Marina Bay Sands commits over S$2 million to scholarships for hospitality students

[SINGAPORE] Integrated resort Marina Bay Sands (MBS) on Tuesday (Apr 21) announced it is committing more than S$2 million for the second run of its Sands Hospitality Scholarship programme and a tie-up with charity TomoWork to support persons with disabilities. 

The second iteration of the Sands Hospitality Scholarship programme will be seeded with S$2 million. This follows the inaugural run, which had a commitment of US$1 million.

Senior Minister of State for Trade and Industry Low Yen Ling, at the Sands Future Talent Ceremony, said: “Since its launch in 2022, the scholarship has supported more than a hundred Singaporean students pursuing hospitality and tourism-related courses.”

It will run from 2026 to 2029, and aims to help more than 160 students in this discipline from seven institutes of higher learning. 

Paul Town, chief operating officer of MBS, said this initiative was “timely”, as Singapore remains a “safe destination that has a great reputation for providing quality hospitality”. He added that it will also help with MBS’ expansion efforts.

“We’re going to hire thousands of... team members in the next five years, as we look towards the opening of our new tower and arena,” said Town. “It’s really critical that we hire and get them on board, and train them today, so that they can be the supervisors and managers of teams when we open those properties.” 

The total development cost of the expansion is US$8 billion, and includes a new 570-room ultra-luxury hotel and 15,000-seat arena. It is expected to be completed by June 2030.

The expansion of MBS’ commitment also supports Singapore’s broader tourism ambitions. Low noted that tourism receipts are projected to reach S$47 billion to S$50 billion by 2040.

The minister added: “Global uncertainties, amplified by rising geopolitical tensions and shifting economic landscapes, will inevitably shape travel patterns and business confidence. To stay competitive, we must strengthen our capabilities to respond, anticipate and embrace these changes...

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“Our people are central to this transformation. We will continue investing and nurturing a strong pipeline of talent able to adapt and scale up with the sector.”

Partnership with TomoWork

In an industry first, MBS has partnered TomoWork to support persons with disabilities who are undergraduates at Singapore’s tertiary institutions. 

The integrated resort donated S$75,000 to support 15 undergraduates with scholarships and mentorship. The funds will mainly go towards education awards for the beneficiaries, with each one receiving S$4,500. 

The undergraduates can explore internships or full-time work at MBS or other companies, as well as networking opportunities. This will be done through TomoWork’s Talent Uplift Programme.

Jenny Yang, CEO of TomoWork, said: “This group of participants comes from families with financial needs. (The funds) help them along the way in addressing school fees, and some of them will need additional support in terms of assistive technology.”

The Talent Uplift Programme comprises exposure to the hospitality industry to broaden pathways for beneficiaries, as well as mentorship by professional volunteers who have experience in the sector.

From January to June this year, participants will work on projects related to community needs, such as accessibility, neurodiversity and social inclusion. In June, they will present their projects at a showcase co-hosted by MBS. 

In addition, through networking opportunities with MBS team members as part of the programme, beneficiaries can also learn more about inclusive career opportunities at the integrated resort. 

To date, MBS has hired nearly 100 persons with disabilities across customer-facing roles in attractions, F&B and its front office. 

Town said: “Persons with disabilities bring a very important perspective and lead different lives to a lot of us – but they can absolutely connect with guests that might be in the same situation. It’s a very positive engagement for our other team members to work alongside persons with disabilities.”