Marina Bay Sands (MBS) has gone from being an integrated resort idea on the drawing board, 10 years ago, to a fully realised visitor experience centred on an iconic hotel and convention centre complex.
The complex’s Sands Expo and Convention Centre is reporting booming convention business, including two simultaneous events during my visit in July. Singapore International Water Week, an event launched in the city state, continued to grow for its 2016 edition at Marina Bay, while World Cities Summit was pulled off to great acclaim, illustrating that running two world-class conventions in the same week can be done seamlessly.
Sands Expo is now the biggest MICE facility in Singapore, with the largest ballroom in Southeast Asia able to host 11,000 delegates. There is 120,000sqm of meeting space in all, set over five floors.
The Grand Ballroom on Level 5 can seat up to 6,600 for a banquet or up to 8,000 delegates for a convention, and can also be configured into 16 smaller rooms.
The Roselle-Simpor Ballroom (Level 4) can accommodate groups of up to 3,500 delegates.
Marina Bay Sands’ hotel accommodation is spread over three towers crowned by the Sands SkyPark.
There are 2,500 rooms and suites in what is the biggest hotel in Singapore. The rooms offer views of the South China Sea or Marina Bay.
Of course, you’ll want to get a selfie in the SkyPark infinity pool and, if your schedule allows, a treatment at the Banyan Tree Fitness Club on Level 55.
Beyond the conference
The whole point of the integrated resort is that delegates need never leave the complex. Ensure your credit card is loaded for the designer shopping, via a personal shopper if you feel the need.
Visitors have their pick of a raft of celebrity chef restaurants at MBS. Celebrity chef Wolfgang Puck has two restaurants in the complex: for steak connoisseurs, the CUT wood and charcoal grill offers meat sourced directly from southern California. While on level 57 of Tower 2, Spago offers Californian cuisine ‘with a global accent’.
Sky on 57 showcases modern interpretation of Franco Asian cuisine and is under the guidance of celebrity chef Justin Quek.
For a more casual dining treat, the Bread Street Kitchen by Gordon Ramsay is the place for fish and chips and shepherd’s pie. And for stylish French casual, its db Bistro & Oyster Bar, which specialises in seafood.
Delegates can work off some of the surplus calories gained at the restaurants with a Sunrise Yoga session option on Observation Deck.
Sustainability at MBS
MBS is not just an eye-catching piece of architecture, it has an ISO 20121 certification – a first in the industry, and Kevin Teng, MBS executive director of sustainability, is the man driving the Green agenda. Green meetings, he says, are the standard option at MBS, and this is reflected in its Harvest Menu. A tour of the hotel’s own herb garden with Teng is also a treat delegates might want to try.
Sub-metering of the MICE floors at MBS allows tracking of energy usage across specific areas and the latest technology is used in waste management, with recycling bins and sustainable disposing of leftover food and materials.
The ArtScience Museum on campus embodies the spirit of innovation and its 21 galleries offer further opportunities for receptions, after-parties and private fashion showcases.
