Spreading the Spirit of Rock N Roll

As staff of the first,  and the one and only Hard Rock Hotel in Singapore, we are both excited as well as nervous as we look forward to delivering our guests authentic experiences that rock!

Since last November, the senior management of the hotel and Resorts World Sentosa had gone through an intensive week of ROCK 101 training. This fundamental course, conducted by professional trainers from Hard Rock International, School of Hard Rocks allowed us to have a thorough understanding of the history and culture of Hard Rock.

Spreading the spirit of rock and roll is the mission of Hard Rock International and one of its core values is individuality. As such, team members are encouraged to express their individuality, so as to deliver a memorable and unique experience to every guest. We actually want to be irreverent!

A guest's unique experience starts right from the moment he or she enters the hotel’s lobby. The music is pumped up, and interchanging barisol lights surround the guest as if he or she were on stage, and huge colorful paintings of Elvis Presley, Jimi Hendricks, Bob Marley and Frank Sinatra adorn the walls behind the reception counter; there is even a  cool bar right in the centre of the lobby.

The hotel is specifically designed to make you feel nothing less than a STAR.

The designer of the hotel followed this doctrine: “Glamour with Attitude”. The floor and walls sparkle with glitter; there are spotlights and chandeliers galore; even our lifts are given the glam treatment. The signature  Hard Rock tattoo is prevalent throughout the resort, and is seen on the walls, carpets, and lights and even on our uniforms.

In addition, the designer has also incorporated the “resort feel” into the hotel. Pillars stretching into the ceiling. Think Palm trees and the sandy beach, with just the right dose of attitude. If you need a drink, as all stars do, you can just sashay to our rock bar right in the hallway with just that inch of style.

What is Hard Rock Hotel without music? Treat yourself to not just one, but six different genres of rock music. So don’t worry, we are not expecting all to be Elvis or Rolling Stone fans. 

And maybe, just maybe, you might find our very cool (yet still very professional I must say) front office staff  jiving to the beat as they welcome you to our resort.

It has been truly amazing to witness how the hotel has developed to what it is today. From ground zero to a rock star hotel, from zero staff to a team of enthusiastic band members, from no guests to our very own rock guests.  It has certainly been hectic over the past few months.

In the words of the Rolling Stones – “ It’s only Rock ‘n’ Roll, but I like it”.  The show has just begun. 

Fabulous Family Fun @ Festive Hotel!

If you are an avid fan of Resorts World Sentosa, you will probably know which one of our hotels has been creating much interest amongst families. Many can’t wait to bring their children here and the young ones are dreaming to sleep on those loft beds!


Yes, it is Festive Hotel in Resorts World Sentosa. There are many hotels which cater for business travellers, leisure travellers and MICE travelers, and there are also resorts built exclusively to create a romantic getaway for couples. However, how many hotels have you come across that keep young travellers in mind? Festive Hotel is one such example.

The hotel and its staff pride themselves on delivering Fabulous Family Fun because this is what Festive Hotel is all about and what the Festive Hotel team has been tasked to ensure. Besides providing the comfort of a spacious room the staff will also ensure that each and every family member is kept busy with activities available in and around the Hotel and Resort.

The Festive Hotel team has, over the past few months, been cracking their heads to come up with a slew of exciting activities for our young traveler where the fun starts right at the door when guests arrive at the Festive Hotel lobby.

Instead of the typical crystal chandelier lightings you see in most five star hotels, the lobby’s ceiling of Festive Hotel is filled with huge, colorful balloon-like lamps that will instantly ‘light up’ that festive mood in you! It is all jolly and fun in Festive Hotel 365 days a year!

I am sure you would probably overhear a few kids saying: ‘Mummy, mummy, I want those balloons!’

