[top photo: General view of the construction site of Resorts World Sentosa on June 25, 2009.]

By Victoria Barker

LUXURY hotels here have been stepping up security measures to prevent an incident like last Friday's bombings in Jakarta from happening here - and to mitigate the consequences should the worst happen.

Leading the pack is integrated resort (IR) Resorts World at Sentosa (RWS), which is slated to be completed early next year.

Among the measures taken by the IR are the use of blast-resistant glass at its hotels and "structural reinforcements" such as hardened basement columns, ensuring survivability if there is a strike.

"These protection measures at RWS are complemented by round-the-clock security sweeps, resort-wide electronic surveillance as well as close cooperation with the Singapore authorities," said Mr Robin Goh, spokesman for RWS.

He told my paper: "The terrorist attacks on hotels are a stark reminder that the leisure and hospitality sectors cannot take security for granted."

The 49ha resort - which will comprise three hotels, a casino, the Universal theme park and a retail and dining strip - will also work together with Home Team agencies to keep abreast of security threats and concerns.

Other luxury hotels my paper spoke to were reluctant to reveal security measures but insisted that the security of their premises was paramount.

Six-star The Ritz-Carlton Millenia Singapore in Raffles Avenue, for example, said it had "appropriately increased levels of security following the incident in Jakarta".

Its spokesman added: "We are unable to provide specific details regarding our procedures to ensure that security in our hotel is not compromised."

Mr Pierre Jochem, general manager of Raffles Hotel in Beach Road, said: "We remain focused on implementing the highest standards of professional and personal vigilance to ensure the comfort and well-being of all our residents and patrons."

RWS, meanwhile, has even taken a page out of the Government's book. It will carry out "Red Teaming Exercises", similar to last week's anti-terror drill, Exercise Northstar VII.

Said Mr Goh: "These exercises will simulate security issues and emergencies a world-class resort may face.

"They will help test, review and strengthen our security arrangements."

vbarker@sph.com.sg

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