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Sands China’s Cotai Expo holds Macao’s first carbon neutral exhibition
Macao's first carbon neutral exhibition, the 2022 MIECF (Macao International Environmental Co-operation Forum & Exhibition), was held Dec. 9-11 at The Venetian Macao's Cotai Expo, concluding successfully recently. "This milestone of holding Macao's first carbon neutral exhibition at Cotai Expo is a far-reaching development in Sands China's long-term dedication to sustainable operations in Macao's integrated resort industry," said Dr. Wilfred Wong, president of Sands China Ltd. "This key strategic initiative demonstrates the industry's collective effort to promote green MICE development and supports the Macao government's target of net zero emissions for 'Building a Green Macao with a Low Carbon Footprint' – while linking into the carbon neutrality goals of the central government's 14th Five-Year Plan." Carbon neutrality is achieved by calculating a carbon footprint and reducing it to zero – through in-house efficiency measures combined with support to external emission reduction projects, such as wind, solar or hydroelectric energy plants. In order to help reach carbon neutrality for the 2022 MIECF, four parties collaborated to purchase 600 tonnes worth of carbon offset certificates: Sands China Ltd., the Macao Fair and Trade Association (MFTA), the event project manager, and the main contractor for the exhibition. The carbon offset certificates will support the Inner Mongolia Wuliji Wind Farm Project under the Verified Carbon Standard (VCS). The joint initiative was carried out under the guidance of the Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute (IPIM), the event organiser, and Macao Environmental Protection Bureau (DSPA). In addition, Sands China's operations teams executed the MIECF event with the Green Meetings principles of the Sands ECO360 global sustainability strategy – which utilise a variety of proactive measures to decrease the carbon footprint of events. The theme of the 2022 MIECF is "Commitment to Green Development, Moving Towards the Dual Carbon Goals." Its forums and exhibitions highlight topics that include carbon neutrality, green mobility, and technological innovation – in order to assist visiting experts, scholars and traders to gain forward-looking information on environmental protection, aimed at creating green business opportunities. The holding of Macao's first carbon neutral exhibition at Cotai Expo follows Sands China's memorandum of understanding with MFTA, which was signed June 1 during GED2022 (Global Exhibitions Day), marking their joint commitment to promoting and strengthening the sustainable development of the convention and exhibition industry in Macao. Sands China has maintained a steady commitment to the continuous strengthening of its environmental sustainability, ensuring that it sets realistic, practical and achievable targets that will grow over the coming years. The company believes in the importance of championing the industry's best practices and demonstrating its commitment through improving its own sustainability performance. Sands China's carbon footprint has seen a 32 per cent decrease in Scope I (direct) and Scope II (indirect) emissions since its baseline year of 2018, which includes the impact of the operational downturn associated with the global pandemic. The 2025 target is to further reduce them by 17.5 per cent, with an objective to reach net zero emissions by 2050. Since 2019, Sands China's various measures have resulted in 26 Million kWh of annualised energy savings and its solar thermal hybrid system generated 275 GJ (gigajoules) of renewable energy in 2021. And to further support the production of green energy, Las Vegas Sands purchased 40,000 MWh worth of renewable energy certificates (I-RECs) in 2021 from a hydropower station in mainland China to help offset Sands China's operational emissions. Eco-minded initiatives like these have earned recognition for Sands China over the years. The company is listed in the Dow Jones Sustainability Asia Pacific Index, and is ranked in several other indices: 9th in the 6th Hong Kong Business Sustainability Index (HKBSI), 8th in the 2nd Greater Bay Area Business Sustainability Index (GBABSI), 17th in the 1st Greater China Business Sustainability Index (GCBSI) and 9th in the 1st Hotel Business Sustainability Index (Hotel BSI). Sands China is also a qualified constituent of the FTSE4Good Index Series.
