Sentosa theme park ticket sales put at $315m a year

Universal Studios aims to draw 4.5m visitors; 20 rides to open next year

AT around S$70 per entry to Universal Studios Singapore (USS), Genting Singapore, which invested more than S$1 billion in the theme park could reap around S$315 million a year in ticket sales alone.

Speaking at a news conference yesterday, Douglas Trueblood, general manager (sales & marketing) for Universal Parks and Resorts, said the target is to attract 4.5 million visitors a year to the theme park at Resorts World at Sentosa (RWS), which is owned by Genting Singapore.

Assuming USS sells 4.5 million tickets at S$70 apiece, ticket sales could hit S$315 million.

Mr Trueblood did not reveal ticket prices, but Genting Singapore chairman and CEO Lim Kok Thay has said they will be lower than those at other Universal Studios theme parks.

Earlier estimates by analysts put the entry price at around S$80, compared with about US$70 in the US and 5,800 yen in Japan.

Analysts at Morgan Stanley Research (Asia-Pacific) expect entry prices to USS to be even lower at around S$70.

In a recent Morgan Stanley Research report, it was also estimated that USS could register total revenue of S$388 million for 2010, S$491 million for 2011 and S$545 million for 2012. This includes revenue from merchandising and F&B.

Interestingly, Morgan Stanley Research said Genting Singapore can offer cheaper entry tickets because of the lower construction cost of USS at about US$1 billion, which it said is about half the cost of Universal Studios Japan.

Morgan Stanley Research noted that no details have been made public on the USS franchise fee, but said it is likely that RWS will have to pay an upfront fee as well as a share of gross profit to Universal Studios once the theme park is operating.

Giving an update on USS which is in the final stages of construction, Mr Trueblood said that of the park’s 24 rides, 20 will open next year, with 18 of them original or adapted for Singapore.

Universal Parks & Resorts chairman and CEO Tom Williams said: ‘Universal Studios Singapore will be a unique experience and family destination with many new rides, shows and themes that can’t be found at other Universal Studios parks.’

USS will consist of seven themed zones that surround a man-made lagoon. The zones are: The Lost World; Ancient Egypt; Sci-Fi City; New York; Hollywood; Madagascar; and Far Far Away. Rides including the Jurassic Park Rapids Adventure, WaterWorld and Revenge of the Mummy will be located within these zones.

Mr Trueblood revealed that a Transformers attraction will open in 2011 and other new attractions will be added in turn. ‘Over the years, we will evolve,’ he said.

Source : Business Times – 21 Oct 2009

Universal Studios theme-park at Sentosa to offer 18 unique rides and attractions

Island resort Sentosa will soon be home to the world’s tallest duel roller-coaster ride and movie stars such as Marilyn Monroe, Shrek and the motley mob of Alex, Marty, Melman and Gloria last spotted in Madagascar,the movie.

The Universal Studios theme-park which will be housed on the 49 hectares Resorts World at Sentosa, revealed Tuesday its two dozen attractions, including 18 rides and attractions specially created or adapted for Singapore.

“Universal Studios Singapore will be its own unique experience and family destination with many new rides, shows and themes that can’t be found at other Universal Studios parks around the world,” said Tom Williams, chairman and CEO, Universal Parks & Resorts.

Williams said of Tuesday’s unveiling of some of the theme-park’s attractions, that attention was paid to location-specific creatives and designs so as to offer both first-time and devoted Universal Studios visitors, an exciting, different and memorable experience.

The theme-park will feature seven zones, each with its own iconic food outlets and entertainment attractions.

Tied-in to movie favourites, are the Madagascar and Far Far Away zones, featuring attractions for both young and old.

Visitors can explore Shrek’s swamp home, a castle and party at a Knight Club, or ‘move it, move it’ with wacky King Julien at a beach party after outwitting the Foosa in an original, one-of-a-kind immersive river ride that should be as wild as the lemur tribe of Madagascar.

Sci-fi buffs will have a city of their own and be able to join in the Human vs Cylons battle on the Battlestar Galactica dueling coasters, the tallest of its kind in the world. Another battle in this zone is the highly-anticipated Transformers ride which debuts at Universal Studios Singapore before heading out to the US theme-park.

