Wanted: Dealers Marina Bay Sands seeks over 1,000 dealers for casino operations

Singapore (30 July, 2009) – Up to 2,000 Singaporeans have already secured positions at Marina Bay Sands™, including 1,500 to work as dealers and dealer inspectors in its biggest department – the Table Games division. Another 500 Singaporeans have been successful in their applications to work as cage cashiers, count cashiers, VIP hosts, executive hosts, slot attendants and slot technicians.

To complete the team, Marina Bay Sands is hosting a recruitment drive specifically for dealer positions in Suntec City this weekend (1-2 August, 2009) at Convention Hall 603 to fill over 1,000 positions. Anyone interested can apply for a job on the spot. Experts from Marina Bay Sands and its sister company The Venetian Macao will be present to answer any questions and explain what’s required to fill the position.

“The casino floor is one of the most dynamic and exciting places in the world. It is a constantly evolving world of lights, music, laughter and world-class entertainment,” said Mr. Ken Davie, Senior Vice President of Casino Operations, Marina Bay Sands. “We have over 1,000 more positions to fill in table games, which is the biggest department due to the shift nature of casino operations,” he said.

“The most important attribute is a desire to socially interact with a great variety of people. Customer service skills are critical and dealers need manual dexterity and basic math skills. People come with the right attitude and we supply the training,” he said.
The training is intensive and trainees are taken through all of the processes step by step and in a very detailed course. Training will begin in a dedicated Casino Training School operated by Marina Bay Sands at Mountbatten Square.
The training school will offer a simulated casino environment where new dealers will undergo a fully-paid-for three-month course, starting in the fourth quarter of 2009. When candidates complete the course, they will receive nationally-recognized certifications under the first-ever Workforce Skills

Qualifications (WSQ) Certificate in Casino Gaming. Marina Bay Sands is an Approved Training Organization under Singapore Workforce Development Agency (WDA).

“A job in the gaming industry is a great career move. Salaries and perks are extremely attractive and there is a clear career path from the dealer positions on upwards. All casino managers started as dealers at one time,” Mr. Davie said.
“Singaporeans have shown that they are perfect for these positions and we are delighted with the candidates who will be joining us and would encourage anyone else with an interest to come and apply,” he said.
Marina Bay Sands will continue to fill the rest of the vacancies and welcomes more interested parties to apply online at http://careers.marinabaysands.com.

###
About Marina Bay Sands Pte Ltd
Marina Bay Sands Pte Ltd is currently developing a fully integrated luxury resort in Singapore. An affiliate of Las Vegas Sands Corporation (NYSE: LVS), the Meetings, Incentives, Conventions and Exhibitions (MICE) industry leader in the United States and Asia’s leading developer of multi-use integrated resorts, Marina Bay Sands Pte Ltd is backed by a dedicated executive team with a proven track record spanning the MICE, retail, construction and marketing sectors in Asia.

Updated Picture's of Universal Studio's Singapore July 30th 2009

Next update around the 12th of Aug.

New boardwalk to Sentosa Island to open in Nov 2010

BY Nov 2010, visitors to Sentosa will have another option of getting to the resort island - on foot. A new 620-m boardwalk with five pairs of covered travellators will make the journey a breeze.

Works on the $70-million boardwalk kicked off on Tuesday.

Ranging from 25m to 40m in width, the walkway will also be lined with retail and food and beverage outlets along the way.

The walkway will link up to Sentosa's integrated resort, Resorts World at Sentosa, which will direct visitors to the resort or to attractions within the rest of the island. It is designed to carry 8,000 visitors per hour in each direction and is part of the resort island's plans to enhance transport links as it gears up for a surge in visitors when the IR opens early next year.

The boardwalk, said Sentosa Leisure Group's chief executive officer Mike Barclay, is part of a $300-million budget to overhaul the transport links on the island to ensure that it can receive the increase in visitors, which is expected to double.

The walkway will offer five different themed gardens, from mangrove, rock garden, terrain and hill, coastal flora and rainforest, giving visitors a different experience as they pass from one zone to the next.