‘2025 Sands China Macao International 10K’ welcomed 10,000 runners
Sands China arranged for a group of 550 to join the race together, comprising Sands China team members and members of four local social service institutions, promoting the inclusive concept of “sports know no boundaries.” Sands China team member Xu Zhonghuang performed exceptionally well, achieving fifth place overall in the women’s 10K race and second place in her group. (PRNewsfoto/Sands China Ltd.) 2025 Sands China Macao International 10K welcomed around 10,000 runners from 40 countries and regions, who crossed the finish line after completing either the 10K race or the Fun Run. Kenyan athletes Vincent Kibet Langat and Betty Sigei were crowned the overall champions in the men's and women's 10K races, with both setting new race records. In the men's and women's Macao athlete category, Wang Kun and Hoi Long won, respectively. Wang's time is also a new Macao record. Runners participate in the 2025 Sands China Macao International 10K on March 16, totalling nearly 10,000 athletes from 40 countries and regions. This year’s 10K was an official activity of the “Culture City of East Asia 2025 – Macao, China” programme of events. (PRNewsfoto/Sands China Ltd.) The route took the runners over the Sai Van Bridge and, for the first time, to the Cotai Strip, promoting the brand development of Macao’s sports tourism. (PRNewsfoto/Sands China Ltd.) Sands China arranged for a group of 550 to join the race together, comprising Sands China team members and members of four local social service institutions, promoting the inclusive concept of “sports know no boundaries.” Sands China team member Xu Zhonghuang performed exceptionally well, achieving fifth place overall in the women’s 10K race and second place in her group. (PRNewsfoto/Sands China Ltd.) The route took the runners over the Sai Van Bridge and, for the first time, to the Cotai Strip, promoting the brand development of Macao’s sports tourism. (PRNewsfoto/Sands China Ltd.) The highly anticipated sporting event was organised by the Sports Bureau of the Macao SAR Government, Sands China Ltd., and the General Association of Athletics of Macau. Launched in 2021, it has attracted approximately 40,000 runners to date since its inception. This year's 10K was an official activity of the "Culture City of East Asia 2025 – Macao, China" programme of events. Starting from Sai Van Lake Square and finishing up at the Olympics Sports Centre – Stadium, the route took them along Macao's beautiful coastline, over the Sai Van Bridge and, for the first time, to the Cotai Strip. The runners enjoyed Macao's picturesque landscape on the way, passing by tourist attractions unique to Macao. They were cheered on throughout the course by well-wishers, including Sands China's signature entertainment performers from The Venetian® Macao, The Parisian® Macao and The Londoner Macao®, creating a festive atmosphere. Dr. Wilfred Wong, executive vice chairman of Sands China Ltd., said: "Sands China is honoured to promote the in-depth integration of 'tourism + sport' and contribute to showcasing Macao's unique characteristic of embracing diverse cultures with the 2025 Sands China Macao International 10K. This year's event attracted runners from around the world, featuring an extended route to the Cotai Strip for the first time. This enhancement not only promotes the brand development of Macao's sports tourism, but also encourages the general public to engage in sports. Moreover, the Fun Run provided runners an opportunity to wear creative costumes on the theme of 'Ocean Run,' making it a unique and enjoyable running experience. "Furthermore, we were glad to invite four local NGOs to join the race and demonstrate the spirit of inclusivity in sports and the power it has to contribute to an inclusive community, while encouraging a healthy lifestyle. We would like to extend our gratitude to the Sports Bureau of the Macao SAR Government and the General Association of Athletics of Macau in co-hosting the event and making it a success. By collaborating with the Macao SAR government and community sectors, we will continue to add brilliance to our 'City of Sports' through large-scale competitions, presenting a healthy and lively image of Macao." Runners participate in the 2025 Sands China Macao International 10K on March 16, totalling nearly 10,000 athletes from 40 countries and regions. This year’s 10K was an official activity of the “Culture City of East Asia 2025 – Macao, China” programme of events. (PRNewsfoto/Sands China Ltd.) The 2025 Sands China Macao International 10K