and is discerning in deciding where the boutiques are
placed to ensure the right consumer experience and service. With that in mind, Marina Bay Sands met
many criteria by focusing not only on the local market consumers, but also on being able to showcase the
CHANEL brand to a wider Asian audience in a truly unique Asian venue," said Mr. Shaw.

With over 800,000 square feet of retail and restaurant space, Marina Bay Sands will be a dream
destination of shoppers from across the world offering over 300 stores in a refreshing mix of international
luxury brands and cutting-edge and emerging labels previously unseen in Singapore, as well as
innovative entertainment options including boat rides in an indoor canal. Shoppers can indulge in
cuisines from across the globe – from cosmopolitan cafes and world-class dining to restaurants helmed
by Celebrity Chefs.

Building of iFly Singapore the world’s largest skydiving simulator takes flight

Scheduled to open to the public on Sentosa in the second half of 2010, the S$25million investment looks to make more than S$15 million in revenue in first year of operation

17 August 2009, Singapore – Reinforcing Singapore’s position as a world-class tourist destination, another exciting development will be opening soon on Sentosa. iFly Singapore, the world’s largest skydiving simulator, celebrated its groundbreaking today in front of more than 100 special guests, including VIPs, esteemed business partners,shareholders, media and Guest-of-Honour, Mr George Yong-Boon Yeo, Minister for Foreign Affairs.

Scheduled to start operations in the second half of 2010 and representing more than S$25 million of investment, iFly Singapore is forecast to attract more than 100,000 visitors and generate more than S$15 million in revenue in its first year alone.

iFly Singapore will offer anyone from first-time flyers, aged three years and above, to professional skydiving enthusiasts, the opportunity to experience the thrills and excitement of the adrenaline-pumping sport in a safe, realistic and affordable indoor setting. Designed by award-winning architect firm, Formwerkz, this first-of-its-kind facility boasts iconic architectural features and an unprecedented layout and dynamism guaranteed to please even the toughest of architectural critics. The construction for the facility was offered out to tender and has been awarded to Planar One, who has vast experience in constructing attractions on Sentosa. The construction will be scheduled to commence from early September 2009.

The skydiving simulator powered by the latest wall-to-wall airflow technology will feature a vertical wind tunnel measuring five metres in diameter and a flying height of 17 metres (or equivalent to a five storey height), allowing up to 20 professional flyers to fly together at one time. The transparent wind tunnel will offer flyers spectacular views of the South China Sea and Sentosa’s Siloso Beach as well as a nightly fireworks extravaganza from ’Songs of the Sea’. Visitors will also be able to enjoy more than 10,000 sq ft of food and beverage space offering a large array of choices, making iFly Singapore an ideal venue for family gatherings, parties and corporate events with an exciting twist.

“iFly Singapore is not just an amusement ride. It is a realistic participative flying experience. Our main goal is to fulfil everyone’s dream of flying, just like their favourite Superhero, in a safe and affordable environment. We believe iFly Singapore will not only play a key role in attracting more tourists to the island, but also in promoting Singapore as a premier sporting destination for world-class skydivers and international skydiving events, as well as, promoting a more vibrant and active community within Singapore,” said Mr Lawrence Koh, managing director and founder of iFly Singapore.

“iFly Singapore will be another first for Sentosa and Singapore, alongside other international brands that are setting up base on this premier leisure and lifestyle resort destination”, said Goh Lye Whatt, Director of Property, Planning & Development,Sentosa Leisure Group. “Local and international guests can look forward to experiencing thrilling skydiving action in a scenic beachfront setting. As the world’s largest skydiving simulator, iFly Singapore will no doubt add to the high energy and sports culture of Siloso Beach, while raising the fun factor at Asia’s favourite playground.”

