It’s been over a decade, but the iconic silhouette of Marina Bay Sands remains the country’s biggest tourism draw. It’s mind boggling to think about the controversy the property elicited when it was first announced. Critics denounced the casino, claiming that legalised gambling would destroy the social fabric of the country. It was such a hot-button topic that our Parliament even had multi-day debates about it.
Now, the integrated resort attracts 45 million visitors annually, with over 11,000 employees flitting about the gargantuan space to keep it running smoothly. In terms of its financial impact, together with Resorts World Sentosa, they contribute around two percent of Singapore’s gross domestic product (GDP) each year. In 2022, the country’s nominal GDP amounted to $644 billion. Earnings fluctuate, but the property is constantly in the green and makes anywhere between $500 million and $1 billion annually.
These figures, however, do not accurately portray the real statistics that have turned Marina Bay Sands into the behemoth it is today. The 15 smiles you get from the check-in lobby to your hotel room; the 10 rapid minutes it takes for room service to come when you order French fries after a heady night out at Avenue; the one personalised check-in within the comfortable confines of your newly revamped luxury suite so you can skip the long queues.
In its quest to remain at the top, the resort has committed US$1 billion (S$1.3 billion) to transform the guest experience. More suites are being built, almost tripling from the current 137 to 422 once renovations are complete, in response to luxury travel’s rising demands.
The dark, dulcet brown wood panels that lined the hallways and guest rooms have already been replaced with a more contemporary taupe colour palette and subtle luxury textures. For example, there is leather cladding on the hangers and drawers, thick wool carpets on the floor, and an intricate bespoke minibar with a gold Chinoiserie pattern on shiny black lacquer.
My favourite is the cocktail trolley (left) with the pre-mixed cocktails and several garnishes, including dried orange slices perfect for an Old Fashioned.
The marble bathtub is the centrepiece of the new and incredibly spacious bathrooms, which feature his-and-hers vanity sinks and beautiful furnishings. Long morning showers and slow evening baths become de rigueur.
However, there is more to it than aesthetics. Sustainability is a critical component in the resort’s revamp. The process begins in the guest rooms. As you enter, an intuitive system turns on the lights and air-conditioning, and draws the curtains, reversing them when you exit. Even when you lie completely still in bed, the lights and air-conditioning remain, unlike other hotels with movement-based programming.
Bamboo is used for personal amenities, and several other initiatives encourage guests to embrace sustainability without sacrificing luxury. With a smile, one staff tells me that Marina Bay Sands strives to never say no. Almost nothing is impossible unless it’s illegal. The key, I learned, is to offer a suitable and satisfying alternative if the original request cannot be fulfilled.
From the array of dining options such as Waku Ghin and Yardbird to the comprehensive shopping and nightlife offerings, Marina Bay Sands is a smorgasbord of experiences.
Beyond the rooms, the resort is also embarking on a more cohesive strategy with nine other hotels, including Fullerton Hotel, Mandarin Oriental, and Pan Pacific Singapore, to attract more international events to Singapore.
The Himalayan salt room in the Horizon suite.Photo: Marina Bay Sands 
The living room at the Marina Suite.Photo: Marina Bay Sands 
The Presidential Suite features a full swing golf simulator.Photo: Marina Bay Sands
Dubbed the Bay Precinct Strategy, the plan, according to Paul Town, chief operating officer of Marina Bay Sands, is to “offer clients an enlarged platform and direct access to different services around the Bay”.
It might be easy to get jaded with the constant traffic around Marina Bay Sands and the always-full car park. But there’s always something magical when you step through the doors of the integrated resort. No wonder the best-performing luxury stores in Singapore are all at the Shoppes. Even after over a decade, the fairy dust is still there. With the billion-dollar reinvestment, I expect that the magic will continue.
