City of Dreams on track to open in June

City of Dreams, Macau’s newest integrated urban entertainment resort on Cotai strip, is on track to open in June despite the global economic crisis that has halted some major projects in the former Portuguese colony.

“This is a significant milestone as this history-making project has been our passion for four and a half years. We want to be a unique entertainment attraction not online in the context of Macau but also around the world,” said Lawrence Ho, co-chairman and chief executive officer of Melco Crown Entertainment, during a hard-hat tour of the property last week. The company is developing the resort at a reported cost of US$2.1 billion.

The initial opening of City of Dreams will feature a 39,019sqm casino with about 520 gaming tables and 1,300 gaming machines and will include the phase one of The Boulevard, described as a “lifestyle precinct” offering 7,897sqm of upscale retail space developed and operated DFS Group Limited. Phase one of The Boulevard will include over 20 restaurants and bars managed by a team of regionally renowned chefs.

The resort’s main attraction is The Bubble, a dome-shaped theatre featuring an immersive multimedia light-and-sound show called “Dragon’s Treasure”. Guests will be treated to a 360-degree view of the undersea world of the Jade Emperor Dragon as the 10-minute story unfolds over hi-def video content, a sweeping musical score, over 29,000 theatrical LED lights and more.

“We are offering the next generation in gaming and entertainment. We are confident that City of Dreams will become a must-see destination,” said Greg Hawkins, City of Dreams president.

Two hotels located within the complex – Crown Towers and Hard Rock Hotel, which have 300 guestrooms each – are expected to open in June as well. A third hotel, the 800-room Grand Hyatt Macau, is set to be completed in the third quarter of 2009.

For more information, visit www.cityofdreams.com

Gigi Onag