The iFly Singapore facility will be looking to recruit more than 100 employees inclusive of flying instructors, operational personnel and F&B and retail staff. A number of professional flyers have already been engaged and are currently undergoing specialised training in the USA and UK. iFly Singapore will be investing more than S$1 million in its instructor training to ensure quality of flight instruction. Safety assured, all flyers will be supervised at all times by iFly’s qualified instructors, certified by the International Bodyflight Association.

iFly Singapore is also dedicated to giving back to the community and providing
unprecedented flight training opportunities to those who may otherwise not have the opportunity. Although the long term community development programme is still being finalised, iFly’s management has unanimously agreed to donate the opening day’s proceeds and S$30,000 worth of flight experience package to engage and encourage a more adventurous and interactive community.

Universal Studio's Singapore Update Aug 14 2009

Resort World Sentosa and Universal Studio's Singapore Looking to Fill 1,000's of Job's

Do you live in Singapore and looking for a Job. Here's your chance to get a job with Resort World Sentosa and Universal Studio's Singapore.

Resort World Sentosa will be holding a job fair on Aug. 22nd and 23rd,at Employment and Employability Institute 141 Redhill Road S158828. Hour are from 9:00am to 5:00pm.

For more information go to http://www.rwsentosa.com/en_careers.html

Resorts World at Sentosa Selects Software Suite from Agilysys

CLEVELAND, Aug. 11 Agilysys, Inc. (Nasdaq: AGYS), a leading provider of innovative information technology and hospitality software solutions, announced today that Resorts World at Sentosa, located on the island of Sentosa in Singapore, has selected InfoGenesis(TM) POS and Eatec(R) Solutions by Agilysys to streamline operations and enhance guest service. The mega-resort, which is scheduled to open in early 2010, is home to two major attractions -- Universal Studios Singapore(R), the first Universal Studios theme park in Southeast Asia, and Marine Life Park, the world's largest oceanarium. The resort will also include six hotels, a casino, meeting facilities, a water theme park and a variety of entertainment, retail and food and beverage offerings.


"We selected the Agilysys solutions after a long and rigorous review process," said Chee Yuen Yap, senior vice president and head of information technology for Resorts World at Sentosa. "InfoGenesis POS and Eatec Solutions are flexible, stable and user-friendly, and their enterprise capabilities will help us manage our large and very diverse property. We particularly appreciate the tight integration between the two systems, which will streamline operations and reduce manual processes. The Agilysys solutions will also provide us with timely information, so that our management team can respond quickly to issues and take advantage of opportunities."

InfoGenesis POS is an enterprise-ready point-of-sale solution that combines powerful reporting and configuration capabilities with a touch-screen terminal application. The system, which is designed for multi-unit operations common in hospitality environments, can manage any combination of dining, bar and room service operations. Features of InfoGenesis POS include audit log and electronic journal, real-time reporting, multi-language capability and advanced sorting, filtering and grouping options. Resorts World at Sentosa will implement more than 250 InfoGenesis POS terminals throughout the property.

The resort will also use mPOS by Agilysys, a mobile point-of-sale solution that will enable staff to process orders anywhere on the property using a handheld device. The mPOS solution, which offers customizable screen layout and online or offline ordering capabilities, integrates seamlessly with InfoGenesis POS, ensuring continuity of guest service regardless of location.

Eatec Solutions is a full-featured inventory and procurement solution designed especially for the foodservice and hospitality industries. Along with its core purchasing, inventory, recipe, forecasting, production and sales analysis functions, the system also offers modules for buffet management, catering and production planning. The modular software structure enables customers to construct the exact set of features they need -- whether an enterprise-wide solution for multiple sites, or a single-site system for multiple functions. With more than 400 standard reports, Eatec Solutions will enable Resorts World at Sentosa to make more informed and intelligent business decisions.

"Resorts World at Sentosa will be one of the world's most unique destination properties, and we are confident our systems for point-of-sale and inventory and procurement will help ensure an outstanding guest experience," said Tina Stehle, senior vice president and general manager of Agilysys Hospitality Solutions Group. "InfoGenesis POS and Eatec Solutions have helped many diverse venues achieve success, including casinos, hotels, stadiums and theme parks. Each solution is powerful on its own; together, they provide an unparalleled combination that enhances efficiency, reduces costs and streamlines operations."

