Marina Bay Sands (MBS), Singapore’s renowned casino and hotel resort, is embarking on a significant expansion of its downtown property, with plans to construct a fourth tower by 2029. After being hindered by the COVID-19 pandemic, MBS announced on Friday that full-scale construction will commence by July 2025, aiming for completion by July 2029.

The Venue Remains Integral to Singapore’s Tourism

The ambitious expansion project first revealed in 2019 with a budget of 4.5 billion Singapore dollars ($3.33 billion), faced substantial delays due to pandemic-induced shutdowns. However, with ongoing support from the Singapore government, MBS is moving forward with its visionary plans to enhance the city-state’s leisure and business tourism appeal.

Patrick Dumont, president and chief operating officer of MBS’s parent company, Las Vegas Sands, emphasized the significance of the expansion in driving high-value tourism growth to Singapore. He highlighted that the project would optimize the venue’s programming elements while aligning with Singapore’s strategic objectives. The expansion aims to play a pivotal role in attracting more travelers to Singapore.

With the ongoing support of the Singapore government, this development will further enhance the leisure and business tourism appeal of Singapore.

Patrick Dumont, Las Vegas Sands president and chief operating officer

Since its inception at a development cost of $5.6 billion, MBS has welcomed over 470 million visitors, significantly contributing to Singapore’s business tourism appeal by hosting over 1,750 MICE events. The venue aims to remain at the cutting edge, regularly introducing new improvements and keeping its offerings fresh and exciting.

Existing Amenities Will Also Receive Improvements

The planned expansion features a luxury hotel tower with an impressive sky roof and a 15,000-seat entertainment arena. Additionally, it will create space for meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions (MICE) while introducing new dining, beverage, and nightlife options. Separate from the hotel expansion, MBS is investing $1.75 billion in its existing property, enhancing existing amenities.

The expansion aims to play a pivotal role in attracting more travelers to Singapore. The new entertainment arena should draw top entertainers who previously may have overlooked Southeast Asia in their tours. Additional MICE space will facilitate hosting more events in the city-state, capitalizing on Macau’s increasing focus on mainland China.

With international visitor arrivals reaching 71% of pre-pandemic levels in 2023 and tourism profits reaching up to $19.2 billion, Singapore’s hospitality sector is well on its path to a full recovery. The Singapore Tourism Board anticipates further improvement this year, driven by the gradual restoration of global air travel capacity and the increasing interest in South Asia as a leisure destination.

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The approval, listed in URA data released at the end of the December 2023 quarter, allows Marina Bay Sands (MBS) to proceed with its expansion project, which significantly bolsters guest capacity, expanding the venue’s impressive hotel and retail space. The project is situated alongside MBS’s existing three towers and should help attract new customers, significantly bolstering revenues.

The Operator Met All Regulatory Requirements

The approved project encompasses the construction of a hotel with 587 rooms, covering 153,100 square meters of hotel space and an additional 12,185 square meters allocated for retail space. The new tower will occupy an empty plot adjacent to MBS’s existing three towers. MBS has not provided a firm timeline, but the project’s scale means its completion will likely extend beyond 2024.

Securing official government approval marks a crucial milestone in the integrated resort operator’s expansion plans. MBS parent firm Las Vegas Sands (LVS) president and COO Patrick Dumont noted that the company maintained close collaboration with the Singapore government, ensuring that the fourth tower project would meet all regulatory requirements.

There’s a lot of moving parts here, a lot of things we have to satisfy. We want to make sure that everyone is comfortable with it and that we get all the proper approvals.

Patrick Dumont,  Las Vegas Sands president and COO

While MBS’ initial 2019 plans envisioned a fourth hotel tower with roughly 1,000 new rooms, recent upgrades to the property’s existing hotel spaces have focused on introducing new suite products. The revamp of Towers 1 and 2 increased the number of suites from 137 to 422, giving the company more flexibility with the design of Tower 4.

Tower 4 Will Elevate the Guest Experience to New Heights

Las Vegas Sands is targeting an annualized EBITDA of over $3 billion for MBS once the construction of the fourth tower is completed. Following the release of financial results for Q4 and FY23, which showed MBS recording annual EBITDA of $1.86 billion, with a record $544 million in the December quarter, LVS chairman and CEO Robert Goldstein expressed confidence in continued profit growth.

MBS likewise hopes the planned expansion will bolster the resort’s popularity, attracting more guests. The company highlighted that the new tower will contain a “rooftop attraction” featuring a sky pool and signature restaurant, MICE facilities comprising meeting rooms, function rooms, and exhibition halls, along with a state-of-the-art live entertainment area seating a minimum of 15,000 people.

