MBS gets URA approval to build 587-room fourth tower, down from previous 1,000-room plan

LVS added that project costs are expected to “meaningfully exceed” the initial US$3.3 billion (S$4.5 billion) estimates – inclusive of land – that were made in 2019, due to “inflation, the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, higher labour and material costs, and other factors”.

 

Design, development and programming work for the fourth tower “remain ongoing, with a focus on increasing the leisure and business tourism appeal of Singapore and MBS”, LVS said.

 

It was reported in March 2023 that MBS had been given until April 8, 2024, to commence construction for the expansion – the second extension of a construction deadline under a development agreement LVS signed with the Singapore Tourism Board in April 2019.

 

MBS now has until April 8, 2028, to complete its fourth tower, on land it has leased until August 2066.

 

The tower is to comprise all-suite rooms, and will be accompanied by a live performance arena that seats at least 15,000 spectators, as well as additional Mice (meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions) capacity and luxury retail offerings.

 

Image: An artist’s impression of the 15,000-seat arena to be built as part of MBS’ expansion, that was released in April 2019. PHOTO: MARINA BAY SANDS

A sky roof with a swimming pool and “other tourist attractions” will top the new tower, said LVS.

When ongoing upgrades to MBS’ three existing hotel towers are completed in 2025, the resort will have 770 suites among its 1,850 rooms, prior to the addition of the fourth tower’s planned 587 suites.

Mr Christopher Khoo, managing director of hospitality consultancy MasterConsult Services, said the increase in suite numbers will allow MBS and Singapore to “aim at the upper end of the scale for visitors”, which he noted was among the goals of building integrated resorts in the country.

“We are not just filling rooms cheaply to boost overall numbers, and MBS’ plans seem to confirm this thinking,” said Mr Khoo. “The boost in suite numbers indicates that MBS is still expected to be attractive enough to entice high-spending guests, and that is good news overall for Singapore.”

RWS has permission from URA to erect a hotel and retail development at Sentosa Gateway, comprising 66,995 sq m of hotel space over 700 rooms, and 21,243 sq m of retail space.

RWS’ parent company Genting Singapore said in November 2023 that the waterfront development’s construction will begin in 2024, and that its board had approved an investment of about $6.8 billion to expand and rejuvenate the integrated resort, up from the $4.5 billion it had originally committed in April 2019.