The casino operator will team with U.S. Green Building Council officials to unveil the sustainable development program at the Venetian Resort and Sands Expo and Convention Center in Las Vegas this week.

When the program kicks off, the Venetian will be awarded a gold EB certification under the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) rating system.

The gaming company has already been awarded the “silver NC” certification for the Sands’ Palazzo Las Vegas Resort.

With the new award the two resorts and the expo hall will become the largest contiguous LEED-certified building in the world.

The S&P is currently trading 1.2% higher to 1,164 and the Dow Jones Industrial Average is trading 0.7% higher to 10,715.

With LVS stock posting a return of 19.33% since the February 17 earnings announcement, the gaming company has out gained rival Wynn Resorts and beat rival MGM’s price performance over the past month.

In fact Sands has outperformed the industry as a whole 26.09% since the earnings announcement with the Resort and Casino market seeing a combined 15.33% gain.

Tuesday saw Sands as the focus of some brisk options trading with more than 110,400 contracts changing hands. The surge in volume was more than double the stock’s daily trading volume of 54,834 contracts.

Sands also saw 74% of the volume on the call side, crossing the tape.

According to the agreement both parties will jointly fund publicity and promotional activities targeting trade partners, international media and overseas markets.

Marina Bay Sands President and Chief Executive Officer Mr. Thomas Arasi said, “Marina Bay Sands will deliver once-in-a-lifetime experiences to visitors from all over the world. We’re excited about our partnership with Singapore Airlines which brings together two premium, iconic brands synonymous with the Singapore brand and symbolic of the country’s tourism industry.”

Marina Bay Sands will also join the list of hotels available under the airlines Singapore Stopover Holidays program, offering overseas customers special accommodation rates, complimentary airport-hotel transfers, as well as discounts on shopping, dining and selected attractions in Singapore.

“With its central location, extensive entertainment offerings and state-of-the-art facilities, Marina Bay Sands is set to become an iconic landmark and attraction for tourists visiting Singapore. We are pleased to be working with this integrated resort to promote Singapore as a major convention and tourist destination, and Singapore Airlines as the carrier of choice for overseas visitors,” said Mr. Huang Cheng Eng, Singapore Airlines’ Executive Vice President Marketing and the Regions.

Sands is proposing that expanding gambling and allowing non tribal casinos to enter the market will bolster the state’s economy and tourism industry.

Under Sands proposal the state would except up to four bids to build resort casinos in areas including Tampa and South Florida to attract international convention business.

The proposal also states that no more than 10% of the floor space would be devoted to casino games.

Sands stresses that while the offerings would add competition to the Seminole Tribe, the new casinos would not compete against the state’s pari-mutuel industry as long as they were also allowed to install slot machines at the tracks.

“Their market is not the market we are looking to attract,” said Andy Abboud, vice president of Las Vegas Sands Government Relations, “The pari-mutuels appeal to a regional market, while the Sands’ project would attract visitors from South America and Europe.”

In October 2007, the casino operator announced that they would sell serviced apartments at the luxury Venetian Macau resort to be used as “holiday homes”.

Meanwhile Lawmaker Au Kam San argued that the “Venetian acquired this piece of land at an almost negligible cost. If it is allowed to go ahead with the sale of serviced apartments, which will definitely command good prices, it would be a flagrant example of profiteering”.

Au Kam San expressed concern that other developers would follow suit and trigger a flood of serviced apartments onto the market.

The land lease signed by Sands and the Macau government states that the Cotai Strip site is to be used solely for the development of gaming and hospitality projects, prohibiting the sale of apartments.

However, according to an announcement made by Sheldon Adelson at the Deutsche Bank 2010 Hospitality and Gaming Conference, the Macau government has agreed to let Sands sell the units in a cooperative form of ownership.

“We want to sell the apartments just to players who lock in their loyalty to where they own their apartment,’’ Adelson said, “If we proceed in selling co-ops, I believe that the future and the perception of our company will change for the better, dramatically.”

Michael Leven chief operating officer said at the Reuters Travel and Leisure Summit that the co-op sales would bring in more than $1 billion.

”I don’t think this needs to be voted on tonight,” Councilman Gordon Mowrer said.

The additions were halted in November 2008, while Sands forged ahead to complete the casino, which was considered the economic driver for the resort.

On Monday the operator of Sands Casino Bethlehem announced that they would restart construction within the next several weeks, in an attempt to reassure lawmakers that the reports they were looking to sell the property were “unfounded”.