Resorts World at Sentosa, spanning more than 120 acres on the resort island of Sentosa, will be one of the world's most exciting family destinations. The $4.3 billion mega-resort, which is scheduled to open in early 2010, will be home to Universal Studios Singapore(R), with more than 24 rides and attractions; Marine Life Park, the world's largest oceanarium; Maritime Xperiential Museum, a world-class museum that documents the history of the Maritime Silk Route; FestiveWalk, a 24-hour dining, shopping and entertainment venue; and Le Vie, the resort's resident musical acrobatic show. The property also will include six hotels totaling more than 1,800 rooms, a casino, spa, conference and meeting facilities and a water theme park. Resorts World at Sentosa is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Genting Singapore.

About Agilysys, Inc.

Agilysys is a leading provider of innovative IT solutions to corporate and public-sector customers, with special expertise in select markets, including retail and hospitality. The company uses technology -- including hardware, software and services -- to help customers resolve their most complicated IT needs. The company possesses expertise in enterprise architecture and high availability, infrastructure optimization, storage and resource management, identity management and business continuity; and provides industry-specific software, services and expertise to the retail and hospitality markets. Headquartered in Cleveland, Agilysys operates extensively throughout North America, with additional sales and support offices in the United Kingdom and China. For more information, visit www.agilysys.com.

Sad Day at Resort World Sentosa

Are Thoughts and Prayer's go out today to the Family,Friends and the Team at Resort World Sentosa on the death of Mr Annamalai Chandramani at the Resort World Sentosa work site. To Read more go to http://www.straitstimes.com/Breaking%2BNews/Singapore/Story/STIStory_414867.html

Getting Ready for Marina Bay Singapore F-1 Race in Sept.

Part 1

Part 2

The Formula One night race in Singapore is coming back. And the guys at the F1 warehouse in Tampines is preparing the infrastructure for one of the most anticipated events here. And housed in the area is a sourvenir left behind by one of last year's drivers.

Marinabay Sands Construction Update from July 28 2009

CONSTRUCTION UPDATE — 28 July 2009

The Hotel Towers’ main roof slabs are now cast at level 55 and complete.

In the South Podium, ballroom steelwork is in progress to completion. Concrete works are progressing at Level 1 of the museum with structural steelwork underway. Marine works for the North and South Crystal Pavilions’ piling are progressing well.

Former Sentosa Icon Transformed into New Nature Arraction

Singapore, 5 August 2009 – Sentosa’s largest cluster of attractions at Imbiah Lookout just got bigger with the launch of the eleventh attraction today, which is aimed at nature lovers, families, students and anyone with a keen sense of curiosity!

The Sentosa Nature Discovery gallery is an information hub for guests of all ages to learn skills to become a “nature detective”. From interesting facts and colourful exhibits spread out in a two-storey indoor information gallery, to the wildlife and habitats thriving in the great outdoors, there are tools all around on Asia’s Favourite Playground to help guests sharpen their instincts and enable them to uncover intriguing surprises that nature has in store.

“Nature and Fun go hand-in-hand at the Sentosa Nature Discovery gallery to create delightful experiences and take learning to a new level”, said Mike Barclay, CEO, Sentosa Leisure Group.

“Located on the fringe of the Imbiah forest, the Sentosa Nature Discovery gallery is our portal to the great outdoors for all generations to discover and enjoy. The forest is full of life and guests will likely uncover something new each time they venture out, so every visit will be different.”

At the Sentosa Nature Discovery gallery, our guests become “nature detectives” by using their senses to observe, classify, compare, and infer from the surroundings. They can learn to identify species of birds and insects through the sounds that the wildlife make, as well as the ‘clues’ they leave behind. Our “nature detectives” can also get acquainted with the various habitats and rocks that are found on Sentosa. Sentosa will be rolling out a series of educational programmes targeted at schools. These programmes incorporate activities to promote skill-based and experiential learning. The hands-on activities are designed to evoke critical and creative thinking amongst students while they have fun.

