Thursday, October 22, 2009

Let’s Ride The Movies!!!

Fans of Resorts World Sentosa are really enthusiastic. They’ve been blogging, commenting, scribbling on our walls (i.e. on Facebook), capturing our every progress on film and basically charting our milestones to share with the rest of the world.

Hence, here’s a note to thank you for all the support, because your enthusiasm and excitement are what’s driving us here in Resorts World Sentosa. And we hope we haven’t been disappointing you as we have been diligently disseminating the latest news to the media and public about our astounding progress, so you can revel in our exhilaration as well.

This is especially after yesterday’s press conference where we unveiled the highly-anticipated Universal Studios Singapore in all its glory, and showed the world the long-awaited interactive park map (click http://www.rwsentosa.com/USS_map_Eng/en_map-uss.html), which caused local and foreign journalists alike to have flutters in their tummies.

During the press conference, we screened a short video hosted by famous Hollywood director Steven Spielberg, describing how you can experience for yourself a ferocious category 5 hurricane rip a city apart, as this is recreated in a special effects theatre called Lights! Camera! Action!, which is one of the key attractions in the Hollywood zone (one of seven zones) in Universal Studios Singapore.

In addition, we’ll also be inviting big names to host their shows at Stage 28 (also housed in Hollywood zone), where you can get behind the scenes and experience real time film production in a fully out-fitted world-class sound stage.
After the press conference, it was time to bask in the sun as several dozen journalists got the chance of a lifetime to visit the theme park before we officially open next year.

The lucky journalists and cameramen were also treated to a sneak peek of the spectacular WaterWorld live show that is based on the blockbuster hit WaterWorld starring Kevin Costner as the stuntmen zipped about on their watercraft, going through the paces.

We also took a jaunt down to the Oasis Spice Café™ which is one of the larger dining outlets to host big groups and families. It is within the Ancient Egypt zone (which is my one of my favourite zones because I’m a fan of the movie Revenge of the Mummy) and it serves Halal buffeteria style Mediterranean, Indian and Malay food, which caters to the diets of vegans and meat-lovers alike. This is one of the six Halal-certified dining outlets in Universal Studios Singapore, in addition to Mel’s Drive-In, Friar’s, Goldilocks, Celebrity Café & Bakery, and Gloria’s Snack Shack.

After about more than an hour’s walk, the media took their last few photos and remarked they could already envisage the awesome-ness of the park coming into place. Actually, a few of my colleagues and I toured the park last week (and it was my first visit) and comparing the progress with what I saw yesterday, I must highly commend all the workers for the work they’ve done at such incredulous speed.

A recap of my first impressions of the park: walking around and checking out the dining outlets was kind of like touring the alternate world of blockbuster Hollywood films. Every zone is unique and based on a certain hit movie and era in time.

But the remarkable thing is that once you leave a zone behind, you feel like you’re in another country, in another universe, which is the wonder of the theme park. The dining outlets in each zone serves a different cuisine, and in a themed setting. You could dine with the dinosaurs at The Lost World, or more specifically, in the Discovery Food Court™ which is the biggest dining outlet in the park, where you can savour Singapore’s best selection of laksa, chicken rice and other local delights in the Discovery Center building that was featured in the original Jurassic Park movie.

As for takeaways, there’s Fossil Fuels™ also at The Lost World, where you can refuel your energy by chomping on a light snack, quick meal or slurp a couple of refreshing frozen drinks at this tropical jungle watering hole.

But if you’re a fan of Dreamworks Animation’s Madagascar, pop by Casa Del Wild as Marty, The Zebra treats you to a variety of lip-smacking South East Asian specialties such as nasi padang, pad thai, chicken rice and Asian rotisserie chicken. Alternatively, join Gloria at her favorite watering hole, aptly named Gloria’s Snack Shack™, offering Japanese-inspired quick bites like yakitori and rice bowls and invigorating thirst-quenchers.

Personally, I can’t wait to pop by Mel’s Drive-In because I adore the 1950s retro era, especially the rock-and-roll culture and at Mel’s Drive-In, you can eat you heart out over classic American favorites like juicy cheeseburgers and hot fries, sandwiches, crispy onion rings, decadent root beer floats and frosty milk shakes! There’ll be booth seats, retro décor, vintage cars parked outside the outlet and even acapella singers to entertain while you eat.