Councilman Robert Donchez called for the resolution two weeks ago after Mayor John Callahan asked the state Gaming Control Board to force Sands to resume the project by tying a timetable to the renewal of its gaming license.

Councilwoman Karen Dolan, who moved to table the resolution, said she wanted to send the Sands a message as well about how important the rest of the project is to the community.

”We want the Sands to follow through on its promises,” she said. ”We want the dream that was sold to us to come true.”

However, Councilman David DiGiacinto said he is still not convinced the Sands will follow through, ”If we’re confident with what we read yesterday, with their renewed commitment to build, I don’t think this resolution is necessary,” He added, ”I’m not there yet.”

The vote represents the council’s mindset to give Sands time to deliver what it promised Monday.

Sheldon Adelson called the reports “unfounded”.

“We are looking forward to reviewing our table games application with the Gaming Control Board, and at the same time we have undertaken efforts which will result in construction resuming on the hotel portion of the development in the very near future,” said Las Vegas Sands Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Sheldon G. Adelson.

Sands announced today that they planned to restart the stalled construction plans of the resorts 300 room hotel within the next several weeks, or as soon as subcontractors are lined up and activated.

Adelson also said the 80 table games being added to the casinos slot machines, once approved by gaming regulators would make the casino more profitable.

“We have undertaken efforts which will result in construction resuming on the hotel portion of the development in the very near future,” Sheldon G. Adelson, Las Vegas Sands Corp. Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, said in a statement today. “With the addition of table games, Sands Bethlehem will become the most complete and convenient gaming destination for millions of New York City and northern New Jersey residents and, at the same time, enhance the profitability of the property starting in the foreseeable future.”

Sands Bethlehem opened only nine months ago; however management has said that they were disappointed with the facility’s financial returns.

2009 Fourth quarter earnings showed an operating loss for the property of $2.1 million on revenue of $57.5 million. President and COO, Michael Leven, told investors that although they were “somewhat disappointed” they still had “high hopes” for the sites potential.

Sands spokesman Ron Reese declined to comment on the potential sale.

“The company’s focus right now is to get the property to perform better,” Reese said. “We’re in the process of initiating some new marketing programs and looking forward to getting table games and overall working to improve the performance of the property.”

According to the source, Sands is looking to sell before possibly being required by the state to complete the property’s stalled hotel, mall and conference center additions.

Bethlehem Mayor John Callahan said he was unaware of any sale discussions, although city council President Robert Donchez said he had heard rumors.

Gaming control board spokesman Richard McGarvey said Las Vegas Sands would have to file an application with the board to transfer ownership, which the company has not done. The board would investigate the new owners and hold a public hearing to rule on any transfer, he said.

Sands would have to file an application with the Gaming Control Board to transfer ownership, which has not been done. The board would investigate the new owner and hold a public hearing to rule on the transfer before any deal struck by Sands could be honored.

Marina Bay is the regions second integrated resort and has already staffed more than 3,000 people and now aims to boost that number to more than 8,000.

Almost 2,000 of that number represent dealers, who have begun training conducted around the clock in eight-hour shifts to simulate a working casino.

However since operations still require waiters, bartenders, butlers, retail shop supervisors and guest service agents in hotels among others, Thomas Arasi, president and chief executive officer unveiled a recruitment center at Mountbatten Square on Thursday.

Chief Operating Officer Michael Leven told reporters in an interview today that they will attempt to refinance approximately $5 billion of U.S. loans later this year.

“We don’t have to do it right away, it’s easy for us to watch the deals that are being done.” Leven said.

Sands may ask lenders to amend and extend loans after the opening of the Marina Bay Sands Integrated Resort and Casino in Singapore scheduled for April 27.

“If Singapore opens well, our leverage gets much better.” Leven said.

Leven also explained that the deal may include the offer to repay a portion of the debt, pay fees and negotiate a new interest rate in exchange for the modifications.

There are approximately 130 lenders in the original loan group.
As of December 31, 2009 the gaming company had $11 billion in long term debt, for Las Vegas, Singapore and Macau venues with an average weighted interest rate of 4%.

Last April Sands amended the terms of its bank deal, with the option to buy back as much as $800 million of its term loans by September 30, 2010.

Marina Bay Sands will open to the public on April 27 pending its gaming license with Singapore’s Casino Regulatory Authority.

