The only strong point for GENTING is UNIVERSAL STUDIO but UNIVERSAL STUDIO has no equity interest in SENTOSA IR. So don't expect much from them

Using the same criteria that the Singapore government will use in judging the three bids for the Sentosa Integrated Resort, Donald A takes a different view and predicts the winner.

The Sentosa integrated resort is about making a hard-nose $5 billion investment.

The Sentosa Integrated Resort IS about the most creative and most visionary resort, a resort that Singapore can call her own. It is interesting to note that the analyts have commented on how Las Vegas Sands won the Marina Bay IR bid and highlighted the key attributes of their win. In fact prior to the announcement of the Marina Bay IR bid, most of the media and well-known analysts did not even give Marina Bay Sands a shot at winning. I remembered clearly in the earlier reports that stated that Las Vegas Sand’s strength was only in MICE and their footprint in Macau, which they claimed were both liabilities. How very wrong were they! It was interesting to note that a couple of hours before the Marina Bay IR winner was announced, the media and well-know analysts were already taking about Harrah/Keppel Land winning the bid.

Well, based on the judging criterias, I have a different view on how the bidders will perform.

Tourism Appeal (45 marks)
While Genting is the only one of the three bidders that has operated in South East Asia, actually in Malaysia, the market that draws the numbers to the highland resort is mass market focused. Although the writer commented that the Highlands resorts welcomed 20 million guests last year, one would ask how many were actually repeated guests that went there for the thrill of gambling every other weekend. The claim that Genting has the track record in building integrated resort is also suspect as Genting is essentially a Casino with theme park facilities, rather than an Integrated Resort with gaming facilities as in the case of the Sentosa IR.

The Kerzner group has indeed created a successful Atlantis resort in Bahamas. I would agree that they were likely the most competitive competitor for the bid. However, as rightfully pointed out by the writer, Butch Kerzer’s death has tilted the odds against them. At the moment, the immediate priority for the Kerzer group seems to be to consolidate their strength and concentrate on their expansion plans in Bahamas.

Eighth Wonder may not have built or operated an integrated resort of this size, actually neither has the other bidders. However, it is interesting to note that the key brains behind the successful Universal Studios in US and Japan, and the Walt Disney in Orlando, Tokyo and Paris, are Robert Ward and Frank Stanek. Both are part of the Eight Wonder’s dream team. The Eighth Wonder’s dream team consists of inspirational pioneers in each of their chosen fields that have created very successful concepts that will draw in the different segmented crowds who are really the tourist receipts that Singapore would like to woo. Franco Dragone, Vera Wang, Deepak Chopra, Alain Ducasse, Pele etc… One must take note that Eighth Wonder’s proposal is the only one that will fill rooms both midweek and weekends and is not gated.

Mark Advent’s New York New York is the also one of the key catalyst that changed the landscape of Las Vegas. While Las Vegas Sands brought in the MICE crowd, New York New York provided the entertainment. Both Sheldon Adelson and Mark Advent are the key drivers that transformed Las Vegas.

Singapore pride itself by learning form the best and creating an identity unique to Singapore as in the case of our Air Hubs and Sea Hubs. We don’t need a Universal Studios because after 10 years later, there will be a dozen similar Universal Studios or Disney Land in China.

Architecture Design (25 Marks)
So far, only Eighth Wonder has proposed a comprehensive traffic management plan, which includes a new causeway and subterranean parking for the Sentosa IR and has stated to the government that they will pay for it. In terms of public space and human traffic circulation, Eighth Wonder’s proposal is the only one that is non-gated where all visitors ans Singaporeans can enjoy at no cost, except for the $3 all day fee for the Sentosa Express ride to the Waterfront Station. The Caldera is also an amazing design created by Robert Moren, the creative force who was involved in the design for the Bellagio, Caesar Palace and The Venetian in Las Vegas. The Caldera is architecturally stunning and structurally safe. Frank Gehry is one of the most outstanding architects today, but his proposal seems to be at the wrong place and at the wrong time, where Singapore cannot afford experimental design.

Development Investment (20 Marks)
This is a no brainer with Eighth Wonder’s $5.8 billion investment, an investment amount that is more than the Marina Bay Sands. This will give Eight Wonder is a huge lead given that it commands 20 marks.


