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Escape, discover, connect: Where new memories are made
Discover a destination where wonder isn't just found – it's cultivated. Resorts World Sentosa is evolving beyond leisure into a space for environmental learning, marine discovery and purposeful engagement with culture and craft
BY NATALYA MOLOK | PUBLISHED 29 JULY 2025
Leaning over her microscope, Ms Vivian Cavan peers at something smaller than a grain of rice.
The acting lead aquarist at the newly opened Singapore Oceanarium is watching new life unfold – a sea jelly baby, drifting through water she has spent hours calibrating to perfection. (Read more about Ms Cavan below in “The people behind the wonder”.)
This is where wonder truly begins at Resorts World Sentosa (RWS) – not just in blockbuster rides and iconic hotels, but also in unseen moments of care and craft.
Here, people like Ms Cavan, 37, understand that they are not just tending to sea jellies – they are crafting the backdrop for school trips that spark lifelong passions, family holidays that become annual traditions and milestone celebrations that reflect the Singaporean spirit.
The First Wanderers
Building dreams from the ground up
Less than 20 years ago, RWS was just “49 hectares of empty land”, says Mr Lim Teik Siang, acting senior vice-president of Projects. Today, it stands as more than a landmark, and not just an attraction.
Then a senior project manager with RWS, he remembers standing on that vacant plot in 2008. He watched the monorail suspended in mid-air by temporary steel work while construction for the basement and foundation of Universal Studios Singapore proceeded below.
“The scale of ambition seemed impossible. Nobody actually believed that we could complete the whole of Universal Studios Singapore in two years,” says Mr Lim, now 47.
Acting senior vice-president of Projects Lim Teik Siang has overseen major RWS developments, including Universal Studios Singapore, S.E.A. Aquarium and now the resort’s expansion plan known as RWS 2.0.
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The challenges were unprecedented: building around a functioning monorail, reclaiming 7ha from the sea and relocating live coral ecosystems. Perhaps the most complex was navigating international collaboration across different specifications, building codes and working styles.
Battlestar Galactica is the world’s tallest duelling rollercoaster and remains a signature ride at Universal Studios Singapore.
Still, small moments of pride made the pressure bearable. Mr Lim vividly remembers strolling through the park as the vision slowly came to life around him.
“You realise that your work matters because it will translate into joy for the guests and success for the company,” he says.
When Universal Studios Singapore soft-launched on March 18, 2010, alongside four hotels, it was not just a construction feat – it marked Singapore’s first integrated resort and a leap forward in leisure and tourism.
Mr Lim Teik Siang, acting senior vice-president, Projects
Resorts World Sentosa transformed what leisure could mean for Singaporeans. But beyond that, we were creating a space where generations would connect and build memories together.
The people behind the wonder
Every time a guest’s eyes light up with awe and excitement, there are dedicated individuals who make it possible. These are the wonder makers – staff who transform Resorts World Sentosa’s vision into reality.
The dedicated service provider
At 62, guest experience lead Loh Nyok Chan still begins her day at 5am at Equarius Hotel’s Tangerine restaurant. Here, she readies the space long before breakfast begins at 7am.
Known for her personal touch – like surprising guests with birthday cakes or taking them for a stroll in the herb garden – Ms Loh treats everyone like family. “If a guest is happy, then I’m happy,” she says.
The sea jelly whisperer
Ms Vivian Cavan never expected to fall in love with sea jellies. But once she did, there was no turning back. From a two-person team in 2016, she now leads a crew of seven aquarists who care for these prehistoric animals at the Singapore Oceanarium.
“They have an amazing life cycle,” she says. But the job goes beyond fascination: “We’re like engineers – adjusting flow rates, monitoring water quality and logging data.”
The artist with many faces
Ten years ago, Ms Marika Ingle, 34, watched a theme park performer and thought, “If I had that job, I’d be the happiest person in the world.” Today, she brings that same joy to others at Universal Studios Singapore.
Ms Ingle pours her energy into five shows a day – often in full costume, under the sun. “It’s harder than people think, but when a guest says, ‘You made my day,’ it’s all worth it.”
Designed to Delight
Savouring the unexpected
“This place is just a place – it’s the people, colleagues and team members who bring it to life,” reflects Mr Lim.
That human touch is most palpable in RWS’ culinary and accommodation landscape, where meals become memories and passion shapes every detail.
At Weave, French dessert brand Pierre Herme Paris will make its Singapore debut with a two-storey boutique on Aug 1.