LVS sees substantial potential for profit growth in the coming years, leveraging the iconic status of Marina Bay Sands and ongoing upgrade works. The resort has become a mainstay of Singapore’s tourism sector and should continue enjoying significant success, revitalized by the addition of the upcoming tower and its industry-leading amenities.

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In September, the gambling regulator in Victoria, Australia, the Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission (VGCCC), issued 35 charges against the operator of the Tower Hotel in Hawthorn East, Rumotel Pty Ltd, over alleged failures to implement YourPlay, a mandatory pre-commitment technology, on their electronic gaming machines and kiosks. At the time, the regulator alleged that the operator also failed to ensure compulsory training for its employees.

Now, the VGCCC hit Rumotel with additional charges, alleging breaches related to responsible gambling. On Thursday, the gambling regulator revealed that the operator is facing an additional three new charges, claiming it breached the Responsible Gambling Code of Conduct. This happened after allegedly Rumotel failed to ensure a Responsible Gambling Officer was present at all times on the gaming floor.

According to the Responsible Gambling Code of Conduct, part of the Gambling Regulation Act 2003, currently in effect in the state, operators that fail to ensure the presence of a Responsible Gambling Officer breach their license conditions. Moreover, the VGCCC alleged that the operator failed to maintain a Responsible Gambling Register.

Gambling operators in Victoria are required to have a Responsible Gambling Officer present at all times during operating hours. Such officers intervene whenever patrons show signs of excessive gambling or distress. Whenever such incidents happen, they must be recorded in a dedicated Register, something Rumotel failed to implement, as announced by the VGCCC.

The Regulator Continues to Monitor Compliance of the Gambling Operators

Annette Kimmitt, VGCCC’s CEO, revealed that there are strict rules in effect for gambling operators. Those rules, similar to the ones in other sectors, seek to protect the well-being of casino visitors and protect players from harm. “The VGCCC will continue to pursue venues that deliberately fail to apply their responsible gambling code of conducts in full,” explained Kimmitt in conclusion.

“Just as you wouldn’t operate a public swimming pool without a lifeguard, venues are required to continuously monitor their gaming floors and intervene whenever the welfare of players is at risk.“

Annette Kimmitt, CEO at VGCCC

In light of the additional three charges, the VGCCC said that a fine of AU$1,386,900 ($880,600) may be implemented. Considering the previously described 35 additional alleged breaches, the total for the 38 charges may result in a fine of AU$2,145,072 ($1.36 million).

Last month, the VGCCC hit eight gambling operators, alleging underage gambling. One of the gambling companies impacted at the time was Tabcorp. At the time of the announcement, Kimmitt said that it is an obligation of the gambling operators to stop underage individuals from accessing their venues.

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The famous and trusted gaming and entertainment company, Caesars Entertainment, confirmed its plans for a massive renovation of one of its Las Vegas Strip properties, Paris Las Vegas. On Monday, the company unveiled details regarding a renovation with a price tag surpassing $100 million. The ambitious plan will see the company integrate Horseshoe’s Jubilee Tower into Paris Las Vegas. Caesars confirmed that the new tower will be named Versailles Tower.

Representing an investment surpassing $100 million, the new Versailles Tower is expected to offer an all-new interior, as well as exterior. This overhaul will help deliver some 756 luxury guestrooms. Additionally, the renovation will bring a pedestrian bridge that helps connect the new Versailles Tower to the existing Paris Las Vegas resort.

True to Caesars’ supreme hospitality, the new Versailles Tower will offer some of the biggest standard rooms on the Strip. The space per room will start at 436 square feet. According to Caesars, the renovation project is expected to be completed late this year. On the other hand, the pedestrian bridge will likely be finished early next year. The company is yet to confirm when a ribbon-cutting ceremony will be scheduled for.

Visitors to Benefit from Luxury Hospitality

Sean McBurney, Caesars’ regional president, acknowledged that Paris Las Vegas is a property that is loved by the guests as well as Caesars Rewards members. He explained that in the last year, the company has been focused on implementing improvements and enhancements that helped elevate the experience for Paris Las Vegas visitors. Those include the new concepts like Nobu and Vanderpump à Paris and the revamped sportsbook outlet, Caesars revealed.