brought back the colourful Sands 10K Presents: The FUNkiest Costume Award, where groups of runners used their creativity to dress in this year's 'Ocean Run' contest theme, bringing awareness to the importance of protecting the marine environment and the sustainability of the ocean. At total of 10 groups were crowned winners, with each group awarded a hotel experience package from The Parisian Macao valued at MOP 3,500 each. In order to engage more people in the exciting atmosphere of the event, Sands China organised an array of complementary activities. This included arranging for a group of 550 to join the race together, consisting of Sands China team members and members of four local social service institutions: Macau Special Olympics, Richmond Fellowship of Macau, Bosco Youth Service Network, and Holy House of Mercy's Rehabilitation Centre for the Blind. The company also hosted pre-race training sessions for them. The aim was to promote the inclusive concept that "sports know no boundaries," encourage and support sports development in the community, advocate the healthy habit of regular exercise, and bring together different forces to jointly build a harmonious and inclusive community through practical action – spreading the message of the importance of supporting underprivileged groups to exercise. Sands China also arranged the Joyful Run with Sands Cares activity again this year, where Sands Cares Ambassadors arranged warm-up sessions on March 1 for Richmond Fellowship of Macau and on March 8 for Macau Special Olympics. The Ambassadors helped familiarise them with the route and ran pre-run warm-up exercises for them. They also shared tips for long-distance running to help them be prepared for race day. The company also held a friendly warm-up competition for team members, in which around 30 selected runners also took a training course to help them be at their best for the race. This not only gave team members a boost in their training, but helped intensify their fervour leading up to the 10K. One of those team members, Xu Zhonghuang from guest services at The Londoner Macao, performed exceptionally well, achieving fifth place overall in the women's 10K race and second place in her group (Group C). For all participants in the 2025 Sands China Macao International 10K, Sands China provided food and beverage discounts to elevate their overall experience, including for select businesses on Rua das Estalagens. In this way, Sands China hopes to offer local SMEs a way to promote their businesses while supporting community revitalisation and the local economy.
Sands China to host NBA Legends Celebrity Game at The Venetian Arena
Sands China Ltd announced it will be hosting the NBA Legends Celebrity Game Presented by Sands China at the recently-renovated The Venetian Arena on 7th December 2024. This unique event will bring lifestyle and entertainment aspects of the NBA to Macao, featuring legends of the game, as well as pop superstars and influencers. The game is expected to draw in fans from all over Asia, and will also feature performances by an NBA dance team, a shooting and skills challenge, plus a slam dunk show. The six basketball legends headlining the event are: Tracy McGrady – seven-time NBA All-Star and Hall of Famer; Ray Allen – two-time NBA champion, 10-time NBA All-Star and Hall of Famer; Tony Parker – four-time NBA champion, six-time NBA All-Star and Hall of Famer; Stephon Marbury – two-time NBA All-Star and three-time CBA champion; DeMarcus Cousins – four-time NBA All-Star; and Cuttino Mobley – Houston Rockets legend known as the Cat. The NBA celebs will be joined by a roster of pop superstars and influencers, including Sammi Cheng and Raymond Lam, who will perform at the highly anticipated event. A dedication to sports entertainment Sands China president and chief executive Grant Chum said, "Basketball is one of the most popular sports in the region, we are delighted to host the NBA Legends Celebrity Game at The Venetian Arena, which we have upgraded and transformed into a dynamic venue that is best in class for live entertainment, sports and MICE events. This game not only represents our dedication to sports entertainment, it also aligns with Sands' commitment to integrate tourism and sports, creating unforgettable experiences for our guests from around the region and our local community." Basketball fans will not want to miss this rare opportunity to be part of this exciting event and see these legends and celebrities in action. Tickets sales began at 12 noon today, 7th November, via Cotai Ticketing, Macau Ticket, and Ctrip.
