The Galaxy Macau, a multibillion-dollar casino resort complex, opened Sunday as Macau aims to draw a broader mix of visitors than the high-rolling mainland Chinese who have helped the city become the world’s most lucrative gambling market.
The casino, with 450 gambling tables and space for up to 1,500 slot machines, is the only one scheduled to open in the southern Chinese city this year. The $1.9 billion complex also boasts a 4,000-square meter wave pool and an artificial beach built with 350 tons of white sand. Guests can stay at three hotels, including one run by Singapore’s Banyan Tree and another by Japan’s Okura, with a total of 2,200 rooms.
Tropical and Japanese gardens, a Japanese tea pavilion, a Scottish-themed whiskey bar, 50 restaurants, a private members’ club and a shopping street are other draws. A nine-screen 3-D movie theater is to open later this year.
The launch of Macau’s 34th casino comes as the city seeks to diversify its economy away from gambling after years of searing growth that helped it overtake Las Vegas as the world’s top casino market.
Macau’s casino profits have been boosted by high-spending gamblers visiting from the Chinese mainland, many of whom travel on short junkets run by companies that lend them money to gamble and then collect debts once they return. The former Portuguese colony aims to develop cultural and entertainment attractions that can draw more middle-class families who will stay longer.
Macau’s economy has boomed since a four-decade casino monopoly was broken up in 2002, opening the way for U.S. and Australian operators to enter the market with local partners. Monthly casino revenues so far in 2011 have grown by at least 33 percent, after surging by more than half last year to $23.5 billion. The Las Vegas strip, in contrast, raked in $5.8 billion in revenue in 2010. Unlike Vegas, Macau has few attractions that don’t involve gambling.
“We are happy to follow the Macau government’s development strategy and build new momentum not driven by gaming culture,” said Galaxy Chairman Lui Che-woo, a Hong Kong-based billionaire who built his fortune on property and construction. The company expects a third of visitors to be high-rollers while the rest will be the so-called mass market, said Galaxy Vice Chairman Francis Lui, who is Lui Che-woo’s son.
Galaxy is hoping to attract visitors from other Asian countries such as Japan who will stay at least two days, half a day longer than average, Francis Lui said. The average length of stay for Las Vegas visitors is 3.6 days.
Francis Lui added that the casino has capacity to add another 150 gambling tables, depending on demand.
Galaxy Entertainment operates five other casinos in Macau, a special administrative region of China and the only place in the country where casinos are legal. It competes with market leader SJM Holdings Ltd., as well as Las Vegas Sands Corp., Wynn Resorts, MGM Resorts and Melco Crown Entertainment Ltd.
Macau’s leaders have taken steps to prevent unrestrained casino expansion and encourage the city’s development as a tourist destination. The government last year announced it would withhold approval of new projects and cap the number of gambling tables until 2013. Last year, more than 80 percent of its 25 million visitors were from Hong Kong and mainland China.
The world-renowned Banyan Tree Hotels and Resorts brings its exquisite “Sanctuary for the Senses” philosophy to the Galaxy Macau™. Taking its name from the strong and graceful banyan tree—a centuries-old symbol under which one finds peace of mind and internal harmony—Banyan Tree Hotels and Resorts is consistently listed among the top hotels of Asia.
The legendary Okura Hotels & Resorts brings its signature blend of modern comfort and tradition to the Galaxy Macau™, providing a distinctly Japanese interpretation of “World Class, Asian Heart” hospitality for guests at this spectacular resort. Leisure and business travelers at Hotel Okura Macau can choose from opulent suites or luxurious guest rooms that offer the highest-quality relaxation through Okura’s harmonious combination of function and comfort. Okura was founded on the principle that its hotels must consistently offer the best accommodation, cuisine and service … a complete experience that visitors to Macau may now experience for the first time, only at Galaxy Macau.
The Galaxy Hotel’s 1,500 rooms and suites represent an evolution of resort accommodations. Luxurious and beautiful, these contemporary rooms offer five-star amenities throughout and stunning views that stretch to the city or water landscape. They also afford guests a level of deep comfort that conveys a kind of respect that only a host with true Asian Heart can present.
Wodani 