Inside Asian Gaming

INSIDE ASIAN GAMING | July 2009 44 Briefs Regional Briefs Top that A ceremony planned to mark the ‘topping off’ for the high rise hotel towers at the Marina Bay Sands in Singapore will be just that— purely ceremonial. Las Vegas Sands Corp. says the three 55-storey towers have been completed more than a fortnight ahead of schedule, bringing the reality of Singapore’s first integrated gaming resort a step nearer. When fully completed, the three hotel towers will feature more than 2,500 luxury hotel rooms and suites. “We are certainly excited to have reached the top floor of the hotel towers and on July 8 we hope all Singaporeans will join us as we celebrate another milestone in the development of this iconic resort and come one step closer to opening the doors and showing it off to the rest of the world,”said Sheldon G. Adelson, the company’s chairman and Chief Executive Officer in a prepared statement. Mr Adelson said the next step will be to place the one hectare ‘SkyPark’ more than 650 feet off the ground atop the three hotel towers. The SkyPark is being fabricated offsite and will need 14 separate lifts to move all the components into position. It will feature three swimming pools, several restaurants and bars, extensive landscaped gardens, and views of the Singapore skyline. Marina Bay Sands will also feature approximately 1.25 million square feet of meeting and convention facilities, two world-class theatres, shopping and entertainment, restaurants from the world’s top celebrity chefs, and a museum. Doctor doctor Macau’smoderngamingpioneer Dr StanleyHohas been awarded an honorary doctorate by the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts (HKAPA), in recognition of his philanthropy in arts and culture. Dr. Ho, who is noted for his own performing arts skills as a ballroom dancer, said he was honoured by the award. “I consider the promotion of arts and culture as a lifelong job, and I do a bit of show business myself for charities as a part-time job,” he said in a prepared statement. Professor Kevin Thompson, Director of HKAPA, said Dr Ho was highly active in promoting arts, culture, education and community services, citing among his achievements his success in bringing the National Ballet of China on tour to Hong Kong and Macau. Dr Ho could soon be in need of a new display cabinet in his corporate office as the HKAPA doctorate was the third honour awarded to him in June alone. At the start of the month he was given a G2E AsiaVisionary Award—only the second ever presented—for his contribution to Asian gaming. That was followed by the Montblanc de la Culture Arts Patronage Award by the German-founded pen maker and global fashion brand Montblanc. Ballot bid Dr Stanley Ho’s fourth consort Angela Leong On-kei is to seek re-election via direct ballot to Macau’s Legislative Assembly as a representative of Macau Development Alliance. Ms Leong first entered Macau politics in 2005 when she won her seat by direct ballot on the same party ticket. Marina Bay Sands Dr Stanley Ho Angela Leong