“Promote Leisure and Entertainment‧Facilitate Diversification of Economy” Forum
Organized by the Macao Polytechnic Institute, supported by the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Macao SAR, and hosted by Melco Crown Entertainment, the Macao Forum on “Integrated Tourism and Leisure Enterprises and Social Responsibility” was successfully held at 3 p.m. on 22 March 2017 at the Grand Ballroom of the Studio City in Macao. The theme of the forum is “promote leisure and entertainment, facilitate diversification of the economy”. Organizations participated and presented at the forum included (in the alphabetical order) Galaxy Entertainment Group, Macao Polytechnic Institute, Melco Crown Entertainment, MGM, Sands China Limited, SJM and Wynn Macau Limited. The objective of the Forum series is to promote the commitments and achievements of the integrated tourism and leisure enterprises in developing non-gaming projects so that the industry, local residents, and visitors can fully understand the contributions made by these integrated tourism and leisure operators to drive Macao's economy towards moderate diversification.
The opening ceremony of the forum was officiated by Mr. Yao Jian, Deputy Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Macao SAR; Dr. Tam Chon Weng, Secretary for Social Affairs and Cultural of the Macao SAR; Professor Lei Heong Iok, President of Macao Polytechnic Institute; and Mr. Lawrence Ho, Chairman and CEO of the hosting organization Melco Crown Entertainment Ltd. Also attended at the Forum included Mr. Liu Bin, Director-General of the Economic Affairs Department at the Liaison Office; Mr. Zhao Heqing, Deputy Director-General of the Social Affairs Department of the Liaison Office; Mr. Shao Bin representing the Cultural and Education Department of the Liaison Office; Mr. Paulo Martins Chan, Director of the Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau; Mr. Cheng Wai Tong, Sub-Director of Macao Government Tourism Office. Representatives from the Macao Federation of Trade Unions and other participating tourism and leisure enterprises that attended the opening ceremony included: Mr. Leong Wai Fong, President of the Federation of Macao Trade Unions; Dr. Jorge Neto Valente, Group Advisor of Galaxy Entertainment Group; Mr. Grant Bowie, CEO and Executive Director of MGM China Holdings Limited; Dr. Wilfred Wong, President of Sands China Ltd; and Ms Angela Leong, Managing Director and Chief Administrative Officer of SJM; Ms. Linda Chen, Chief Operating Officer and Executive Director of Wynn Macau Ltd (participating integrated tourism and leisure enterprises are listed in the alphabetical order of their company names).
Following the opening-up of the gaming industry, Macao has successfully attracted a number of large-scale integrated resort projects and subsequently ushered in some brand-new business models that have incorporated world-class hotels, restaurants, performance and entertainment. These projects have gradually grown into integrated conglomerates of diversified businesses subsuming gaming, entertainment, leisure, cuisine, shopping, and conference. Meanwhile, Macao's gaming revenues have experienced cycles of exponential growth, followed by considerable adjustments and finally managed to achieve a steady recovery in recent months. The government, the enterprises, and the whole community are now all aspiring to further strengthen Macao's non-gambling sectors, with a view to attracting more stratified visitors, offering them more choices, so as to extend their stay and spending in Macao. The ultimate goal is to enhance the whole industry's resilience against the impact of all possible adverse factors and to maintain Macao's economic rigor and achieve sustained development by raking in revenues from both gaming and non-gaming businesses.
In addition to its durable and well-established gaming industry, Macao also boasts a solid communication network of international conferences and exhibitions, abundant in resources of world cultural heritage, as well as a long history of Chinese and Western exchange and profound cultural assets. In Macao, all residents and visitors can experience first-hand both oriental and western cultures, traditional festivals, Chinese delicacies and exotic cuisines, colorful entertainment activities, as well as the close bonds among local residents in the neighborhoods. All of these, when coupled with vibrant cultural creativity and innovations, have rendered Macao as the epitome of a multicultural kaleidoscope in its own right. In addition, Macao has unparalleled advantages in policy making and cultural assets. Given these, it is conceivable that as our government, the whole industry, and educational institutes are all working concertedly with our residents, Macao's integrated tourism and leisure industry will triumph in their unique path towards business diversification, and make contributions to constructing Macao into a world center of tourism and leisure.