Volunteers from Sands China assemble hygiene kits for Clean the World
Over 350 Sands China team members and local community group volunteers joined forces to assemble more than 30,000 hygiene kits for international social enterprise Clean the World. The initiative was held on Thursday, 24th October, at The Venetian Macao's Cotai Expo, marking the expo's 11th consecutive year. Wilfred Wong, executive vice chairman of Sands China Ltd, said of the initiative: "This annual initiative is an important part of our commitment to address environmental and community issues in our strategies. By working together, we believe we can contribute to helping our world become a better place and support people in need. Our gratitude goes to Clean the World, our team members, and our community partners who have cooperated with us over the years to make a difference in the lives of vulnerable communities, while recycling resources and practising sustainability." Shawn Seipler, founder and chief executive officer of Clean the World, likewise remarked: "I am thrilled that Sands China has accomplished the incredible goal of building 30,000 hygiene kits in one day, bringing their total to an astounding 385,700 kits since we began our partnership in 2014. This milestone reflects Sands' unwavering dedication to improving global health through hygiene and sanitation. Their commitment over the years has made a real difference in the lives of countless individuals, and I couldn't be more pleased with what we've achieved together. I look forward to continuing this impactful partnership and reaching even greater heights in the future." Working side by side At the event, Sands Cares Ambassadors and other Sands China team members joined volunteers from four organisations: local green enterprise Macau ECOnscious, Green Future, the Bosco Green Store of Bosco Youth Service Network, and the University of Saint Joseph. Volunteers worked together to build hygiene kits, whose supplies are essential for good health and personal hygiene in order to prevent the spread of disease in populations in need around the globe. The completed kits will be distributed to 15 community groups, including the Philippines to provide families in need with critically needed hygiene supplies during natural disasters and other times of crisis, as well as distributed to NGO members in need in Hong Kong and Macao. What’s in the kits? The hygiene kits contain soap that has been collected from Sands China's integrated resorts and then recycled and sterilised through Clean the World's remanufacturing process, giving new life to used hotel supplies. Each kit also comes with shampoo, conditioner, bath gel, toothbrush, toothpaste, and an encouraging message from Sands China and Clean the World. In 2014, Sands China became the first integrated operator in Macao to launch this type of sustainability initiative. It is an initiative of Las Vegas Sands Corporation (LVS), and helps Clean the World distribute emergency response hygiene kits to assist with on-the-ground, immediate needs in times of crisis and disaster.
Cor blimey: David Beckham and Sands’ USD 2.2 billion launch of The Londoner Macau
From left David Beckham, Robert Godstein and Dr. Wilfred Wong, David Beckham joined executives from Las Vegas Sands and Sands China Ltd on stage at The Venetian hotel in Macau yesterday, to bring some extra razzle-dazzle to the company’s USD 2.2 billion relaunch of the Cotai Strip integrated resort as The Londoner Macao. The Londoner Macao will incorporate four hotel brands: the new The Londoner Hotel (previously Holiday Inn Macao Cotai Central), alongside existing properties Conrad Macao, Cotai Central, Sheraton Grand Macao Hotel, Cotai Central and The St. Regis Macao, Cotai Central. In his capacity as global brand ambassador for the company, Beckham provided tantalising details about the major redesign and discussed how he has brought his keen eye for detail and experience of the luxury market into the mix. The footballer turned businessmen even made a short film about “his London”, which was shown as part of a glamorous launch event, which featured flying drummers and live music. https://youtu.be/Csrx2XCLo3o Discussing the project, East Londoner Beckham said: London is an incredible city and one that I am proud to call my home. To be able to work so closely with the Sands team to bring the elements of London that I love to the city of Macao is a wonderful opportunity. Interior design is a real passion for me so to be involved in the design process and help shape this project is another important step in our long-standing partnership with Sands Resorts Macao. I can’t wait to welcome everyone to come and experience what we are creating here – a little bit of London in Macao.” “We could not be more excited about the development of The Londoner Macao,” said Las Vegas Sands president and chief operating officer Robert Goldstein, who attended the event. “Sands has invested heavily here because we believe wholeheartedly that Macao’s complete arrival as one of the world’s greatest tourism and business destinations is just on the horizon. The Venetian and The Parisian have each become “must-see” destinations on the Cotai Strip and we have every confidence that The Londoner will be every bit their equal. The power of these three iconic integrated resorts working in tandem will create a combination of leisure and business tourism amenities unrivalled in Asia and Europe and on par with the success of Las Vegas,” he concluded. https://youtu.be/1qceIpx-abM The Londoner Macao will feature recreations of classic British landmarks, with an exterior modelled on the Palace of Westminster and Houses of Parliament, complete with 96-metre Elizabeth Tower and the iconic clock face of Big Ben. Interiors will offer a combination of grandeur and comfort, with luxurious British design extending to the spacious Crystal Palace atrium centrepiece, restaurants, retail offerings and entertainment. These include more than 20 dining options, with several new restaurant concepts including an authentic British style gastropub by Gordon Ramsay and a new Thai restaurant – The Mews. In addition, guests and visitors can enjoy 200 stores at Shoppes at The Londoner (previously Shoppes at Cotai Central), 34,300 square metres of meeting and convention space, three spas and four health clubs. Facilities 34,300 square metres of meeting and convention space 13 ballrooms 6 meeting rooms 3 spas 4 health clubs More than 20 dining options Over 200 wide-ranging stores Over 34,000 square metres of gaming Adding his thoughts Dr. Wilfred Wong, president of Sands China Ltd, said: “The Londoner Macao, with its world-class luxury suites, new dining and spectacular entertainment, will offer guests and visitors alike another reason to visit Macao. The launch marks yet another milestone in the company’s efforts to support Macao’s development as a world centre of tourism and leisure and it also shows that Sands is fully committed to supporting Macao’s vision as a leader in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.”
