The entire project cost US$7 Billion to build. Sheldon Adelson, who acquired the Las Vegas Sands in the 90s, successfully bidded for one of two casino franchises in Singapore in 2004 (the other franchise went to the Malaysian Genting group--their Resorts World on Sentosa Island has a successful working partnership with the Universal Studios theme park). The Marina Bay Sands has effectively turned Singapore from the previously oft-described "boring" to the now touted "exciting!" With three towers (55 storeys each) connected by a Sky Park at the 57th floor, the hotel-casino-mall has become the new icon of Singapore. Vicky had told me that the property was big and could be viewed from afar, but that didn't prepare me from the awe I felt when I alit from the taxi and walked into the lobby. The inside atrium was grand, and despite the fact that the floor area was quite huge, the place was filled with people! Tourists, people on holiday, businessmen, families, honeymooners galore! My room was at the 18th floor and was elegant, spacious and had complete amenities. The adjoining mall had all the high-end names--Boucheron, Chaumet, Vacheron Constantin, Tolkowski, De Beers, Stephano Ricci, Chow Tay Fook. I couldn't wait to enter the casino--and I wasn't disappointed! This place was truly huge, and while floor traffic wasn't like the bumper-to-bumper grind in the Macau Sands, all tables were filled with players--take note, this was on a Monday night. Went to bed past midnight, tired from all the walking, but giddy from all the excitement!
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