Singapore's most Instagrammable nightclub opens today

MARQUEE Singapore launches at Marina Bay Sands on 12 April 2019, with two of the world’s best DJ talents, Tiësto and Afrojack, helming the deck on its opening weekend. American rapper A$AP Rocky will be making a special appearance.

The 8K screen is the backdrop for TAO's
co-founders Tepperberg (left) and Strauss (right).

The first MARQUEE is one of the longest-running nightclubs in New York, US, and was launched in 2003. Now with three existing locations including New York, Las Vegas, and Sydney, MARQUEE Singapore is the brand’s first foray into Asia and TAO Group's 35th project.

A partnership between TAO Group, a nightlife and hospitality company, and Marina Bay Sands, MARQUEE Singapore is an entertainment complex that is set to inject new life into the Singapore nightlife scene.

Jason Strauss, co-founder, TAO, said that MARQUEE is larger-format than any of the group's US properties, and was created after studying the market for over a year. "We're elevating our game while paying attention to the market place," he said. "We think it's an extremely iconic venue and we think people around the region will come here for night life."

At 2,300 sq m and ceilings that 30 m high, MARQUEE will be Singapore’s largest nightclub, boasting an immersive party experience across three floors. MARQUEE Singapore is home to a one-of-a-kind, fully-operational, eight-armed ferris wheel, a three-storey spiralling twin slide, gilded cage bars, theatrical lighting and performers to complete the nightclub playground experience.

“We are very excited to open MARQUEE at such an exciting venue in Singapore,” says TAO Group’s Co-Founder, Noah Tepperberg. “The space at Marina Bay Sands has given us a great opportunity to introduce a truly imaginative concept unlike any other nightclub, and this latest iteration of the MARQUEE brand is one that is unrivalled in design, technology and features.”

Tepperberg observed that the clubbing scene is vibrant in Singapore. "(People) like to go out. They like to dance. They like to see DJs," he said.

“Marina Bay Sands is known for our ongoing pursuit to provide the best the world has to offer in leisure and entertainment for our guests,” says George Tanasijevich, President and Chief Executive Officer of Marina Bay Sands. “Our partnership with TAO Group to bring Asia’s first MARQUEE to Singapore is no exception.”

Conceived by New York-based design and innovation house, ICRAVE, theatrical lighting specialist, SJ Lighting, and audio experts, Sound Investment, MARQUEE Singapore is designed to push boundaries and set a new industry standard for night life and performance spaces. The design goal for MARQUEE Singapore was to create a unique and fully immersive entertainment experience - to be a best-of-class nightlife venue.

"Even if you didn't have a table you'd still come and have fun," said Tepperberg.

The existing grand theatre space at Marina Bay Sands offered an opportunity to design elements that would not typically be seen in a nightclub space. ICRAVE took the theatre’s core essence and combined it with the energy of festival culture, bringing to life a ‘nocturnal carnival’.

Limited only by imagination, MARQUEE Singapore was built using the latest technologies in theatrical lighting and special effects, together with uncompromised, high-fidelity sound from its state-of-the-art Funktion One DJ console and sound system. This is TAO's first club to have two different sound systems. The Funktion One system offers nightclub sound while a separate system will deliver live music.

MARQUEE Singapore is a three-storey complex of carnival-cum-nightclub amusement. At 40 m in diameter and 30 m tall, The Big Q eight-cabin ferris wheel offers visitors a breathtaking view of the entire nightclub. Each four-person gondola also comes equipped with a touchpad camera, doubling up as a photo booth to capture Instagrammable moments. The three-storey spiralling Sunny Slide Up is a pair of slides internally lit with LED lights that transport guests from the highest level to the ground floor of the nightclub.

At the heart of MARQUEE Singapore is the dance floor, which accommodates 200 people. Rigged with digital screens and a 20 m high custom LED native 8K resolution screen that frames the DJ booth, the floor rivals some of the most famous concert stages in the world. Visual Artform, known for their production for the world’s top artists and largest music festivals, have also created a stunning visual experience at MARQUEE Singapore. Visual Artform has also created custom visuals and animation with the latest Monstro 8K camera technology to create one of the world’s highest-definition live video shows exclusively for MARQUEE Singapore.