Top of the class: Sands China’s quest for leaders
Sands China Ltd. celebrated its first group of team members to graduate from the innovative Sands China International Strategic Leadership Programme for Integrated Resorts with a Nov. 17 ceremony at Sands Cotai Central. Aimed at developing leaders in integrated resort management, the first-of-its-kind Sands China International Strategic Leadership Programme for Integrated Resorts sent its initial group of local management team members around the world to receive leadership development from three prestigious universities on three continents over the course of five months, taking advantage of the unique areas of industry expertise of each educational institution – the Católica Lisbon School of Business & Economics in Lisbon, Portugal; Cornell School of Hotel Administration in Ithaca, New York, USA; and the University of St. Joseph in Macao. "We are very proud of these team members for being the first to successfully finish this pioneering professional development initiative from our company," said Dr. Wilfred Wong (main picture), president of Sands China Ltd. "Investing in our team members and in local Macao talent remains a top priority for Sands China, and we are pleased to work with these three distinguished institutions of higher learning to provide a trailblazing programme of leadership development for our team members. We congratulate them all on their success." Offering international horizons for 25 potential future leaders, the Sands China International Strategic Leadership Programme for Integrated Resorts includes a business challenge -- a practical component of the coursework for which participants are asked to analyse a specific, real-world business challenge faced by the company and develop a set of recommendations to deal with it. The task culminated with a presentation of the participants' ideas to Sands China senior executives before the graduation ceremony. The customised programme is the latest initiative of the Sands China Academy, and was specially designed in conjunction with Católica Lisbon, Cornell University and the University of St. Joseph in order to develop local leaders in integrated resort management.
The Londoner Macao’s grand celebration on May 25
The Londoner® Macao, with a grand celebration on May 25 to be attended by David Beckham, the British soccer icon and a Sands Resorts Macao global ambassador. With a theme of “The Journey Begins”, the gala event looks to the future as Sands China Ltd. renews its commitment to Macao through a new 10-year gaming concession. The Londoner Macao comprises five opulent hotels – including all-suite namesake flagship, The Londoner Hotel. Formerly known as Sands Cotai Central, the integrated resort has been undergoing a spectacular rebranding process since 2021 and today, as The Londoner Macao, exudes a wow factor in a city already known for superlatives. “Now that Covid-19 pandemic restrictions have eased, we are delighted to finally give The Londoner Macao the unveiling it deserves and share its fabulous transformation with the world,” said Dr. Wilfred Wong, President of Sands China Ltd. “At the same time, we’re also celebrating the opportunity we’ve been given over the next 10 years by the Macao SAR government to help the city evolve into a fully diversified, global tourism hub.” A US$2 billion metamorphosis The integrated resort’s hotels offer nearly 6,000 rooms in total, complemented by three spas, four health clubs, more than 20 dining options, boutiques from 150 world-renowned brands, and state-of-the-art conference facilities, including the new 6,000-seat The Londoner Arena. The refurbishments and additions have cost approximately US$2 billion (MOP 16 billion). Uniting much of the lavish complex is a British design aesthetic that conveys both prestige and playfulness. Designers have been inspired by various aspects of English style – from historic architecture and gentleman’s clubs to royal tradition and the Cool Britannia chic of a global Britain – creating an architectural (and highly Instagrammable) masterpiece even by Macao standards. Essential photo opportunities that every guest will want to check out include: A majestic entranceway, where a glass-covered porte-cochère (modelled after a similar feature at London’s Victoria Station) and cobbled driveway set the tone for a uniquely British stay; A life-size replica of London’s iconic Elizabeth Tower (Big Ben) that chimes every hour like the original; The