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Set within a diverse environment, the Sentosa Nature Discovery gallery is literally a ‘living classroom’ for experiential learning. Everything in and around the forest can be used in each educational journey. Even the building that houses the information gallery has a story to tell as it is a former monorail station that has been preserved and transformed into the S$5.5 million dollar nature attraction.

The former monorail system took visitors on a scenic journey over the forest canopy, and it is then ostalgia of this popular ride through the greenery that inspired the design of the Sentosa Nature Discovery gallery. What was once the monorail track now also forms the bridge that links the nature gallery with the Imbiah rainforest.

Over the years, Sentosa has committed to preserving the island’s historical landscape and nature heritage amid many new developments on the island. Many of the older buildings on Sentosa have architectural and historical significance and play an integral role in our history. These historic icons have been thoughtfully conserved, giving them a new lease of life. Some of Sentosa’s conservation partnerships include the Tourism Academy at Sentosa, Amara Sanctuary Resort Sentosa, the Sentosa Resort and Spa, and more recently, Capella Singapore, which comprises two restored 1880s colonial-era buildings.

Sentosa is also committed to keeping the island 60% green by actively preserving and enhancing the island’s natural environment. Sentosa is home to more than 30 heritage trees, Singapore’s largest collection. There are eight different nature reserve habitats, 134 species of birds and dozens more rare species of flora and fauna. Efforts are also underway to enrich the forested areas on Sentosa and restore them to a primary status where increased biodiversity creates a lush environment for wildlife to thrive.

Since November 2007, over 20,000 plants and native species have been planted in aid of this cause. About a dozen schools have sown the seeds for a greener future by actively participating in this tree planting campaign under Sentosa’s “Grow Our Nature Heritage” programme. Through this process, we hope to nurture in the young a sense of ownership and stewardship for the environment.

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About Sentosa Nature Discovery

Housed in a former monorail station within Sentosa's largest cluster of attractions, the Sentosa Nature Discovery gallery is a hands-on journey of discovery, where nature and fun go hand-in-hand.

The exploration takes place indoors and outdoors. A gallery of interactive exhibits will whet appetites for all things nature, before guests go out into the forest via a linked walkway to feed their curiosity about the birds, insects, wildlife and the different habitats and plants that can be found on Sentosa. Guests will pick up nature detective skills which they can use anywhere they go. Sentosa Nature Discovery, a portal to the great outdoors for all generations to discover and enjoy!

Resorts World at Sentosa to fill over 8,000 job vacancies by year-end

Photo Bigbearsg Sentosa Theme Park Blog
By Hasnita A Majid, Channel NewsAsia

SINGAPORE: Resorts World at Sentosa is ramping up its job hiring efforts, and hopes to fill more than 8,000 job vacancies - including that of croupiers and hotel staff - by the end of this year.

The resort said Tuesday it is on track to open on schedule next year. It already has 760 employees in its fold - of which 82 per cent are Singaporeans.

It will be carrying out a mass hiring exercise in October, and is looking at employing over 8,000 people. Some job vacancies that need to be filled include theme park operators, and casino and F&B staff.

By December, the resort hopes to have some 10,000 employees. It is working with the five Community Development Councils (CDCs) in its recruitment drive.

Tan Hee Teck, chief executive officer of Resorts World at Sentosa, said: "The CDCs have been extremely helpful in affording us to reach out to the people of Singapore and... the CDCs had been working to review all the applications for our job prospects."

Resorts World at Sentosa has also signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the People's Association (PA).

Under the agreement, Resorts World at Sentosa will commit over S$1 million in event and venue sponsorship to the PA and its Grassroots Organisations.

