There was much excitement when Marina Bay Sands first opened its doors to the public on 27th April 2010. After all, it was developed by one of the world’s biggest gaming companies, Las Vegas Sands and it was expected to generate at least $1 billion in annual profits while providing a significant boost to the hospitality industry in Singapore generally… Marina Bay Sands

With such high expectations from the public, Marina Bay Sand surely had to deliver. However, from the time it opened, there have been quite a number of complaints about the integrated resort.

At the Inter-Pacific Bar Association 20th Annual Conference that began on the 30th of April with 1000 delegates, there were numerous hiccups highlighted by a general blackout while the Chief Justice of New South Wales was speaking – lights went out and the sound system went dead and for once, one assumes, this eminent Australian legal mind went unheard!

A number of delegates who’d checked into the hotel complained of air conditioners not working, luggage delivered two hours after check-in, and toilets that did not flush. Some delegates were even trapped in lifts for up to 20 minutes… Delegates call for ‘fair but tough’ stand against MBS

In stark contrast, “MONTHS before Singapore’s largest shopping mall – Ion Orchard -opened, an army of technicians put in long hours testing everything from the escalators and fire safety measures to the lights, auto-doors and air-conditioning. Similarly, hotels in Singapore’s 5-star drenched tourist belt, launching a new property assign employees to occupy rooms for weeks, to stress-test even the smallest details.

One has to ask – just how long was the testing period for the iconic Marina Bay Sands (MBS)? Less than a week?  Experts question MBS’ rush to open

All this from the world’s second-costliest casino, just after MGM Mirage’s CityCenter in Las Vegas? I really must say that Marina Bay Sands must sort out these problems fast, before their brand name tarnishes and after all, a reputation built over a lifetime can be lost in just the time it takes to get stuck in an elevator!

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