palatial Crystal Palace atrium – a version of the Victorian design icon in glass, iron and marble with an intricate, 10-storey-high ceiling; A “Changing of the Guard” inspired by the daily ceremony at Buckingham Palace and enhanced by music, LED displays and special effects alongside artists playing Trumpeters, Drummers, Scots Guards and the Queen; The full-scale reproduction of the famed Shaftesbury Memorial Fountain with its Anteros Statue in London’s Piccadilly Circus, one of the British capital’s most recognisable locations; An imposing façade featuring architectural details modelled after the Palace of Westminster and Houses of Parliament that comes to life in the evenings with the Londoner Light and Sound Spectacular and seasonal displays; plus Scores of British-themed details around the complex, from a red double-decker Original 1966 London Bus and classic red phone booths to black London cabs, statues of English personalities and even a replica of the late Queen Elizabeth’s Diamond Jubilee State Coach. “We feel so proud to be able to finally celebrate The Londoner Macao, one of the most ambitious hospitality projects in Macao to date, and welcome guests from all over the world to experience this truly one-of-a-kind property”, said Dr. Wong. Describing the complex as “a tribute to the beauty and history of London”, he said the resort would “delight visitors with its large-scale reproductions, surprising experiences, spectacular dining and incredible attention to detail”. What’s New Accommodation The invitation-only Suites by David Beckham are Macao’s first celebrity-designed suites. The 14 super-luxe apartments range in size from 113 to 298 square metres and are located on the top two floors of The Londoner Hotel. From his base in England, Beckham worked closely with renowned London interior design firm David Collins Studio to bring his namesake Suites to life and add his personal touch to the design. He will be seeing them in person for the first time during his visit to The Londoner Macao. Through the ‘Be My Guest’ programme, the football star invites visitors to enjoy a luxurious stay alongside a few exclusive lifestyle experiences. They can enjoy Beckham’s favourite dishes and his handpicked cigars, whiskeys and cocktails at select restaurants. Meanwhile, Londoner Court offers an exclusive sanctuary within The Londoner Macao. Its suites, ranging in size from one to four bedrooms, have been designed by the award-winning Steve Leung Design Group to recreate the ambience of a distinguished London residence – with a modern touch. Elevating the luxurious experience, all guests enjoy round-the-clock butler service. Guests staying at The Londoner Hotel will enjoy exclusive access to The Residence, a private club with themed rooms inspired by historic British figures, royalty and the arts. Stretching across 1,100 square metres, the residential-style lounge serves a premium food and beverage programme, including breakfast, afternoon tea, all-day snacks and evening cocktails. A testament to their service and atmosphere, both The Londoner Hotel and Londoner Court earned Forbes Travel Guide five-star ratings in their first year of operation. Dining Joining The Londoner Macao this summer is the Gordon Ramsay Pub & Grill, bringing a convivial atmosphere and classic British cuisine to Macao. Guests can look forward to Ramsay’s famous beef wellington, premium steaks, shepherd’s pie and ale-battered fish and chips. The Mews is also coming to The Londoner Macao this summer. Hidden behind grand townhouses, London’s famed mews once consisted of stables and living quarters for household staff, but these days have been upgraded and converted into sought-after addresses. This glamorous restaurant puts a global twist on British tradition by offering a menu of Thai delicacies in a nod to a cuisine that has become hugely popular in multicultural Britain. A destination for gourmet experiences, The Londoner Macao is home to several award-winning restaurants, including The Huaiyang Garden. Specialising in Huaiyang cuisine with a refined menu by celebrity master chef Zhou Xiaoyan, the sophisticated restaurant was awarded one Michelin star in the Michelin Guide Hong Kong & Macau 2023 within its first year of opening. Event and conference space The newly opened, state-of-the-art The Londoner Arena, can accommodate up to 6,000 visitors for a wide range of events, from international sporting fixtures to corporate conferences and high-profile concerts.
