What’s Next For Marina Bay Sands? A Reinvention From The Inside Out

It's hard to remember how the district of Marina Bay in Singapore looked before Marina Bay Sands opened in 2010. Designed by legendary architect Moshe Safdie, the now iconic hospitality destination features three 55-storey towers that curve as they rise, the building's profile looking like sails caught in the wind. It is crowned by the 340-meter-long, ship-inspired Sands SkyPark, which holds what is perhaps the most famous infinity rooftop pool in the world.

Regardless of one's opinions on Marina Bay Sands's striking architecture, it's undeniable that it has become a defining silhouette of Singapore's skyline. Over 15 years since its arrival, the building — and the experiences held within — remain popular with both locals and travellers. Case in point: Marina Bay Sands 's is one of the most posted and tagged destinations on Instagram of all time.

With such acclaim, attention is always focused on what comes next. In 2025, the much-anticipated 55-storey tower, located close to Marina Bay Sands, officially broke ground. The upcoming development by Las Vegas Sands will house an all-suite hotel with another innovative sky roof, a 15,000-seat entertainment arena, 200,000 square feet of MICE spaces and more. While everyone's eyes are fixed to the future, however, Marina Bay Sands has also been levelling up the three towers that started it all.

At the heart of the multi-year transformation is the ultra-luxury Paiza Collection , part of a thoughtful overhaul that has increased the hotel's suite count from 180 to 775. More significant than the numbers is a shift in how Marina Bay Sands approaches luxury, which has evolved from sheer spectacle to absolute discretion.

Access to these suites are offered to the brand's most important guests, so much so that only a limited number of suites are released for public booking. Paiza guests receive a VIP welcome from Rolls Royce transfers to a dedicated arrival area away from the crowds and butler service throughout their stay. Today, Marina Bay Sands boasts 160 butlers, one of the largest in the world, and even have their own butler training academy.

Inside the Paiza Collection suites, one witnesses proof of their commitment to craftsmanship and quiet luxury: embroidered Fromental wallcoverings, handcrafted Savoir mattresses, bespoke leather pieces by homegrown brand Bynd Artisan and a host of curated design details that showcase a sense of place.

That said, the desire to impress in a more overt way remains, especially in the themed suites. The Chairman Suites feature baby grand pianos and the wellness-led Horizon Suite has a Himalayan salt wall, hammam, sauna and massage beds.

What exactly went into this grand interior reinvention and what are they designing next? We speak to Evan Burton, Vice-President of Interior Design, Marina Bay Sands, to tell us more.

Marina Bay Sands is one of the world's most recognisable integrated resorts. What do you think has made it so memorable in terms of design?

Marina Bay Sands is a bold architectural icon where world -class hospitality, entertainment, culture and design converge to create one of the most distinctive destinations in the world. What has made the integrated resort's design enduring is the strength of its original architectural vision of the three towers and how it anchors the Marina Bay precinct and the wider surrounding city. Marina Bay Sands is also memorable because it can evolve.

With the hotel transformation, we wanted the interiors to carry that same sense of confidence while becoming more intimate, residential and deeply connected to Singapore's identity. Across the refurbished rooms and suites, our design draws from Singapore's flora and fauna, traditional Southeast Asian craftsmanship and modern interpretations of Peranakan motifs, giving the experience a stronger sense of place.

You play a key role in the ongoing transformation of Marina Bay Sands. How do you evolve such an iconic destination while preserving the design DNA that has made it a landmark in Singapore?

The starting point is distinguishing between what is fundamental and what can or should evolve. The architecture, sense of scale and connection to Singapore are enduring parts of Marina Bay Sands' identity. Within that framework, we work to ensure that the interiors continue to reflect how our guests live, travel and experience luxury today, which is also constantly evolving.

Across the hotel, we reimagined approximately 1,850 rooms and suites, including 775 suites, with a design philosophy centred on creating a luxurious urban sanctuary in the heart of the city. Guided by our corporate team in Las Vegas Sands, my team and I establish the design direction and work closely with design consultants, artists, craftsmen and operational teams to translate that vision into a coherent and seamless guest experience.

The challenge was to preserve the scale and grandeur that Marina Bay Sands is known for, while introducing a more refined, intricate, personal and residential experience within the rooms. We did this through layers of detail ranging from Peranakan-inspired rugs, textiles, screens and marble marquetry to bespoke furnishings and collaborations with local and international artisans. The result is a transformation that feels fresh and contemporary but still rooted in culture and in the original ambition of Marina Bay Sands as a landmark destination.

Luxury hospitality has changed in recent years, with guests seeking residential-style comfort alongside exceptional service. When did you see this change within Marina Bay Sands and how have these changing expectations influenced the redesign?