Above the dance floor, ICRAVE reimagined the iconic MARQUEE disco ball (there are four) to be a focal point of the nightclub with a dynamic ceiling lighting system. The banquettes around the dance floor draw inspiration from ornamental theatre details, with futuristic flourishes. Tables offer four to 40 seats.

Four full-service bars with some 20 bartenders have been strategically placed across MARQUEE Singapore. Each is named after one of the four cities where MARQUEE resides. Sydney, the largest bar located on the second level, is a cage-inspired bar with peacock displays for a Moulin Rouge vibe. The Las Vegas bar directly below has a warm gold glow. On the top floor, adorned in moonlight and carnival lights for those who wish to recharge, is the Singapore bar. Go on the Sunny Slide Up to be transported to the New York Wonderland Bar right next to the slide outlets.

Known for bringing in a stellar rotation of music acts, MARQUEE Singapore will play host to the nightlife circuit’s biggest names like Above & Beyond, Steve Aoki, Kaskade and Showtek on back-to-back weekends in April.

Explore:

Check MARQUEE Singapore’s lineup

MARQUEE
Marina Bay Sands,
2 Bayfront Avenue, #B1-67 (near Sands Theatre, next to Koma)
Singapore 018972.

Opening hours

Friday: 10 pm till late

Saturday: 10 pm till late

Eves of public holidays: 10 pm till late 

Make reservations by calling +65 6688 8660 or emailing Marquee.Reservations@MarinaBaySands.com 

Tickets can be bought online (excluding booking fee and drinks)

Tickets can also be bought at the door: S$38 (female), S$48 (male), inclusive of one drink. The cover charge may vary depending on the event/guest DJ. 

Resident DJs are DJ FVDER and DJ MASS. 

The minimum age for admission is 18 years old.

Browse pictures of MARQUEE in Singapore Recommends' Facebook albums, including sneak peeks of the yet to be open Koma Japanese restaurant and Avenue speakeasy lounge

View videos of the interior on Instagram here,  here, when the sound and light systems were playing, and of The Big Q

Hashtag: #marqueesingapore

The challenge of innovating fast enough to live comfortably to 100

Source: The Economist Events. Rashmi Dalai, Managing 
Editor, thought leadership, Asia, The Economist 
Intelligence Unit (EIU) (left) with Blackburn 
(right).

Will the speed of innovation, at its current pace, be enough to meet the longevity challenge? This question was asked in an on-site poll during The Longevity Summit – Is Asia ready for 100? in Singapore, and the majority (60%) of delegates said no.

More than 200 Asian business leaders, government officials and healthcare professionals gathered at the summit to discuss how best to engage Asia’s over-60 population in the productive economy and how stakeholders can foster healthier, longer-living societies. The need for change was clear.

A call for total change

Kanwaljit Soin, Founding President of Women’s Initiative for Ageing Successfully highlighted, "We have to change this linear version of life that exists currently, completely.”

Penny Wan, Regional VP and GM, JAPAC, Amgen, said that the current practice of waiting till people get quite sick before offering a solution is flawed. It would be better to predict and prevent, she said. "Find patients earlier, so they don't have to go through the debilitating consequences of a disease," she said.

"Innovate in how we do digital technology. Machine learning (ML), artificial intelligence (AI), and robotics are enabling us to do routine screening so we can predict and prevent a lot of the diseases especially in the chronic area. We could save hospitals and healthcare systems billions of dollars. It's no longer about adding years to life. It's really about adding life to those years."

Adapting to silver needs

Society will need to adapt to older people working for longer, on their terms. Wilf Blackburn, CEO, Prudential Singapore stated that “it is a myth that older people in Singapore don’t want to reskill and we need to demystify it".

Blackburn shared that in one case people working in a call centre were initially asked for data to train chatbots and later took over the training of chatbots themselves, some going on to train the trainers thereafter. Those others left in the call centre took on the more stimulating work of answering the complicated questions that the chatbots could not answer.

"Adopting practices in the working environment that are conducive to older people and to allow people to have flexible working hours is so important,” he added. "Practices that allow staff to have flexible work schedules, flexible processes where they work, where they choose when they work - certainly the older people appreciate that more."