“We know our guests, especially our Caesars Rewards members, love Paris Las Vegas. Over the past year we’ve made significant enhancements to elevate the destination, bringing new concepts like Vanderpump à Paris, Nobu, The Bedford by Martha Stewart and most recently, a completely renovated sportsbook.“

Sean McBurney, regional president of Caesars Entertainment

Now, according to McBurney, the new Versailles Tower will help make Paris Las Vegas one of the biggest resorts at the heart of Las Vegas, the Strip. The regional president spoke about the revamped interior and exterior that will help transform and improve the hotel rooms. Finally, McBurney said that visitors to the reimagined site will be able to enjoy different gaming options and amenities such as restaurants, once the project is completed this fall.

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The iconic guitar, synonymous with the international entertainment brand Hard Rock, will soon be arriving on the Strip in the gambling capital of the world, Las Vegas. Earlier this week, Clark County officials greenlighted the design for the new guitar-shaped tower that is expected to emerge at the Mirage, likely replacing the volcano site.

The guitar-shaped tower will be a hotel offering some 600 rooms for guests. Additionally, the new tower would feature restaurants, gaming space and other amenities, spanning nearly 40 floors in height. The Clark County Commissioners’ vote that greenlighted the guitar-shaped tower happened on Wednesday. The permits for the plan and re-design of the Mirage confirm that the existing tower will remain. However, next to it, a new 660 feet tall guitar-shaped tower would be built.

“Clark County Commissioners just approved permits and designs for the plan on the current site of the Mirage Las Vegas volcano. The existing tower will remain and a new 660 feet tall guitar-shaped tower with 600 suites will be built,“

reads a statement released by Clark County

The Company Plans to Revamp the Mirage

It was back in December when Hard Rock International (HRI), secured approval for the acquisition of the Mirage from MGM Resorts. The company agreed to acquire the property in a deal for $1.08 billion, which was initially announced late in 2021.

Although HRI hinted at plans to revamp the property, the entertainment giant confirmed that those plans would not impact its operation and it won’t be closed. At the time, the company noted it has “no current plans to cease operation of The Mirage and any reporting to the contrary is inaccurate.”

Still, considering the construction works needed for the revamp of the property, HRI did not rule out a short temporary closure of the property. However, if that happens it may be at some point in 2024 and only given that the construction works require it.

The latest approval now marks another major milestone for Hard Rock as it allows the company to get closer to introducing a guitar-shaped tower that will likely become one of the landmarks in Las Vegas.

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With 20th-anniversary celebrations at Atlantic City’s Borgata Hotel Casino and Spa fast approaching, the MGM property has announced plans to spend $55m to completely redesign and rebrand the hotel. The new MGM Tower will have over 700 guestrooms and luxury suites that will be completely reimagined. The suites will wrap around the tower’s corners with amazing vista views according to reports.

Chief Operating Officer for MGM Resorts International, Corey Sanders, said: “Introducing the MGM Tower connects Borgata with the unparalleled entertainment and resort experiences MGM Resorts is recognized for worldwide. We are incredibly proud of Borgata and its industry-leading team of employees, and we believe this significant reinvestment will drive visitation to Atlantic City well into the future.”

Stunning New Experience

According to a press release from the operator in Yahoo News, visitors will find a whole new experience from the moment they arrive with a playful and contemporary personality featuring nautical design elements from the Marina District. Deep wood finishes in the “light and airy” guestrooms will accent a “bright yet warm” decor with neutral and blue tones, capturing the feeling of being surrounded by water.

The new Vista Suites wrapped around the corners of the tower will join the existing opulent suites.

A high-limit slot lounge already opened adjacent to the hotel lobby just before Christmas. The 8,300 sq ft newly rebranded Miralto underwent an extensive two-month, multi-million dollar renovation. New rooms will begin to open in April with the balance expected before Memorial Day Weekend. On the 32nd floor, in the location of the former Immersion Spa, a 9,000 sq ft event space will open as well with one-of-a-kind views for visitors.

“As we approach the resort’s 20th anniversary, we are more committed than ever to remaining a leader in hospitality and entertainment by continuing to evolve the Borgata experience,” said Travis Lunn, the resort’s President & COO. “We look forward to sharing our new vision with Borgata’s incredible guests in the coming months.”

Rodrigo Vargas Design Contributing

Award-winning international interior design firm RVD Associates worked in partnership with MGM Resorts International Design Group on designing and crafting the improvements.

East-facing rooms will have white curtains while west-facing rooms will have deep-blue curtains to accent a view of the evening marshlands in the distance.

Form, function, elegance, and leisure will all be incorporated with soft lighting hidden under the bed bases with soft light also coming from the headboard space of the beds. Ooulant space will feature “center-stage” with a table for daytime work or evening entertainment.

Source: Borgata Hotel Casino in Atlantic City announces $55m tower remodel, Yahoo News, March 14, 2023

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