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[SINGAPORE] One could say the number “15” is a rather auspicious one for Marina Bay Sands (MBS) and its parent company, Las Vegas Sands (LVS).

By the time MBS completes work on its new ultra-luxury development in 2030, LVS would have invested more than US$15 billion since the US casino and resort giant started operations in Singapore 15 years ago.

Patrick Dumont, the president and chief operating officer of LVS who has been with the company for 15 years (and counting), said the investments made in the Republic since Day 1 have been rooted in the company’s “strong commitment” to Singapore.

“This is a long-term investment. We think about things over decades – not quarters or years,” said the American in an interview with The Business Times.

“We believe in the strength of Singapore’s hospitality market and its overall desirability, and this is a very strong statement that supports that belief.”

By “this”, he is referring to LVS’ new US$8 billion resort and entertainment destination in Singapore, to be built next to the existing MBS property.

The yet-to-be-named property will comprise a 55-storey tower with 570 suites, 200,000 square feet of meeting space, high-end restaurants, a casino and a 15,000-seater arena.

A groundbreaking ceremony took place on Tuesday (Jul 15) evening, in the presence of Prime Minister Lawrence Wong and other guests.

With construction expected to be done by mid-2030, the plan is for the project’s official opening in January 2031, subject to its obtaining the necessary approval from the Singapore government.

“We are proceeding as planned,” said Dumont, when asked whether things were moving according to schedule. “There are some things we still need to do that are subject to approval, and we are very open about that. The government has been very supportive, and we will continue to operate along that timeline.”

Increasing high-value tourism

The 30-minute interview with BT took place in the private-dining suite of MBS’ latest signature restaurant, Jin Ting Wan, on Level 55 of Tower 1.

This 166-seater Cantonese restaurant, which opens to the public in July, is the latest addition to the integrated resort’s growing list of fine-dining establishments.

At an earnings call last October, Dumont went so far as to describe LVS’ expansion project in Singapore as “the most important gaming and hospitality building in the world”, and “the best hotel in the world”.

Asked to elaborate on those claims, he said the company constantly sets high expectations, with a firm belief in its ability to execute at the highest level.

“We wanted to set the bar very high so that everyone knows what we are attempting to accomplish, which is to be the number one hotel in the world,” he said.

“We want to make sure that there’s never been a hotel like this in terms of service level, hospitality, design, amenities, the quality of the guest experience and the uniqueness of that experience.”

Dumont said that Singapore is in an “unbelievable position”, both in terms of geography and as a brand with a stellar reputation, as a destination for people to visit for business and leisure.

“There’s a lot of investment coming in. You look around, and you see all these buildings that are coming up. It’s very impressive. It feels like we are in a really strong place, with many other people sharing our view about the future.”

Preparing for the top job

The Las Vegas-based LVS stands out among its peers on the Fortune 500, for it is among just a few corporations on that coveted list that makes nearly all its revenue outside the United States.

In addition to MBS in Singapore, the company operates integrated resorts in the Chinese special administrative region of Macau, including the Venetian Macao, the Parisian Macao and the newly opened Londoner Macao.

Dumont is the son-in-law of LVS co-founder Miriam Adelson and her late husband Sheldon Adelson. Shortly after the latter’s passing in 2021 at 87, Dumont – then the chief financial officer – was promoted to his current role of president and chief operating officer.

In March 2026, he takes over from Robert Goldstein as LVS’ new chairman and chief executive officer, when Goldstein steps down to a senior advisor role for a period of two years.

Asked how he is preparing to take on the top post in eight months, Dumont – a former investment banker with stints at Bear Stearns and Miller Buckfire – said he has learned the ropes from Goldstein and Sheldon Adelson over the years.

“I feel like I’ve been given the opportunity to be an apprentice to some of the best who’ve ever been in our industry. I’ve been very fortunate, and I hope to be able to follow their success.

“We have a very strong team today and it’s a great pleasure to work with the quality of people that we have in Las Vegas, Singapore and Macau. It’s my job to ensure that we all work seamlessly together.”