|
LAS Vegas Sands plans to open its Singapore casino by end-2009 as scheduled despite a report that the project will be delayed, a Singapore-based company executive said on Thursday.
'We continue to target the end of 2009 for the opening of Marina Bay Sands,' George Tanasijevich, general manager of Marina Bay Sands, said in a statement.
The Straits Times on Thursday reported that the integrated resort project was several months behind schedule due to construction issues and a shortage of labour.
It said the casino had indicated that it would only accept bookings from April 2010.
The Marina Bay Sands is being built on reclaimed land near Singapore's central business district and is scheduled to open in late 2009.
The second, Genting International's Resorts World at Sentosa, is slated for completion in 2010.
Resorts World may also see a delay in the opening of some of its facilities although a casino spokeswoman said it was 'on track' for a 'soft opening' in 2010, the paper said.
The two casinos have been hit by higher construction costs since construction began, causing Genting to revise its costs for Resorts World up 15 percent to S$6 billion last year.
The Straits Times on Thursday reported that Resorts World was in talks with the government to defer the opening of some facilities in the US$4.1 billion project.
However, four hotels, the Universal Studios theme park and the casino would open as scheduled in the first quarter of 2010, said the ST.
The delay in the opening of some of the facilities is due to the need to find storage space for the equipment for the attractions in the Universal Studios theme park, it said.
One venue would be used as a storage site, delaying construction works, the paper said.
Resorts World at Sentosa spokeswoman Krist Boo denied there were any delays.
'The development... is progressing well and on schedule,' she said in a statement to AFP.
The plan all along was for a 'soft launch' in the first quarter of 2010 with Universal Studios, Festive Walk, the casino and most of the hotels, she said.
The other attractions, including the marine life park, a spa and two hotels were scheduled to open in subsequent quarters, she added.
| 
