It’s still more than a year before Marina Bay Sands, the Singapore integrated resort of Las Vegas Sands Corporation, opens, but if GM George Tanasijevich is correct, the property will be profitable from the start.

“Overall, we remain extremely optimistic about the prospects for Marina Bay Sands and the future of the tourism industry in Singapore with China, India, Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand serving as key source countries for both the business and leisure tourist markets,” said Tanasijevich. “We are targeting the premium and high-net-worth segment, along with mass affluent leisure and business travelers.”

With access to China, India and all of Southeast Asia, Tanasijevich believes that Marina Bay Sands can attract business from all markets.

“Multinational corporations seeking to hold corporate events or participate in exhibitions gravitate towards such strong markets where they anticipate demand,” he says. “Therefore, our MICE-driven business model serves to mitigate the effects of a challenging economic climate.”

With LV Sands’ expertise in operating and marketing in Asia, and with the business market, Tanasijevich says he expects his property to prosper.

“We are confident that Marina Bay Sands will be a destination filled with buzz, excitement, and something for everyone,” Tanasijevich said.

Some experts believe that Asian gaming jurisdictions outside of Macau will benefit from the visa crackdown by the Chinese government on its citizens visiting Macau. Where Chinese nationals were once able to visit Macau twice a month, they are now limited to once every three months. It is expected that VIP operators will make deals in Singapore, the Philippines, Cambodia and elsewhere to lure Chinese gamblers to those destinations in between Macau visits.

By GGB Staff

Staff writers for Global Gaming Business magazine. Las Vegas, Nevada.