Largest casino resort in Asia takes shape in Macao

05.03.2007, Lesen Sie hier den Bericht über «Largest casino resort in Asia takes shape in Macao»

DARANA CHUDASRI Macao _ The Cotai Strip is expected to open by August as Asia's largest single connected building casino resort. Executives of the Las Vegas Sands Corp, the project's developer, last week held a ceremony to mark the construction of two areas of the giant project earmarked for four different hotels _ the Shangri-La, Traders, Sheraton and St Regis.

The scale of the development on the reclaimed land between Taipa and Coloane islands is massive. The total investment is projected at $12 billion, and once complete, will include 95,000 square metres of space, 350 shops and 20 top-class restaurants. About 52,000 sq m are allocated for the casino itself, with 20,000 hotel rooms available from leading brands Four Seasons, Shangri-La, Sheraton, Hilton, Conrad, Raffles and the Venetian Macao Resort Hotel.

''We are quickly establishing the critical mass needed to reposition Macao as a destination for shoppers, diners, entertainment seekers and those looking for a wonderful place to hold their business meetings or conventions,'' said William Weidner, the president and chief operating officer of Las Vegas Sands Corp. He said the entertainment would include the Cirque du Soleil show and a partnership with the National Basketball Association to provide international basketball events at The Venetian Macao.

Sheldon Adelson, the chairman and CEO of Las Vegas Sands, also voiced optimism about the project. ''We hope the business will successful from the first day,'' he said, adding that once open, the strip would reposition Macao as a casino centre to Asia's top destination for Mice (meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions). Mr Adelson said 90-95% of the company's revenue in Macao was projected to come from casino operations.

For the Venetian Resort, also owned by Las Vegas Sands, casino operations could make up 50% to 60% of the total, with the rest from hotels and shops. Both Mr Adelson and Mr Weidner said they were bullish about other growth opportunities in the Asian gaming business, particularly in the Chinese mainland. Las Vegas Sands is working on a 6.5- million-square metre integrated casino project in Singapore and is in talks with Zhuhai municipal authorities in China for a leisure resort and convention complex located on Hengqin Island.

Mr Adelson added that the company would welcome the opportunity to build a casino resort in Thailand if regulatory approval was given. An integrated resort, tied to the exhibition segment, would help draw new tourism and foreign-currency earnings. ''With a total population of 65 million, Thailand is a big potential market. Consider that Las Vegas only has a population of two million people but has 25 local casinos and hundreds more for tourists,'' he said.

Über Glücksspiele in Macau - Gambling in Macao:

Macau (englisch Macao) liegt rund 50 Kilometer westlich von Hongkong und ist das Glücksspiel-Paradies in Asien.

Macau hat rund 40 Spielcasinos. Die grössten Casinos sind The Venetian Macao, MGM Macao, Wynn Macao, Galaxy StarWorld, City of Dreams, Sands Macao, Casino Lisboa.

Neben den riesigen und farbenfrohen Casinobuildings ist eines der Wahrzeichen der Macau Tower (Fernsehturm mit 338 Meter) mit atemberaubenden Ausblicken auf die Stadt.

Macau erstreckt sich über eine Fläche von 115.3 km2 und hat rund 620'000 Einwohner.

--- Ende Artikel / Pressemitteilung Largest casino resort in Asia takes shape in Macao ---


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