Also in the Hollywood zone is Celebrity Café and Bakery™, which is rumored to be where Marilyn Monroe was talent scouted. Fill your tummies with gourmet sandwiches, puff pastry pies and classic desserts, and who knows, you might be spotted as the next big thing!

But if you’re within the Hollywood and feel like having Chinese chow, Hollywood China Bistro is the place to head to. It serves East meets West Chinese fusion cuisine and dim sum which is freshly-made and to-die-for.

Over in New York zone, KT’s Grill which is an authentic New York Grill has a rich woodwork interior reminiscent of a 1940’s NY dinner house and is also an excellent place to dine at. The menu includes classic New York grill entrees, sandwiches, soups and salads; along with a fresh oyster bar and Pacific Rim influenced East meets West dishes.

But if you’re in the Big Apple and you’ve never tried the authentic New York jumbo sliced pizza, then you haven’t been to New York. So make sure to drop by Loui’s NY Pizza Parlor™ to grab a traditional flavored pizza or one of local favourites like Hawaiian or tandoori chicken.

Traipsing to Far Far Away zone, there are three dining options to satisfy your every craving. Check out Goldilocks™ where you can sink your teeth into the crispiest fried chicken and fish and chips, together with tasty sides like fresh mash potatoes and gravy, coleslaw, and french fries. For something lighter, stop by Friar’s™, which offers fast yet delicious food on-the-go where you can select from a variety of wraps, including Thai peanut chicken wrap, tandoori chicken wrap, turkey wrap and veggie wrap and more. As for Fairy Godmother’s Potion Shop, you can quench your thirst with healthy, freshly-made fruit juices and ‘elixirs’ to help you continue with your adventure.

If you’ve been to Universal Studios Orlando (USO) before, you’ll probably experience a sense of déjà vu when you visit us because we are based on the former. I remember sinking my teeth into a ginormous turkey drumstick, which was the biggest drumstick I’d ever seen in my life, and it was meaty enough to feed two mouths for lunch! And guess what? We’re bringing in the same turkey drumsticks! Yum!

As we move towards Opening, and as our workload gets overwhelmingly wonderful, please bear with us and we hope to welcome you in person very, very soon!

Wednesday, October 21, 2009

Powering away with the recruitment

[Written by Karen C from HR]


Still looking to join RWS? Guess what?


That’s right. The RWS HR team put together another recruitment drive at Suntec Convention Centre on Oct 12 & 13. Psst, this way for a sneak peak at our recruitment drive. The entire foyer of the second floor ballroom was lined with candidates filling in applications for jobs in Retail (Sales Associates), F&B (Waiter/Waitress, Commis Cook, Bartender) and Universal Studios Singapore® (Crew).


Some candidates even received immediate job offers. Welcome to the RWS family!!



If you missed this round, we are still accepting applications. You can write us at careers@rwsentosa.com, surf our job descriptions at www.rwsentosa.com/careers, or visit us at any of our recruitment talks. Our HR folks will be at e2i (141 Redhill Road) at 2pm this Wed (Oct 21), next Wed (Oct 28) and next Thurs (Oct 29).

Not even a typhoon will stop us from opening in early 2010

Enough of that recruitment talk. What happens after a candidate is hired into the RWS family? Training, obviously. We’ve been busy prepping our staff for our early 2010 opening. Not to get you all excited or anything, but our doors will be opening very very soon. (In fact, our first event will happen even before our early 2010 opening! Click here for more details.)


I digress - I really want to share a little insider info about the croupier training in Manila. As some of you might already know, we’ve been sending hundreds of croupiers to our Genting casino in Manila for hands-on training.

However, as many of you probably already know, Manila was also recently hit by one of the biggest tropical storms in its entire history. Needless to say, our croupiers were also affected.

Before our croupiers realized how severe the storm was, they were still happily taking pictures and having a bit of fun with the strong winds/rain.


