Macau China is one of the world’s oldest gaming destinations. Macau’s 20 million visitors overwhelmingly come simply to gamble at the casino tables that were licensed by its Portuguese rulers back in 1847. For 40 years until 2002, Stanley Ho's Sociedade do Jogos de Macau (SJM, Portuguese for Macau Gaming Society) held a monopoly on casinos.
Under Macau's new liberalized gaming regime law, the government has granted three rival casino-operating concessions – to Hong-Kong based Galaxy, to Stanley Ho’s SJM, and to Wynn Resorts. Sub-concessions are allowed, so Galaxy’s group has granted a sizeable concession to Las Vegas Sands. SJM offered a concession to MGM Mirage, who will become Macau’s third American casino operator. The casino industry, which increased its revenue by 40% in 2004, has driven equivalent growth in Macau hotels. With this kind of development, Macau - the only city in China where gambling is legal - is poised to quickly become a major world travel destination.
Under Macau's new liberalized gaming regime law, the government has granted three rival casino-operating concessions – to Hong-Kong based Galaxy, to Stanley Ho’s SJM, and to Wynn Resorts. Sub-concessions are allowed, so Galaxy’s group has granted a sizeable concession to Las Vegas Sands. SJM offered a concession to MGM Mirage, who will become Macau’s third American casino operator. The casino industry, which increased its revenue by 40% in 2004, has driven equivalent growth in Macau hotels. With this kind of development, Macau - the only city in China where gambling is legal - is poised to quickly become a major world travel destination.
The choice of luxurious Macau hotels is astounding. To experience a traditional Portuguese Macau resort, consider the romantic and unique 5-star hotel Pousada de Sao Tiago. A traditional Portuguese inn, it rises majestically from the walls of the imposing Barra Fort. This historic fort, Fortaleza da Barra, was built in the seventeenth century by the Portuguese, to defend Macau against hostile European nations and local pirates.
For a blend of traditional hospitality and modern facilities, Hotel Lisboa Macau is a well-known landmark. Hotel Lisboa's unrivalled central location offers total convenience. Like Macau itself, the Lisboa's décor blends Chinese and Portuguese accents, heavily underscored by that old favorite of pirates: gold. The famed SJM casino hotel Lisboa has years of local history and gaming adventure under its belt.
For a blend of Chinese and American influences, visit The Landmark Hotel & Pharaoh’s Palace Casino, brainchild of Mr. David Chow, whose American casino training helped him mastermind not only the Landmark Hotel, but also Fisherman’s Wharf. In addition to Landmark’s Legend Club casino, golfers will enjoy the Virtual Golf Simulator there. Serious golfers will no doubt want to getaway to Coloane Island to stay at the Westin Macau, with its rooftop access to the Macau Golf and Country Club course, and its views of the South China Sea.
Some of the newer Macau entertainment complexes are opening in phases. Sands Macau opened its doors in 2004, with a lustrous casino called the Pearl Room. The Hong-Kong-owned Galaxy Waldo Casino Hotel opened the same year. Galaxy will also open an urban Macau casino and hotel called StarWorld, and has a third phase project called Cotai Mega Resort, for development on the Cotai Strip by 2009. Sands is principally behind the Cotai Strip development and opened the Venetian Macao on August 28, 2007.
Other upcoming hotels and Macau resorts include the much-anticipated Wynn Macau, a smaller version of the Wynn Las Vegas, featuring a shiny copper-gold skin and an upward sweeping roof with its own “sky casino.” The first phase of Wynn Resorts Macau opened in late 2006. Also in 2007 Macau travelers can anticipate the opening of the MGM Grand Macau. MGM’s hotel tower is the brainchild of Pansy Ho, daughter of Macau casino tycoon Stanley Ho. Pansy Ho also runs the Macau Tower and Air Macau, so has much experience upon which to base a successful venture.
Quality choices for Macau accommodations continue to grow, as does the region’s economy. Macau China, the gateway from East to West, is still very much open, very much a robust area for cultural exchange. Enjoy your stay!