It will be lit at night to offer a different experience. This boardwalk will replace the original pedestrian path along the causeway bridge to the island that was closed in August 2007 for the construction of the second bridge.

Updated Picture's of Universal Studio's Singapore July 21,2009

BBQ by the Beach 8 & 22 August 2009

» BBQ by the Beach
8 & 22 August 2009


Date 8 & 22 August 2009
Time 6pm – 10pm
Admission S$35++ Adult
S$17.50++ Child (3-12 years old)

Be mesmerised by the sunset and enjoy the sea breeze while tucking into delicious barbecued items at the island's beautiful beachfront dining outlet. Every dinner comes with a complimentary Chang beer and a glass of juice or soft drink for children between 3 - 12 years old.

Click here to see menu.
Book before 31 July and enjoy 5% off BBQ dinner! BOOK NOW!

Promotions

1. DBS Cardmembers: 44% off BBQ dinner for those born in 1965
2. Islanders & Sentosa Cove residents: 10% off total bill
3. Complimentary bottle of Chang Beer with every purchase of BBQ Dinner
4. Complimentary glass of juice or soft drinks for children with every purchase of BBQ Dinner

Audition Universal Studio's Singapore July 21 & 22 2009 in Singapore

We are looking for upbeat, energetic performers who are based in Singapore, and who possess the confidence and personality to interact with large crowds.

Also, this would be a paid opportunity.

Come, be a part of the 'live' telecast that is beamed around the region, reaching millions of viewers. This multicultural showcase is the pride of the nation, and is undoubtedly - the event of the season!

Date: July 21 & 22, 2009
Time: 07:00 PM
Location: University Cultural Centre | National University of Singapore
Address: 50 Kent Ridge Crescent


PARADE PERFORMERS (Male and Female roles) You will be asked to learn a movement combination, so please wear a form-fitting dance attire that allows for full range of movements and which compliments your bodyline. (Female candidates: please wear dancewear that shows your mid-riff). There may be an initial type-out audition.

POWERSKIP STILTWALKERS (Male and Female roles) Energetic performers who are highly skilled in the art of stilt walking and acrobatics. Must have extensive gymnastic experience with the ability to flip. Physical stamina is essential. Please bring your own stilts to the open call. Weight restrictions apply. (Candidates will be weighed at the time of audition.)

STILTWALKERS (Male and Female roles) Must have previous stilt experience and high level of skill, with an engaging personality. Physical stamina is essential. Please bring your own stilts to the open call.

www.rwsentosa.com

1st concert at Resorts World

ChildAid to be FIRST event held at Resorts World at Sentosa

p r e s s r e l e a s e

For immediate release

ChildAid to be FIRST event held at Resorts World at Sentosa

Singapore, 14 July 2009 – Mark your diaries for 19 to 21 December 2009! That is when ChildAid will be the first event to be staged at Resorts World at Sentosa.

ChildAid is a charity concert organized by The Straits Times and The Business Times. The concert, which is celebrating its fifth anniversary this year, showcases the best of Singapore's young musical talents in support of two charities – The ST School Pocket Money Fund and The BT Budding Artists Fund.

Said ChildAid organizing chairman, Mr Peter Khoo: "The economic recession has led to a rise in the number of children who need help to pay for a meal in school or to continue their artistic pursuits.

"Thus, we are extremely grateful to Resorts World at Sentosa for giving us this honour, which we believe will boost fund-raising efforts. Their decision also benefits Singapore's young musical talents for they will be creating history by being the first to perform at the Resort.''

Mr Han Fook Kwang, Editor of The Straits Times, said that the number of student beneficiaries on The Straits Times School Pocket Money Fund has risen by about 40 per cent since last year.

The ST School Pocket Money Fund helps 11,000 needy children pay for a meal during recess or transport to school. It would require $5.7 million this year – the highest it has had to raise since its inception in 2000.
Mr Han said: “Our tie-up with Resorts World at Sentosa will bolster ChildAid's ambition to raise money for needy children and showcase the many talented youths here.

''We are determined to do our utmost to help the many children affected by the economic downturn,” Mr Han added.

Mr Alvin Tay, Editor of The Business Times, said that ChildAid talents also serve as good role models.