The aftermath of the storm


This is an account by one of our trainers, Wendy C:

“On the weekend that Tropical Storm Ketsana hit (26 September 2009), the Resorts World croupiers were due to go on a group outing to the Tagaytay Highlands [for the uninitiated, Tagaytay is a volcanic highland resort with cool weather, nice mountainous views, trekking, river activities and horse riding]. Our plans were cancelled after the storm drenched Manila with very heavy rain and strong winds. The storm flooded parts of the city, including the area where our croupiers are staying, and knocked out the water and electricity at their apartments.

"We worked closely with our partners in Manila to deliver drinking water to the croupiers at their apartments and made sure we kept in regular contact with them. We also arranged for their cooks to prepare and deliver meals, both lunch and dinner, to the croupiers for a whole week after the storm.

"Over and above, we also gave the name list of all our trainees to the Singapore Embassy in the Philippines in the event of a worsening of the situation and a need for evacuation."

We are glad that our croupiers are safe and are very satisfied with their progress in the mastery of multiple table games & chip handling. However, we are exceptionally pleased with their contributions to the residents of Manila.

After the disaster, our kind croupiers raised money to help Filipinos who were affected by the storm. They raised a total of 52,690 Pesos and donated to the needy. There was even a  youtube video of our trainees rescuing cars from the flood!

Their outstanding behavior in the face of a crisis makes us very proud to have them as part of the RWS family.

Tuesday, October 20, 2009

18 NEW rides and attractions, just here in Singapore

We know you are excited about the opening of Resorts World Sentosa and Universal Studios Singapore, and believe us when we say we are even more so.

The past few months have been crazy as the good folks at Universal Studios Singapore have been working round the clock to make the attraction one of the best in the world.

So here we are, in the final stretch before opening, and today we finally unveil in detail our full offerings in Universal Studios Singapore, including the F&B options.

Attached is our press release about this exciting news. And hang on to your seats, for we will announce ticket sales really, really soon as well.

In the meantime, check out our virtual map here so you can plan your visit when you come by!


p r e s s r e l e a s e

Unveiling the Best of Universal Studios® at Universal Studios Singapore®

Resorts World® Sentosa introduces 18 new-to-the-world rides and attractions within seven theme zones at Universal Studios Singapore

SINGAPORE, 20 October 2009 – Resorts World Sentosa brings together the best of Universal Studios theme parks in Hollywood, California, Orlando, Florida and Osaka, Japan with seven
themed zones that promise an enthralling Ride The Movies™ experience at Universal Studios Singapore.


Located within one of the world’s most extensive and expensive tourism projects- the US$4.4 billion Resorts World Sentosa - Universal Studios Singapore features 24 rides and attractions, 18 of them original or adapted for Singapore.


Reeling out the movie theme park offerings for the first time, Resorts World Sentosa today, pulled the drapes off a pair of the world’s tallest duelling coasters, a castle from the world of Shrek, a live show by the infamous Universal Monsters and celebrity look-a-likes including Marilyn Monroe and Betty Boop. Supporting the attractions was a sneak-peek debut that included an extensive menu of 30 restaurants and food carts, as well as 20 retail stores and carts.

Mr Tan Hee Teck, CEO of Resorts World Sentosa, said: “Asians love movies and we are proud to introduce the region’s first and only Universal Studios theme park. Universal Studios Singapore will be one of the biggest and most exciting theme parks in the world, and it will be a tourism crown jewel for not just Singapore, but the whole region.


“We are in the final stages of construction, and for those who have had a sneak preview of Universal Studios Singapore taking shape, it has been an unanimous response that this is going to be a ‘must-see’ when Resorts World Sentosa opens early next year.’’


“Universal Studios Singapore will be its own unique experience and family destination with many new rides, shows and themes that can’t be found at other Universal Studios parks around the world,” said Tom Williams, chairman and CEO, Universal Parks & Resorts. “Universal’s attention to location-specific creative and design promises to deliver first-time Singapore guests --as well as devoted Universal Studios visitors that enjoyed other global locations—an exciting, different and memorable experience,” added Williams.


Universal Studios Singapore is located within Resorts World Sentosa, Asia’s most exciting family destination that is home to six hotels, a casino, the world’s largest Marine Life Park and a destination spa – ESPA -- among other attractions.

Resorts World Sentosa will showcase Universal Studios Singapore at the inaugural ITB Asia trade show at Suntec Singapore from tomorrow to October 23 at its booth located at Hall 602, K12.



