EXTRA meetings and events space including an arena are among the features revealed by Marina Bay Sands as one of Singapore’s most iconic landmarks is readied for expansion.
Additional space will include a luxury hotel tower with a sky roof, a 15,000-seat entertainment arena, conference and exhibitions venues, as well as new F&B and nightlife offerings.
Marina Bay Sands (MBS) said in a statement that the arena is “designed to be the leading live entertainment venue in Asia” while delivering premium hospitality experiences.
MBS said the arena would help attract top entertainers from Asia and around the world “who previously may not have included Southeast Asia on their tours, while the additional MICE space will help attract more new-to-Singapore events”.
The expansion project is scheduled to begin in July 2025, subject to planning approval, with completion targeted for July 2029.
Patrick Dumont, president and chief operating officer of Marina Bay Sands’ parent company, Las Vegas Sands said: “With the ongoing support of the Singapore government, this development will further enhance the leisure and business tourism appeal of Singapore.
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“It optimises the site’s programming elements and is designed to drive high-value tourism growth to Singapore,” Dumont said.
“The all-suite hotel tower will set new standards of hospitality, the state-of-the-art arena will help attract the highest-calibre global entertainment events and artists, and the additional convention and exhibition space will extend the success of Singapore as a leading MICE destination.
“This significant investment in Singapore will help ensure Marina Bay Sands is ideally positioned to grow its economic, employment and visitorship contributions in the years ahead.”
The expansion project is separate from a US$1.75 billion reinvestment in the existing property. The largest reinvestment since Marina Bay Sands’ opening in 2010, it has already seen the complete refurbishment of Hotel Towers 1 and 2, in addition to new dining and luxury lifestyle amenities for travellers.
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Refurbishment work is now focusing on Hotel Tower 3, in addition to the Hotel Lobby and Sands SkyPark.
Since opening in 2010 at a development cost of US$5.6 billion, Marina Bay Sands has provided significant benefits to Singapore’s tourism sector, MBS said. More than 470 million people have visited the resort since its opening and more than 1,750 new-to-Singapore MICE events have been held at MBS.
Along with support for local businesses, including small- and medium-sized enterprises, the integrated resort directly employs more than 11,500 people, with the figure expected to rise over the years ahead to support the expansion of the resort.
Main picture: Aerial view of the expansion at Marina Bay Sands with a new luxury hotel tower to the left topped by a terraced platform… Image: Marina Bay Sands
