The Singapore Government has long made it clear that its two integrated casino resorts must be iconic, and yesterday Harrah’s unveiled its plans for Marina Bay. Announcing that Hollywood legend and Acadamy Award Winner James Cameron will be joining the team to create ‘an immersive indoor entertainment experience,’ Harrah’s chairman, CEO and president Gary Loveman gave details of iPort and the company’s belief that it will be a gateway attraction for Asia.

IPort is a key component of an innovative resort project to carry the world famous Caesars brand. In its bid to secure the Marina Bay licence, Harrah’s had previously named such heavyweights as gallery Centre Pompidou; renowned architect Daniel Libeskind; Anschutz Entertainment Group, Inc.'s AEG Live Division; convention promotion and management specialist SMG; Suntec Singapore International Convention and Exhibition Centre; retail giants Taubman Asia Ltd. and Gordon Group Holdings (Taubman/Gordon); and celebrated luxury-retail designer Peter Marino. Harrah’s believes that this combination of world-class talent will create a resort unlike any on Earth, experientially compelling for guests, helping to develop Singapore into a must-see international tourist destination.

The iPort building will be 16-storeys high but have only five levels inside. The centre atrium, Media Canyon, will span the full height of the building with floor to ceiling high resolution LED ‘video cyclones’ providing a continuously pulsing, moving video display. Guests move up and down through iPort on a low-incline ramp system that winds its way through the building and can effortlessly access the different levels and various entertainment areas via "traveling pods" -- a cantilevered transportation system that extends from the base of the Media Canyon to the top of iPort.

"This is art, architecture, cutting-edge technology and entertainment," said Cameron, who has been retained as executive producer of iPort. "This is a chance to push the envelope and do something that's never been done. Think of it not as a space, but as a total immersion experience." He added, "iPort, for me, is Christmas morning. It's a chance to play with all of the toys." (E-03.14.06)

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