Presenting the seven zones of Universal Studios Singapore®:


1. Hollywood: Step into the center of the entertainment universe where Broadway-style theater (modelled after the famous Hollywood Pantages Theater) and an eye-catching collection of eateries and shops line its streets. Mel’s Drive-In™, from the hit movie American Graffiti, serves up burgers and cokes the old-fashioned way. Framed by dynamic architecture, palm trees and the famous Walk of Fame, guests will feel as if they have landed themselves at Hollywood Boulevard.


2. New York: Feel the spirit and energy of America’s biggest and grandest city as you stroll the sidewalks of the bold and romantic Big Apple that appears in all great movies. This is where all the classic landmarks of NYC prevail —the city skylines, neon lights, and facades that set the scenes for big city fun and real-time movie production. LIGHTS! CAMERA! ACTION!™, a special effects stage hosted by Steven Spielberg brings you behind the scenes of intriguing movie sets and Stage 28 offers a chance to be part of real-time move production. Sit down for a meal at the full service KT’s Grill or grab a slice of NY’s best pizza at Loui’s NY Pizza Parlour™.


3. Sci-Fi City™: The city of the future has arrived. Through the impressive portals into Sci-Fi City and into a futuristic metropolis filled with the most modern conveniences, remnants of past inhabitants and cultures, as well as visitors from around the world and other planetariums, this is where the future lies. The entire city is set atop and powered endlessly by an enormous energy-producing substructure that appears to draw its necessities from the wind, sun and water sources above. Catch glimpses of the subterranean world as you get tossed into the tumultuous battle of Humans versus Cylons on the Battlestar Galactica™ dueling coasters, the tallest of its kind in the world.


4. Ancient Egypt™: Ancient pyramids and obelisks stand fast against the sands of time as you are transported to 1930’s Egypt, the Golden Age of Egyptian Exploration. Travel to an era when entire Pharaoh’s tombs were discovered—and their terrible curses unleashed. Take the path of a daring archeologist as you unravel the cryptic riddles of the Sphinx in this sand-swept land. Whether you’re quenching your thirst or charming a snake at the Oasis Spice Café, shopping for Egyptian treasures at Carter’s Curiosities, or experiencing the Revenge of the Mummy™ attraction, this is an expedition for the brave at heart.


5. The Lost World™: Divided into two themed areas: Jurassic Park™ and WaterWorld™, this is where familiar and time-tested favourites of Universal fans are renewed. Jurassic Park, a theme park within a theme park, is based on Steven Spielberg’s classic epic adventure films. Experience the redesigned Jurassic Park Rapids Adventure™, a river ride that follows an escapade amidst a dense tropical forest where dinosaurs lurk. At Waterworld, watch death defying stunts that only Universal dares to execute, based on the hit film, “Water World”! Explosions of fire and water will excite the audience with thrills and spills.


6. Far Far Away: Step into the land of Far Far Away, a showcase of how the rich and fairy-taled lived, inspired by the world of DreamWorks Animation’s Shrek franchise. Discover Shrek’s swamp house and stroll along Far Far Away’s glamorous Romeo Drive, the place for the hottest nightspot in town, Hook’s Knight Club. Under the beautiful arches of the world’s first Far Far Away Castle, meet Shrek and Princess Fiona and sing along with Donkey at attractions Shrek 4-D and Donkey Live. This magnificent castle also houses magical concoctions at the Fairy Godmother’s Juice Bar and fairytale-themed cuisine inspired by the residents of Far Far Away.


7. Madagascar: Journey to Madagascar where you will find the four zooster heroes from the hit DreamWorks Animation franchise – Alex, Marty, Melman and Gloria – who were cast adrift while being transferred from New York City’s Zoo. Join them on an adventure through the dense tropical jungles on an original, one-of-a-kind immersive river ride with state-of-the-art animated figures, digital projection, evocative sound, and moving show-action effects at Madagascar: A Crate Adventure. Help King Julien defeat his nemesis – the dreaded Foosa – at the rim of a bubbling volcanic cauldron and after surviving the ordeal, get spun around in a crazy carousel by King Julien and the Lemurs as they throw a festive beach party and “move it, move it” at King Julien’s Beach Party-Go-Round™. Chill with some tasty bites at Gloria’s Snack Shack™ or tuck into specialties and cool drinks at Casa Del Wild™, a café hosted by Marty the Zebra.

