A multi-million-dollar cruise terminal capable of accommodating the world’s largest luxury cruise liners will start operating this weekend, officials said Tuesday.

The opening of the Marina Bay Cruise Centre Singapore will allow the city-state to tap Asia’s growing cruise industry while it will also provide thousands of new jobs.

On Saturday, the Sg$500 million ($395 million) terminal will welcome its first ship — the Royal Caribbean International’s 138,000-tonne Voyager of the Seas luxury liner.

A Singaporean businessman, his wife and two children have paid $1 million to become the first Asian family to fly together on space-tourism airline Virgin Galactic.

“I had lunch yesterday with a guy who got in touch with us in Singapore, and over lunch he signed his contract for not just a seat, but for a whole flight,” Virgin Galactic commercial director Stephen Attenborough said.

Attenborough said the customer handed over a cheque for $1 million and asked to remain anonymous because “apparently he hasn’t told his wife yet.”

Louis Vuitton is celebrating two premieres: its first luxury concept store in the region, and its first ‘Island Maison,’ a multi-storey shopping location on a private island.

Located in Marina Bay Sands in Singapore, the Maison built by star architect Peter Marino sells women’s and men’s collections, Louis Vuitton’s jewelry as well as design and art books. It is the 12th Maison in the world for the label.

Renowned architect Moshe Safdie has been appointed by CapitaLand Residential Singapore as the lead designer for its condominium at Bishan Central.

Located in the heart of Bishan Central, one of Singapore’s choice residential areas, the condominium will comprise approximately 500 apartments.

There will be two 38-storey towers linked by three bridging sky gardens, which offer opportunities for commonly shared garden and leisure spaces.

One of the most sophisticated shopping concepts in the world, the Louis Vuittion Maison store, will be launching in Singapore on Sep 18.

Designed by award-winning architect Peter Marino, LV’s first Island Maison will sit directly on water, with floor to ceiling windows overlooking the bay.

It will also feature a private lounge and outdoor loggia, as well as an art gallery tunnel of contemporary works leading directly to the Marina Bay Sands Mall.

Casino giant Las Vegas Sands is planning to expand across Asia as figures suggested another Asian country will overtake Las Vegas in terms of gambling.

The gaming giant, which has already constructed massive resorts in Singapore and Macau, is looking to expand to other Asian nations and even to Europe, according to reports from the Global Gaming Expo Asia this week.

Taiwan, Vietnam, Japan and Korea are among the company’s Asia targets, with boss Sheldon Adelson describing the region as its “first preference.”