This Singapore Luxury Resort Is Placing A Bet On Wellness. Here's Why.

Forbes

06-04-2025

Bede Barry, Marina Bay Sands' vice president of hotel operations, in one of the hotel's new wellness suites.
Even though the Marina Bay Sands is a luxury casino hotel, there's a growing sense that guests are looking for something beyond high-stakes gaming and high-end shopping when they come to Singapore. And the resort wants to get in on the action.
"Our guests are looking for more," says Bede Barry, the hotel's vice president of hotel operations.
Barry is standing in a sprawling suite that represents the resort's latest foray into wellness. There's a private treatment room, complete with twin massage beds, a sauna and a steam room.
"We want to create a unique experience in each suite," he explains.
It might seem counterintuitive that a Singapore gaming icon is embracing mindful well-being. But then, the hotel has always positioned itself as an integrated resort, with gaming being just one part of the experience. And in today's competitive luxury travel landscape, the wellness trend is no longer a niche market. It's a powerful current, and even the most established players in the luxury hospitality game are taking notice.
While Marina Bay Sands is one of the world's most recognizable resorts — its three towers topped by the largest rooftop swimming pool in the world is a Singapore landmark — Barry and his team know that Michelin-starred dining and luxury suites alone won't cut it anymore. Market research suggests that affluent travelers want experiences that rejuvenate, restore, and align with a growing desire for holistic well-being.
"People come here to return to themselves," he says.
The iconic Marina Bay Sands is a landmark in Singapore. Its rooftop pool on the 57th floor is the world's largest of its type.
Marina Bay Sands already offers a range of wellness options. That includes a Banyan Tree Spa, with a range of treatments from Balinese to Thai massages. The nearby Gardens by the Bay has Hatha yoga and meditation classes, a gym with state-of-the-art equipment, and plenty of exercise options.
Perhaps the most visible symbol of wellness at Marina Bay Sands is its over-the-top infinity pool. Perched 57 stories above the city, it is the largest rooftop pool in the world. And, according to Barry, it's also the most Instagrammed pool.
"It's one of our major attractions here," he says.
That's no exaggeration. Since its opening in 2010, many people have checked into the hotel just for the pool. (The pool is for guests only, so it requires that they book a room for at least one night.)
So how do you build on that kind of fame? The foundations for a wellness-focused stay are already in place, according to the hotel. But, like other resorts trying to navigate the new demands of wellness, there's more work to be done.
Marina Bay Sands is doubling down on the quality of sleep, a cornerstone of any wellness journey. For example, its Paiza Royal suites – a collection of 60 upscale rooms across all three towers – have handmade Savoir mattresses handmade Savoir mattresses, some costing upwards of $20,000. "Sleep quality is a priority," Barry says. The mattresses, crafted with natural materials such as horsehair, are designed for comfort and restorative sleep. The hotel also offers a pillow menu — a box filled with miniature pillows that you choose from — allowing you to further customize your sleep experience.
Many of the larger suites include private gyms. Some of them feature innovative exercise equipment such as the Kinesis Personal, a high-tech device that offers a variety of exercises to improve strength, flexibility, coordination, and balance through a personalized workout. Barry says the next generation will allow guests to interact with a virtual personal trainer, and the hotel is interested in adding them to its suites.
While all of the resorts rooms have wellness options, the signature suites are pushing the limits. For example, one of the suites offers a Himalayan salt wall, which is said to reduce stress and increase overall well-being. Another suite offers a virtual golf simulator. Barry says the hotel is looking for other ways to boost guests' wellness.
There's a growing awareness of the importance of nutritious food options, according to Barry. Guests want to feel that even while they're indulging, they can do it in a healthy way. In coming months, the resort plans to further develop its vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free choices in its signature restaurants.
An in-suite salt room at the Marina Bay Sands.
The hotel has just hired a vice president of spa and wellness to find ways to develop its wellness experience. As with other hotels on the Malay Peninsula that are pushing the boundaries of wellness, the resort sees its program as a multidisciplinary endeavor — encompassing food and beverage, gym, in-room amenities, and its spa.
"It's a holistic program," says Barry.
Of course, such an undertaking isn't without its risks. With 600 table games and 3,000 electronic gaming machines, Marina Bay Sands remains one of the largest casino resorts in the region. Even though bringing an integrating wellness program to the resort blurs the line between a casino and a resort hotel, Barry sees it as a worthwhile.
"Wellness is not an amenity here, " Barry says. "It's a philosophy."