Strength of Partners (10 Marks)
All the bidders are equally strong in their own rights. If they can end up as one of the 3 remaining bidders, it is common sense that they have the financial strength and commitment of their partners to deliver. Genting has logically put all its recourses behind its bid because it needs to continue divesting its assets and not to be too reliant on their home base in Malaysia, which political analyst has rightfully mentioned that their gaming monopoly will not be forever.
Kerzer lost a great visionary in Butch Kerzer, who without doubt is the creative ingredient that could have made the difference for their bid. The fact that no else has filled his shoes goes to show that no one else can fill his shoes.

While the analysts have commented that Eight Wonder is deemed the least stable, I would take a totally different view. Beside the creative pioneers in the Eighth Wonder’s dream team, the co-chairmen are James Packer and Lawrence Ho. Both have taken the helm of their respective empire and are poised to be the next generational of business leaders. Together with Mark Advent and Mark Vlassopulos, the Eighth Wonder team is indeed the dream that can deliver the ultimate integrated resort that can be called Uniquely Singapore.

Conclusion.
There is no advantage due to home ground or branded theme parks. Even when Genting lose, I am doubtful that they will ever consider developing in Johor as land is state matter under the Malaysia National Land Code.

Lastly, I would not take the analysts analyses too seriously as most of them were very wrong with their analyses for the Marina Bay IR.

I like the iconic stature of the Kerzner project but I think it would make a more stunning presence on the Marina Bay waterfront than in Sentosa.

As per my personal opinion, all 3 bidders have put in great effort which beneficial to Singapore, however, Genting would be a better choice because its proposals are more family oriented focus with suit all ages. With the existence of universal studio here, it'll strengthen our status being a 1st world country.

I keep thinking to myself, a Universal exists in Hollywood, CA. A Universal exists in Orlando, FL all in the United States. Aren't they building a Universal Studios in China? Isn't Sentosa supposed to be unique, never built anywhere in the world? One of a kind attraction? Seems to me the obvious choice is Harry's

The primary aim of building IR is to attract good number of Tourist to boost Singapore's economy, etc.

But are we interested to attract all kind of tourist? Can Singapore afford to take the whole pie?

Darrel Metzger, CEO of Sentosa, said in a bloomberg interview that Sentosa (or Singapore) need to know where it shd position.
ie: in the coming years, there maybe larger, bigger, better, tourist development in our neighbouring countries.
So is not "any tourist" but the right tourist.

In order to attract the right tourist (ie: Good spending power tourist) we need right IR.

Genting - will welcome roller coaster crowd. They will roller coaster to another development in the region soon if there is a larger one happening...

Eighth Wonder - will welcome good class tourist - However, there is no central theme and it is difficult to sell... Eighth Wonder has 4 themes.. seems to be just another 4 simple theme of the greater sentosa....

Atlantis - The branding is there. The experence is there. The Right Group of tourist will come. When we say Disney, many will click and will want to go... When we say Atlantis/Frank Gehry/future/etc - the right group of ppl will click and will come. It's the right brand for the right group that Singapore wants.

We are not going for the numbers! We are going for the right group of ppl. High rollers is what the Casino hopes to get. Not the crowds!

1) 8th wonder (nice design, nice plans they have. If only they had universal studious, that would be fantastic.)

2) Genting (having Universal studious is great, but it just looks like another plain old theme park.)

3) Kerzner (too futuristic. doesn't blend in with it's surroundings.)

As the Sentosa IR race heats up and we began to see the ACE cards being used by the 3 bidders leading to the announcement of the winner of the Sentosa IR, we must take a breather and examine the key attributes of the 3 Bids.

The question I posed to myself is “What does it really take to win the Sentosa IR bid?”

The key differentiating factor among the bidders that I can clearly see is the difference between submitting a bid that has more of “Hardware” but less of “Software” Versus a bid with more “Software” that will create “Hardware”. What do I mean? Please let me elaborate.

More Hardware and Less Software
It seems that 2 bidders have decided that their strategy to win the Sentosa IR bid is to pump in hardware and mega aquariums.

Genting/Star Cruise
The Genting/Star Cruise bid prides itself by having the Universal Studios factor. We are all aware that Universal Studios is a very successful theme park concept in US and Japan. By anchoring their bid with Universal Studios, the Gentling/Star Cruise bid is akin to reproducing the “hardware” that is successful in other countries. It may be successful in Singapore in the short run, but it has really missed the Request for Proposal’s requirements for something Uniquely Singapore that can be sustainable in the long run.