Mr Tay said: "Singapore has many outstanding young musicians who want to help. They motivate the many children we support at the BT Budding Artists Fund.''

The BT Budding Artists Fund, initiated by The Old Parliament House Limited and adopted by The Business Times in 2005, aims to give underprivileged children a chance to nurture their artistic talents, be it in art or music.

ChildAid 2009 will be staged at Festive Grand, Resorts World at Sentosa’s very own theatre which can seat up to 1,600 people.

Festive Grand, which will host Resorts World at Sentosa's resident musical extravaganza Voyage de la Vie, is just one of the many attractions found within Singapore’s only island integrated resort.

Owned by Genting Singapore, S$6.59-billion venture will include South-east Asia’s first and only Universal Studios theme park, the world’s largest oceanarium, six hotels, a casino, and a host of other entertainment options.

Ms Andrea Teo, Vice President of Entertainment for Resorts World at Sentosa said: "Besides being the first event at Resorts World at Sentosa, we will be dedicating our expertise and experience in the field of stage production, choreography amongst many other things.”

“The talents on display for previous ChildAid concerts were tremendous. We want to build on that success and ChildAid 2009 held at Festive Grand is going to present these talents on a grander and even larger scale,” Ms Teo said.

Ms Teo, a former Executive Producer and Director of television sitcoms such as Under One Roof, Phua Chu Kang and Happy Belly, will also be part of the ChildAid producing team, together with Mary Loh and Jason Ramsburg from the Resorts World entertainment team, Arts House general manager Colin Goh and renowned musician Iskandar Ismail.

Ms Teo adds: "Resorts World at Sentosa is not scheduled to open until early next year, but when SPH approached us with the opportunity to contribute to the cause, our different teams , ranging from Projects to Entertainment and Traffic, sat down and decided that we will pull all stops to make this happen. ChildAid will be the inaugural show in Resorts World, and the first performance that we will raise our curtains for at our Festive Grand theatre.’’

Resorts World at Sentosa is on-track for its early 2010 soft opening, which will include Universal Studios Singapore, four hotels, part of FestiveWalk and the casino.
As in previous years, The Straits Times and The Business Times will be conducting a nationwide search for talents. Those who wish to audition must be Singapore residents and not older than 19 years of age.

Said ChildAid artistic director Mr Iskandar Ismail, who is last year's Cultural Medallion recipient: "Many ChildAid performers of the past have gone on to bigger things. Our search for the best fresh talent in Singapore begins today. So do write to us for an audition.''

He cited the opening ceremony of the Asian Youth Games as an example. "Three of the vocalists who performed at the Asian Youth Games opening ceremony came from ChildAid,'' said Mr Ismail.

Teenagers Amni Musfirah, Lian Kim Selby and Nathan Hartono performed in ChildAid before being picked up by Asian Youth Games organizers.

It was the same for soprano Janani Sridhar, who performed at the first ChildAid concert in 2005. The 19-year-old sang the national anthem at last year's Singapore Formula One race.

At the press conference, the organizers revealed the first three performers for ChildAid 2009.

They are: 15-year-old singer Amni from School of the Arts as well as drummers Zidann Zalizann, 8, from Greenridge Primary School, and Aaron Lee, 13, from Queensway Secondary School.

Said Mr Ismail: “As this is the fifth anniversary of ChildAid, we wanted to bring back the best of the talent we have put on show before.

“Amni, Zidann and Aaron were outstanding in last year’s sell-out show,” Mr Ismail added.

ChildAid 2009 is seeking sponsors to help its charities.

There are four sponsorship tiers – Diamond ($200,000 and above) Platinum ($100,000 $199,999) Gold ($50,000-$99,999) Silver ($30,000-$49,999) and Bronze ($10,000-$29,999).

Interested sponsors may contact Ms Wee Ngiap Hiang at weenh@sph.com.sg or at 6319 5054.

ChildAid opening act at Resort World Sentosa IR

Charity concert to raise funds for needy in downturn

By Yen Feng The Straits Time

EXPECTANT visitors of the upcoming integrated resorts (IR) can sneak a peek at Resorts World at Sentosa as early as December - and sit back to a musical revue on the same night.