Our integrated tourism and leisure enterprises have spared no effort in investing and promoting non-gaming projects, implementing various constructions, introducing international-level projects and offering supports to nurture local talents. But we should also be aware that a big challenge facing the dynamic interactions between gambling and non-gambling sectors is the lack of local professionals. The successful implementation of diversification initiatives for Macao's integrated tourism and leisure business is likely to hinge on concerted efforts from every member in the industry, which requires all residents to maintain an open mindset, to persevere in self-value-adding pursuits and a strong determination in responding to challenges. For local residents to fully enjoy the benefits of the diversified development of the industry, their professional skills and quality of service need to strive for timely innovation, transformation, and upgrading, that are coming in line with the industry's demand for human resources with versatile skills.
During the forum, representatives from local integrated tourism and leisure enterprises introduced to the audience their respective non-gaming projects and the various measures they have adopted to assist the local community. Some of these are highlighted below (in the order of their presentations):
Melco Crown Entertainment
According to the “Interim Review of Gaming Liberalization for Games of Fortune in Macao” published by the Macao SAR Government in 2016, Melco Crown Entertainment's non-gaming business sectors accounted for 93% of its total premises, ranking the top No. 1 among the six local major gaming operators. The company has brought in internationally unique projects and world-class honors and awards with its non-gaming businesses in hotel services, catering, retail, and entertainment, thus laying a strong foundation for ushering Macao into a world center of tourism and leisure. In terms of hotel service, Melco Crown Entertainment has received the most Forbes five-stars rating for three consecutive years, its Altira Macau Hotel and its Crown Towers at City of Dreams Hotel, its spa facilities, and its restaurants even won nine Forbes five-star ratings, one four-star rating and one recommendation rating. It will also launch the world's first high-rise building supported by a free-form exoskeleton steel structure - the Morpheus Hotel in 2018. Melco Crown Entertainment leads the industry in its catering service, raking in the largest number of Michelin star restaurants and become Michelin’s first and the sole title partner in the whole HK-Macao region. Melco Crown Entertainment has launched several world-class entertainment programs in Macao as well. Among these, the HKD 2 billion project of “The House of Dancing Water” has attracted more than four million spectators and is the largest and most spectacular water show around the world, raking in considerable applause and prestigious awards. The grand opening of the new Studio City in 2015 also brought in the first Hollywood movie “The Audition”; the world's highest figure-8 Ferris wheel “Golden Reel”; the world's first Warner Brothers’ Batman-themed 4D flight simulation ride experience “Batman Dark Flight”; Asia's only stationed world-class magic show “The House of Magic” and so on. All these have helped push Macao's entertainment industry to an unprecedented level.
Sociedade de Jogos de Macau, S.A.