Ecosystem needed

The consensus was that policy makers, financiers, tech companies and scientists need to collaborate if the region is to cope with and benefit from greater longevity.

"The topic of ageing is far too great for any sector to address on its own. We can't do it on our own, we can't do it on just technology. We need an ecosystem and we need different solutions," Wan declared. "Through focused and purposeful collaborations, we’ll be able to move from a health system of break-and-fix, to one of predict and prevent. Prevention measures lead to better health outcomes, lower costs and better quality of life for patients and their families.”

Blackburn also said that the new normal will require input from many constituents, and praised Singapore's SkillsFuture government reskilling programme for helping people to become productive assets in the workplace.

The need for more collaboration came through strongly in a panel titled Age of Innovation. Elizabeth Cha, Country Manager, Insilico Taiwan, talked about how AI and deep learning are being harnessed for molecular medicine. 

"We can do cross-comparisons between different communities and behaviours. We can get results quickly and get into validation earlier, find better medicare, or new uses for old medicine," she said.

"We need to find a new way to find the best medical care for the community, especially for longevity issues. Data is important, not just medical data – tissue typing, tests, but we need to analyse data from social behaviour," she added. Cha called on experts from multiple disciplines to collaborate to produce that data.

From left: Dalai; Roy; Wan; Kim; Cha and Tan.

What's hot in healthcare

When it comes to the solutions, Anne Kim, founder and Chief Executive, Alphavita Capital, said that the investment landscape for longevity had expanded from ageing to management of chronic diseases and the lifecycle of patients and customers. High net worth individuals and family businesses are interested in the phenomenon, she said, adding: "We are seeing more interest in broad investments in products, services and innovative business models leveraging technology today."

Specifically products that improve quality of life as people age are of interest, Kim said. In the services space the focus is on evolving business models for telemedical services and greater access to care; while the shared economy platform approach "to aggregate services and basically balance demand and supply of care" is also popular, she shared.

Finetuning the focus is important, however. Kim said that there is a lot more data needed to close the gap across the spectrum of care, which spans patients with chronic diseases, the sick, the dying, urgent care, and those who are frail. "We need to do more research what exactly patients need and what patients need to be served," she said. "The needs of men and women are markedly different."

Tan Hwee-pink, Academic Director, SMU-TCS iCity Lab, Singapore Management University, said that industry-led research projects at the university do involve AI, and identified a further challenge with following up on results. AI could identify seniors at risk for social isolation, or facing physical deterioration, for example. "If nobody knows what to do with that information it is as good as not having that information," he said.

Source: Prudential survey microsite.
Ready for 100 logo.

The Prudential Ready for 100 study

Prudential recently commissioned The Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) to survey more than 1,200 residents in Singapore to find out if they are prepared to live long and well as life expectancy rises. Singapore, whose population has reached 5.6 million, will see 900,000 aged over 65 by 2030, and a rising number living to 100, the survey said.

Ready for 100: Preparing for longevity in Singapore found that Singapore residents often understand what they should do to live healthy lives, but may not practise what they preach. 

According to the report, rising longevity will only be a positive experience for Singapore residents if they strengthen four key areas of life:

Relationships

Three-quarters of respondents said they would be able to find some or all of the support they need in an unexpected life event. To avoid financial and emotional pressure from family members, the report recommended that people engage with "a more diverse set of communities and networks outside of their family".

Health and wellness

Singapore’s residents are largely aware of the importance of eating better and exercising regularly. They also have good intentions to do so, but urban living, a strong food culture - what Blackburn called an "eating culture like nowhere else" and conflicting definitions of what is “good” and “healthy” have created a gap between intent and action.

The study found that Singapore residents, on average, exercise below the recommended time per week and consume an excess of the recommended intake of sugar and processed grains. "This is contributing to rising rates of dementia, heart disease and diabetes," the study noted.

Financial health

Nearly eight in 10 residents do save, but it is challenging to save enough so that they do not have to work between the standard retirement age of 62 and 100. "As a result, residents need to reimagine how they plan their finances for older age. This includes investing as much in building their financial assets as they do in extending professional assets and careers," the report warned.

