As today’s deadline arrived for submitting a formal interest in developing an integrated casino resort on Sentosa Island, four companies have entered the contest. As previously predicted, these are Genting, Kerzner and Eighth Wonder plus Harrah’s, which has ended the speculation over its bid. None of the four companies is going it alone; Kerzner International and Harrah’s Entertainment have local partners – CapitaLand and Keppel Land respectively; Eighth Wonder is bidding with a team that includes Isle of Capri Casinos and Starwood Hotels & Resorts; the Genting Group subsidiaries Genting International and Star Cruises have joined forces with Universal Studios.

In recent weeks much has been said about the resort at Sentosa Island. Feng Shui advocates have pointed to the violent past of the island despite its Malay language name that means tranquillity – so named following a 1972 contest organized by the Singapore Tourism Promotion Board. Sentosa, previously called Pulau Blakang Mati with its reference to death, was used as a prisoner of war camp by the Japanese and was the scene of some brutal deaths particularly of Chinese. Many believe that any new development on the island should adhere to Feng Shui principles to promote success.

The Government of Singapore has expressed a desire that family entertainment should drive the new resort but the major consideration is boosting tourism. The island resort already had four hotels with a fifth opening this month. It also has museums, and other attractions and amusements including the Carlsberg Sky Tower, the tallest free-standing observation tower in Asia with panoramic views over Singapore. Besides the privately funded casino resort, the Government plans Asia’s first tourism academy and a US$6 billion housing development for Sentosa Island.

The Las Vegas Sands’ US$3.2 billion project for Marina Bay is already underway. The Sentosa Island licence will be awarded by the end of the year and the resort should be completed in 2009. All four bidders must now start putting the final touches to their projects before submitting them by 10 October. Sentosa will maybe have more of a flavour of Monte Carlo than Las Vegas, or perhaps of the Genting Highlands or Atlantis, Paradise Island. Analysts will be making their bets and many, just as in the case of Marina Bay, will doubtless back the wrong runner. (E-07.31.06)

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