Guests can explore a sensorial world of sweet and savoury delights, including the world’s first Pierre Herme Paris Ice Cream Bar, a macaron and patisserie counter and a whimsical Bubble Tea collection. The boutique also features a furoshiki stand – another global first – offering sustainably wrapped gourmet gifts.
Singapore will be the first in the world to have a Pierre Herme Paris Ice Cream Bar, offering 12 delectable flavours.
French chef Paul Pairet of Michelin-starred restaurants in China introduces two bold new concepts: an avant-garde ice cream parlour serving fresh soft serve with unexpected flavours, and a modern French kitchen offering grilled meats, seasonal stews, quiches and charcuterie.
There is also Horatio, a whiskey-focused bar where expert curation meets premium spirits
in an intimate setting made for connection. Explore rare and premium whiskey collections
from around the world, enjoy bespoke tasting experiences and sip on classic and
signature cocktails.
The Laurus blends refined luxury with warm hospitality as Singapore’s first Luxury Collection property, in partnership with Marriott International.
Nestled beside a tropical forest, The Laurus – A Luxury Collection Resort, set to open in the third quarter of 2025, marks RWS’ collaboration with Marriott International. Named after laurel leaves once used to crown champions, this 183-suites-only hotel is a celebration of refined hospitality and elevated service.
Where education becomes an adventure
By bringing together entertainment, education and culture in one destination, RWS has shaped how people connect, learn and grow. Its latest evolution – the transformation of the S.E.A. Aquarium into Singapore Oceanarium, opened on July 24 – reimagines what an ocean experience can be.
Assistant vice-president of Life Sciences Grant Rodney Abel at the Singapore Oceanarium, where marine species are actively bred to replenish ocean populations depleted by human activity.
Assistant vice-president of Life Sciences Grant Rodney Abel brings a global perspective and urgency to marine conservation, shaped by witnessing the pristine waters of New Zealand degrade over time.
“The oceans are not infinite. We need to be doing more to ensure we maintain healthy oceans for a healthy existence on land,” says Mr Abel, 65.
“This isn’t just about viewing marine life. It’s about understanding our relationship with ocean ecosystems and our role in their preservation.”
Mr Grant Rodney Abel, assistant vice-president, Life Sciences
Singapore Oceanarium doesn’t just ask visitors to observe – it invites them to participate.
This distinction is fundamental to its “living classroom” concept that extends throughout the facility.
Visitors can participate in behind-the-scenes tours at the Aquarist Lab, witnessing the care that goes into breeding seahorses and cultivating sea jellies. Families across generations can also participate in guided experiences where staff share not just facts, but stories.
Sea jellies complete their life cycle in specially designed tanks, where water flow is slow enough to prevent injury yet fast enough to keep them suspended and healthy.
“Behind every digital display, every interactive experience, every piece of cutting-edge equipment, are passionate marine biologists, educators and conservationists who bring the science to life,” explains Mr Abel. “When a child sees genuine excitement about protecting coral reefs, that enthusiasm is infectious. It travels home with them.”
For Mr Abel, Singapore Oceanarium’s success will be measured not in visitor numbers but in behavioural change.
“If someone leaves here and chooses sustainable seafood at their next meal or if they start supporting marine conservation policies – that’s when we know we’re making a difference.”
A walk down memory lane
Step into Resort World Sentosa’s past and discover what stood where your favourite attractions are today. Click on each image to see how the resort has evolved.
A New Era of Wonder
Entering a new chapter
As Singapore prepares to mark SG60, RWS is once again transforming – from a place that reimagined entertainment to one that must now deliver a new era of wonder.
At Singapore Oceanarium, this starts with technology. Walking through the facility’s 22 themed zones feels like stepping into different chapters of an environmental epic that spans both space and time – from shallow waters to the deep sea, from ancient oceans to the present day.
Explore coastal wildlife at the interactive Singapore Coast exhibit, which brings local mangrove habitats to life.
State-of-the-art digital innovations create immersive experiences that bring historical marine species to life in remarkably realistic ways, while interactive displays and digital storytelling help visitors of all ages connect with ocean ecosystems.
This approach signals RWS’ broader future strategy: using technological innovation not only as spectacle, but also as a bridge between expert knowledge and public understanding, between wonder and action.
Creating a sustainable tomorrow
At RWS, technology is doing more than just enhancing guest experiences. It is helping to shape a future where sustainability and luxury go hand in hand. With the RWS 2.0 expansion on the horizon, this commitment is more important than ever.