AUDITION TO BE A CHILDAID PERFORMER CONCERT organisers are looking for performers in the field of music, dance or emcee-ing. Interested applicants must be Singapore residents below 19 years old. ... see below

From Dec 19 to 21, the multi-billion holiday resort will open its doors ahead of its 2010 launch to host ChildAid, a charity concert.

ChildAid supports the charities of two major dailies here: The Straits Times School Pocket Money Fund and The Business Times Budding Artists Fund.

This is the fifth year the two newspapers are organising the annual concert, which features talented, young musicians.

The partnership between Resorts World and ChildAid is a win- win for both groups in a challenging economy.

Last week, Marina Bay Sands Resort, the other IR, said it would delay its year-end launch due to a shortage of raw materials and labour.

A press statement from Resorts World said its indoor theatre would be ready ahead of schedule to host the charity concert, adding that it was 'on-track' for its early 2010 'soft-opening', which includes several hotels and the casino.

The Straits Times School Pocket Money Fund this year hopes to raise $5.7 million - its highest target since its inception in 2001 - to benefit more needy children in the downturn.

Funds collected will go to 11,000 children from low-income families to pay for meals, transport fees and stationery.

The Straits Times' Editor Han Fook Kwang said: 'Our tie-up with Resorts World at Sentosa will bolster ChildAid's ambition to raise money for needy children and showcase the many talented youths here.

'We are determined to do our utmost to help the many children affected by the economic downturn.'

To donate or be a concert sponsor, call Ms Wee Ngiap Hiang at 6319 5054.

Details on ticket sales will be announced in October.

AUDITION TO BE A CHILDAID PERFORMER

CONCERT organisers are looking for performers in the field of music, dance or emcee-ing.

Interested applicants must be Singapore residents below 19 years old.

To be considered for selection, you should include in your audition materials a photograph, a one-page write-up of themselves, a list of your musical achievements, and a statement saying why you want to be part of ChildAid.

The preferred format for audition materials is DVD, VCD, or CD.

Please include your name, age and school, and your parents' names, contact numbers and e-mail addresses.

Applications can be sent to childaid@sph.com.sg, or to:

ChildAid 2009
Singapore Press Holdings
1000 Toa Payoh North, News Centre
Singapore 318994
The closing date for submission is August 17.

Shortlisted applicants will be invited to audition on Aug 30.

Who will Open there Singapore Casino First Resort World Sentosa or Marina Bay Sands?

by Bigbearsg

Who will open there casino first Resort World Sentosa or Marina Bay Sands? At this point in time look's like Resort World Sentosa is in the lead since Maria Bay Sands say's it will delay it opening due to to a shortage of labor and materials, according to Maria Bay Sands.

Why is this important? Because Singapore residents are required by the government to pay an entrance fee of S$100 per day or S$2,000 per year to the casino. So who ever is first is going to have the advantage of signing up Singapore Residents. The annual pass is exclusive to one casino only, so the first resort to open will have the advantage of locking in Singaporean patrons early.

Resort World Sentosa is very likely to open in early first quarter next year and lock in more local and foreign casino patrons, especially those from China, during the Chinese New Year festive season.

Also the advantage go's to Resort World Sentosa, because it will be a great place for the whole family. While Mom and Dad are in the Hotel Spa or Casino the kid's will have Universal Studio's Singapore and other great thing to do on Sentosa Island.

2010 will make Singapore a wonderful place to vacation.

Picture of Battlestar Galatica Dueling Coaster at Night at Universal Studio's Singapore (Soft Opening early 2010)

"Night at the RWS construction site" by Resorts World at Sentosa

Marina Bay Sands Singapore casino opening delays to open Jan. or Feb. 2010

PHOTO: MARINA BAY SANDS

By Bigbearsg

The Marina Bay Sands, Singapore's first casino has delayed, it's opening by several months due to shortages of labour and materials, Mr. Sam Adelson chairman of developer Las Vegas Sands has said.

Mr. Adelson said Marina Bay Sands will open in January or February of 2010 for its initial phase, after being originally slotted to welcome its first visitors by the end of this year.

