The Genting Group came to Miami and shocked just about everyone.
In a short time, it plunked down almost half a billion dollars on property along Biscayne Bay in downtown Miami.
Within hours of securing both the Miami Herald building and nearby Omni, it held a news conference showcasing elaborate plans for a destination casino resort.
Its presentation awed some and frightened others. But no matter where one stood, there was one question on the minds of many in South Florida: Who are these guys?
The company is based in Malaysia, but its property just across the Strait of Johor is what the company refers to as a model of what it wants to bring to Miami.
To learn more about the company Local 10 thought it was best to take viewers there. Local 10's Christina Vazquez flew nearly 11,000 miles over two days and several times zones to bring you to Singapore.
Genting Group's destination casino resort sits on Sentosa Island, an area known for its lush vegetation and sandy beaches. The island was already a tourist draw for families with kid-friendly activities.
Singapore's government decided to issue a gaming license for that location under the condition that the winning bidder would have to provide a theme park and family-friendly resort.
Genting won the bid, in part, by partnering with Universal Studios. The theme park included attractions that can't be found anywhere else in the world, including a replica of Shrek's Far Far Away Castle and a ride based on the animated film "Madagascar."
The plot of land is about 125 acres, and it is connected to the mainland by a bridge and a monorail.
Singapore's government mandated that the casino only represent 5 percent of the resort.
In a bill soon to be decided in Florida, that percentage would be up to 10 percent, and Genting is looking to develop a site that is about 35 acres along Biscayne Bay.
At Resorts World Sentosa in Singapore, Genting tucked its casino away in the basement and added large screens at public entrances to block all views. That means people walking by can't spot a single slot machine or table game.
Genting's casino targets what the industry calls "whales," high-rollers able to drop $500 to $500,000 on a single hand.
Sure, it has slots and some table games at $20 a hand, but that market is not the casino's target audience.
On a tour, Genting officials told Local 10 just 15 percent of the total revenue at the casinos comes from slots.
The casino have more than 30 private luxury gaming suites. Each has several table games and features plush seating arrangements, high-end electronics and stylish décor.
To have access to one of these rooms, the visitor must "check in" $2 million at the door. They don't have to bet that much, just show they have it. The whopping figure gives one a sense of the kind of clients Genting is working to nurture.
Genting's Singapore property also includes an impressive and interactive Maritime Museum, which documents the area's silk route. According to its website, it is the "first and only museum to showcase Asian maritime history."
There is a brilliantly decorated row of bazaars highlighting the different cultures along the silk route, a 360-degree multimedia theater allowing visitors to experience being caught in a Typhoon, hundreds of artifacts from a shipwreck and a life-size replica of an Arab dhow ship. The Jewel of Muscat was built using ancient construction techniques. Not a single nail was used; instead, it was sewn together and is ocean worthy.
The museum is encased in an iconic red building shaped like the hull of a boat and dotted with glass.
Genting officials said one thing they like to do when they get to a new location is "complement" existing businesses.
Across the South China Sea from their location is the city-state's largest mall. The mall and Sentosa Island are connected by a monorail.