Resorts World Sentosa wants to unlock new opportunities

Resorts World Sentosa (RWS) embarks on expansion to unlock new opportunities for travel and MICE markets. The RWS 2.0 expansion aims to attract international visitors with immersive highlights in attractions, entertainment and lifestyle.

Construction commences in Q2 this year with Universal Studios Singapore and S.E.A. Aquarium getting major enhancements as they are expected to become new tourism icons. Together with other refurbishments, RWS is expected to spend about S$400 million in project investment.

The S.E.A. Aquarium will be rebranded as the Singapore Oceanarium (SGO), and it will be three times the size of the current aquarium. It will showcase a larger scale and depth of content enhanced by digital innovation and interactive technology.

Significantly, the SGO will feature a carbon-neutral Research and Learning Centre fully equipped with immersive learning labs, collaborative workspaces, seminar rooms and a rooftop event space. The centre will allow both scientists and researchers as well as students and the community to explore their areas of speciality and interests.

Universal Studios, which is already a popular highlight in many incentive travel programmes, will feature a new immersive themed zone, Minion Land, where a world’s first original ride will make its debut. Other highlights include Despicable Me Minion Mayhem, a motion-simulator 3D ride, themed shops and restaurants.

Importantly, Resorts World Convention Centre will undergo an overhaul as well to strengthen RWS’s position as a leading business destination that continues to meet the requirements of future MICE events.

“With Singapore being home to the regional headquarters for many multinational companies, we are hopeful that business travel will resume. The needs of business travellers have, however, changed because of the pandemic. We are seeing some of our visitors stay longer and a growing preference for the diverse multitude of offerings that RWS offers,” said Edward Chew, Senior Vice President, Sales and Marketing, RWS.

Additionally, Hard Rock Hotel Singapore, Hotel Michael and Festive Hotel will undergo refurbishments in stages starting from Q2 this year through 2023. When completed, Festive Hotel will be refashioned into a bleisure (business-leisure) and workation (work-vacation) hotel with a variety of mobile working spaces and lifestyle offerings that will meet new work trends.

Chew said the outlook for MICE events looks positive, with a strong report card to date. “Our team of events specialists have collaborated closely with our clients to host over 100 events in the last few months, with some being organised in a hybrid format to reach out to a regional and international audience. These include corporate and associations’ meetings, awards ceremonies, government and charity events as well as training programmes attended by a largely local audience.”

Chew concluded that with the Singapore government’s continuous push for more Vaccinated Travel Lanes and the re-opening of borders, the huge pent-up demand from regional and international event organisers for MICE facilities in Singapore will be boosted.

“Enquiries for events in 2023 and beyond are coming in, with a number of organisations wanting to hold employee or stakeholder engagement events. This is in line with the rising trend of business travellers who wish to incorporate social networking elements to their trips.”