"We can't control the flow of sand to make concrete with, we can't control the availability of steel... and we can't control the availability of labour due to other projects that are in the market," he said.

The total cost of the develpment is 8.0 Billion or about 5.5 Billion U.S.

Marina Bay Sands was the first Singapore casino project to be awarded in 2006. The complex will include hotel, convention, luxury retail and performing arts facilities.

Sinapore's second casino is, Resort World Sentosa, which is scheduled for soft opening in early 2010. Resort World will be home to a casino,hotel and Universal Studio's Sinapore.

Marina Bay Sands in Singapore Tops Out Hotel Towers

The towers will house around 2,600 luxury hotel rooms that are simultaneously being fitted out. -- PHOTO: MARINA BAY SANDS

SINGAPORE, July 8 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Marina Bay Sands(TM), a subsidiary of Las Vegas Sands Corp. (NYSE: LVS), announced today that it has topped out the three 55-story hotel towers, a major milestone in a striking and iconic project to bring Singapore a premier integrated resort.

The company's senior executives celebrated the occasion with an event that attracted approximately 120 regional and local media as well as members of the Singapore government, the construction team, and other distinguished guests.

Las Vegas Sands Corp.'s Chairman, Mr. Sheldon G. Adelson, who came to Singapore for the event, said "Topping the hotel towers at Marina Bay Sands is a milestone in an exciting construction and engineering project. We're pleased to be another step closer to delivering on our promise to Singapore and we remain committed to creating the landmark, premier integrated resort in Southeast Asia."

The architects and construction managers employed industry-leading construction solutions on their way to the 55th story. The construction team had to use steel trusses to link the east and west legs of each tower about half way up and used innovative methods to seal the atriums in each of the three towers and in-between them. After the steel trusses were in place, the team was able to build one new hotel floor every four days, an unprecedented pace for skyscraper construction in Singapore.

Marina Bay Sands will be a unique destination in the region. It will be home to the Sands SkyPark(TM) and the Museum, that symbolizes the 'welcoming hand of Singapore', packaged together as part of a world-class integrated resort nestled in the heart of the city's Central Business District and the ever-expanding tourism and entertainment district at Marina Bay.

The Sands SkyPark is the next critical phase of construction. The contractor will hoist the 7,000-ton structure 200 meters to the top of the towers using technology usually used in building bridges. The process of lifting each of many individual sections can take a full day. When it is completed, the Sands SkyPark will be longer horizontally than the Eiffel Tower is tall and will be the largest cantilevered public observation deck in the world.

Work on the interior and exterior of the hotel towers is well underway and the roof is taking shape on the Sands Expo & Convention Centre and on the casino. Other areas are progressing well.

Mr. George Tanasijevich, General Manager and Vice President of Singapore Development, Marina Bay Sands Pte Ltd, said "Marina Bay Sands will be a magnificent destination, with world-class entertainment, convention facilities, dining, shopping, Las Vegas-style gaming, and a luxury hotel. It will transform the skyline and bolster Singapore's image as the city for business and leisure tourists to visit again and again".

"Over the next few months, we will unveil a range of luxury brand shops, celebrity chef restaurants and world-class entertainment for Marina Bay Sands. There will truly be something for everyone," Mr. Tanasijevich said.

When completed, Marina Bay Sands will feature large and flexible convention and exhibition facilities, approximately 2,600 luxury hotel rooms and suites, the breathtaking rooftop Sands SkyPark, a museum, Las Vegas-style gaming, the Paiza Club for premium players, theatres, entertainment, an outdoor event plaza, and unparalleled shopping and dining.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements that are made pursuant to the Safe Harbor Provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements involve a number of risks, uncertainties or other factors beyond the company's control, which may cause material differences in actual results, performance or other expectations. These factors include, but are not limited to, general economic conditions, competition, new ventures, substantial leverage and debt service, government regulation, legalization of gaming, interest rates, future terrorist acts, insurance, gaming junket operators, risks relating to our Macao gaming concession, infrastructure in Macao and other factors detailed in the reports filed by Las Vegas Sands Corp. with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date thereof. Las Vegas Sands Corp. assumes no obligation to update such information.