Work

The study notes that the Singapore government has mandated that employees cannot be forced to retire before the age of 62, and that eligible employees can be re-employed up to the age of 67. "However, to take advantage of these additional working years, ageing professionals need to have vision and courage to reimagine their careers and plan to work longer.

"Technology provides a number of opportunities for people to pursue new industries and provide education and reskilling opportunities, but it is only as useful as the initiative people take. Currently, a proactive attitude at work appears to be lacking. Only four out of ten residents say they actively seek new challenges at work," stated the report.

Changing behaviours

The psychology of persuasion - getting people to change their minds for the better - had some airtime during the summit. Nawal Roy, Chief Executive, Holmusk, has been engaging patients with digital tools to manage chronic diseases like diabetes for some years. "In chronic disease, engagement matters. Medication has value but if you are not able to engage with the patient on a regular basis you are not able to influence the outcome," he warned.

"We are banking on the fact that people who are unhealthy will do whatever it takes to become healthy," said a member of the audience. "If we took that away and see them at consumers and try to sell them something we would see better success."

Tan shared that older people are typically more resistant to advice from doctors, nurses, or staff from voluntary welfare organisations, whom they see as "big brother". "If (students) step in to speak to them they are more willing to speak to us," he said. "Seniors usually have a ringleader. Once you identify that ringleader, and if you get her on board (she will persuade the others)."

Roy said healthcare is "way behind the curve" when it comes to the science of psychology or behavioural science. "The good news is that it's changing at a very fast pace," he said.

Personas can help shape the narrative. He said there are those who are fully motivated, willing to change and able to change at one end of the spectrum, and those who are never going to change at the other. "In between you have different degrees of willingness and ability to change – that's the sweet spot," he said.

Roy also observed that solutions have to be recalibrated for different markets. "When you scale at the Asia level (that is a) problem even if you have a solution," he said.

Peggy Liu, Chair, Joint US-China Collaboration on Clean Energy, has found common denominators in getting people to change behaviours, from making it fun to catching them young.

Liu is focused on food as it is the the single largest source of greenhouse gases and affects climate change, and the best "Trojan horse" to changing the world's problems. She said the best time to change dietary behaviour is between the ages of five and nine, with one of the basic messages being to "eat a rainbow every day".

"You have to start at ages five to nine. Once you've passed nine you're pretty much hopeless," she said.

Liu's organisation has come up with the Food Heroes initiative, which focuses on microlearning, gamification, and play based education to educate people more effectively about healthy eating and food waste. Focusing on the children means that the adults in the family become involved as they shop for the "rainbow food" that the children request, for example.

"We're doing it all wrong, talking to people's heads, talking about statistics. It's all about their sense of self love and prosperity... tap into people's dreams," she said.

Liu is also proposing public-private partnerships on rewarding people for positive food behaviour with a Blockchain-based system.

Hashtags: #EconLongevity, #PRUReadyfor100, #PrudentialSG

FTLife offers insurance plan with 5.9% return

FTLife, one of Hong Kong's largest life insurance companies and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Tongchuangjiuding Investment Management Group (JD Group), has introduced an enhanced Regent Insurance Plan that will provide policyholders with an overall total return of up to 5.9%, in contrast to near-zero bank deposit rates in Hong Kong.

The plan is targeted at people seeking long-term growth. It offers an overall total return of up to 5.9% and allows policyholders to withdraw annual dividends* every policy anniversary, or plough them back into the plan to accumulate greater wealth.

Interested?

Call the FTLife Customer Service Hotline on +852 2866 8898.

*Dividends are not guaranteed.

HP Inc. empowers 'One Life' with breakthrough computing solutions and designs

HP has unveiled its latest computing innovations to transform the mobile computing experience. The new lineup addresses customers’ needs for devices that take them through 'One Life', what HP calls the seamless convergence of work and life. Workplaces are no longer confined spaces but anywhere with an Internet connection, and workstyles involve more collaboration than ever before, the company observes.

“Millennials want the device they use to be stylish and stunning, and which gives them the freedom to create and express their aspirations. If they use the device for work, they also want to be sure that it is secure enough and lets them collaborate effortlessly,” said Lionel Chng, Managing Director, HP Inc. Singapore. “At HP, we are constantly pushing the envelope in design, productivity, security and entertainment to build innovative products for ‘One Life’, so our customers get an enhanced computing experience whether for work or play.”