As for adventure-seekers, they can trip to the 1930’s Golden Age of Egyptian Exploration to discover the Sphinx, Pharaoh’s tombs and mummies in the Revenge of the Mummy attraction, or take on the Lost World zone inhabited by dinosaurs at the redesigned Jurassic Park Rapids Adventure and Waterworld, with death defying stunts.

At the Hollywood zone, visitors can expect Broadway-style theatre modelled after the famous Hollywood Pantages Theatre and walk down Hollywood Boulevard complete with the famous Walk of Fame.

Without hopping on a jet, visitors will be transported to New York for a slice of the Big Apple, from NY-style pizza to movie-set scenes, including a special effects stage with Steven Spielberg who offers behind-the-scenes peeks and Stage 28 for star wannabes who get a chance to be part of a movie production.

“Asians love movies and we are proud to introduce the region’s first and only Universal Studios theme park” said Tan Hee Teck, CEO of Resorts World Sentosa.

According to Tan, the project is in the final stages of construction, and Universal Studios Singapore will be one of the biggest and most exciting theme-parks in the world.

Apart from Asia’s only Universal Studios theme park which will have 30 restaurants and food carts, as well as 20 retail stores and carts supporting the various attractions, Resorts World boasts the world’s largest Marine Life Park, a destination spa – ESPA and a designer casino.

Resorts World at Sentosa is slated to have its soft opening in early 2010.

Source : Channel NewsAsia – 20 Oct 2009

Seamless experience for Sentosa IR visitors

MOUNT Faber Leisure Group has forged a partnership with Resorts World Sentosa (RWS) to serve visitors to the integrated resort.

Under the partnership, the two parties will jointly distribute and sell admission and attraction tickets for RWS.

‘We are working towards delivering a wide choice of experiences and providing a high standard of service for guests to RWS through The Jewel Box, Singapore’s Iconic Hilltop Destination gateway,’ said Mount Faber CEO Susan Teh.

RWS and Mount Faber will collaborate in key areas, such as a common ticketing system and partnering in MICE events.

There are also plans to create exclusive daily packages that cover all RWS attractions and provide transport services to give RWS visitors a seamless ride experience.

The resort is slated for a soft opening early next year.

Source : Business Times – 15 Oct 2009

Sentosa Cove on track to meet schedules

CONSTRUCTION at Sentosa Cove is largely on schedule, but Sentosa Development Corporation (SDC) – which oversees the luxury residential enclave – has received a ‘handful’ of requests from developers to delay their upcoming projects, chief executive Mike Barclay told reporters yesterday.

SDC has granted an extension to one developer and it is reviewing requests from others. It will consider requests on a case-by-case basis, Mr Barclay said.

And in a few cases, land-owners have had to pay liquidated damages – which is essentially a penalty – for taking slightly longer than the maximum time allowed to develop the sites they bought. The penalty comes to 2 per cent of the land purchase price for each month’s delay.

Buyers of land plots meant for landed homes are given four years to complete building on their sites, while buyers of condominium and commercial plots are given up to five years. So far, no major delays have been seen, SDC said. With most construction on track, Sentosa Cove should be home to some 2,100 condominium units and landed homes by 2014.

While some 2,500 homes could have been built on the Cove, some developers decided to combine land plots or build larger units, which means that the enclave will have fewer units than it could have.

To date, there are some 1,700 people living in Sentosa Cove in about 400 homes. More than 30 condominiums and landed properties have received their temporary occupation permits (TOPs).

This includes condominiums such as The Berth by the Cove and The Azure. Overall condo occupancy at projects that have achieved TOP now stands at about 70 per cent, according to data from SDC.

The number of people who have set up home in the Cove is expected to climb as another 60 projects are expected to get their TOPs over the next six months.

‘With more TOPs on the way, our live-in population is set to swell to about 3,000 by the end of 2009,’ said Mr Barclay.

About 840 homes – comprising 140 landed units and 700 condo apartments – will be ready by the end of this year, up from about 400 now.

Sentosa Cove comprises of North Cove and South Cove. Land parcels in the North Cove were launched first.

‘By the end of the year, 85 per cent of the projects within North Cove will have obtained TOPs,’ said Jason Yeo, general manager for Sentosa Cove Resort Management. ‘As for South Cove, the land sale was completed in 2008 and it is envisaged to be fully developed by 2014.’

The masterplan for Sentosa Cove was finalised in 1996, and land sales kicked off in 2003. All land sites were sold by 2008, with the total investment from land sales for the Sentosa Cove project coming to some $5.1 billion in total. Some 60 per cent of all buyers were foreigners.

