GENTING International has awarded a $340 million contract to Singapore-listed Low Keng Huat

Hard Rock Hotel contract awarded

By ARTHUR SIM

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GENTING International has awarded a $340 million contract to Singapore-listed Low Keng Huat (S) Ltd to build the Hard Rock Hotel at Resorts World at Sentosa (RWS).

Rock on: It will also have conference facilities, more than 20 meeting rooms and a large ballroom with seating for 7,300 guests
The latest construction award brings the tally of construction contracts to over $1 billion.

The Hard Rock Hotel will be the first and only such hotel here. It is also one of six hotels at the $6 billion RWS development.

Expected to open in early 2010, the Hard Rock Hotel will have 360 keys (rooms), including nine suites and 351 rooms.

It will also have conference facilities, more than 20 meeting rooms and a large column-free ballroom with seating for 7,300 guests.

Michael Chin, executive vice-president of projects at RWS, said that Low Keng Huat was selected from a tender exercise which drew 'several bids'.

He added that the construction of the resort is entering a new phase in which the superstructures such as the hotels will be built.

'Low Keng Huat's proven track record and expertise in building construction and property development, especially in hospitality-related sectors, were the key factors in our selection,' Mr Chin said.

One of the challenges in the construction of the Hard Rock Hotel will be the ballroom.

Low Keng Boon, managing director at Low Keng Huat, said the difficulty in constructing the ballroom lies in the fact that it is completely column-free, without the support of beams for a foundation.

With a floor area of 6,500 sq m and at a height of 11m, Mr Low explained that extremely large trusses will have to be specially manufactured to withstand the weight of the entire structure.

RWS will have some 1,800 rooms, spread across its six hotels of varying themes. Topping the list are Maxims Residences, Hotel Michael and the Hard Rock Hotel.