The new products include: 

 HP Spectre - Crafted in a high gloss copper-accented CNC* machined aluminum chassis, the HP Spectre is also the world’s thinnest laptop¹ – as thin as an AAA battery – but with full performance and up to nine-and-a-half hours of battery life. 

 HP EliteBook Folio - commercial-grade performance in a premium consumer notebook design. The thinnest and lightest business-class notebook HP has ever created, at only 12.4 mm and under 1 kg, the EliteBook Folio does not compromise on business-critical robustness, security and manageability. 

The Windows 10-based Elite x3 is smartphone sized but delivers desktop productivity when connected to a separate display.

 HP Elite x3 - the first built-for-business mobile device running Windows 10 that revolutionises the mobile computing experience. The HP Elite x3 bridges phablet, laptop and desktop use cases from a single computing device.

Rounding up HP’s new premium PC portfolio are:  

 The thinnest 14” business-class notebook² - the HP EliteBook 1040 G3 – and the new HP EliteBook 800 G3 series – the next generation of HP’s best-selling business-class notebooks. 

 The HP EliteBook 1030 - Sitting right between the EliteBook Folio and EliteBook 1040 in HP’s premium business-class portfolio, the device is designed for users who require the versatility and mobility of a smaller notebook but would like a larger screen.

1 Based on HP's internal analysis as of 2/10/16 of vendors shipping >1 million units worldwide annually with clamshell design, Windows or OSX, measured at z-height. 

2 Based on HP’s internal analysis of 14” business class notebooks as of January 4, 2016 with >1 million unit annual sales having preinstalled encryption, authentication, malware protection and BIOS-level protection, passing MIL-STD 810G tests with optional docking incorporating power delivery. 

*CNC stands for computer numerical control and refers to machines for manufacturing which are controlled by computers.

Singapore businesses more confident than Hong Kong, have better work life balance

- Forty-three percent of businesses in Singapore are strongly confident in the growth of their business this year, compared to 30% of businesses in Hong Kong.

-  Sixty-one percent of businesses in Singapore plan to hire more personnel, compared to 44% of businesses than Hong Kong this year.

The Compass Index recently compared business trends between Hong Kong and Singapore that businesses in Singapore are more optimistic and employees enjoy a better work life balance than in Hong Kong.

Based on client surveys, the Compass Index measured business trends in nine different countries in APAC. The respondents come from a cross section of startups, small and medium sized  businesses and multinational companies.

Optimism in business growth

The Index shows that 43% of businesses in Singapore are strongly confident in the growth of their business this year, compared to 30% of businesses in Hong Kong. Singapore is also leading in the Global Financial Centres Index, placing only behind London and New York with regards to business environment, financial sector development and infrastructure.

Both governments have stepped up their efforts to support startups and small and medium sized businesses. In March, the Hong Kong government announced that its 2016-2017 Budget will see measures to support SMEs including tax cuts to injecting [HKD5 billion into the Innovation and Technology Fund (ITF). While the Singapore government has implemented special tax schemes to support newly incorporated companies, in addition to providing a startup cluster,  Block 71,  and research resources. Recently, the government launched SG-Innovate as a one-stop office to boost Singapore’s position as a financial technology hub.

Singaporean businesses are also more decisive in hiring than Hong Kong. The Index shows that 61% of businesses in Singapore plan to hire more personnel, compared to 44% of businesses than Hong Kong this year.

“Singapore and Hong Kong are the gates to Asia. They both offer unique selling points for businesses i.e. for businesses that want to tap the Chinese market, Hong Kong might be the better place; while for businesses that want to focus on Southeast Asian countries, Singapore would be the natural option,” said Andrew Chung, CEO of Compass Offices.

Work life balance

While more than half of people in Hong Kong and Singapore work between eight to nine hours on an average day, the Index indicates that 8% of Hong Kongers work more than 11 hours, compared to 6% of Singaporeans.

More Singaporeans do not bring work home as well. More than a quarter (27%) of Singaporeans have never brought work home, compared to less than 20% in Hong Kong.