MGTO focuses on increasing international visitor numbers to Macao
Welcoming all delegates at the #ReDiscover Macao event by Sands Resort Macao held at The Parisian Macao's Eiffel Tower, Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes, director of MGTO, stated that tourism was returning to Macao. She said: “In September there has been a rebound rate of 83 per cent vis-à-vis the same month in 2019. International visitor arrivals are gaining pace. That is 5.4 per cent of our overall arrivals in September, which means a 67 per cent recovery rate compared to the same period before Covid in 2019. Moving forward after the pandemic, Macau tourism stakeholders are particularly committed to attracting more international visitors, such diversification of visitor arrival sources alongside the diversification of our non- gaming offerings is at the forefront of our long term goal of making Macao a world center of tourism and leisure." She added, "Increased tourism is a result of direct air links to Macau gradually returning as well as the convenience of cross-border bus service directly from Hong Kong to Macao over the longest bridge-tunnel system sea-crossing in the world, the Hong Kong–Zhuhai–Macao Bridge. Visitors no longer need to clear customs in Hong Kong and can get a seamless journey directly by bus from Hong Kong to Macao. We are now enhancing the promotion as well as special offers to reach out to visitor markets abroad. We want to track visitors for tourism plus MICE, tourism plus health and wellness, tourism plus sports and more. We are also looking at the possibility of multi destination offerings combining Macao and Hong Kong as part of the Greater Bay Area. We hope to offer an all rounded experience in Macao." There are a cluster of integrated resorts in Cotai offering 25000 rooms. Macao in all offers 48,000 rooms which fits the needs for MICE . Macao is also expecting a huge influx of tourists for the 70th Macau Grand Prix scheduled to take place next week. MICE appeal of Macao continues with accessibility from various regions with many direct flights. It remains an ideal destination for Business events, with state- of- the- art meeting space. It has diverse offerings in terms of cuisines and food, it has been designated the UNESCO City of Gastronomy. Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO) continues its efforts in getting visitors back to the vibrant city.
Q&A with Janet McNab:The Macao based MD who is always up for a good challenge
The managing director of Sheraton Grand Macao Hotel and The St. Regis Macao, Cotai Central talks shop with Travel Daily. How do you best describe your role overseeing both properties? When I joined the 4,000-room – the largest in the world – three years ago, I knew this would be a mammoth task, but I am always up for a good challenge! Several months later, we also opened the 400-room St. Regis Macao, and I decided to “complex” the two properties. I had just moved to Macao after successfully complexing two hotels in Koh Samui. Just as in Koh Samui, the two hotels in Macao are under the same owner, and by complexing, you get good economies of scale. It is wise to invest in areas where we can offer better services for our guests. I am also proud to say that we have many women leaders on our team. In my role as managing director, I have strong support from a team of three female GMs, who look after Sales and Marketing, Finance and Human Resources. We have also recently welcomed Saurabh Bakshi who joined us from Sheraton Grand Bangalore at Brigade Gateway as General Manager of Operations for both properties this year. Working together with our team of four GMs, is a “complex” executive committee for Engineering, Food & Beverage, IT, Revenue Management and Rooms. They work together to oversee the operations for both Sheraton Grand Macao and The St. Regis Macao. Kashgar Ballroom at Sheraton Grand Macao Hotel MICE How do you see the importance of the MICE market to Macao, and how does this transfer to the Sheraton and St Regis? MICE are very important to the future of Macao, and is the very reason why we are here. Thanks to the vision of our owner, Sheldon Adelson, who is renowned for having founded COMDEX, a computer trade show and for being a huge believer in MICE, he invited Sheraton and St. Regis to open on Macao’s Cotai Strip, where he predicted MICE would thrive. Thanks to our strong sales team and global network, we are able to attract MICE groups from all around the world to the Cotai Strip today. The Sheraton and St Regis are perceived to be ahead of the pack in Macao, as desirable locations for MICE, how did you set about achieving this enviable position? That is great to hear, thank you! Location is paramount, and we are very well-positioned at the centre of the Cotai Strip. We also