Tan Boon Huat, chief executive director at PA, said: "The grassroots organisations will be able to make use of the various interesting venues that are being offered by Resorts World and this is really wonderful because one of the best ways for community bonding is for people to come together and enjoy things together, enjoy fun things together and have fond memories."

With the partnership, Passion card members can also look forward to exciting perks at Resorts World at Sentosa such as priority bookings for tours at the Resorts.

Other perks include special promotions and packages, and attractive merchandise of Resorts World and Universal Studios Singapore.

600,000 Passion card members can take advantage of the partnership.

Henry Ho, chairman of Jurong Central CCC, said: "I believe that a lot of residents will be interested and very excited to join our Passion cards whereby they have incentives and discounts to enter Resort World facilities."

The People's Association and Resorts World at Sentosa will also jointly organise the "Mr and Mrs Singapore Senior Pageant" in June next year.

Resorts World at Sentosa is also participating in Chingay for the first time next year where it will have its own float.

Let volunteer guides and concierges show Singapore's best to IR visitors

SINGAPORE is counting down to the opening of two integrated resorts (IRs) next year.

The IRs are superb structures and would be a major attraction for tourists and celebrities from around the world.

However, the standards of service and English-language proficiency among Singaporeans leave much to be desired.

The documentary film, Mad About English, depicted a campaign run by the Chinese government to get Beijing residents to learn English ahead of last year's Olympics.

A similar one could be launched here, with a focus on inculcating courtesy and social graces.

It could start with taxi drivers, so that they could greet passengers and speak in proper English when they pick up fares at the airport.

Cabbies should also be familiar with places of interest, including popular restaurants.

Trained volunteers and concierges should be stationed at attractions such as museums, cultural centres and places of worship.

They could guide tourists and explain the history and significance of the attractions.

Meanwhile, coffee-shop owners should get their act together by ensuring the toilets in their premises are spotless so that visitors would have a good impression of Singapore.

Innovative advertising campaigns for the IRs could also be conceptualised.

The Singapore Tourism Board could put some thought into running such campaigns.
Mr Melvin Lee Tiong Choon


For more my paper stories click here.

RESORTS WORLD AT SENTOSA JOINS THE PEOPLE’S ASSOCIATION CORPORATE PARTNERSHIP SCHEME

Resorts World at Sentosa sponsors over $1 million in cash and in kind to the People’s Association to bring people together and organise pro-family activities to build strong family bonds.

Singapore-4 August 2009, the People’s Association (PA) and Resorts World at Sentosa (RWS) today announced a corporate partnership that will offer many opportunities for RWS to reach out directly to Singaporeans through the PA’s grassroots network.

A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed between the Chief Executive Director of PA, Mr Tan Boon Huat and the Chief Executive Officer of RWS, Mr Tan Hee Teck under the PA Corporate Partnership Scheme. The scheme aims to create opportunities for socially-responsible corporations to work with PA’s extensive grassroots network to support programmes and initiatives that promote social cohesion and community service. By working with the PA, corporations can reach out to the community through meaningful participation in local-level initiatives that share common social and corporate objectives.

Mr Tan Boon Huat, said, “We are happy to welcome RWS as our new Corporate Partner. Our Grassroots Organisations now have more variety of venues to hold their events at the facilities at Resorts World at Sentosa. With these attractions, grassroots events can attract more residents, opening up opportunities to make friends and support social cohesion.” 4 Slated for a soft opening in early 2010, RWS will commit over $1 million in event and venue sponsorship to the PA, its Grassroots Organisations (GROs), PAssion Card and Chingay 2010 next year.

RWS’s commitment to the PA includes privileges for the GROs’ use of the meeting packages and facilities, Universal Studios Singapore and performances at its resident circus spectacular Voyage de La Vie. The sponsorship will not include the gaming aspect of RWS's integrated resort. 5 RWS’s Chief Executive Officer, Mr Tan Hee Teck said: “RWS is part of Singapore and we strive to share our journey with Singaporeans. People‟s Association is the patriarch of grassroots movement in Singapore and through this partnership, we hope to become the Singapore IR – a place where Singaporeans work and have fun.”

