Sands ECO360 Celebrates Green Meeting Council’s Anniversary

September 21st, 2012 | Jenny Yu

From Left to Right: Jenny Yu, sustainability director for Las Vegas Sands; Mandy Martin, sustainability manager for Las Vegas Sands; and Rishi Tirupari, sustainability project manager for The Venetian and The Palazzo Las Vegas.

I thought I’d just pass on this photo from last week’s one year anniversary celebration of the Green Meeting Council’s Las Vegas Chapter. Beside me are my friends and colleagues: Mandy Martin, global sustainability manager for Las Vegas Sands, and Rishi Tirupari, sustainability project manager for The Venetian and The Palazzo.  

We had a terrific time at the event, which was attended by incredibly thoughtful and environmentally concerned people throughout Las Vegas, and I’m proud to say Sands ECO360 was the sponsor for the entertainment that night.

One of our main goals is to continue to work together to promote Las Vegas as a green meeting destination. We want this city to be known not just as a “convention city,” but more specifically as a “green convention city.”

Working with the Green Meeting Industry Council (GMIC) will help us achieve this goal. GMIC is the premier global community solely dedicated to sustainability in the meetings and events industry, not only through education but also by spearheading research, policy and standards. GMIC is a non-profit professional meetings association with member representation in over 20 countries. It is 100% focused on advancing sustainability in the meetings industry, helping leaders of all levels.

The Las Vegas Chapter was established a year ago. Right now the organization has 33 members from Las Vegas Sands, UNLV, LVCVA, GES, Caesars, MGM, Harrah’s, Clean the World, meeting planners and AV companies.

1 Comment | Filed in: Partners & Friends, Sands ECO360°, Sustainability
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Video: Grand Opening Of Sheraton Macao Hotel Cotai Central

September 20th, 2012 | J.C.

Today was the grand opening of the world’s largest Sheraton Hotel—with a massive pyrotechnic display that dazzled spectators on the Cotai Strip. It featured the biggest fireworks show ever displayed on the Cotai Strip. Here’s a glimpse:

Leave a Comment | Filed in: Sands China
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Sands Eco 360 Tour With The Singapore Association For The Deaf

September 19th, 2012 | Philicia Tan

On 23 August 2012, 18 Marina Bay Sands Go Green Ambassadors led an Eco 360 Tour for 79 students from The Singapore Association for the Deaf (Singapore School for the Deaf and Mountbatten Vocational School).

Adorned in their green shirts, our Go Green Ambassadors and staff accompanied the students on the eco-educational tour of Marina Bay Sands. The tour-route brought students through 8 Eco-features which included a visit to ArtScience Museum rain oculus, the skating rink, the rooftop gardens at Sands Convention and Expo Center and Sands SkyPark, just to name a few.

I accompanied one group and shared eco-tweets along the way. On the tour, I saw how well our Go Green Ambassadors applied their knowledge from the sign language workshop held earlier in August and bonded with the students. It was a fulfilling morning and I hope to participate in a future sign language workshop myself!

Go Green Ambassadors with their group’s students.

Our Go Green Ambassador clearly a favorite among the students in his Team.

Wrapping up the Eco 360 Tour with an appreciation poster from the students

Group 2 with their Go Green Ambassadors

Leave a Comment | Filed in: Singapore, Values
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Plugged In: The Venetian Installs Electric Vehicle Charging Equipment

September 14th, 2012 | J.C.

As part of our company’s environmental efforts we’ve installed electric car charging stations.

Stan Hanel, who’s worked in the electronics industry for more than 30 years and is a long-time member of the Electric Auto Association and the Las Vegas Electric Vehicle Association, published a fantastic article today about The Venetian’s electric vehicle charging stations. The full article can be read at the Las Vegas Review Journal, but here’s an excerpt:

A guest plugs in.

The Venetian is the latest hotel-casino in Las Vegas to add electric vehicle supply equipment to its parking facility. It will provide free electrons to drivers of electric cars to refuel their battery packs while visiting the Grand Canal Shoppes.

The charging equipment is on the sixth floor of the self-parking garage near the elevators. The two stations can be used to recharge the Chevrolet Volt, Nissan Leaf, Mitsubishi i, Fisker Karma, Toyota Prius PHV, Ford Focus EV, CODA sedan or any other plug-in electric vehicles that use the automotive industry’s standard connectors. The charging stations are rated at AC Level 2, which means they can supply 240 volts of current to charge these vehicles in three to six hours, depending on battery-pack size.

Save money at The Venetian’s electric vehicle charging stations.

This installation complements three Tesla Motors’ high-power charging stations that have been at the valet parking garage of the Palazzo for more than a year, to provide free electrons to owners of the Tesla Roadster and now the 2012 Model S.

“The Venetian and the Palazzo have made alternate transportation a priority because we want to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions, conserve natural resources and lessen dependence on traditional automobiles,” said Rishi Tirupari, sustainability project manager for both properties.

1 Comment | Filed in: A Greener World, Las Vegas
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Video: Sands Cotai Macao

September 12th, 2012 | J.C.

1 Comment | Filed in: Travel
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Start Your Show: Sands China Team Members Compete In Company-Wide Talent Show

September 11th, 2012 | Kenny Coyle

Edward Tracy, president and chief executive officer of Sands China Ltd., presents the top award to Eduardo Zamora, champion of the Start Your Show 2012 – Shine Now!

This month nearly 100 Sands China team members took part in our company-wide talent show. The event was held at The Venetian Macao’s CotaiArena, where ten finalists from across the different resorts of Sands China Ltd. showcased their unique talents at Start Your Show 2012 – Shine Now! 