offer 15,500 square meters (166,000 square feet) of flexible meeting space and a combined room inventory of 4,400 rooms and suites across both properties. MICE planners are looking for a venue that has it all, rooms, flexible meeting space and restaurants, all under one roof, so that they need not worry about the logistics of having to move thousands of delegates around. Our sales team has also worked hard to build awareness about our brands in China and around the world. Thanks to the growth of the global economy, more companies are looking to host their events abroad, and Macao is growing increasingly popular as a MICE destination. Another positive for meeting planners looking to host their events in Macao, is that the two brands of Sheraton and St. Regis offer very different venue options. For example, at Sheraton Grand Macao, we are fortunate to have a significant amount of outdoor and indoor space for meeting and events. This gives us the flexibility to put together really creative and outrageous events for meeting delegates. We had a great opportunity to create something really new and different for a group of 600 people at their Welcome Cocktails, outdoors by the pool. We poured 10,000 tiny ping pong balls into our Tiki Pool to create a huge white canvas on top of the water. We then used a high-powered projector to flash images onto the canvas of floating ping pong balls. They loved it! What are the main source markets for MICE for the Sheraton and St Regis? The main source markets for MICE at Sheraton and St. Regis are IT, consulting and direct-selling companies out of Hong Kong, China and Southeast Asia. Travel is convenient for MICE delegates from these destinations and we have the capacity to cater for groups of all sizes. In terms of new emerging markets, Korea and India are promising. Which MICE specific products, across both hotels, do you see as being key aspects of this successful strategy? We have placed Handy mobile devices in all of the rooms and suites at Sheraton Grand Macao Hotel and The St. Regis Macao. These devices give guests all of the information they need about our hotel and about Macao as a destination, right at their fingertips. They may also make free international calls to Hong Kong, China, Taiwan, India and Korea with the Handy phones. These devices have proven to be hugely popular with our MICE guests, who love the convenience of staying seamlessly connected with colleagues and clients while they are on the road. Going local What new products do you have lined up for the properties in the coming months? We are introducing new menus this year for our corporate guests, and to start, we’ve just launched a “Go Local” menu featuring Macao-inspired dishes of Macanese favorites and Chinese dim sum. These are proving to be extremely popular with our corporate guests who wish to experience the flavors of Macao while they are with us. We are also just starting to offer a very colorful array of coffee break menus where corporates can choose from Green, Red, Yellow and Pink food and drinks. These are perfect for short-lead groups who are looking for some creative new ideas that offer variety and are quick to implement. For example, they can choose foods that are “Green”, such as Pistachio doughnuts; avocado and turkey sandwiches; green tea snacks, kiwi fruit juice or other green options. Or“Red” food and drinks such as red velvet muffins; tandoori chicken; strawberry and pomegranate smoothies or other red options. The “Yellow” menus feature mango cream muffins; Singapore chicken and prawn noodles; pineapple salad or other yellow options. While the “Pink” menus include pink macaroons; Thai pink rice noodle soup; Tasmanian salmon; pink guava fruit juice or other pink options. With November already upon us, looking back over the year, what do you think have been the key events of 2017, and why? One of the most important events of 2017, was the Marriott International Asia Pacific Leadership Conference in April. For the first time in Marriott’s history, 2,000 leaders met to forge the company’s direction. It was an extremely complicated event and expectations were high. A TV studio was built from scratch inside the Kashgar ballroom, creating a central round stage and tiered seating for 2,000 people. Our carpeted ballroom was also transformed into a wooden floored exhibition space called the “Campus” for chefs to showcase signature dishes. And although we may now be in November, this year is far from over! Next month, we have a very large-scale MICE event with a multinational pharmaceutical company. We will cater for 3 groups of at least 9,000 MICE delegates who will host events at Sheraton Grand Macao and other hotels within the Sands China portfolio on Cotai Strip.
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