With all land plots on the island sold off, Sentosa’s management has now turned its attention to building a cohesive residential community.

Right now, Sentosa Cove is home to people from 21 nationalities including Europe, the United States, China, India, Australia and neighbouring South-east Asian countries.

‘We are actively building a community life now and are committed to fulfilling our vision of delivering the world’s most desirable address,’ said Mr Barclay.

‘Are we on track with our vision? The answer is yes,’ said Jennie Chua, chairman of the Sentosa Cove Council. In recent quarters, property prices across Singapore (including Sentosa Cove) have tumbled and reports of construction delays have emerged. But this is due to a global economic downturn, Ms Chua said. In the longer term, Sentosa Cove still offers an attractive residential enclave for locals and foreigners, she said.

Source : Business Times –  Apr 2009

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Sentosa Cove residential developer gets one-year extension

A slowdown in the prime property market in Singapore has prompted a handful of developers to ask for extensions on their projects in the high-end Sentosa Cove. One developer has been granted a one-year extension.

The residential properties on the resort island of Sentosa are aimed at providing luxury waterfront living. But prices have been hit amid the property slump in Singapore.

There are 1,700 residents in Sentosa Cove but the number will grow to about 3,000 by the end of the year.

These high-net worth residents come from over 21 countries like Ireland, China, Indonesia and Russia. Forty per cent of the residents are Singaporeans.

Sentosa Cove is seen as one of the most sought-after addresses in Singapore, and at their peak, units there were retailing at about S$2,000 per square foot.

But the global slowdown has forced prices to come down by half, prompting some developers to ask for relief.

Sentosa Cove’s general manager, Jason Yeo, said: “Developers are seeking for some flexibility in completion period. There are already live-in populations and they have to live with some construction activities, so it’s how we balance between developers’ needs as well as residents’ needs.”

Landed properties are given a four-year completion period while condominiums get five years.

Sentosa Cove says it will review requests for extensions on a case-by-case basis. But it is confident that all 2,100 units will be completed by 2014.

Sentosa Development Corp’s board member, Low Teo Ping, said: “When we selected the developers, it was not just based on price itself but on the track record and also the experience and the credibility of the developers. So that’s our first line of defence. So far, it has only been a handful of developers who have actually requested for some consideration.”

Sentosa Cove will spend some $300m to improve the island’s infrastructure over the next decade.

Mike Barclay, CEO of Sentosa Leisure Group, said: “We’re doubling capacity on the causeway into the island. There’ll be three lanes in each direction, and that will be up and running in about six months’ time.

“We’ve bought two new trains, we’ll increase capacity by about 50%. We’ll love to get a ferry service running from the waterfront. So we’re in discussions with the MPA (Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore) and the cruise centre to see if this is viable.”

Total land sale on Sentosa Cove reaped some $5.1 billion in investments.

Source : Channel NewsAsia –  Apr 2009

Resorts World at Sentosa to open four new hotels next year

Singapore’s second integrated resort operator, Resorts World at Sentosa, has refuted accusations that more than half of the 10,000 jobs available would go to foreigners.

Its management says Singaporeans remain its top priority when hiring, and it is receiving up to a thousand applications a day.

The comments were made at the media preview of four new hotels that will be opening on the island next year.

The Maxims Tower, Hotel Michael, Festive Hotel and Hard Rock Hotel are just four of six hotels that locals and foreigners alike can look forward to staying at.

Each hotel has a unique theme designed to cater to the needs of a particular set of guests.

For example, the Maxims Tower is an all-suite hotel with 24-hour butler service, built directly above the casino.

It is an exclusive by-invitation-only hotel intended for high-rollers, royalty and VIPs.

The six hotels can accommodate up to a total of 1,800 guests.

According to Resorts World at Sentosa, about 40 per cent of the 10,000 people hired will be working in the hotels.

And its management is confident the rooms will be filled, in spite of the uncertain times.

Vice-president, Rooms at Resorts World at Sentosa, Andrew Hickey, said: “Having six hotels plus all the other amenities around the hotels… That’s going to be very, very attractive. And we’re very certain there will be high demand.”

The remaining 60 per cent of 10,000 strong staff will be distributed evenly between the casino and Universal Studios.