Monday, October 19, 2009

We're One, but so, so different

[Written by CY from Rooms]


When I knew that I would be joining the RWS family, I decided to make a trip up to Genting Highlands as part of a “working” cum leisure trip in July.

It had been donkey years since I last visited Genting Highlands and boy, was I in for a surprise as I was totally taken aback by the developments which had taken place since I last visited the place 10 years ago.

Besides the Casino, there were plenty of eateries, lots and lots of shopping outlets, rides and more rides, a Snow City, rock wall climbing, both indoors or outdoors - you name it, the resort has it! I was absolutely blown away by the humungous size of the resort - there are simply so many things you could do, both day and night.

Genting Highlands is really like a city that never sleeps as there is so much to do in there, and what is amazing is that it was all built on difficult terrain.

And this has really gotten me excited. I can’t imagine how fantastic RWS would be, given that this is going to be the Fun Capital of the World where we have so much to offer as the tourist destination of choice.

In the twinkle of an eye, it has already been one month and 19 days since I joined the RWS family. Till today, I am still trying to grasp the scale of the resort, the diversity of members in this big kampong, the 101 systems involved, the endless F&B outlets we have and all the names of my new colleagues I met.

I think I would need an external drive in my brain to store all this information!

Nevertheless, this is exactly why I wanted to be part of this family. The learning opportunities are countless! Every day, I am learning a new system, a new skill, a new knowledge or a new friend. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to be part of the pre-opening team of a resort of this scale and size, and most importantly, be part of a team which will change the Singapore landscape.

There is something for everyone in Resorts World Sentosa as nowhere else in the world can you find six hotels offering six different experiences.

And this is where the Rooms Department will come in, as we will ensure that you will receive the same touch of warm hospitality, but with a distinct personality for each of the six hotels.


The ultra-luxe Crockfords Suite

Anything is possible, and that is the dictum of our crème de la crème - Crockfords Tower (Yes, there has been a change in name). You would feel like royalty here as our professional and caring butlers will ensure that your stay is a seamless and carefree one.



Guests can choose to take a relaxing soak in the spa bath, or use their personal in-room steam shower in their Crockfords' Tower suite

Your only worry? Which gaming table you should start on or which evening dress you would like to wear. Just enjoy our pampering hospitality and leave the rest to our elegant butlers to handle with ease.



Everything in a Hotel Michael suite, from bathroom walls to linen, is designed by the renowned architect and designer

A vivid art lover and simply a great fan of Michael Graves? Look no further than Hotel Michael for you to soak in the renowned architect and designer’s creations. Get ready to revel in the beauty and elegant art pieces in your very own room. As you enter your bathroom, you would have thought you had entered an art gallery instead.

Inspired by the art work and want to find out more about Mr. Michael Graves? Take part in “An affair with Michael” – a hotel activity where our hotel management team will share with you the history and retail products of Mr. Michael Graves.



Unleash your inner rock gods and goddesses in Hard Rock Hotel

Party like the rockstar you (secretly) are because Rock Never Die. And you can do so in the iconic Hard Rock Hotel. Take a piece of musical history with you in your mind as we take you on a trip down memory lane, where you can get an exclusive look into the wardrobes of international rockstars as we raid their closets and display their outfits on our memorabilia wall.



Oh.... to be a child again and go mad in Festive Hotel's rooms

And now, on to Festive Hotel, which makes me wish I were a kid again. With specially designed separate sleeping lofts, kids can have their sleepovers under the watchful eyes of their mummies and daddies who are in the sleeping chamber just next door. What’s more, at Festive Hotel, kids can look forward to receiving sweets on arrival and get a fun-filled welcome pack. Don’t you wish you were a kid again? Gosh, I can almost hear my cousins in the background, screaming for me to take them here…
I really cannot wait for the resort to open and I am sure there are thousands of people out there who share the same thoughts as I.

