The first phase of the $5.5 billion Marina Bay Sands Resort and Expo and Convention Centre in Singapore will open April 27, and the first conference to occupy the convention center is the Inter-Pacific Bar Association’s (IPBA) conference May 2-5. The event will be followed by the Sound Light Visual conference and tradeshow from June 16 – 18, and UFI, the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry, will be returning to Singapore after a 15-year absence to hold its annual Congress at the Marina Bay Sands this fall.
The waterfront resort complex is being developed by Marina Bay Sands Pte. Ltd., a subsidiary of Las Vegas Sands Corp (LVSC). LVSC is a powerhouse among hotel, gaming, and resort development companies and is headquartered in Las Vegas.
“Despite the challenging, and at times unprecedented economic conditions companies like ours recently faced, our dedication to completing this development never wavered, not even for a second,” said Sheldon G. Adelson, LVSC chairman and CEO. “That determination defines this company as much as our ability to create and develop masterpieces such as Marina Bay Sands. We have no doubt the property will be a tremendous success.”
Asia’s newest premier conference facility, the Marina Bay Sands will be hosting events from a variety of industries including engineering, legal, property, consumer lifestyle, textile, life sciences, machinery, manufacturing and renewable energy. Each exhibition will attract between 3,000 and 25,000 attendees.
The five-story Marina Bay Sands and Expo Convention Centre offers 120,000 square meters (393,700 square feet) of space for more than 45,000 attendees. This includes an exhibition hall that can accommodate about 2,000 exhibits and a grand ballroom with seating capacity for 6,600 individuals for a banquet, 7,000 for a stage performance or 11,000 delegates for an auditorium-style event.
When completed, the 55-story, three-tower, Marina Bay Sands Hotel will offer 2,560 guest rooms, topped by a rooftop Sands SkyPark. The property also includes an outdoor event plaza, two theaters that can seat 2,000 each, a casino, 300 stores in a mix of international luxury brands and a surplus of dining options.
“We are proud that Marina Bay Sands is the premium venue for conventions, meetings and exhibitions in Asia,” said Thomas Arasi, president and CEO of Marina Bay Sands. “Marina Bay Sands has a unique appeal and the wide variety of different events is a strong sign of support for us and for Singapore.”
New shows that will debut at Marina Bay Sands include the Industrial Fabrics Associations International (IFAI) Expo Asia 2011 trade show, the first major textile event catered for the Asian audience.
“We believe that Marina Bay Sands will be an exciting location for our event. The design of the facility is breathtaking,’ said Todd Lindemann, IFAI’s vice president of conference management. “The broad array of entertainment found on the premises is sure to attract even more attendees.”
Other firsts include Art Stage Singapore 2011 and 2012; Dye+Chem Asia International Expo 2010 and 2012; Offshore Asia 2011; as well as the IEEE P802, an engineering conference that will take place in 2011.
Established shows and conferences that will be held at the Marina Bay Sands, include AAMA-TEX 2010, Aerospace Supplier eXchange 2011, Gaming Expo Asia, Glasstech Asia, Hospital Build 2010, iProperty Expo 2010, INVEST Fair 2010, ProcessCem Asia 2010, POWER-GEN Asia and PS Asia 2010, HVAC Asia 2010; Singapore International Jewelry Show; Singapore Gifts and Stationery Show 2010; Sea Asia 2011, The Wedding Diary Asia 2010 and World Engineering Education Forum.
Additional information on the Marina Bay Sands Expo and Convention Centre can visit the Web site at www.marinabaysands.com.
To host meetings or other events in Singapore, go to www.visitsingapore.com/mice/ or www.visitsingapore-usa.com.
Aleta Walther is a marketing communications professional and freelance writer with several years experience as a corporate exhibit manager. Contact Aleta at aw@waltherstewart.com.