Eighty per cent of the 500 people already hired are locals, and Resorts World at Sentosa says that the bulk of the jobs will continue to go to Singaporeans, with the exception of specialist jobs that require experience in gaming and international theme parks.

The Festive Hotel, with its family-themed focus, boasts of loft beds for parents travelling with children. The Festive Hotel, alongside the Maxims Tower, Hotel Michael and the Hard Rock Hotel, will open early next year.

The Resorts World at Sentosa says it is already receiving enquiries about booking reservations.

Source : Channel NewsAsia – Apr 2009

 

Top-end hotel Capella opens on Sentosa

THE ultra-luxurious Capella Singapore on Sentosa opened its doors yesterday.

With room rates starting at $750 a night, it is the only top-end hotel to open here this year.

Despite the poor economic conditions and global paring down of travel budgets, the hotel’s general manager, Mr Michael Luible, expressed optimism that it would do well because it was a ‘unique product’.

He said the hotel would run on the philosophy that whatever guests want, they will get. For example, they can check in whenever they want.

This week, the Capella will be where British carmaker Rolls-Royce launches its new model 200EX; fashion house Gucci will also flaunt its spring collection there.

The 111-room hotel sits on a site more than 12ha in size. It has 61 ’standard’ rooms and 11 suites, and each of its 38 villas has its own swimming pool.

A standard room, at $750 a night, is 77 sq m in size – almost twice the size of an average 40 sq m hotel room here.

The private villas, starting at about $1,800, offer at least 133 sq m of space.

The property is the first for the luxury brand in Asia and will be its flagship in the region, said Mr Horst Schulze, the chairman and chief executive officer of the West Paces Hotel Group, the parent company for the chain.

Deputy Prime Minister S. Jayakumar was the guest of honour at the opening of the hotel, which departed from the practice of having a soft opening ahead of its official debut.

To mark its opening, the hotel is offering guests who are staying two nights an extra night free. This deal is available till the end of May.

Source : Straits Times -  Mar 2009

Hard Rock Hotel to open on Sentosa in 2010

A HARD Rock Hotel will be one of four hotels to open at Resorts World at Sentosa (RWS) in the first quarter of 2010.

Collectively, the four hotels will provide about 1,350 rooms. The other three slated to open in Q1 2010 are Maxims Tower, Hotel Michael and Festive Hotel.

‘The Hard Rock Hotel Singapore is a welcome addition to our portfolio,’ said Hard Rock International’s CEO Hamish Dodds.

The five-star, US$223 million hotel will have 360 rooms, conference facilities and a ballroom that can seat up to 7,300.

Room rates are likely to be 30 per cent dearer than hotels in the surrounding area, as is usually the case with hotels in other theme parks, said RWS chief executive Tan Hee Teck.

Mr Dodds acknowledges the travel slump sparked by the global economic downturn has hit hotel room rates and occupancy levels, but is confident the Hard Rock brand will outperform its competitors in the four to five-star category.

Hard Rock International, which now has 124 Hard Rock Cafes and nine hotels/casinos, is expanding in the US and overseas.

Major projects are on the way in Macau and Penang – scheduled to open this year – as well as in Palm Springs, Atlanta and Panama in 2010. Hard Rock Hotels will also open in Dubai in 2011 and Abu Dhabi the following year.

Despite the tough economic environment, Hard Rock International grew its top and bottom lines last year. Top line was up 7-8 per cent, said Mr Dodds, who declined to reveal figures.

The $6.59 billion RWS project will have a total of 1,800 rooms spread over six hotels, plus a casino and attractions such as South- east Asia’s only Universal Studios theme park.

The project expects to generate more than 9,000 jobs by the end of this year and a total of 10,000 when it is fully up and running. It expects 15 million visitors in its first year.

Source : Business Times -  Mar 2009

Premium for convenience at Resorts World

GUESTS will be charged a premium for a night’s stay in the hotels in Resorts World at Sentosa, when it opens next year.

Yesterday, the casino-resort’s chief executive officer Tan Hee Teck said that hotels in theme parks overseas typically charge a higher rate than similar properties in the city.

This is because they offer visitors a range of attractions within walking distance, including Singapore’s first Universal Studios at Resorts World.

Family travellers with young children will enjoy the convenience of being able to take their tired kids back for a rest before coming back out again, without having to incur extra transport costs.

