Marina Bay Sands brought together some 700 top suppliers for the ninth Sands Suppliers Excellence Awards on Friday (28 February), celebrating their commitment to excellence and innovation as they contribute to the integrated resort’s development over the years.
Inaugurated in 2013, the Awards are a first-of-its-kind in Singapore’s hospitality industry. A global initiative spearheaded by Marina Bay Sands’ parent company, Las Vegas Sands, the Awards reflect the company’s commitment to fostering local businesses, recognising outstanding vendors in areas such as Innovation and Operation Excellence.
Since inception, Marina Bay Sands has been collaborating closely with local enterprises spanning a diverse range of services and projects, in an effort to build up the local business ecosystem that fuels its growth. Over 90 per cent of Marina Bay Sands’ procurement spend over the last decade, or approximately S$7.7 billion, has gone to Singapore-based companies.
“We deeply appreciate the dedication of our suppliers, who are the bedrock of our success. They play a crucial role in elevating and reinforcing our position as a world-class hospitality leader,” said Shijith Prathapan, Vice President of Procurement and Supply Chain at Marina Bay Sands. “Supporting local enterprises has been a key pillar of Marina Bay Sands’ business ethos since day one, benefitting the community at large while paving the way for a mutually beneficial future. As we continue to invest in Singapore, we will deepen our partnerships with more local companies to help them grow along with our development.”
Themed ‘Retro 70s’, the 2025 edition of the Awards paid tribute to the 1970s, bringing together suppliers for a night of fun over live entertainment and a grand feast capped by a spectacular dessert table decked with Singaporean nostalgic treats at Marina Bay Sands Expo & Convention Centre.
Highlights of the Awards
At the Awards, trophies were conferred to outstanding enterprises across eight categories[1]: Corporate Culture & Sustainability, Cost Management, Design Excellence, Innovation, Operation Excellence, Project Management, Service Excellence and Total Quality Management. Examples of winners include Systematic Laundry, which took home the Operation Excellence award, and homegrown company TA.LE Architects, which won in the Innovation category.
Systematic Laundry, a leading laundry management and service provider which has been working with the integrated resort since 2020, won the Operation Excellence award for significantly improving Marina Bay Sands’ operational efficiency with its slew of high-quality, cost-effective and sustainable solutions.
In 2024, the local company customised a trolley which delivers white tablecloths draped over a pole instead of being folded, minimising wrinkles. This reduced the integrated resort’s reliance on part-timers for tasks such as ironing tablecloths, saving approximately 18 manhours per day. A double-deck laundry cart was also developed in the same year, allowing for more laundry to be transported at any one time, reducing congestion at Marina Bay Sands’ back-of-house by 30 per cent.
“We are deeply grateful for our longstanding partnership with Marina Bay Sands over the last five years, which has not only strengthened our business but allowed us to consistently deliver high quality services,” said Ong Chew Meng, General Manager at Systematic Laundry. “We appreciate Marina Bay Sands’ trust and support, and we look forward to continuing this partnership for many more years to come.”
TA.LE Architects, a design firm which has been working with Marina Bay Sands for three years, took home the Innovation award for enhancing guest touchpoints across the resort with its inventive ideas. The local small- and medium-sized-enterprise (SME) designed a new bathroom at the lobby of Hotel Tower 2, introducing innovative elements such as custom lanterns and a backlit onyx slab to create a tactile and immersive Japanese experience to complement the next-door WAKUDA Restaurant & Bar. Despite space constraints, the company was able to meld design and functionality.
Among other projects on property, TA.LE Architects also designed sleek amalgamated waste bins deployed along the hotel lobby, encouraging waste sorting and recycling, in line with the resort’s commitment to sustainability.
“We are honoured to receive this recognition, which is testament to our team’s dedication to delivering creative and forward-thinking solutions,” said Lionel Leow, Director at TA.LE Architects. “As a small- and medium-sized enterprise, being given the opportunity to showcase our works through a world-class icon like Marina Bay Sands is incredibly valuable. We look forward to continuing our collaboration and achieving new heights together.”
For more information about the other six winners, refer to the Annex below.
Annex: Profiles of the other six Sands Suppliers Excellence Awards recipients
| Category | Winner |
| Corporate Culture & Sustainability | Nestlé Singapore has supplied sustainably certified coffee and diverse beverage options as well as provided technical support to Marina Bay Sands since 2010. Its incorporation of sustainability aligns with Marina Bay Sands’ commitment to put sustainability at the heart of its operations.
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| Cost Management | Guest Supply Singapore, which supplies hotel amenities such as combs and toothbrushes, provided innovative solutions to Marina Bay Sands during its hotel transformation. It was able to manage costs for sustainable amenities – usually a high expense component – by using its technical expertise and leveraging its strong relationship with other suppliers. These continuous efforts to keep projects financially on track for Marina Bay Sands, coupled with exceptional collaboration, responsiveness and attention-to-detail, set a new standard in cost management and supply chain support.
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| Design Excellence | Steve Leung Design Group collaborated with Marina Bay Sands on the design of the recently completed Paiza Collection and Paiza Royal Collection rooms and suites, among other projects. Its collaborative approach allows it to create aesthetically beautiful spaces, which enhance project outcomes.
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| Project Management | WWT APJ-Singapore, a technology services and IT solutions provider, has demonstrated exceptional excellence in its refreshment of Marina Bay Sands’ surveillance network. The team’s agility in addressing challenges, while maintaining a collaborative approach with stakeholders, has been key to the project’s success.
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| Service Excellence | TCS John Huxley Singapore supplies gaming equipment and accessories. Over the resort’s 15 years of operations, the company has consistently adapted to operational needs and fulfilled design excellence ideas.
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| Total Quality Management | LDF International Holdings, known for crafting luxurious bespoke furniture of the finest quality, was chosen for its exceptional quality management practices. Its products can be found in Marina Bay Sands’ Paiza Collection and Paiza Royal Collection rooms and suites, as well as Paiza Sky Residence, an executive club lo |