ABOUT LAS VEGAS SANDS CORP.

Las Vegas Sands Corp. (NYSE: LVS) is the leading international developer of multi-use integrated resorts.

The Las Vegas, Nevada-based company owns and operates The Venetian Resort-Hotel-Casino, The Palazzo Resort-Hotel-Casino, and the Sands Expo and Convention Center in Las Vegas and the Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem(TM) in Eastern Pennsylvania. The company also owns and operates The Venetian Macao Resort-Hotel and the Sands Macao in the People's Republic of China (PRC) Special Administrative Region of Macao. In addition, LVS owns the Four Seasons Hotel Macao and is also developing the Marina Bay Sands(TM) integrated resort in Singapore.

LVS is also creating the Cotai Strip(R), a master-planned development of resort-casino properties in Macao. At completion, the Cotai Strip will feature approximately 21,000 rooms from world-renowned hotel brands such as St. Regis, Sheraton, Shangri-La, Traders, Hilton, Conrad, Fairmont, Raffles, Holiday Inn, and InterContinental.

New Sentosa Island Bridge Opened Today

by Bigbearsg


It's Now open the 710 meter bridge linking the mainland of Singapore to Sentosa Island. At a Cost of S$80 million dollars this bridge will help traffic flow for when Universal Studio's Singapore and Resort World Sentosa soft opening in early 2010.

Universal Studios Singapore Ride's and Area Capacity

Rides and Area Capacity

Universal Studios Singapore Zone

- Hollywood Theatre 1,500 seats

- Special Effects Theatre (SFX) 180 (standing)

- Movie / Post Production Studios 300 seats

- Shrek 4-D 600 seats

- Waterworld Amphitheatre 3,500 seats

Universal Studios Singapore Zone

Streets:

- Hollywood Boulevard 1,000

- New York Street 1,000

- Egypt Street 1,000

- Far Far Away Land

Journey of Madagascar 3,000

- The Lost World

Jurassic Park River Ride 1,800

Jurassic Round Ride 350

Egypt

Egypt Jeep Ride 800

Revenge of the Mummy 2,200

Singapore simulates Mumbai attack in drill on Sentosa Island

SINGAPORE will hold its biggest anti-terror drill on Monday, simulating the deadly Mumbai attacks that killed 166 people last year, ahead of hosting an Asia-Pacific summit in November.

Exercise North Star VII will involve 2,000 participants from 15 state agencies and media outlets and simulate situations such as concerted terror attacks on hotels, malls and an underground train station, the Singapore Police Force said in a statement.

The exercise, based on November's Mumbai attacks, consists of 10 incidents, from the hijack of a taxi cab in a raid on a hotel to a rampage at a train station, according to plans seen by Reuters.

Singapore, home to regional offices of global firms, the world's busiest sea port and a top regional airport hub, has been safe from a militant sabotage so far, after it foiled a plot to hijack a plane and crash it into the Changi airport in 2002.

Mas Selamat Kastari, the alleged mastermind of the foiled plot and suspected leader of a Singapore radical Islamist group linked to the 2002 Bali bombings, was arrested in Malaysia in April after he escaped from a Singapore jail in February 2008.

The island-state will host an Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in November.

The Singapore Police said the anti-terror drill was not related to the security preparation for the summit, which will host leaders of economic heavy-hitters as the United States, Japan, China and Russia.

The exercise will be in two phases - July 6-7 and July 15, in which Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong will preside over the finale at the resort island of Sentosa, the police said.

Casino cheats exposed to Singapore Casino Officers

Officers ready for Singapore casinos

Singapore’s business events sector continues to boom as new venues open and new events are announced

Despite the global economic downturn, Singapore has continued to attract an impressive line up of upcoming business events, reinforcing its reputation as the premier business events destination in Asia.

Recent conference announcements include:

1. The FDI Dental Congress in September 2009, expected to attract over 13,000 dental professionals;
2. World Conference on Tobacco or Health (WCTOH), which will be held in Singapore for the first time in 2012 and is expected to attract over 2000 experts;
3. International Conference on Emergency Medicine (ICEM) in 2010;
4. UFI Congress, Global Association of the Exhibition Industry, which will be held in Singapore in 2010.

