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SINGAPORE: The Singapore Flyer has postponed its meeting with tenants for yet another day. Some F&B outlets said they have lost tens of thousands of dollars in takings over the Christmas period because of the closure of the Flyer.
Some of the tenants are asking for compensation in terms of lost revenue and also in terms of the costs of promotional material they have put out in magazines advertising Christmas deals.
The management was supposed to meet with the tenants on Monday, but the meeting has now been postponed indefinitely. The management told tenants they had no time for the meeting because they were busy with ongoing police investigations.
The tenants had wanted a group meeting, but the management of the Singapore Flyer insisted on meeting each outlet individually.
With two days to go to the New Year, F&B outlets are losing out on another important sales window – the New Year's Eve countdown.
To attract more people to the outlets, the Singapore Flyer management and one of its tenants are putting together a free concert in five days.
Love The World Bistro & Bar at the Singapore Flyer opened just one day before the Flyer wheels stopped moving last Tuesday. The latest tenant is now in charge of putting together a New Year's Eve concert at the last minute.
The concert will feature four local bands playing a mix of gospel and inspirational music. It will be marketed as a concert of hope in these tough economic times.
The Flyer management will be footing most of the cost for the concert.
Maximilian Leopold Stengel, vice president, Events and F&B, Singapore Flyer, said: "Our tenants are all open for business, so people can make their bookings and watch the fireworks from there."
Organisers expect about 250,000 people to be at Marina Bay for the fireworks show on December 31.
The Esplanade, the Marina Barrage and MediaCorp will be staging shows to keep the crowd entertained as they wait for the fireworks.
Ng Yew Teck, manager, 3P Network Department, PUB, said: "The public can look forward to a family carnival at Marina Barrage over the two days and we have free water activities in Singapore's first reservoir in the city."
To manage the crowd, some roads leading into Marina Bay are going to be closed and shuttle buses will be provided between Marina Bay MRT station and the Marina Barrage.
More information is available online at www.marinabaycountdown.sg.
Lau Peet Meng, deputy assistant commissioner of police, said: "Police will not hesitate to take action against motorists who cause obstruction to other drivers, so we advise that all motorists should not stop (by the side of the roads) to see the fireworks, especially along the ECP, St Andrews Road and Marina Boulevard."
Public transport operating hours are going to be extended till 2am on the night of the countdown.
- CNA/so
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