“We are not asking people to sacrifice comfort for sustainability,” explains Ms Jen Ong, RWS’ Sustainability acting senior director. “We are proving that sustainable practices can enhance every aspect of a destination experience.”
Sustainability acting senior director Jen Ong at one of RWS’ solar sites, part of the resort’s successful push to quadruple solar energy output.
This philosophy is guiding the resort’s transformation, influencing everything from energy-efficient infrastructure to immersive guest experiences that educate and inspire. These efforts accelerated three years ago when RWS became the first in the world to be certified under both the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) Criteria for Destinations and Hotels.
RWS’ sustainability efforts are guided by four pillars in the framework called L.E.A.D: Lower emissions, Enhance well-being, Amplify impact and Deepen governance. The framework is both an embodiment of the company's commitment and a guiding reminder of its vision to become a leader in sustainable tourism. These include targets for RWS to achieve carbon neutrality by 2030.
Beyond targets to advance decarbonisation and increase resource efficiency, the L.E.A.D framework inspires team members to take initiative in implementing sustainability in their own unique ways.
Ms Ong, 36, shares the story of a chef who was inspired to experiment with orange peels – transforming food waste into cookies now served in hotels and at events. It is a small but powerful example of how sustainable innovation can begin with individual initiative.
Stories like these have reinforced a growing belief within RWS: that every team member holds the potential to drive meaningful change. Building on this momentum, the resort is actively involving staff in its sustainability journey.
As part of RWS’ sustainability journey, non-sustainability staff are trained to lead guided tours.
One standout initiative is the training of non-sustainability staff to lead guided sustainability tours, offering guests an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at how the resort is rethinking waste, energy and conservation. It is a simple yet effective approach to educate guests while empowering staff to become storytellers of sustainability.
“We in hospitality and tourism have the opportunity to influence guests on many levels,” Ms Ong reflects. “That’s what keeps me going – ensuring we lead by example internally, and use that platform to inspire those who visit us.”
A resilient destination
As Singapore looks to grow and transform its tourism sector by 2040, RWS is positioning itself as more than a tourist attraction. It aims to be a showcase of the nation’s innovation, resilience and environmental leadership.
For Ms Lam Xue Ying, acting senior vice-president of Singapore Oceanarium and Destination Experience, this transformation is not just strategic – it is also personal.
She joined RWS 14 years ago as a marketing executive and helped launch Universal Studios Singapore’s first Halloween Horror Nights. Today, Ms Lam is the architect of profound experiences for millions across one of Asia’s most ambitious destinations.
Ms Lam Xue Ying, acting senior vice-president, Singapore Oceanarium and Destination Experience
Guests these days seek meaningful experiences shared with loved ones. And that is what we are here to deliver.
Through years of running Halloween Horror Nights and developing Singapore Oceanarium, acting senior vice-president of Singapore Oceanarium and Destination Experience Lam Xue Ying has found that wonder comes from authentic human connections.
It is a huge responsibility: creating unified brand experiences across Universal Studios Singapore, Singapore Oceanarium, six luxury hotels, dozens of restaurants and countless touchpoints while serving diverse audiences from different cultures.
“It is not easy,” admits the 38-year-old. “But when I see a mother teaching her child about marine conservation, or watch teenagers discover their passion for performance after meeting one of our Universal Studios Singapore characters, I remember why we do this work.”
Looking forward, Ms Lam envisions RWS as “a place where we spark delight, create moments that stay with you, and bring people closer – building connections that truly matter”.
It is a goal shared by RWS staff – from guest experience lead Loh Nyok Chan readying Tangerine restaurant for tomorrow’s breakfast and Universal Studios Singapore performer Marika Ingle (see “The people behind the wonder”) sparking a child’s lifelong love of theatre with her next show, to Mr Lim overseeing the next phase of development. Each one is part of a backdrop for stories yet to be written.
For them, wonder is not just built with steel and concrete. It is crafted daily by people who choose to make strangers feel like family, who turn routine into ritual and who transform jobs into callings.
Guest experience lead Loh Nyok Chan brings care and dedication to every breakfast service at Tangerine restaurant.
As Singapore Oceanarium’s Ms Cavan peers at her sea jellies one last time before leaving for the day, she is not just ensuring their survival – she is tending to the wonder that will inspire Singapore’s next generation of dreamers.