The next few months ahead would be tough as we move nearer to the opening of the resort. However, it is really heartening to see all of us working so hard toward the same objective - to deliver the million moments in one world!

For Pride. Honor. Glory.

[Written by Grace K from Entertainment]


I’ve recently developed a taste for blood. Not of the vampire kind, but gory sports involving lots of blood and action.




Like many people I know, you have probably played these video and arcade games until your fingers have gone numb--Mortal Combat, Tekken, Street Fighter.

But it’s nothing like the real thing—UFC, K1, Art of War, Pride and many more.

Now, while Mixed Martial Arts or MMA is considered a “blood sport”, it’s nowhere as gruesome as the video games (there’s no “All you can” fireball nor spine-ripping “excellent” fatalities, at least in the sanctioned arenas.

MMA is a soap opera of male egos in a sweaty and brutal test of strength, skill, will and determination. In this sport, there are only winners and losers to the delight of millions.






My foray into bloodsports began last year when friends invited me to a number of Muay Thai and boxing events that they had organized.

From the ignorant bystander sipping wine in the VIP section to the bloodsport fanatic imparting faux coaching advice in the corner (“Upper cut! Upper cut! Keep moving! KILL KILL!), I have tasted and witnessed the raw energy of this amazing sport genre and am thoroughly excited that we are creating our own original brand of MMA, known as Martial Combat at RWS (see the rules of the Sport here).



That’s right. We’ll be putting up big money prizes to gather the best fighters in the world to compete on the big stage in Singapore.

I’m especially excited because all of the fights will be covered blow for blow on ESPN STAR Sports channels and beamed across Asia.


A lot of hard work went into securing this monumental deal, which took over six months to complete. But now the really hard work begins in organizing the competitors, marketing the brand and coordinating the actual events.

MARTIAL COMBAT will start next year, with a grand total of twelve events with five action-packed fights per event. As we are working together with the top fight clubs in the region, you can be assured of the fights featuring some of the most popular and celebrated Asian fighters and many ranked fighters from around the world.


Of course, you can also look forward to enjoying great entertainment in between fights and our smoking hot RWS Ring Girls for your exclusive viewing pleasure!


And now, here’s an old school classic fight between David and Goliath to wet your appetite.


Are you ready?


Are you READY?


LET’S GET IT ON!


P.S. We will be announcing our line-up of exciting events, as well as concerts on our new website soon, so watch this space for updates.


Tuesday, October 13, 2009

Where dreams become reality

[Written by Tania H from Communications]


I’ve had so many firsts since joining the big RWS family and just like you, can’t wait for us to open.

There are so many perks being among the privileged 1,700 plus and counting team members of this first of its kind hospitality group in Singapore.

One of which is the opportunity to get sneak peeks into the establishment, even as it is being built.

Some of my colleagues and I were on site a couple of weeks ago, checking out the soon-to-be-ready dining outlets in the four hotels which will be open in Phase 1 sometime early next year.

It was my first time setting foot on a construction site and unbeknownst of the palpable dangers and whipping dust storms that were more than happy to give me a facial, I was rearing to go.

Although Resorts World Sentosa occupies a massive 49 hectares of land area, I realized it’s easy to get around, thanks to the well-planned architectural blueprints. Hotels, attractions, entertainment, dining, shopping—they’re all within reach of one another and in view.

Hence, there is very little reason for one to get lost. Just get to the heart of RWS, which is FestiveWalk—where guests will be entertained 24/7 and you’ll find your bearings. But chances are you might forget where you were heading in the first place because the distractions are aplenty.

Anyway, back to my walk: much of the heavy lifting was over and the swanky embellishments were being fitted into place. Maple paneling, black and white marble flooring and tiled walls, grooves to fit expensive chandeliers—all these furnishings gave me a glimpse of how luxurious the final product will be.

And the dining options here are astounding, as there is almost something for everybody, from exquisite fine dining experiences, to the best hawker fare available on our Singapore shores.

There’s Japanese cuisine, authentic Cantonese favourites, bona fide classic European degustation menus and a great variety of others for gourmands who appreciate fresh seasonal produce which the resort will import directly from the countries of origin, as well as children-friendly dining outlets with plenty of running space to accommodate their boundless energy.