Under the MOU, RWS’s sponsorship among others include:

a) Chingay 2010 – RWS is participating in Chingay 2010 for the
first time and Singaporeans can expect to see RWS’s very own float, specially designed to entertain the crowd at one of the most highly anticipated street festivals in the Singapore calendar. Works for the float’s design has started. More details will be revealed in the coming months;

b) „PAssion Card‟ - PAssion Card holders can look forward to many exciting perks at Resorts World at Sentosa. These include priority bookings for Resort Tours, prizes for dining vouchers and attractive merchandise of Resorts World and Universal Studios Singapore, as well as special promotions and packages.

c) „Mr & Ms Singapore Senior Pageant‟ – PA & RWS will jointly organise the „Mr & Ms Singapore Pageant‟ in June 2010 to highlight that life is still beautiful in the golden years. The event celebrates and encourages our seniors to lead an active lifestyle, for them to take effort in their physical, social and mental well-being. Open to Singaporeans aged 50 and above, there will be two categories for the Pageant. Finalists from each category will enjoy complimentary makeovers, media filming and fashion tips to be at RWS. Winners of the pageant will become ambassadors for the PA and RWS to promote the lifestyles of the active aging. More details of the pageant will be released in early 2010.

News Release: Update from Resort World Sentosa

Hotel Michael

Resorts World Sentosa crossed a new milestone on 15 July 2009 with the topping-out of Hotel Michael. One of four hotels that will welcome guests early next year, the 11-storey tall hotel pays tribute to Michael Graves, the award-winning American architect behind Resorts World Sentosa. Hotel Michael will be the first in the world that celebrates the design genius of Graves. Likened to "a collection of Michael's favourite things", the hotel features Micheal's signature design stamp - a combination of geometric shapes, function and the whimsical - on items that range from the elegant cutlery, to bath linen and wall murals.


The Lost World's Jungle

Landscaping works are rapidly transforming the Lost World at Universal Studios Singapore (USS) into a tropical jungle. Trees, shrubs and an assortment of smaller plants have been transplanted to the upcoming USS attraction, called the Jurassic Park River Rapids. Months before the first guests enjoy the attraction, these plants have been allowed to take root to settle and grow into a lush, dinosaur-roaming river bank. Watch this space for ferocious dinosaurs that will dominate the Lost World.








New Bridge open to trafficMonths ahead of Resorts World Sentosa's soft opening, visitors to Sentosa have a new way of driving to the resort island. A New Bridge opened to traffic on 8 July 2009, capping a construction period that lasted one year and a week. The $80-million bridge adds three new lanes into Sentosa, leaving the current connection for traffic exiting the island. The New Bridge is part of a package of measures taken by Resorts World and Sentosa Development Corporation to make travel to Sentosa island a breeze when the Integrated Resort opens next year.



Human Resources



The Resorts World family currently has 700 team members. Thousands more will join Resorts World's casino, hotels and Universal Studios Singapore theme park in the coming months. Among the team members we've hired are back-to-work mums, mid-career professionals, retrenched workers as well as fresh graduates. The Resorts World family is working hard at pre-opening activities that will bring Asia's most exciting family resort to life.

Over 3,500 jobseekers submitted applications on Saturday for dealer positions at Marina Bay Sands

Over 6,000 people turned up on Saturday at the integrated resort's (IR) two-day job fair, which ends today, at Suntec City Convention Centre.

Up for grabs are over 1,000 positions as dealers for the resort's casino. Over 3,500 applications were received on Saturday.

The resort had said its earlier efforts to fill 4,500 gaming vacancies had seen only 2,000 of these jobs taken up.

Mr Ken Davie, senior vice-president for casino operations at Marina Bay Sands, said: 'We remain focused on hiring locals and thank Singaporeans for their interest in working for us.