Trade shows also continue to feature in the mix of conferences in Singapore including:

1. IFAI Expo Asia 2011: This will be the inaugural Asian edition of the Industrial Fabrics Association tradeshow and is expected to attract exhibitors from South Korea, China and Australia;
2. JIAM, international Apparel Machinery Trade Show in 2011, which is considered one of the worlds top three major apparel machinery trade shows;
3. ITB Asia, the Asian edition of the world’s largest travel trade show, ITB Berlin.

“Singapore is consistently acknowledged as a premier conference and business hub due to its excellent location and accessibility, state of the art conference facilities, pre and post conference touring opportunities and the support provided by the industry to ensure an event’s success,” said Mr Yee Choong CHOOI, Regional Director Oceania, Singapore Tourism Board.

As more events are attracted to and confirmed in the Lion City, so too are the openings of a raft of new venues ensuring organised have plenty of choice. Some of these include:

1. Hort Park: A beautiful oasis within the city, Hort Park offers a range of venues suitable for intimate meetings for 25 to evening cocktails for 200 or more;
2. Singapore Flyer: What about ending an event by letting delegates feel on top of the world – several venues associated with the Singapore Flyer such as the Megu Event Hall, Singapore Flyer Greek Theatre and VIP Lounge can be combined with enjoying the view 165m up with a glass of champagne in hand;
3. Capella: The latest hotel to open on Singapore’s tranquil Sentosa Island, Capella is a luxurious top-end resort. In addition to the luxe surrounds, the hotel offers numerous boardrooms and meeting facilities nestled within a glamorous five star setting;
4. Marina Barrage: A great venue for a corporate event, use the boardroom facilities by day and host a evening dinner in the garden at night as you watch the island city come alive across the waterway.

Other venues earmarked for opening soon include Marina Bay Sands (due to open end of 2009), which will feature three hotel towers topped by a skypark, a floating crystal pavilion, retail stores, new restaurants and endless entertainment options including nightclubs and a Las Vegas-style casino. All this along side premier meeting space, state of the art technology, highly flexible exhibition halls and a convention centre that can host up to 45,000 delegates.

Resorts World @ Sentosa is scheduled to open its doors in 2010 and will offer over six different hotels including the Hard Rock Hotel and Festive Hotel, a Universal Studios, retail and F&B outlets along side theatre shows such as Voyage de la Vie and a myriad of function venues including one of the biggest ballrooms in Asia.

And to ensure you are able to mix business with pleasure, a new program has also been launched enticing partners to visit Singapore as well for a much deserved holiday break. Partners and business delegates are being offered a number of special F&B and retail promotion, as well as great hotel discounts as part of the program.

Source : Singapore Tourism Board ETBMICE.com

Singapore Casino's Watchdogs sharpen teeth

By Carolyn Quek & Kimberly Spykerman
		Symposium participants from the Casino Regulatory Authority and the Criminal Investigation Department learning first-hand how an electronic poker table works. -- ST PHOTO: MUGILAN RAJASEGERAN

IN SIX months or so, the jackpot machines in the two casinos in Singapore will start pealing, and gamblers will be in town.

But groundwork has been laid to get both man and system to keep the fun clean - and ready to act if it does not stay that way.

The latest initiative was a two-day training symposium held in the Police Cantonment Complex that began on Wednesday.

This was for the over 200 officers from the Casino Regulatory Authority (CRA) and the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) to pick the brains of those in the industry who have 'been there, done that'.

These old hands in casino operations, regulations and enforcement from the United States, Australia and Macau are here to talk about organised crime and money laundering. They will also tell of what criminal syndicates get up to, and importantly, how to smoke them out and cripple their operations.

CRA chief executive T. Raja Kumar said the authorities here have a lot to learn, with the gaming industry being new, and there is not a lot of time in which to do so.

Minister for Law and Second Minister for Home Affairs K. Shanmugam noted that the CRA and CID have made good progress so far.

