Marquee Singapore at Marina Bay Sands: We own the night

MANILA, Philippines — This new addition to Singapore’s vibrant nightlife has been a massive hit with both the locals and international guests with habitués of the other Marquee clubs flying over from Australia and the United States to grace Marquee Singapore’s sold-out opening weekend. It was a taste of Las Vegas on this side of the world — right in the heart of a city where, they say, anything can happen.

Strategic Hospitality Group Founders and TAO Group Partners Noah Tepperberg and Jason Strauss were recently in the region as they led the opening of the new Marquee located at the Marina Bay Sands. The club takes up the space formerly occupied by one of the two Broadway-style theaters inside the complex. It boasts of a dramatically high ceiling outfitted with 70 feet HD screens, a Ferris wheel and a slide that takes one straight from the third floor to the dance floor.

DJ Tiesto opening the sold-out Marquee Singapore club event attended by Asia’s who’s who.

“You’re going to see constant change around here. It’s been in our history since we opened nine years ago,” said George Tanasijevich, president and chief executive officer of Marina Bay Sands. “We’re always looking for areas that can be improved. We’ve been looking for the right opportunity to do something with the TAO Group here in Singapore and we’re always looking for ways to use our spaces more productively.” He added, “we decided we wanted to pitch to the Singapore government and we showed them what we’ve done with TAO group before and they have been instrumental in putting together a concept consistent with the government’s goals for Tourism.”

According to Strauss, “We have a great partner in Marina Bay Sands. They’ve been completely supportive by giving us this amazing space and the ability to create something iconic; we have been doing this for a long time and there’s a lot of longevity and staying power in our brands.” Visitors coming to see the new club cannot but all agree. In my visit to Marquee Las Vegas many moons ago, I was greeted by a 15-minute fireworks display in broad daylight. All cabanas were occupied, the pool transformed into a big dance area, the bar chock-full of people and the cocktails literally overflowing.

One visiting its Singapore location is in for a similar jaw-dropping experience: The interiors somewhat resemble that of a space station with bright lights, shiny disco balls, and every nook brilliant and sparkling to temporarily take one’s breath away —  you may need a minute to pause if only to be able to take the entire experience in.

Strategic Hospitality Group Founders and TAO Group Partners Noah Tepperberg and Jason Strauss with DJ Tiesto and fiancee Annika Backes.

“We knew we needed to build something that made every person say wow,” explained Tepperberg. “That was the emotion we had to evoke from everyone as they enter the place. We needed something that would be versatile and not just be seen as a great club. We built this place so we can do shows, have screenings, or host product presentations. Whether you’re here to watch the final Game of Thrones episode or a play in a videogame tournament or watch a World Cup finals or see Tiesto playing a set live, this space transforms for you.”

It has all the elements one look for when heading out about town: An impressive performer line-up with acts like Afrojack, ASAP Rocky, Kaskade, Don Diablo and Armin Van Buuren, a fabulous space to see and be seen, and an experience that promises to last longer than one’s hangover with all the optimum photo spots inside the club perfectly lit by beauty lights to help capture one’s best selfie.

If dancing all night feels like a chore for you, there are alternative places just right beside the main club. Opening in July are Avenue, a speakeasy lounge with video game machines for those looking for something quieter, and Koma, a full-service Japanese restaurant elegantly designed with neo-zen luxe interiors. One would need to pass through a set of bright orange tori gates, similar to the famous Fushimi Inari Shrine in Kyoto to get inside this specialty restaurant.

With the guaranteed success of their new business venture, Tepperberg shared that it’s not all fun and glamour and values professionalism, above anything else. “What makes this a business is treating it as a business. Jason and I, from a really early age, always knew that it was important that we never let ourselves be caught up with the moment. It wasn’t about how late we stayed out to party, but how early we woke up the next day and showed up at the office.”

Neo-zen luxe interiors at Koma, a Japanese specialty restaurant opening in July.

When asked about their plans and if they still had dream projects in mind, Strauss said, “Every time we’re able to elevate the game or bring it up a notch, that for us is excitement.” To which Tepperberg quipped, “We are in the process of creating our own hotel brand. I wouldn’t mind putting a nightclub on top of the Eiffel Tower if they let me!”

Marquee Singapore is one of the entertainment spaces run by the TAO group, the leading global hospitality company in the United States. With some of their businesses being 20 years old, they have taken the entire nightlife scene to greater heights, forever changing how one looks at parties forever.

Wherever in the world you find yourself in, whether in their New York, Las Vegas, Sydney and now Singapore location, or possibly Paris in the near future, drop by a Marquee club as it is, and will remain for a long time, a place of limitless possibilities for anyone dancing through life anywhere.

New hotel tower and stadium at MBS

Marina Bay Sands president and CEO George Tanasijevich shares new expansion developments.

George Tanasijevich, president and CEO of Marina Bay Sands, announced the newest additions to this burgeoning tourism and recreation centerpiece consisting of a state-of-the-art 15,000-seat arena, a luxury hotel tower and additional Meeting, Incentive, Convention and Exhibition (MICE) space. 

He said of the new stadium, “Concert tickets in Singapore are one of the highest in the world. It’s tough to make economic sense with a limited crowd capacity. We want to spread the cost over larger number of tickets and bring the prices more in line with international standards. We hope to expand ticket barriers throughout the region.”

Since opening in 2011, Marina Bay Sands has attracted more than 330 million visitors. The property has brought over 700 new Meeting, Incentive, Convention and Exhibition (MICE) events to Singapore and has hosted 3,680 events at the Sands Expo and Convention Centre in 2018 alone.