SINGAPORE: Marina Bay Sands has launched its final burst
of hiring before it opens on April 27. Singapore's second
Integrated Resort (IR) aims to bring in some 5,000 people in
various positions over the next 60 days.
Already, there are 3,600 casino staff on board and in just the last
48 hours alone, Sands said recruitment doubled with croupiers
coming in for training.
Within a commercial building located at Mountbatten Road, is the
newly-formed Marina Bay Sands Training Centre.
Behind closed doors are where thousands of dealers and croupiers
are put through their paces.
Sands said nearly all its dealers are Singaporeans. It was unable
to give an exact figure but added most of the people it has
recruited across the entire IR are locals.
All casino staff have to undergo a training stint that could take
up to seven weeks.
There's no room for mistake for the dealers once they're on the
gaming floor.
Geraldine Wong, dealer inspector trainee, said: “We need to
calculate a lot for this job like how to get the payment fast and
accurate.”
Training started six weeks ago.
With some complaints over inexperienced dealers at the
recently-opened Resorts World Sentosa, Marina Bay Sands is not
taking any chances.
Thomas Arasi, CEO, Marina Bay Sands, said: "We're going to strive
to open as close to perfection as we possibly can. So, while there
are no guarantees in there, there are assurances and we are just
incredibly focused. We're giving it our 100 per cent and we hope to
get as close as we can to 100 per cent in terms of
execution."
Sands said there are various positions available in areas such as
hotel operations, security and F&B.
There are currently about 1,800 dealers being trained in the casino
training school and it simulates a real working environment with
dealers working in eight-hour shifts.
As part of the certification process for the casino,
representatives from the Casino Regulatory Authority have also
visited this school.
Sands has said it will open the S$7.7 billion Marina Bay project in
phases.
The announcement comes after three years of work including several
delays and even concerns over the business viability of its parent
company, Las Vegas Sands, which took a battering during the global
financial crisis.
But things seem to be on the mend.
Las Vegas Sands Corporation has said that it will seek to refinance
about US$5 billion in bank debt.
Mr Arasi added: "This is definitely a marathon and not a sprint.
The reality of it is about the kind of experience and reputation
and the type of market reach that you have over a period of
time."
Unlike Resorts World Sentosa which targets leisure travellers,
Marina Bay Sands has said its focus is on high-end business
travellers as well as the meetings and convention sectors.
As for social safeguards, Sands said it is working closely with the
relevant authorities.
The Marina Bay Sands recruitment centre is open from Monday to
Friday 10am to 7pm, Saturday 10am to 3pm and is located at #02-34
Mountbatten Square, 229 Mountbatten Road. For more information you
can call 6688 8860. - CNA/vm