For example, the CRA is putting the final touches on its regulatory regime, which will require, for example, key casino employees, associates and junket operators to be screened.

Anti-fraud measures that go beyond that required by the CRA are also likely to be in place by the casinos' opening day: For example, all cards in play will be mechanically shuffled; after each game of baccarat, the cards will be destroyed, since players would have had a chance to mark them; and slot-machine winnings will be paid in bar-coded vouchers instead of tokens for greater security.

And if all these moves do not keep things on the straight and narrow in the Marina Bay integrated resort (IR) and the police need to be called in, they will be nearby - in the new Marina Bay neighbourhood police centre (NPC). The Sentosa IR will be overseen by the existing Bukit Merah West NPC.

The Straits Times.

Video: Singapore Casinos prepared to combat crime (News Plus)

Video Sentosa Casino and Universal Studio's Singapore on track for opening In March of 2010

High-tech casino machines counter fraud for Singapore Casinos Video

IRs snap up casino-course students

By Mavis Toh

Sceptical eyebrows were raised when private schools rolled out casino-related courses in the lead-up to the opening of the two integrated resorts (IRs), the first of which opens at the end of this year. But Singaporeans who betted on such courses to help them land jobs at the two IRs are being snapped up. And at least five private schools offering such courses are seeing a boom in enrolment numbers.

In just the last six months, about 250 people have enrolled in vocational casino school International Club Games Training Centre (ICG) for three- and five-month-long courses.

Since it started in 2006, the school has been getting about 300 students a year.

At ERC Institute, enrolment for its year-long tourism and hospitality sector courses, which have modules in casino management, went up from 400 in 2007 to 600 last year.

As for the EASB East Asia Institute of Management, enrolment in its 30-month-long casino-related courses jumped by up to 50 per cent to 500 students this year.

Said EASB's head of school, Dr Eric Lim: 'People are getting increasingly interested in casino programmes.'

The private schools started offering casino courses, costing thousands of dollars, in 2007. Eager students signed up, hoping that their newfound knowledge would land them jobs at the IRs.

But industry observers were sceptical, noting that casinos elsewhere preferred to train new recruits in their 'house styles'.

But the schools are having the last laugh. The five The Sunday Times spoke to said most of their students have landed jobs as dealers and dealer inspectors at the IRs.

Dealer inspectors ensure that there is no cheating at the tables, and manage the dealers, among other duties.

ICG head Ramachandar Siva said about 900 of his students have secured positions at the two IRs.

Seven of the 14 students who took casino-related courses at the School D'Hospitality (SD'H) have already been offered dealer positions at the IRs, said director Yeh Choy Yan.

Mr Wester Lim, 29, a former auxiliary police officer who took a course at SD'H, said: 'The interviewers asked specific questions on calculating chip change and when I answered correctly, that probably impressed them.'

He has landed a job as a dealer at one of the IRs.

Marina Bay Sands (MBS) and Resorts World at Sentosa spokesmen said they view applicants who have attended prior training in the sector as having shown commitment.

But they added that they will still hire applicants with no gaming background and provide training for them.

MBS is now offering letters of intent to more than 1,000 Singaporeans for jobs as dealers, dealer inspectors and pit supervisors.

Pit supervisors manage pit personnel and make sure there is no cheating.

Both IRs still have thousands of positions to fill.

Of the first batch hired by MBS, all are Singaporeans and 80 per cent are between 20 and 40 years old. Nearly two-thirds are male.

At ICG, where 47 per cent of its students are females, most are aged between 21 and 32. Almost 60 per cent are diploma or degree holders. Most of its 1,200 students are local, with many already holding jobs.

'They are looking for a career switch to a job that's more satisfying,' said Mr Ramachandar. 'Casinos often offer better salary packages and career prospects.'

Retired chief steward Alex Chua, 58, decided a second career in the gaming industry would keep his mind active.

He took a five-month course in casino floor management at ICG last year. Now, he has secured a job as a dealer at one of the IRs.

'It's similar to my airline job where the aim is to provide good service,' said Mr Chua. 'It's a challenging environment to work in. I don't want to retire and be bored.'

This article was first published in The Straits Times.

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