They have also proposed mega aquarium in excess of 20 million gallons of water. That is a very large fish tank that will require huge maintenance and upkeep just to keep the water fresh and sea creatures happy. This large outlay of infrastructure cost will also mean that the flexibility of revamping and re-conceptualizing the IR in the future, to stay competitive, is very low and costly to execute.

Kersner/CaptiaLand
The initial impression given by the Kernser/Capitaland bid was good as they had a creative driver for the bid. If Eighth Wonder has a “Hurricane Harry” in Mark Advent, the Kersner/Capitalanad had a “Typhoon Butch” in Butch Kersner. It was very unfortunate that Butch Kersner was killed in a helicopter accident. He would have made the competition for the Sentosa IR more exciting and competitive. Once “Typhoon Butch” was gone, the Kersner/Capitaland lost its creative force. My heart goes out to Mr. Sol Kersner as he had such a perfect father and son team. Mr. Sol Kersner showed real courage and commitment when he still turned up for the submission of bid. However, we must understand the grief of a father, who is already quite elderly, who lost his favorite son. How much more can Singapore expect from a grieving father who still have the expansion of the Atlantis in Bahamas to take care?

Frank Ghery’s new use of materials and form is also a key liability. I personally love Frank Ghery’s project that used metal cladding, but to use glass gladding, he may not have the luxury of time nor space to deliver by 2010. Environmentally, it has also posed several questions from the energy efficient and environmentally conscious academics, researchers and NGOs. If Singapore persistently faces the haze problem caused by our neighbors, it will create a nightmare to clean the glass structure.

Kersner/CapitaLand has also proposed for a mega fish thank in excess of 20 million gallons of water. The potential maintenance and wellbeing of the sea creatures will pose similar problems faced by the Genting/Star Cruise bid.

More Software that will create the Hardware
The Eighth Wonder’s team, if you examined closely, has submitted a bid that is anchored by software or the brains behind great concepts. The software are the 18 partners that Mark Advent has gathered together to form the Eighth Wonder Dream Team.

While Genting/Star Cruise is anchoring its bid by brining in Universal Studios, Mark Advent has teamed up with Robert Ward. Robert Ward is one of the co-founders of Universal Studios and was instrumental in the development of the Universal Studios in Los Angles and in Osaka. So while the other bidders try to recreate a Universal Studios for the Sentosa Bid, Eighth Wonder is teaming up with the “brains – software” behind the successful theme park.

Another example of the software component is represented by one of the partners for Eighth Wonder’s bid, Frank Stanek. He was a key senior management staff at Walt Disney and had held key responsibilities in designing and developing Disney Land in Orlando, Tokyo and Paris. This is another example of Mark Advent’s strategy to team up with the brains, which is the software that will be able to create new and fresh concepts, rather that to just recreating a successful theme park.

One other software that has caught my attention is Franco Dragone. Instead of bringing in a Cirque du Soleil show, Mark Advent decided to team up with the creative brain behind close to 10 Cirque du Soleil shows.

If we were to look closely at each of the Eighth Wonder’s partners, one will start to realize that each and every one of them has the solid record of delivering successful and creative projects.

Once again this has shown that the software component, which is essentially the brains which will drive and create the IR, of the Eighth Wonder is more sustainable as Singapore pursues its dream of creating something Uniquely Singapore.

Heartware
Many analysts have raised the questions about how Mark Advent can manage such a diverse team of creative brains to develop Harry’s Island. It just goes to show that those who feels this way has obviously never worked in a team that has the kind of talents and heartware that the Eighth Wonder has formed, who are creative and passionate about pursuing a dream project like Harry’s Island for Singapore.

Last but not least, so far only one bidder has constantly made the commitment that if his bid is successful, the project will belong to Singapore and will never be replicated anywhere else in the world.

And that bidder is Mark Advent’s Eighth Wonder.

Genting & Star Cruises' proposal is clearly the most attractive one. A world class theme park like Universal Studios is sorely lacking in Singapore now. Couple this with the many imaginative marine attractions & fine architecture, & you have a sure win family draw.

When we want something that will last, we should get experienced professionals to do it, Genting is the one...