But instead of these ‘balloons’, what we would like to offer our precious little guests are – sweets! Festive Hotel would be incomplete without sweets upon arrival for our young travellers. Besides the sweet treats, the Uncles and Aunties at Festive Hotel team have also been also sourcing for unique amenities for our young travellers. Your children need not fight for them as each would have their very own set. (What exactly are the amenities? we will leave it for you to find out when you stay at Festive Hotel!).

The fun does not stop here. If it is your child’s birthday, be sure to ask for a special treat from us!

Besides catering to the very young, Festive Hotel does not neglect the needs of Mummies and Daddies too. Fancy a spot of retail therapy? Head down to the ground floor of the Hotel, where you can shop to your heart's content in the boutiques there. If you need to keep your kids occupied, you can also drop them off at the Kids Club located within the resort and Mummies and Daddies can then enjoy their private time.

And the shopping and dining belt is not just confined to the hotel itself, for a few steps away from Festive Hotel lies Festive Walk, an enclave of entertainment and retail delights, and which is opened 24/7.

The Festive Hotel Team and everyone in the Rooms Department is upbeat about everything at this pre-opening stage. From the late night shifts to knowing every inch and corner of our rooms, everyone is fully committed and passionate to achieve our goal!

So be sure to check Festive Hotel out when we are opened.

Festive Hotel, together with Crockfords Tower, Hotel Michael, Hard Rock Hotel and Universal Studios Singapore, will open in early 2010. For more updates, please visit www.rwsentosa.com or follow us on facebook.

Our Sweet Dreams Masters (and Mistresses!)

‘So come and dance with me, Jai Ho’

 In recent mornings, if you see a group of men and women dancing along to the popular Pussycat Dolls' upbeat song and thought your eyes are playing tricks on you, fret not. It is our bubbly and energetic ‘Sweet Dreams Masters’ from the housekeeping department having their morning exercise.

Every morning, our 40 housekeeping attendants start the day off by warming up their bodies to the upbeat music of various pop songs, of which ‘Jai Ho’ is their favourite!

Catch them in action and you would be totally overwhelmed by their energy and vibrancy. Some of us joined in on one of the routines recently and we can hardly keep up with them! Some of them are already grandmothers and grandfathers. Who says age is a barrier?

After getting all perked up, they are then ready to take the pledge --not the National Pledge but our very own Housekeeping Pledge where they solemnly and sincerely endeavour to be and have:

Helpful
Organised
United
Superb
Enthusiastic
Kampong Spirit
Efficient
Empathy
Passion
Integrity
Neat
Generous


These are the core values which our housekeepers have pledged to encompass. In fact, if you have the chance to interact with them, you would certainly be impressed by how united they are: they have meals together as a team, they are always sharing their food, always sharing a joke while being hard at work.

You will be touched by their generosity and be amazed by their enthusiasm and passion.

With their high level of  energy and positive attitude, our ‘Sweet Dreams Masters’ are ever ready to sharpen their housekeeping skills. Jessamyn, who is in charge of Training for Housekeeping, with  a team of Assistant Housekeepers who are helping her with the training – Tran and Edilyn (Hotel Michael), Janet (Crockfords Tower), Grace (Festive Hotel) and Annie (Hard Rock Hotel) lead the way in training our enthusiastic housekeepers and getting them up to professional housekeeping standards in our hotels' mock-up rooms every morning.

 

 

From servicing the guest rooms, making up the beds, dusting, vacuuming, cleaning the bathrooms, to replenishing the guest amenities, nothing is too difficult for our professional housekeepers with their years of experience.

Our ‘Sweet Dreams masters’ sure embody the Resorts World Sentosa Kampong Spirit. They organise monthly kampong activities like barbeque parties, steamboat buffet and karaoke. These are the times whereby they put down their cleaning equipment and tools for the day and just chill and hang loose with one another, chatting, eating, drinking, laughing and of course…..exchanging the latest news !

So who says that housekeeping is all about cleaning rooms and making beds? Our housekeepers are really a bunch of bubbly “sweet dreams masters.” They have set the stage for your dreams. So slip into your comfortable beds and sleep the night away. Sweet Dreams!