Sociedade de Jogos de Macau, S.A. (“SJM”) upholds steadfastly to its principle of “By the community, to the community” and commits itself to the development of non-gaming projects in promoting Macao's economy towards moderate diversification. Besides active participation, SJM also organizes or sponsors various arts and sports activities regularly, including the redevelopment of the Kam Pek Casino as the new Kam Pek Community Centre and sponsoring activities held in the center to propaganda patriotism and Macao-loving spirit. Meanwhile, it also sponsors events such as the “Macau Grand Prix”, “Macao International Dragon Boat Races” and so on. Lisboa is Macao's first comprehensive hotel and remains to be a famous landmark in the territory. The Grand Lisboa Hotel is the only hotel in the world that has won “Seven Stars” from Michelin, including its “Robuchon au Dôme” and “The 8” that were both awarded Three Stars, and “The Kitchen” that was awarded One Star. It is the first Chinese hotel to have won the most 'prestigious honor' awarded by Wine Spectator, thus bringing great fame to Macao. SJM has launched the Ponte 16 Resort in the inner harbor of Macao, combining its surrounding attractions together to promote cultural tourism, and supports the government's redevelopment programs of many old districts. The Jai Alai Hotel will be open to business soon and will provide hotels, shopping malls, restaurants and other facilities. It will offer favorable conditions to invite local food stores and souvenir shops to join, thus creating golden opportunities for local SMEs. SJM fully endorses the SAR government's vision to become a “World Center of Tourism and Leisure”. In its construction of the “Grand Lisboa Palace” integrated resort, about 95% of the total premises will be used for non-gaming purposes, featuring three luxury hotel brands: Grand Lisboa Palace, Palazzo Versace, and Karl Lagerfeld Hotel. It will become the world's only resort that includes these two stylish branded hotels. Other non-gambling facilities include a grand wedding pavilion, a themed shopping center, an exhibition site, a multi-function theater, and many Michelin-starred restaurants. The Grand Lisboa Palace’s design was inspired by European landmark architectures and traditional Chinese motifs, decorated in the Chinoiserie styles in its interior design, highlighting Macao's positioning as a platform between China and Europe. Together, the Jai Alai Hotel and Grand Lisboa Palace can expect to create more than 10,000 jobs for Macao residents, the majority of which belong to non-gaming positions.
Wynn Macau Limited
Riding on the successful launch of its integrated resort for many years, Mr. Steven Wynn, who is best known as “the Father of Las Vegas”, has brought his substantial Las Vegas experience to bear on the Macao market, which resulted in Asia's very first integrated resort - Wynn Macau. His over 45 years of operating experience has indeed paid off in Macao in witnessing the launch of the Wynn Palace last year, which instantly became another milestone that supports the continued development of Macao. As a leader in the industry, Wynn Macau has positioned itself for providing supreme quality service for high-end visitors. It has introduced non-gaming business and world-class service standards to Macao, making an indispensable contribution to Macao's vision towards a world center of tourism and leisure. Wynn Macau and Wynn Palace together have injected considerable dynamics into Macao’s economy, while constantly striving for excellence in their own quality service. After all these years of efforts, Wynn Macau has become the world's first and the only one resort hotel to have received an impressive eight Five Star awards by the “Forbes Travel Guide”. The Forbes Guide is a global authority of tourism that only confers its prestigious honors to the world's best hotels. Macao has now become an international tourism destination and as such, the demand for diversified entertainment experience and high-quality service is also on the rise. Wynn Macau operates its non-gaming businesses at its core, which actually accounts for over 90% of its total premises, a fact that constitutes the strongest evidence for making it one of Macao's leading gaming operators. Overall, it has positioned itself as a provider of quality service to high-end visitors, committing to leveraging its superior non-gaming experience and it is ready to take up the volunteer responsibility of nurturing local talents.
MGM
MGM is committed to promoting a wide range of tourism and leisure entertainment experience that is based on the guiding principle of “innovation” and “creativity”; upholding its strategy of “Developing through Innovations that Speaks Traditions”. In so doing, it aims to bring the world to Macao and Macao to the world, through MGM. Art has always been an integral part of MGM. In the past, it has organized many art exhibitions of national treasures. All these exhibitions are held for the very first time in Macao, thus upgrading its image to the ultimate destination for cultural tourism. MGM not only supports local cultural and creativity activities but also focuses on talents training. In order to give visitors a better understanding of the background knowledge of the exhibits, over the years the company has trained 360 docents from local universities and high schools to give professional guided art tours, thus helping to spread arts to all walks of people. MGM is committed to creating non-gambling multicultural and entertainment programs. In 2012, it held the first large-scale butterfly habitat exhibition “The Magic of Butterfly Reinvention at MGM”, which even until today is still on everyone's lips. Other signature activities have definitely included the “MGM Lion Dance Championship – Macau Invitational” and the “MGM MACAU Oktoberfest”, which already become Macao's regular and must-see annual events. The upcoming integrated resort hotel “MGM COTAI” will bring in more innovative and creative experiences for Macao, offering more than 10 different seating configurations from Asia's first dynamic theater to cater for the needs of various events, through revolutionary technology to bring guests an unprecedented sensory enjoyment. Its football field size Spectacle delights both the visual and auditory sensations of its spectators, providing both virtual and reality tours for them to shuttle between. Its over 300 museum-level art collection, including the antique carpet of the Qing Dynasty, the famous modern and contemporary Asian paintings and sculptures, etc., all serve to promote an integration of world cultures. MGM COTAI and MGM Macau will likely reach synergy effects and continue to play a leading role in driving Macao towards its grand vision of a world center of tourism and leisure.
