December 2012: Resorts World Sentosa Celebrates Grand Opening

SINGAPORE, 7 December 2012 – Singapore’s first integrated resort Resorts World Sentosa marked its Grand Opening today with a forecast of 17 million visitors for 2013.

The S$7 billion resort has welcomed more than 45 million guests since opening in January 2010. It opened the second of its two anchor attractions a fortnight ago; The Marine Life Park, which is also the world’s largest oceanarium with 100,000 fishes from 800 species, is expected to draw at least 1 million more visitors to the resort in 2013. The resort’s other major key attraction is Universal Studios Singapore.

Tan Sri Lim Kok Thay, Chairman of the Genting Group which owns Resorts World Sentosa, said: “In 2006, we began with a vision to build a destination resort like no other. Six years on, we have taken our vision into reality, and turned the page for Singapore’s tourism story. The resort has built itself into one of the most desired destinations for families in Asia. Even as the global economy teeters on uncertainty, we remain confident of surpassing our 2012 attendance of 16 million visitors for next year. ”

RWS’s Grand Opening begins with a ceremony officiated by the Prime Minister of Singapore, Mr Lee Hsien Loong. Mr Lee will unveil an 8-meter sculpture commissioned for the event, Infinity, at a center spot of the Resort, symbolising the Resort’s infinite moments of family fun and excitement.

A gala dinner follows where 1,600 guests will dine on a banquet prepared by 28 Michelin-star chef Joël Robuchon and Singapore’s own celebrity chef Sam Leong. Entertainment for the evening includes performances by soprano Sarah Brightman and China artist Sun Nan at the Resorts World Convention Centre’s Compass Ballroom.

Among the guests will be beneficiaries from the Movement for the Intellectually Disabled (MINDS), who are also the craftsmen behind the evening’s souvenirs.

Movement for the Intellectually Disabled of Singapore (MINDS) aims to provide employment training and development opportunities for Persons with Intellectual Disability (PWIDs).

For public guests, the highlight for the evening is a 12-minute firework display synchronised with the world’s largest animatronics performance – Crane Dance – at the Resort’s waterfront. Public performances by local bands and a capella groups will take place across the Resort over the weekend.

Image courtesy of Resorts World Sentosa

Tan Sri Lim added: “Today’s Grand Opening marks a momentous chapter in our journey. We stay committed in ensuring that Resorts World Sentosa continues to be an exceptional destination.” Over the next three months, Universal Studios Singapore will launch a new attraction, the Sesame Street Spaghetti Space Chase. This will be the world’s first Sesame Street indoor theme park ride specifically designed for the entire family.

At Marine Life Park, new immersive experiences such as ray-feeding, shark and dolphin interaction programmes, as well as sea trek diving and new education and conservation programmes will be progressively rolled out. New entertainment, including a new resident show at its Festive Grand theatre, will be introduced in 2013.From today onwards, RWS will introduce discounted bundled day passes to its anchor attractions – Universal Studios Singapore and Marine Life Park (Refer to Annex B).

Pictures from Press Conference:

ABOUT RESORTS WORLD SENTOSA
Resorts World Sentosa (RWS), Singapore’s first integrated resort is located on the resort island of Sentosa. Spanning 49 hectares, the resort opened in January 2010 and welcomed over 30 million visitors in its first two years of opening. RWS is home to the region’s first-and-only Universal Studios theme park, the world’s largest oceanarium – Marine Life Park, the Maritime Experiential Museum, a casino, luxurious accommodation in six unique hotels, the Resorts World Convention Centre, celebrity chef restaurants, a world-class spa as well as specialty retail outlets. The resort also offers entertainment including a resident magical spectacular – Incanto, and public attractions such as the Crane Dance and the Lake of Dreams. Resorts World Sentosa is wholly owned by Genting Singapore, a company of the Genting Group. For more information, please visit www.rwsentosa.com.