Vantage Point

It is a brand new month and things are really heating up. The number of fans of the Resorts World at Sentosa Facebook Page is fast approaching the 10,000 mark. Everyone is waiting anxiously for us to open and we are also stepping up our paces to deliver a Million Moments in One World.

The excitement of our Opening is palpable, judging from the overwhelming response when we launched the preview of Universal Studios Singapore -- everyone just can’t wait to get their hands on the tickets to the theme park!

One of the many exciting privileges of being part of the pre-opening team is that you get the latest updates of the developments, fresh from the oven, before everyone else. Just a couple of days back, I went for my first site visit and got sneak peeks into the resort and her other offerings.
Fans of Resorts World Sentosa seem to be really envious that members of the local and international media got to enjoy a tour of the theme park not too long ago. Not to make you guys more envious but during my recent site visit, I got to see something that the media did not get to see - a bird eye’s view of the entire theme park right from a hotel’s room within Resorts World at Sentosa. I would just imagine that when it is completed, guests will definitely be blown away by that stunning and breathtaking view.

I am sure you have heard of rooms with sea views, lagoon views, pool views and city views but which hotel has rooms that face Southeast Asia's first and only Universal Studios theme park? It is only at Hotel Michael in Resorts World Sentosa that you get this.

Hotel Michael, taken Oct 26, 2009

Cool, ain’t it?

Take a bet, albeit not a real one on Hotel Michael.

 Here's a tip: If you are a guest at Hotel Michael and are staying in an even-numbered room, you can consider yourself really lucky as the room comes with a view of Universal Studios Singapore, free!

A view of the Universal Studios Singapore theme park... once opened, cranes and other construction machinery will not be part of the picture, of course :)

Stand on the rooftop of the hotel and look down onto the theme park-- you might just feel that you have travelled across different fantasy worlds.

Hollywood and New York have never been so near as the two zones are right at the doorstep of Hotel Michael. Enjoy the glitz and glamour of the rich and the famous and if you are lucky, you might just catch a glimpse of Marilyn Monroe!

Kids staying at Hotel Michel may also be the first to realise that the Far Far Away land is actually not that far away after all. You can easily spot Shrek and Princess Fiona’s castle in the comfort of your room. Zoom in and you might be able to spy what they are up to in their castle!


Spot lots of lush greenery? Chances are you are probably looking at the Lost World from your hotel room. Take a closer look and you may just spot the menacing dinosaurs in Jurassic Park!


If there is one view that you should never miss, it would be that of our iconic Battlestar Galactica roller coaster, which is the world’s tallest pair of dueling coasters.

You don’t even have to open your eyes to locate where the attraction is. Just follow the source of wild screams and screeches emanating from the Sci-Fi zone. That’s where the attraction sits.

Guests staying in odd-numbered are not left out either. They will wake up to the breathtaking view of the other parts of Resorts World Sentosa, such as the bustling FestiveWalk and Bull Ring.

Tired from soaking in the sights and sounds of the theme park? Just ask for our friendly room service and you will be able to enjoy afternoon tea with your family in the comfort of room against the orange backdrop of evening’s sunset.

Night falls and you still would like to see more? Climb up to the rooftop of Hotel Michael on the 11th floor where we have our exclusive Sky Bar. I could easily imagine that this would be my favourite hangout spot in the hotel. With a glass of red wine in my hand and the breathtaking night view of the harbour and the Universal Studio to boost, I can’t imagine another way to end the day as this is the only rooftop watering hole in the entire resort which offers the entire view of the harbourfront and Universal Studios Singapore.

So for fans of Michael Graves and Universal Studios Singapore, this hotel should be on the top of your list. But if you can't get a room here, fret not, for REALLY, the hotels in Resorts World Sentosa are within walking distance of one another. Really really. :)

We're One, but so, so different

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!