Kopi talk - Marina Sands IR up by Apr 2010

Dec 22, 2009

By Jessica Lim

What's opening

By mid-April: About 1,000 hotel rooms, parts of the convention centre and shopping area, restaurants (including three celebrity chef eateries) and casino

By mid-June (60 days later):The rest of the resort, including the Sands Sky Park, with the exception of the Art Science Museum and the two theatres

By September: One theatre

By end-2010: The Art Science Museum and remaining theatre

Las Vegas Sands chairman Sheldon Adelson at a meeting with the media yesterday to give an update on the progress of the integrated resort. He was in combative mood at the hour-long session, half of which was dominated by the delay in its opening. -- ST PHOTO: NG SOR LUAN

THE first guests at the Marina Bay Sands integrated resort (IR) will be able to check in, have a meal, attend a convention and gamble by the middle of April next year, at the latest.
That was the new deadline revealed by Las Vegas Sands chairman Sheldon Adelson on Monday.
That means about 1,000 hotel rooms, several eateries (including three of its six celebrity-chef restaurants), part of the convention facilities and the casino floor will have to be ready by then, or the operator risks failing to secure its casino licence.
The rest of the project will open in phases before the end of next year.
Sands training 'early next year'
Mr Adelson also had an update for new employees, some of whom were in the news last week waiting to hear when training for their new jobs as dealers and croupiers would start.