Lighting Elizabeth Hotel’s Crown Suite with a Lightsphere

Earlier this year, May 26 to be exact, I was in Singapore for a Far East Hospitality hotel and serviced residences photography assignment. Before the shoot commenced we recced several hotels to have a feel of what we’d be taking pictures of. One of the stopovers was The Elizabeth Hotel, the one right next door to Quincy. Though not in the of rooms to shoot, we dropped by the renovated Suite for a look-see. Some of you may remember this Facebook post I improvised lighting by clipping my Phottix Odin-Speedlite-580EX-Lightsphere ensemble on the door handle for the end result you see below.

A Gary Fong Lightsphere is an indispensable light modifier I swear by when you have neither the time nor lights to get the desired result. Flash is triggered wirelessly using Phottix Odin system and the factory supplied Speedlite hot shoe adapter allowed me to mount the set up on the door handle.

Metered for available light to ensure details outside the balcony are maintained and in doing drastically reduced available light in the bedroom.

I wrote that Crown Suite wasn’t part of my shoot for reason that the hotel had previous photographed the room for their image library (see Suite at bottom of page while the images of the other rooms are my deliverables).

Quincy: Boutique Hotel on Mount Elizabeth Singapore

31 January 2011, Singapore – Quincy the first all-inclusive boutique hotel in Singapore has recently been ranked first in “The Trendiest Hotel in Asia” and seventh in the “Top 10 Trendiest Hotel in the World” by the 2011 TripAdvisor® Travelers’ Choice® awards. Believed to be an industry-first in Singapore, Quincy offers a distinctive all-inclusive stay. The room rate includes a limousine airport transfer – with complimentary Wi-Fi access during the ride, three meals a day, high-speed Internet connection during stay, mini-bar amenities, and cocktails in the evening. With walking distance to Orchard Road, the 108-room trendy hotel offers guests unparalleled privacy and exclusivity.

More photos of Quincy on Facebook | Visit Quincy’s web page

MThe hotel’s facade of dark gray metal, anodized aluminum cladding target the modern, young business travellers and ensure exterior wears well in the tropical climate.

The published price for this package is from $368++. SHIMWORLD readers can enjoy a special 10% discount by clicking this link http://bit.ly/quincyflyer-jan when making a reservation. (Valid till 30th June 2012)

The 108-room Quincy is located at Mount Elizabeth, just a stone’s throw from the Orchard Road shopping belt. The hotel is reported to have cost $24 million to develop and furnish. From the outside, the rooms appear to be stacked on top of one another.

Glass-enclosed pool cantilevered from the 12th floor offers a view of the Singapore skyline.

Guests at the hotel using iMac stations in the lobby.

Guests at the glass walled restaurant enjoying a relaxing morning. Photo: G11

Rest and indulge with our all-inclusive service, comprising three meals a day served at the Restaurant. From 6:00pm to 8:00pm daily, lay back and enjoy complimentary cocktails, beers or a selection of thirst-quenching drinks. Need to satisfy a snack attack? Our in-room minibar supplies which are replenished daily also come complimentary.

Quincy’s rooms are all of the same class and size — 26 sq m. All studio rooms in our hip hotel feature premium king-sized mattresses draped with feather beddings and 400-thread-count sheets. On top of that are two micro fibre and two feather pillows, which all promise a good night’s rest.

The separate bathtub and rain-shower relax the weary travellers with a selection of invigorating Molton Brown’s bath amenities that suit the guests’ mood.

LEFT: Focaccia Verdure (V) – focaccia bread with assorted fresh greens, sliced tomatoes, mozzarella cheese, grilled zucchini and eggplant, capsicum and oregano. RIGHT: Nasi Goreng – Spicy chicken and ikan bilis fried rice, topped with fried egg and served with chicken wing, prawn crackers and sambal chilli.

If there’s something better than ice cream it is complimentary free flow ice cream as Debbie is seen here getting her second helping, or is it her third?

Complimentary selection of fruit juices and soft drinks during lunch hour.

With complimentary minibar in the room replenished daily guests also enjoy all day coffee and tea at the restaurant.

Cupcake baking  class for hotel guests on Saturdays at the Quincy

Hotel guests eagerly waiting for cupcake baking session to begin.

In-house movie night on a Saturday for hotel guests including complimentary freshly made popcorn.