Chief Executive Thomas Arasi has said that phase one will open with 963 hotel rooms, a portion of the shopping mall and convention center, restaurants and casino, subject to construction proceeding as scheduled.

The second phase of the US $5.5 billion resort will include the opening of additional retail space, dining outlets and the Sands SkyPark, scheduled for June 23.

“We are intently focused on meeting our construction timeline and preparing our team for opening and operating this extraordinary destination,” Mr. Arasi said in a statement.

The resort destination marks the companies first development in South Asia and is expected to generate $1 billion in annual profits.

The launch of Marina Bay Sands, in combination with our significant presence in the growing Macau market, positions us to realize substantial long-term financial benefits through our proximity to many of the world’s fastest growing economies, both in North and South Asia. It will also make us less dependent on our operations in locations where the economy is still working to recover,” said Michael Leven, the company’s president and chief operating officer.

The application requested that Sands Casino Bethlehem be permitted to add approximately 80 table games including blackjack, craps, roulette, poker and baccarat.

The gambling expansion allows for casinos to install a maximum of 250 table games for a licensing fee of $16.5 million.

Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board Chairman Gregory C. Fait said that Sands could have table games up and running as early as the Fourth of July.

Sands President Michael Leven said that the addition of table games will contribute to greater profitability enable the property to serve a broader customer set and enhance other revenues.

Earlier this month Mayor John Callahan had asked the Board to tie the casino’s pending license renewal to a construction timeline on the stalled hotel, mall and conference center.

To which Leven responded by saying they would reevaluate the project at the end of the year, after the casino rolls out table games.

Operations at the Venetian and Palazzo in Las Vegas declined 19.4% from 2008 with net revenue of $263.8 million for the fourth quarter of 2009.

“While our current quarter’s results in Las Vegas reflect lower room and food and beverage revenues, principally because of less group business in Las Vegas, our gaming volumes have stabilized,” Las Vegas Sands Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Sheldon Adelson said.

However, in Macau net revenue jumped 15.3% to $284.9 million at the Sands Macau, 20.9% to $570 million at the Venetian Macau and 131.8$ to 97.8% million at the Four Seasons Macau.

Overall the gaming company reported an increase in fourth quarter net revenue of 17.5% to $1.28 billion compared to the $1.09 billion from the same period the previous year.

“Finally, we made steady progress during the year on our de-leveraging strategy. The completion of the listing of Sands China Ltd. on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange significantly strengthened our balance sheet, which now includes nearly $5.0 billion of cash and cash equivalents.”

LVS closed trading prior to the release of their financials at $17.46 a share, In after-hours trading, Las Vegas Sands shares fell $1, or 5.73% to reach $16.50.

Reuters reports that analysts polled expects the gaming company to earn $0.03 per share on revenue of $1.23 billion, although the company’s current earnings per share ratio is -.92.

Analyst appear to be more optimistic about Macau gaming revenue than Las Vegas, as Sin City has continually suffered from a loss of tourist and conventions as well as lower consumer spending.

Last week the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority reported that convention attendance dropped 23.9% last year and the number of conventions and meetings held dropped 13.6% compared to 2008.

Sands gambling and resort operations are split between Macau and Las Vegas with a new venture in Singapore opening in the second quarter of 2010.

Over the past year LVS stock has rallied over 400%.

Shares of LVS closed the market yesterday at $17.56 up $0.75 from Friday’s closing price of $16.81.

While, Sands subsidiary Sands China Ltd, will not yet reap profits from the Shangri-La, Traders, Sheraton and St. Regis hotel brands scheduled to open on the Cotai Strip property in 2011, they have been pulling in their share of gambling revenue from Macau.

Last week Macau reported a 63.3% surge in gaming revenue for the month of January, where LVS has a portfolio of open properties including The Venetian Macao and Four Seasons Hotel Macao on the Cotai Strip as well as the Sands Macao Hotel on the Macau peninsula.

Sands also successfully launched a Hong Kong IPO in the fourth quarter of 2009, through Sands China.

2010 is forecasted to be an iconic year for Sands, as they prepare to launch Marina Bay Sands Casino in Singapore in the second quarter of 2010.

J.P. Morgan estimated the venture could generate annual revenues of $2.6 billion by 2011, making the Singapore casino the biggest earner in the world, with more than twice the combined revenues of its Las Vegas properties.

Shares of Las Vegas Sands gained 6.5% yesterday to close the market at $16.87.

