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Time to cash in those frequent flyer miles as late 2009 is shaping up to be a busy time for the casino resort grand opening jet setters. Four major casino properties in three different countries on two continents are scheduled to open - Encore at Wynn Macau (December,) City Center / ARIA (Las Vegas, December), Fontainebleau (Las Vegas, November) and Marina Bay Sands (Singapore, December.)

Of these, I'm tempted to say that the Marina Bay Sands might be my favorite of the bunch due to it's fascinating design, it's going to have restaurants by Charlie Trotter (Restaurant Charlie) and Thomas Keller (Bouchon) plus the fact that I've been looking for any excuse to visit Singapore a casino for as long as I can remember.

So what does Las Vegas Sands Corp have under the hood? Well... a lot. In addition to the expected casino, theaters (two), convention center (Marina Bay Sands Expo & Convention Center,) shopping promenade (Marina Bay Shoppes) and hotel towers, Marina Bay Sands will feature a hotel top Sky Park (built to perpetuate Singapore's 'city within a garden' architectural style,) ArtScience Museum (with a roof top ampitheater and permanent Leonardo Da Vinci exhibit) a Light and Water Show emanating from the bay, numerous restaurants (chefs include Charlie Trotter, Tetsuye Wakuda, Thomas Keller, Pierre Gagnaire, Alfonso Iaccarino and Hiroyku Hiramatsu) and two floating pavilions (containing a micro brewery, bistro and a night club) which are accessed by underwater tunnels.

Impressive.

As of February 2009, Marina Bay Sands has completed about 28 floors of construction on all three towers (or more, depending on who you ask,) with the curtain wall slowly making its way up as well. When complete, the three hotel towers will each be 55 stories tall.

So how are they planning on getting the other 50% of the hotel towers and other structures built in 9 months? Easy, they're not going to open the whole joint at once. Latest reports state that only about half of the resort will open in December, with sections coming online as they are completed.

Here's a curiosity... an early rendering of Marina Bay Sands. The three tower concept is remains although the lipstick tube towers have morphed into a completely different - yet equally daring - shape. I've got to say that I love this design, and regret that LVS opted to copy/paste Venetian onto the beach head on Macau's Cotai Strip instead of a project as daring as this.

More: http://www.marinabaysands.com

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