The Daily spoke with Ms Lee Shi Ruh, Chief Executive Officer, Resorts World Sentosa (RWS), in an exclusive interview about their partnership with the show this year and what sets them apart on the market
Resorts World Sentosa is the official Integrated Resort Partner for ITB Asia this year. Why is this partnership an important strategy?
ITB Asia is one of the world’s most influential travel trade shows, bringing together the very best of global tourism leaders and decision makers. Our partnership with ITB Asia enables us to deepen our strong relationships with the travel trade community as we stay ahead of the game in offering memorable guest experiences and excellent hospitality at Resorts World Sentosa (RWS). By being the official partner this year for the first time, we are positioning RWS right at the heart of these conversations. ITB Asia is a powerful platform to showcase RWS as not just an attraction, but a fully integrated premium lifestyle destination with diverse offerings that bring thrills, joy and indulgences to our guests globally.
“ITB Asia is a powerful platform to showcase RWS as not just an attraction, but a fully integrated premium lifestyle destination”
What are some of the top attractions, hotels, events and dining experiences you are offering in the Asia Pacific? What sets your offer apart?
Resorts World Sentosa (RWS) continues to be at the forefront of Asia Pacific’s leisure and hospitality industry, attracting visitors worldwide. Its suite of award-winning attractions, luxurious accommodations, entertainment, world-class MICE facilities, as well as a myriad of food and beverage offerings, has positioned the lifestyle integrated resort as a premium destination for all audiences.
The bleisure phenomenon, where travellers seek out a blend of work and leisure, was already surfacing before the global pandemic and has only become more prevalent since hybrid work arrangements became the norm in 2021. A sizable number of bleisure travellers are also digital nomads who grew up in an era where technology enables them to always be connected and on-the-go.Conceptualised with these travellers in mind, Hotel Ora’s April 2023 opening has come at the perfect time to cater to this shift in consumer behaviour. Hotel Ora is decked with a variety of mobile working spaces and smart co-working amenities across two levels of communal and hybrid workspaces for guests to work and socialise. We are encouraged by the enthusiastic interest in Hotel Ora so far and remain determined to anchor the contemporary bleisure (business-leisure) and workation (work-vacation) hotel as a destination of choice.
Apart from our regular attractions and entertainment, guests are also treated to many specially curated thematic lifestyle events such as the recent BUBBLING & BOILING Music and Arts Festival 2025 that added a touch of glamour and star power to RWS in September 2025. These seasonal successfully run resort-wide events allow us to festivalise the experiences for our guests from all around the world. They enjoy an immersive range of activities and promotions across the resort—from hotel packages to dining and shopping privileges and even makeover sessions to ready themselves for such distinctive events.
Our goal is to constantly provide guests with new lifestyle and entertainment options, and to make RWS a premier destination where there is always something more and fresh to discover and enjoy.
Does Resorts World Sentosa have any new openings or experiences planned for the next year few months?
A new exciting development is The Laurus, a Luxury Collection Resort, meticulously crafted in partnership with Marriott International. This marks the debut of Singapore’s first The Luxury Collection branded property, featuring 183 all-suite accommodations at the edge of a tropical forest. The resort is designed to blend heritage charm with Sentosa’s natural beauty, offering curated experiences, distinctive epicurean cuisines, and thoughtful touches like artisanal amenities.
Looking ahead, we remain committed to reimagining our offerings by keeping abreast of new trends to create new visitor experiences that resonate with our audiences through maximising the use of our current assets. For instance, we will continue to explore how we can partner with international IPs and global festivals to bring them to RWS and play a significant role in positioning Singapore as Asia’s leading destination for transformative cultural and lifestyle experiences.
Basement 2, Stand G27
Sustainability at the heart of RWS’ vision
When asked about how traveller priorities have evolved over recent years, Ms Lee Shi Ruh underlined that “climate change is undoubtedly a concern for the modern-day traveller, especially for millennials and Generation Z.” She added that these travellers are seeking more sustainable travel options, and that for RWS “sustainability has been a priority since it was first built over 10 years ago” and that it remains committed to “embracing sustainability in its day-to-day operations and fortifying the brand as a leading sustainable lifestyle destination resort.”
The CEO stated that RWS is “well positioned” to cater to the emerging wave of sustainability-conscious visitors thanks to its newly launched sustainable tourism initiatives. She cited the Eco-MICE packages which provide clients with the option of holding events at “an award-winning venue with the best green practices” including sustainable meals (ingredients and packaging) and energy-efficient lighting.