A payment of $2.50 per share will be made on the casino operators 10% Series A Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock.

The gaming company will release the payment on February 16th, one business day after the specified dividend payment date of February 15, 2010 as per the Certificate of Designations for the preferred stock.

Shares of LVS plunged 6.96% yesterday to close trading at $15.37 on 32.57 million shares.

The stock hit an intraday high of $16.24 and an intraday low of $15.33.

Mayor John Callahan has asked the Board to tie the license renewal to a construction timeline on the casino’s stalled hotel, mall and conference center, suggesting they are in the prime position to “pressure” Sands to complete the project.

“Bethlehem and the state invested a great deal in this project and are entitled to a firmer timetable for restarting construction,” he said.

However Sands officials told the Board that they were unable to put a timeline on restarting the project that has been stalled since October 2008, until the financial markets improved.

“We don’t think the project is financeable now,” Las Vegas Sands Corps. General Counsel Fred Kraus said during the three-hour hearing at Town Hall. “The cost to complete is in excess of $100 million, that’s something that needs financing.”

Meanwhile, LVS President and COO Michael Leven said they would reevaluate the project at the end of the year, after the casino rolls out table games.

“We have no plans to start the hotel again until we can see the results from table games, until we can justify it financially,” Leven said.

Both remarks are contradictory to those made by CEO Sheldon Adelson in June, when he promised to build a major resort in Bethlehem including the 1,000 room hotel, if the state legalized table games.

LVS stock rose from $15.67 to $17.11 during yesterday’s trading session, up $1.61 since Friday’s closing price of $15.50.

The Chinese gambling enclave has become a vital market for U.S. based casino operators since gaming revenues continue to surpass that of Las Vegas.

Macau continues to post strong year-over-year results with revenue steadily increasing as many of the U.S. gaming destinations continue to suffer from the economic downturn.

According to Susquehanna Financial analyst Robert A. LaFleur reports from the region showed nearly a 65% increase in gaming revenue in January, setting a new monthly record for the market.

The Wall Street Journal recently reported that Sterne Agee’s Bain noted that Sands could be one of the biggest beneficiaries of a revenue increase in Macau as it has more mass play exposure than the rest of the industry.

Mass play has higher margins than VIP play, which accounts for over 65% of the marketplace and Bain estimates about 40% of Las Vegas Sands’ revenue in Macau comes from mass play.

COO Michael Leven said that disclosure rules would probably deter all but a few Singaporean junket operators from seeking a license and that the casino will focus on drawing patrons to the 600 gaming tables and 1,500 slots from closer areas, like Indonesia and Malaysia.

“We are building our organization on the anticipation that we do no junket business,” Leven said. “The gaming intentions of the people who live within an hour-and-a-half’s flight of Singapore are very significant.”

Singapore hopes to attract 17 million visitors and triple annual tourism revenue to S$30 billion ($21.4 billion U.S.) by 2015.

Other restrictions being implemented by gaming regulators call for gamblers to declare an expected amount of potential loss before hitting the tables, once that amount has been reached the National Council on Problem Gambling expects them to stop wagering or seek counseling if they wish to continue.

“We encourage those who want to set spending limits on their casino gambling to make use of the pre-commitment system by informing the casino staff before they start playing,” council Chairman Lim Hock San was quoted by the Weekend Today newspaper as saying. “This will help empower them to exercise discretion for their own gambling habits.”

During a webcast conference with investors Leven stressed that casino operators have little leverage with pricing.

“We are going to continue to do business, but it will be much more price-oriented than what it would have been two years ago,” Leven said explaining that Sands recently booked a group of rooms for April at a rate 70% below what the cost would have been two years ago.

“We are not worried at all about (the volume of) group business in ‘10 or ‘11,” Leven said. “Our problem is getting that business at the kind of rates we used to have — that is not going to happen in 2010, or early 2011.”

Leven said he expects that the combination of room revenue and occupancy rates will drop this year compared to 2009 and that the company’s cost structure is much different than it used.

After several rounds of cost-cutting driven by the recession and debt crisis Leven noted that gaming company’s profitability is still in pretty good shape, since it has the ability to accommodate large groups and conventions and can make money on high margin businesses like food and beverages.

Sands’ U.S. based operations remain highly leveraged, but Leven said the company is in no danger of breaching loan covenants.

He said lenders have offered to ease covenants in exchange for higher interest rates, and Sands will consider all its options after the Singapore resort is up and running.