ReDiscover Macao: well-known gaming and gambling capital, this amazing destination has much more to offer to MICE groups

November 08

16:36 2023

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By Zuzana Adamson

The former Portuguese colony of Macao (or Macau) is a city and special administrative region of the People’s Republic of China in the western Pearl River Delta by the South China Sea. With 680,000 inhabitants inside an area of 32.9 square kilometres, it is the most densely populated region in the world and a unique blend of Portuguese and Chinese architecture in the city’s historic centre led to its inclusion on UNESCO’s World Heritage List in 2005.

Nicknamed “Las Vegas of the East”, Macao has become a major city and a top destination for gambling tourism, with a gambling industry seven times larger than that of Las Vegas. The city has one of the highest per capita incomes in the world, (US$ 43,770 in 2021), its GDP per capita by purchasing power parity is one of the highest in the world and Macao’s gambling revenue was US$ 37 billion in 2018. The games industry pays tax at a 35% rate to the government, which helps fund a robust welfare system and an annual cash payment to Macao’s citizens.

The Parisian Macao

From a MICE point of view, it is far more than just a “gambling capital”: you can create unforgettable, amazing events and meetings in Macao. Our “ReDiscover Macao” MICE fam trip allowed us to discover that it is a trendy, beautiful and creative MICE destination. You can find here not only a large, luxurious infrastructure for games and gambling, but also many other things that Macao has to offer: amazing events, first-class shopping, relaxing in hotel bars with a Cosmopolitan, listening to wonderful musical compositions almost everywhere, and visiting local places of interest.

MICE Fam trip to a luxury, amazing destination

From Europe, I flew with Qatar Airways from Prague (Czechoslovakia) to Hong Kong, with a stopover at the Hamad International Airport in Doha (Qatar) which is among the most beautiful airports in the world.

The Business Lounges offer relaxing spaces, showers, nap areas, luxurious restaurant services with a large palette of specialities, and next year (2024) there will even be a wellness centre with a gym. At the Hamad International Airport in Doha, you will find incredible comfort including a green garden to enjoy while waiting for the next connecting flight.

Thanks to the longest sea-crossing bridge in the world (55 kilometres), the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge, opened in 2019, the connection between Hong Kong and Macao is easy and takes less than an hour.

The Venetian, the Parisian, and the Londoner – creating unforgettable events with an European touch

Thanks to the properties of the Sands Resorts corporation, Macao has the feel of a colourful luxurious fairytale with sounds of musical compositions that spout from almost everywhere, with beautiful lights and changing colours in the evening and night, conjuring images of Louis XIV and the 17th-century Age of Enlightenment.

The reception of the Parisien Hotel is decorated by gorgeous crystal chandeliers.

We stayed in the 5-star Londoner Macao integrated resort, which opened in 2021. The Londoner Macao features two new all-suite hotels – The Londoner Hotel and Londoner Court – alongside Conrad Macao, St. Regis Macao, and Sheraton Grand Macao.

The Londoner Hotel is verified as one of the finest properties in the world, according to the Forbes Travel Guide 2023.

It offers luxury suites with interiors featuring upscale British design that celebrates classic craftsmanship, and innovative amenities like for example an OTTO foot massager.

I enjoyed staying in the 75 square metre Louis Suite which represents luxury and comfort, where the living area is separated from the bedroom.

The bedroom has one King-size bed but you can have also a similar suite with two separated beds.

The deluxe marble bathroom includes a bathtub and a separate shower.

The smiling staff paid a lot of attention to the small details such as welcoming you with nice gifts, groceries, typical English balloons, and handwritten letters from heart to heart.

Gambling and enjoying games, or celebrating a successful meeting with your corporate partners late into the night? You don’t need to worry because breakfast at the Londoner Hotel Macao is served for in-house guests until 1pm.

The Parisian Macao was the venue for our welcome cocktails served under the Parisian Macao Eiffel Tower illuminated in rose-violet colour surrounded by the large Parisian property illuminated in gold. In combination with great food including artistically crafted cakes and macarons, this created a touch of “Parisian atmosphere” in Asia.

Ms. Donna Campbell, Campbell PR, organiser of the MICE Fam Trip “ReDiscover Macao,” and Ms. Zuzana Adamson, owner of MICE CEE

The chef with whom we discussed those French specialities, is, of course, from Bordeaux, in France, and has been living in Macao for many years. With a glass of French Champagne in hand, I took the lift to the top of the tower in a semi-transparent cabin that allows you to see the machine as it goes up and at the summit I was richly rewarded with gorgeous views.

The Venetian Macao, the third of our trio of European hotels, hosted our showcase black-tie dinner, in the theme of a Venetian Ball. All participants attended the sophisticated dinner in dress inspired by Venice and Italy.

You can create amazing events and meetings in the Sands Resorts Macao properties, with lively musical performances and dancers, fashion and cooking shows, and spectacles of all kinds using the latest technologies.

The European atmosphere and culture around the table brings about a mood of celebration of the joy of life, colours, and beauty, and you can create an unforgettable place for networking with your friends and colleagues.

The luxurious hotel accommodation in the Venetian is also popular for honeymooning newly-weds, organising family events, and celebrations. All of the hotels are connected to the premium shopping centres where many luxurious brands can be found, and each of the shopping areas is designed in line with each respective hotel, meaning your shopping trip can feel like one in Venice, Paris, or London.

The Sands Resorts Macao has won many awards for MICE events, the latest being the Best Integrated Resort (MICE) award at the eminent M&C Asia Stella Awards 2023 organised by NorthStar Meetings Group, and also the Best MICE City by TTG Asia Media, awarded at CM Asia in September 2023 in Bangkok.

For MICE events, the Sands Resorts Macao offers 150,000 square metres of event space, with capacity for 15,000 people in the largest area, as well as 334 breakout rooms, plus 12,500 rooms and suites. All the structures are conveniently interconnected, and all locations are easy to find.

Data from December 2022 showed that 543 expositions welcomed 11,524,834 delegates and 4,964 meetings with 1,376,578 people were organised at the Sands Resorts Macao. So, you have nothing else to do than to add to these impressive numbers with your event!

MICE Forum was a part of our MICE Fam Trip “ReDiscover Macao,” and was organised in meeting rooms of the Londoner Hotel Macao.

The Londoner Crystal Palace was where the Gala Celebration – British style London Jubilee dinner was held.

The participants dressed in English colours, and the rich programme included a sumptuous three-course menu with an “English guard” figure made out of chocolate for dessert, followed by great performances, music, picture projections and via the latest virtual reality technology, famous Australian singer Casey Donovan, a DJ with good taste.

Famous Australian singer Casey Donovan

The fantastic atmosphere of celebration kept the evening moving and many of us continued dancing late into the night. It became clear why being able to enjoy breakfast until 1pm is a very practical idea.

A plethora of local programmes and activities

Our MICE fam Trip participants could test out the waters, obtain a selection of various programmes, and before traveling, choose and book via a platform from these activities: visiting the city and getting to know about its history, visiting the contemporary lifestyle and arts in the streets in Macao, getting a relaxing massage, a special face massage, or joining an inspection of the venues for MICE events to learn more about the Sands Resorts Macao.

The organisation of the MICE fam Trip by Ms. Donna Campbell and her company Campbell PR was excellent; MICE Forum, education about the destination, and discussion with Ms. Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes, Macao Government Tourism Office Director, leisure activities and gala dinners and celebrations were intelligently organised ensuring the delegates were energised throughout, and at their best to thoroughly enjoy the wonderful experience of Macao and everything it had to offer.