But for others like me who don’t wish to break the bank when mid-month approaches but still desire a one-of-a-kind dining experience, the various foodcourts we have will give other big names in town a run for their money.

I was surprised to see how spacious the kitchens were because if you’ve seen the kitchens of some fine-dining establishments in Singapore, it’s incredible how chefs can cook out of a pigeonhole. So it’s good news for our culinary team. Inspiring works of art will be created and transported from the hot kitchen to our tables in mere seconds.

Any news on when the Michelin inspectors are coming to town, anyone? We’ll be a good reason for them to drop by.

Talented food and beverage personnel are joining us this minute, as the recruitment drive at Suntec takes place on 12-13 October. What we need are service-oriented staff who’ll always flash a smile, as our CEO mentioned, he’s on a mission to get Singaporeans to smile. And we’re with him, let’s all flash our pearly whites! Once the service staff are on board, it’ll be training and more training. It’s time to get them acquainted with our dining options, the menus and our mantra.

By the way, a group of RWS staff were invited to Oktoberfest held at the Swiss Club a couple of weeks back and it was a good experience for us to see how such events are hosted on local soil. There are definitely plans to host major food events when we open and rock the entertainment scene in Singapore.

P.S. Missed our walk-in? Fret not. Just visit our careers page at www.rwsentosa.com/careers or send your resume, stating clearly the position you are applying for.

Thursday, October 8, 2009

Where ogres, penguins and a Dragon reign

[Written by Jimmy S from Projects]


Among the six zones in Universal Studios Singapore, DreamWorks is the largest in terms of footprint size; it takes up nearly the whole northern section of the park. In fact it may even be considered two zones!

Some of you may have read the press release announcing collaboration between USS and Dreamworks. If that has whet your appetite and you want to know a little bit more, dive on in!

This huge zone is separated into two distinctly themed areas: Far Far Away and Madagascar.

Far Far Away on the eastern region revolves around the fairy tale world of Shrek. Entering from the east, expect to be awed by the 40-metre high Far Far Away Castle as you pass under the castle wall’s archway to be greeted by attractions and sights featuring the now familiar names of Shrek, Gingerbread Man and of course the quirky Donkey, among others.

If you head towards the eastern wing of the castle, you’ll come across the Donkey LIVE show, where guests get to interact with the lovable Donkey in a theatre setting. I wonder whether there will be a real life Donkey character in there…

If you head towards the castle entrance proper, you will reach the location of Shrek 4-D. Be indulged in a whole new, never-been-seen-before Shrek adventure, where you’ll be in for a treat of 3-D cinematography, complete with special glasses as well as seats that come equipped with all kinds of (hidden) contraptions to bring your 3-D experience into the next dimension, hence the name Shrek 4-D.

Nestled in between Shrek 4-D (in the main keep) and Donkey LIVE (in the east wing), you’ll come across the Fairy Godmother’s Potion Shop, perfect for those looking for memorabilia and gifts to bring away. Not only that, right at the back of this shop, you’ll stumble across a miniature Ferris wheel, the Magic Potion Spin, an attraction in itself, where the countless potions for sale are actually made, or so we are made to believe! Hop on and maybe, just maybe, you may get sprinkled with some magical powers during the ride.

After all that, you can cross Romeo Drive and visit either Goldilocks Fried Chicken “Tastes just right!” or Friar’s Good Food (or both!) to quench your thirst and satiate your hunger. When your belly is full and you are ready to adventure on, head on west and…

You will see, on your left, the Enchanted Airways. This is merely a moniker for a ride on the back of a dragon! Hop onto the Dragon (that female dragon that’s enamored with Donkey) and coast along to sights from the World of Shrek. This ride is fit for the whole family, so parents can join their young children for this adventure.

It is then time to bid farewell to Shrek and friends. And it’s time to move it, move it to the land of the lemurs, the Foosa and the cast from Madagascar.

If you haven’t had enough to munch on previously, or if you want to try the tastes of Madagascar, head on to Casa de Wild right beside Far Far Away Castle. Or you can keep your tummy space for later and visit Madagascar: A Crate Adventure.