We began to see this shift very clearly as we conceptualised the hotel transformation. Guests were no longer looking at luxury simply through visual opulence or the number of amenities in a room. They were placing greater value on privacy, space, restorative comfort and intuitive environments that could support different rhythms of their lives, be it sleeping, working, entertaining or simply spending meaningful time with family.

That understanding gave us a clear direction when redesigning our Paiza and Sands collections. Walls were reconfigured: rooms were rebuilt with larger, more spacious layouts designed to meet the expectations of today's luxury traveller. The Sands collection was conceived as urban sanctuaries, with spa-like bathrooms, walk -in wardrobes and residential-style living areas —refined, comfortable and deeply considered.

The Paiza Collection takes this further. Nestled within our resort's most coveted upper floors, this exclusive enclave of palatial, residential-style suites serves as a luxurious sanctuary in the heart of the city. From discreet VIP arrival areas and dedicated lift access to bespoke handmade Savoir beds and Fromental hand-painted silk panels, every detail is crafted to evoke the feeling of a refined private residence.

But design alone cannot create a memorable stay. It must work in concert with exceptional service and a deep understanding of the guest experience. Ultimately, what matters is not only what guests experience through visual design, but how the personalised experience makes them feel.

Elevating the experience is one of the world's largest round-the-clock butler teams, which comprises over 160 professionals trained to exacting Forbes Travel Guide service standards through our very own in-house Butler Academy. Our team of butlers curate each stay down to the smallest detail. This includes lighting preferences, pillow configuration, preferred mineral water, bath rituals, bespoke floral and amenity arrangements, and other highly specific touches that returning guests come to expect, making the experience feel instinctive.

The Paiza Collection is a new chapter in the ultra-luxury hospitality offerings of Marina Bay Sands. What was the vision behind its interiors?

The vision for The Paiza Collection was to create suites that feel like private residences in the sky. Our design vision was therefore centred on residential comfort, personalisation and exceptional craftsmanship, guided by an Asian sensibility. The interiors are inspired by local flora and fauna, with design details layered with Southeast Asian craftsmanship and modernised Peranakan motifs across rugs, textiles, screens and marble marquetry.

Every detail was considered through the lens of how a guest moves through the space. In the entry foyer, marble floor marquetry and elegant wall panels create a sense of arrival and anticipation. In the living areas, the Social Bar becomes a natural gathering point, with hand-selected Italian marble, bespoke inserts and custom details designed for entertaining.

We were mindful to include quiet yet thoughtful touches to the design to create a layered and a tactile environment in which even everyday rituals like settling into bed or brewing a pot of tea feels considered. This includes Frette linen, Ploh bedding, Bynd Artisan leather accessories, Ette Tea blends and more. These are not ornamental details, but curated design elements that are part of a larger story of craft, comfort and place.

Looking ahead, what do you think will define the next generation of luxury hospitality, and how do you see Marina Bay Sands setting new benchmarks for hospitality design in Asia?

The next generation of luxury will be defined less by abundance and more by relevance. It will be driven by personalisation, wellness, privacy, craft and a stronger sense of place, as guests search for experiences that feel seamless and intuitive, and spaces that are beautiful yet grounded and private yet connected.

The Paiza Collection reflects that direction by combining residential-scale interiors with deeply personalised service and access to the wider Marina Bay Sands destination. It offers expansive suites complemented by private arrival, 24-hour butler service, wellness-led amenities and exclusive access to Paiza Sky Residence, allowing guests to retreat into a private, highly considered environment while remaining conveniently connected to dining, culture and entertainment across the resort.

For us, the benchmark is not simply to create more luxurious rooms or larger suites. It is to deliver a more complete and intuitive way of living, even for a brief stay.

Lastly, do you have any personal favorite design details?

One of my favorite details is the Social Bar in The Paiza Collection suites. It is a beautiful example of how design can shape behaviour. The fully marble-clad, faceted island bar is designed as the centrepiece of the living space . It is a place where guests naturally gather, entertain and unwind. Each slab of Italian marble was hand-selected so that the veining flows cohesively, creating a dramatic but elegant focal point.

I also have a soft spot for the Armoire and Night Fridge in the bedroom. The Armoire's exterior is inspired by Singapore's water lilies, while the Night Fridge introduces a more wellness-led ritual through curated still and sparkling waters, as well as morning and evening tea blends by local brand Ette Tea.

It brings together materiality and craftsmanship in a way that feels warm and residential rather than overtly luxurious. That is important as the most successful luxury interiors do not constantly announce their complexity. Instead, they make the experience feel effortless and thoughtfully composed. The Armoire and Night Fridge in the bedroom are small details, but they capture what we envisioned for the transformation to achieve: to transform ordinary interactions into small moments of discovery.

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This article was originally published on Forbes.com