Last year a survey carried out by Community Business, a non-profit organisation that is focusing on good business practices in Asia, suggested that more than 60% of 1,000 employees across Hong Kong feel that their work life balance is getting worse.

“Businesses in Hong Kong and Singapore are seen as the frontrunners in the region. So it is important for them to embrace the concept that work life balance is no longer a nice-to-have policy, (but a) pertinent way to encourage hard work and employees’ loyalty, and to stay on top of competition,” concluded Chung.

2015 Namyangju Slow Life International Festival to delight visitors this October

Source: Slow Life Planet website.

An international festival promoting the slow food movement as well as an all-round healthy lifestyle will take place in the South Korean city of Namyangju in October. 

Under the theme Good Food, Good Life the Namyangju Slow Life International Festival (남양주슬로푸드국제대회) will run for 10 days from October 8 in the provincial city, located about 30 km east of Seoul. 

The fair is the second of its kind to be held in Namyangju city, after it launched the Asio Gusto festival in 2013. The city has since changed the name of the programme and decided to make it a regular event that is held every two years.

Visitors can expect to enjoy concerts, tasting sessions and other hands-on activities. A food show starring some of the most popular chefs from South Korea will be held during the festival, and visitors will also be able to try traditional foods and beverages from a diverse mix of cultures.

Interested?

Individual tickets: 7,000 won
Group* tickets: 6,000 won
Early bird** tickets: 5,000 won
Buy tickets**

*A group should have at least 10 people. 

**Early bird prices are available till October 7, 2015.

***Tickets at each tier cost 1,000 won less for teenagers and children.

AmMetLife Insurance launches ProtectSecure Prime life plan

AmMetLife Insurance has launched ProtectSecure Prime, a whole life plan with guaranteed premium from as low as RM150 per month. ProtectSecure Prime offers three premium payment term options - 10 years, 20 years or up to age 60 after which no further payments will be required to keep the policy in force.

Source: AmMetLife website.

In addition, customers will enjoy an annual 10% increase of the initial sum assured upon completion of policy year one up until policy year 10. ProtectSecure Prime also has a unique double coverage feature for extra protection which takes effect between policy year 11 to age 61, in the event of death, total permanent disability or any of the 36 critical illnesses depending on the plan selected.

Said Ramzi Toubassy, Chief Executive Officer, AmMetLife: “We stand by our brand positioning ‘Live Ready’ as we are committed to provide the best options for our customers to live confidently today and to live ready for tomorrow.”

Datuk Mohamed Azmi Mahmood, Acting Group Managing Director, AmBank Group added: “Together with AmMetLife, we are pleased to distribute ProtectSecure Prime, which will be made available at all AmBank branches nationwide from 10 August 2015. As Your Bank and Malaysia’s Bank, we are confident that ProtectSecure Prime is a smart insurance plan that will benefit our customers greatly with its unique features.”

ProtectSecure Prime is a bancassurance product and will be distributed through 172 AmBank branches. ProtectSecure Prime is available to individuals aged up to age 50 only, depending on the plan selected.

Interested?

Visit an AmBank branch in person, check on the website or dial 1300 888800 with enquiries.

Four tips for balancing work and play on a smartphone

Source: Microsoft. View the full infographic.

As smartphones are increasingly used for both work and personal life, creating a balance can be challenging. Smartphones such as Microsoft's Lumia 640 and 640 XL include a subscription to Office 365, for example.

Working with Microsoft, Dr Mark Batey, Organizational Psychologist at the UK-based Manchester Business School, has provided top tips for getting this balance right:

1. Be ready when inspiration strikes
“Use a note-taking app on your mobile to capture your brilliant ideas whenever, wherever they strike,” he says.

2. Commute smart
“Tackle smaller, simpler tasks on your commute, clearing the way for you to attack the big jobs when you reach the office,” Dr Batey suggests.

3. Keep your cool
Dr Batey recommends doing some things offline. “If you’re faced with an angry message or sensitive issue, try to handle this in person or at least on the phone,” he says.

4. Prioritise sleep and your partner
“Don’t get sucked into email before bed. Your responses will be better thought-out in the morning,” he adds.

Dr Batey's suggestions are available in infographic form. Interested?

View the full infographic and other tips for work-life balance