Follow the quartet of Alex, Marty, Melman and Gloria of the Madagascar fame on their adventure after the ship they were on ended up beached on the shores of Madagascar. As this is a flume ride – a crate ride to be exact – be prepared to get slightly soaked while taking in the sights of lush jungles to forbidding volcano, to meeting the lemurs and the erratic King Julien. You may even get to show off some of your dance moves.

Of course we must not forget the surprisingly charming though thoroughly psychotic penguins; in fact they are undoubtedly the reason you – and the quartet – are stranded in Madagascar in the first place.

Once you are done saving the world (or saving the lemurs), grab some memorabilia and/or photos of yourself during the adventure on your way back out at the Penguin Mercantile – the penguins never fail in trying to take you unawares.

Right across the street, you will see the domain of the King Julien and the lemurs where you will find the King Julien’s Beach Party-Go-Round. This is a carousel ride meant for the young – sorry folks, adults not allowed. As the kids spin around, be prepared to be assailed by King Julien and his repertoire of high-energy dance music. Now if only he can shut up for a while…

After you get away from the incessant King Julien, now it’s time to eat some more! Visit either Gloria’s Snack Shack right beside the carousel or head back towards Casa de Wild.

And that’s about a short preview of Dreamworks. Phew! Right about now, I should be getting a nice pina colada at Gloria’s Snack Shack, if only I can fast forward into the future. I can wish, can’t I?

Thursday, October 1, 2009

When two passions collide

[Written by Tania H from Communications]


I never thought I’d ever blog. Yes, I kept a diary (in fact, I think I had three) throughout my life, documenting milestones, crushes, historical events (like when I delivered my first-born and thereafter her beautiful life), etc, but not in the public sphere like this.


Feasting on some battered Portobello mushrooms in Orlando, Florida

I don’t mean to be clichéd.  But like the rest of the team members in Resorts World Sentosa, I am swept away by the ever-mounting excitement of Opening, which will be early next year, though we will be rolling out our offerings in phases.

So what role do I play in this awesome project?


Hmm, what should I whip up for dinner tonight?

Let me start by introducing myself. I’ve just joined the RWS family in September and I’m lucky that we’re almost at the end which marks a new beginning! For many of my colleagues who’ve worked tirelessly on this monumental project for close to two years, their efforts are finally paying off. Kudos!

Now, a little about my background. I was a food writer for a couple of years for a magazine before I joined the RWS family.


Savouring divine chardonnay at Leeuwin Estate, Margaret River, WA. Truly one of the best wines in the world!

It has been an exciting adventure for me career-wise, as I have had the chance to combine my passion for cooking and food, and love for writing.

And like kitchen maestros, I am still getting into the groove.


Digging into my favourite Oreo ice-cream in the US, but this brand is unavailable in Singapore

I’ve been seduced by the allure of the romanticised culinary world,  and am finding comfort in meeting chefs and learning about this career, which sucks people in like a vacuum. It’s basically an 18-hour a day job and it involves absolute dedication and sacrifice, which could be overwhelming, yet extraordinarily fulfilling.

To further my interest in the F&B industry, I’ll be largely involved with the F&B side of things, like publicity and promotions.

Don’t become the green-eyed monster now because I suspect I must attend media tastings repeatedly, feast on white truffles from Piedmont and the heavenly morel mushrooms with batches of journalists even if my appetite gets jaded (as if!). Heh.

 To be honest, I’ve already got requests for me to bring certain people along when the time comes. Hmm, I hope my portfolio doesn’t change (keeping fingers crossed)!

Oh yes, in addition, I’ll probably be sharing news about the latest entertainment happening here and the fabulous Universal Studios Singapore, together with my fellow bloggers, I’m sure.

A lot of us are really looking forward to checking out the F&B offerings when RWS opens.

From high-end fine dining restaurants backed by world-class Michelin-starred chefs, to theme dining outlets like a 1950s drive-in concept eatery in Universal Studios Singapore, the options are mind-boggling.

There are lots more surprises and exciting initiatives in-store which I wish I could reveal now because Resorts World Sentosa has so many world's- firsts! But it looks like the world just has to wait a little while longer.

Hold your breath, Singapore’s dining utopia is soon arriving at our doorstep! I’ll tell you more when I can and in the meantime, smack your lips and reserve your appetite or you’ll live to regret it!
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