Eduardo Zamora from the Food & Beverage department stood out from the crowd thanks to his breathtaking flair bartending and was crowned champion in this year’s company-wide talent show; Zamora also won the Audience Choice Award. The two awards allowed him to take home MOP 19,000 in cash and many other attractive prizes. [Read More]

Leave a Comment | Filed in: Sands China, Team Members
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Las Vegas Sands Names Madrid As Preferred Location For European Development

September 7th, 2012 | J.C.

"Madrid, the capital of Spain, is a cosmopolitan city that combines the most modern infrastructures and the status as an economic, financial, administrative and service centre, with a large cultural and artistic heritage, a legacy of centuries of exciting history," from Spain.info, the official tourism portal for Spain.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: Las Vegas Sands announced today that it has chosen Madrid, Spain as the preferred location to build an integrated resort development for the European market. The company said it has now completed the first phase of its extensive due diligence efforts and will move to the next phase of those activities, which will include among other things, determination of size, scope, specific location, and financing options from the capital markets for the project.

The company has consistently said it will allocate approximately 25-35 percent equity for the proposed development. The company added that the process is still very much in the early phases and progress towards resolution of the current economic challenges within Europe will be an important consideration.

“We would like to thank people in both Madrid and Barcelona for the time and effort they have dedicated to this process. We have met so many tremendous supporters of both cities and are thankful for the friendships we have developed,” said Mr. Sheldon G. Adelson, chairman and chief executive officer of Las Vegas Sands Corp.

“The regional government of Madrid has been a strong advocate for this potential development and we are appreciative of the energy they have brought to this process,” continued Mr. Adelson. “Barcelona is an outstanding tourism destination and choosing Madrid over Barcelona was not an easy selection. We also want to express our deepest gratitude to the people both within the Barcelona government and those who served as consultants or advisors to us there while we went through our evaluation process.”

Mr. Adelson said that while the process in Spain plays out, the company will still continue to aggressively focus on a variety of other development opportunities, specifically in the Asian countries of Japan, Korea and Vietnam.

44 Comments | Filed in: Suite Life, Travel
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Two Venetian Macao Restaurants Win Excellence Awards By Wine Spectator Magazine

September 7th, 2012 | Afshin Ravanbaksh

Portofino and Morton’s of Chicago Macau–two distinguished restaurants at The Venetian Macao–each earned a Restaurant Award from U.S.-based lifestyle magazine Wine Spectator for their excellent wine programmes in 2012.

The recognition demonstrates The Venetian Macao’s commitment to bring the best dining experience to the city, as part of its long-term effort in making Macao a world centre of tourism and leisure, and the premier destination in Asia for business and leisure travellers.

In 2008, Wine Spectator was ranked by the Luxury Institute as the number one business and consumer publication among wealthy readers. The publication introduced its Restaurant Awards programme in 1981, which reviews restaurant wine lists on three levels: the Award of Excellence, Best of Award of Excellence, and the Grand Award. To qualify for an award, a wine list must present complete and accurate information, including vintages and appellations for all selections. Complete producer names and correct spellings are mandatory, and the overall presentation of the list is also considered.

Morton’s of Chicago Macau is one of two The Venetian Macao restaurants honoured by Wine Spectator magazine in its Restaurant Awards programme, for its well-chosen selection of quality wine.

Serving Italian classics in a stylish and contemporary setting, Portofino at The Venetian Macao offers 315 selections of wine and boasts an inventory of 5,000 bottles, with an emphasis on French and Italian wine. Wholly owned by Landry’s Restaurant Group, Morton’s of Chicago Macau also offers 230 selections of wine and has 1,650 bottles in its cellar, with an emphasis on California wine. The two restaurants were among the 2,842 winners from around the world to receive the Award of Excellence from Wine Spectator’s Restaurant Awards programme this year, for lists that offer a well-chosen selection of quality producers, along with a thematic match to the menu in both price and style. It marks the first time Portofino earned this prestigious award.

Leave a Comment | Filed in: Food & Drink, Macao, Sands China
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Quote Of The Day

September 6th, 2012 | J.C.

Marina Bay Sands' 150-meter infinity pool is the world’s largest outdoor pool at that height. At sunset, it is also one of the most beautiful spots on earth.

Mark Chesnut at Orbitz Blog: Not all hotel swimming pools are created equal. Some exude a decidedly cool ambiance. Some have great views. While others are architectural wonders, where swimming seems almost like a gravity-defying act…. For some of the most exciting hotel pool experiences, head across the Pacific. In China, you can swim laps at the Holiday Inn Shanghai Pudong, in a rooftop pool that extends beyond the building itself, with a glass bottom providing dramatic views below. And guests at the Marina Bay Sands, a 2,500-room property in Singapore, can make use of the Sands SkyPark, an oasis that stretches across three 55-story towers, with an infinity swimming pool that’s billed as the world’s largest outdoor pool at that height—or, perhaps we should say, altitude.

1 Comment | Filed in: Singapore, Travel
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Sands Expo 2nd Annual Backpack Drive

September 5th, 2012 | Lisa Witherell

Some of the backpacks donated to the Clark County School District

On August 22nd the Sands team delivered 130 new backpacks to a local school for high risk children. The packs were filled with cool school supplies.

To date, we have donated 232 backpacks to the Clark County School District.

“It is through hard work and dedicated individuals that we are able to positively impact the community,” said Mayte Heredia, parent center facilitator for Hollingsworth Elementary School.

Tara Crowley, backpack program coordinator, added: “We would love to see every student start school with a new backpack and will be increasing next year’s goal to do just that!”

This is a wonderful program, and we’re pleased to be involved with so many caring people. We hope the kids enjoy their new backpacks. Happy Back to School!   

To date, we've donated 232 backpacks

A photo from last year's backpack drive

1 Comment | Filed in: Partners & Friends, Values
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