'In the coming months, we will roll out other recruitment activities to attract Singaporeans to work in our premier integrated resort, including non-gaming positions such as hotel operations.'

For its position of dealer, candidates need to be above 21 years old, have manual dexterity, customer service and simple arithmetic skills, and not be colour-blind.

The starting pay is $1,800 before tips and three months' training is provided. Job seekers on Saturday said that they had not gone to Marina Bay Sands' previous job fairs as there was insufficient publicity about the events.

Resorts World at Sentosa's corporate social responsibiliy efforts in July

Watch RWS's second aRWSome Kids Date to "Transformers- Revenge of the Fallen", as well as its first employee volunteer program.

Where have all the casino job seekers gone?

SINGAPORE, July 31 — Despite the state of the economy and the huge turnout at job fairs of late, gaming positions at Marina Bay Sands (MBS) are going a-begging. The integrated resort (IR) is struggling to fill the 4,500 places it has for croupiers, cashiers and slot attendants, among others.

It has hired only about 2,000 Singaporeans so far, and says it will have a last go at hiring here during a job fair to be held at Suntec Singapore this weekend.
If it fails to fill the positions, it will be forced to look to foreign shores, the IR's senior vice-president of casino operations Ken Davie said yesterday.
He said the toughest position to fill is that of croupier, a job for which the minimum qualifications are being above 21 years old, having manual dexterity, customer service and simple arithmetic skills, and no colour-blindness.

The starting pay is S$1,800 (RM4,320) before tips. Even training is provided by the company. Those with a talent for the job can rise to the position of shift manager, earning up to S$11,000 a month.

Other gaming jobs have similar salaries and career paths.
And yet, there are no takers. Davie said this is the first time that the Las Vegas-based group has had so much trouble filling gaming positions. It had no problem at its home base or its Macau outfit.Th e casino veteran said yesterday: “We felt we should have been able to fill the positions by now.”

He said MBS received thousands of applications for the 10,000 jobs on offer, but most were for other openings, such as waiters, marketing positions and housekeeping. Some of those who did apply for gaming jobs were not serious about taking up the positions available.

The other IR, Resorts World at Sentosa, said it did not face such a problem and had started hiring earlier, according to its spokesman. However, unlike MBS, which is trying to fill all its casino positions with Singaporeans, about 30 per cent of the Sentosa IR's hires for the dealer post so far are foreigners.

Davie put MBS’s hiring difficulties down to the fact that gaming is a new industry here and people may feel some trepidation about taking a job they know little about.
They may also have concerns about career progression, he said. Halimah Yacob, the deputy secretary of the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC), agreed, saying that perhaps Singaporeans are scared of trying something new. There might also be some kind of stigma attached to working in a casino, she said.

Ang Hin Kee, chief executive officer of NTUC's Employment and Employability Institute, which is partnering MBS to screen Singaporeans for positions, said that many people have a misconception that the job requires skill and prior experience.
The idea of shift work is also less than appealing to some, he said.

Other analysts say the root of Singaporeans' reluctance to take gaming jobs could be down to pay: One industry insider said MBS’s dealers will get less than those in Macau, who get around S$2,300 before tips.

Over the years, some jobs here have had to be redesigned to attract Singaporeans, who have shunned them for pay, prestige or other reasons. These jobs include work involving long, irregular hours, manual jobs, or having to deal with difficult customers.

The recession has taken a heavy toll on employment here. The government's most recent labour market report showed that total employment fell by 6,200 in the first quarter of this year — the first quarterly contraction in nearly six years. Manpower Minister Gan Kim Yong has said he does not expect a let-up in the jobless rate, which currently stands at 3.3 per cent.

For gaming analyst Jonathan Galaviz, a partner at tourism and gaming consultancy firm Globalysis, the low take-up rate for MBS’s gaming positions is puzzling.
He said more IRs will be coming up in the region soon, and Singaporeans should strike while the iron is hot. “This will provide significant career opportunities over the next decade,” he said. — The Straits Times