Minimum rates at five-star properties on Sentosa can range from $375 to $650.

Although Resorts World at Sentosa room rates have not been firmed up, The Straits Times understands that hotels in theme parks can charge up to 30 per cent more than the same class of hotel outside.

However, Mr Klaus Kohlmayr, director of service for hotel consultancy firm Integrated Decisions and Systems International, said it might not be a wise move to do so in such a weak market.

He said: ‘Leisure markets are the most price-sensitive, especially for families. They might decide it is cheaper to stay outside and take a taxi in for the day.’

Still, Resorts World at Sentosa is confident of drawing the crowds when it opens its doors next year.

The 49ha integrated resort on Sentosa – Singapore’s second after the Marina Bay Sands project – expects 15 million visitors in its first full year of operation. Mr Tan said the resort, with its theme park, casino, shopping and other attractions, is a destination in itself where people can stay for five to seven days.

The project is on schedule to open in the first quarter of next year, he said.

Of the resort’s six hotels, four – Hard Rock Hotel, Maxims Tower, Hotel Michael and Festive Hotel – will be ready by the first quarter of next year.

Some 1,350 out of 1,800 rooms will be available for the resort’s soft opening, with rooms going on sale by the end of the year.

Yesterday, the media was given a glimpse of the interior of the US$223 million (S$338 million) Hard Rock Hotel. It will have 10 suites, 350 rooms, 26 meeting rooms and a ballroom that can accommodate up to 7,300 people.

Guests will be able to take in live performances in an outdoor venue from the comfort of their room balconies.

In a nod to the resort positioning itself as a family destination, Hard Rock Hotel will have rooms that can accommodate up to six people.

In keeping with Hard Rock’s music industry theme, the hotel will be decorated with guitar-shaped and other musical motifs. Bathroom mirrors adorned with light bulbs will give guests the feel of being in a rock star’s dressing room.

Together with the opening of the new Hard Rock Hotel, Singapore will also get another Hard Rock Cafe, announced Mr Stephen Lau, who heads HPL Hotels & Resorts, the main franchise owner of the Hard Rock brand.

The new cafe, which will be slightly smaller than the one in Cuscaden Road, will be on Resort World’s Festive Walk, a pedestrian mall lined with shops and restaurants.

Mr Lau said the 19-year-old outlet off Orchard Road will also be refurbished.

Source : Straits Times – Mar 2009

Resorts World at Sentosa on track to open 4 hotels by 2010

Operator of Singapore’s second integrated resort, Resorts World at Sentosa, said it is on track to open four of its six hotels by the first quarter of 2010, adding some 1,350 rooms in the Republic.

Even though tourist arrivals, hotel occupancy and room rates have been falling due to the global economic slowdown, the integrated resort will be launched as scheduled.

The IR expects to fill 9,000 job vacancies by the end of this year and to bring the total number to 10,000 when its doors open.

Of these positions, 3,000 will be for the casino, 3,000 for theme park operations and about 4,000 for hotel and other entertainment facilities.

Tan Hee Teck, CEO, Resorts World at Sentosa, said: “Right now, we have 400 over employees and we will continue to grow that over the next many months. The peak of that hiring will probably come at the end of the third quarter, in the early fourth quarter of this year.

“Those people who will need training, especially in specialised equipment for the theme park and even for the casino, will be hired first. We already have an internship programme where we hire Singaporeans to be sent to Osaka in Japan and Orlando in the US for training and for familiarisation.”

This was revealed as the resort operator unveiled plans for a Hard Rock Hotel on Thursday. The US$223 million venture is one of the four hotels that will be opened at the integrated resort by next March.

The Hard Rock Hotel, comprising 10 suites and 350 deluxe rooms, will also feature one of Asia’s largest ballrooms that can seat up to 7,300 people.

Room rates at the hotel have not been fixed, but the resort operator said it would be comparable to other theme parks worldwide and on par with five-star room rates here.

While that may seem steep to some in times like these, its venture partner said it is confident business will do well.

Hamish Dodds, president & CEO, Hard Rock International, said: “We have a very healthy business in Japan. We’re now opening in Macau and targeting the Chinese market. Southeast Asia, with our relationship with Ong Beng Seng here in Singapore, has always been very important to us.”

Some 1,800 hotel rooms are expected to come onto the market when all six hotels at Resorts World are ready.

Source : Channel NewsAsia – Mar 2009