Galaxy Entertainment Group
Galaxy Entertainment Group is one of the world's leading developers of integrated resort. All of its three flagship projects, namely, StarWorld Hotel, Galaxy MacauTM, Broadway MacauTM have gathered seven hotel brands, with an average occupancy rate reaching nearly 99% last year. Their facilities are distinctive and unique, such as the Galaxy Macau landmark project - The Grand Resort Deck, covers an area of more than 75,000 square meters. The project boasts the world's largest Skytop Wave Pool and the longest Skytop Adventure Rapids, setting a new standard for Macao's holiday experience. In terms of catering, it houses more than 120 restaurants, ranging from local snacks to most famous Michelin-starred chefs, offering visitors a variety of choices in the price range. Broadway Macau's unique “Broadway Food Street” provides a standing model for supporting the development of local SMEs, and sets a good model for “large business leads small business” as more than 60% are well-known local SME brands, which also include unique street performances. In terms of leisure and entertainment, the Banyan Tree Spa Macau and the ESPA at Ritz-Carlton, Macau are award-winning spa brands; Macao's largest 3D Cineplex - UA Galaxy Cinema is Macao’s most luxurious cinema, being the top-grossing UA Cinema in Hong Kong and Macao. China Rouge celebrates the glamour of old Shanghai. The Macallan Whisky Bar & Lounge is the first of its kind in Asia to have a collection of over 400 choices of top-grade whiskies. It has Macao's first five-star hotel hair salon for kids JW Kids’ Salon and many other diversified options. To facilitate diversification of Macao's economy, Galaxy Entertainment Group has spared no efforts to develop its core businesses in integrated leisure and entertainment to promote local sports tourism, cultural and economic development. Over the years, it has sponsored such activities as the Macau Galaxy Entertainment International Marathon, the FIVB Volleyball World Grand Prix etc, helping Macao's two pillar sport events and other cultural and art activities.
Sands China Limited
Sands China was the first to introduce the integrated resort business model into Macao, laying foundation for the prosper of the Cotai Strip and providing a one-stop recreational experience. In the past 12 years, it has received more than 363 million visitors. Its resorts offer compelling entertainment, luxury duty-free shopping, delicious cuisines from around the globe, world-class hotels, and ground-breaking exhibition experience. The Company brings the world's top entertainment events to Macao, including Asia's only ranked Pollstar Top 100 arena venue, which has attracted over 1 billion viewers from all over the world. Last year, more than 60 events had been held in Sands China, all contributing to enhancing Macao's reputation and adding commercial value, with its ticket fares affordable to local residents. In addition, the diversified travel and leisure elements also included “DreamWorks” experience, “Planet J Theme Park”, as well as the large-scale China Show “Monkey King” etc. All of these are conducive to promoting Macao as a resort for family visitors. Sands China's large shopping mall has more than 850 branded stores, creating an unparalleled shopping experience in Asia; it has invited international stars David Beckham and Sophie Marceau as its ambassadors, securing the promotion of a total of more than 7.72 billion advertisement impressions. To promote Macao as Asia's premier exhibition destination, Sands China has introduced 700 MICE events, attracting 1 million attendees and forming partnerships with over 50 travel agencies worldwide. The company’s award-winning customer service has been awarded more than 90 awards and honors in 2016.
In order to improve the students' innovative ability, Macao Polytechnic Institute nurtures students’ professional capacity and at the same time exposes them to arts, culture, science and technology, creativity and so on, so that they can equip themselves and make contributions to develop Macao's economy towards moderate diversification.
