Macau is well known as the biggest, most over-the-top gaming capital of the world. Where else could you enjoy an indoor gondola ride followed by the world’s tallest bungee jump? But its latest attempt at reinvention might be its biggest gamble yet.
Stunned by plunging revenues as a result of the Chinese leadership combating corruption and prolific spending, venues are scrambling to diversify their casino-led offerings, creating more family-friendly spaces, entertainment options and enhancing meetings and incentive travel.
As a result, Macau’s glittering Cotai strip now offers a Batman-inspired digital ride, a house of magic, a giant Ferris wheel and a 40,000 square foot Warner Bros-themed fun zone – and that’s just Studio City...
Hollywood glamour
Melco Crown’s Macau Studio City, the city’s first cinematic-themed integrated resort, opened this October. One of the resort’s highlights is the iconic Golden Reel, a Ferris wheel in the shape of a figure eight set in the centre of the hotel’s towers.
The fun doesn’t stop there, with a Warner Bros and DC Comics collaboration offering an immersive flight-simulation ride called the Batman Dark Flight. This 4D experience allows riders to join the masked crusader as he fights Gotham city’s super villains.
Joining the line-up of Macau’s shows is the House of Magic, a three-theatre arena pitted as a hub for the world’s leading magicians. Hosted by leading illusionist Franz Harary, it features daily live magic shows, including Harary’s resident show Mega Magic. Ibiza import Pacha nightclub has also debuted at Studio City, adding to the region’s growing nightlife scene. Meanwhile, the 5,000-seater Studio City Event Center is set to host Madonna this February on her Rebel Heart tour.
Paying tribute to the resort’s Hollywood inspiration, a short film directed by Martin Scorsese was unveiled at the Studio City launch, starring Robert De Niro, Leonardo DiCaprio and Brad Pitt. Alongside these big-ticket names, the 15-minute corporate-sponsored film features plenty of promotional shots of Studio City. It was produced by RatPac Entertainment’s Brett Ratner with Melco International CEO Lawrence Ho and chairman of Crown Limited James Packer as
executive producers.
Alongside the cinematic and cartoon-themed attractions, the US$3.2 billion Studio City has a 1,600-guest room hotel housed in two towers, the Celebrity Tower and the all-suite Star Tower.
Red-carpet entrance
At the impending Wynn Palace, it’s all about a grand arrival. Guests will be transported over a lake via cable cars to check-in to the hotel. Casino magnate Steve Wynn invested US$4.1 billion in the development of his second property in Macau. The 1,700-room Wynn Palace, due to open in early 2016, will be his first foray into Cotai.
There will be a casino within Wynn Palace, but US$3 billion of the total investment has been pledged to non-gaming developments such as the eight-acre “performance lake”. With 300 water nozzles and 800,000 gallons of water, guests will be treated to spectacular shows of water, light, colour and fire set to music. Art installations such as a large jellyfish aquarium and Dragon of Fortune statue also feature alongside retail space and luxury restaurants as alternative entertainment options. The efforts come after the group saw a 49 per cent drop in net profit from US$275.9 million in Q4 of 2013, to US$139.7m in Q4 2014. Other big operators saw similar declines.
international experience
With a taste of Italy already established at the Venetian, it seems almost natural to add a flavour of France. At a cost of US$2.7 billion, Sands China is developing its fourth property, The Parisian, with a half-size replica of the Eiffel Tower as its main attraction. The 3,000-room hotel will also feature a rooftop garden inspired by Versailles and a 300,000 square foot retail mall resembling Paris’s Champs-Elysees, expected to open in the second half of 2016.
Sands China is also expanding its entertainment repertoire across existing properties, having put on Broadway shows including Cats and Beauty and the Beast in 2015 at the Venetian Macao.
With its signature 24/7 butler service, the 400-room St Regis Macau will also add another first to the city when it opens this month. Additionally, the property will offer restaurant, The Manor, with five unique dining experiences, while the Iridium Spa on the 38th floor offers views over the Cotai Strip.
Expanding the Galaxy
Three new properties at integrated resort Galaxy Macau – a JW Marriott, Ritz-Carlton and The Broadway Hotel – present yet more accommodation options in the city. Galaxy has also extended its Grand Resort Deck, which now spans 75,000 sqm and features the world’s longest skytop aquatic adventure river ride, Skytop Adventure Rapids, at 575 metres long.
“At the JW Marriott we have over 1,000 rooms
and increasing rooms in the Galaxy complex is a positive because we can offer additional brands. I don’t see any issue with the increase in capacity, it’s going to hand us our business,” says vice president of operations for the JW Marriott and Ritz-Carlton Macau, Rauf Malik.
The first all-suite hotel from the Ritz-Carlton has 254 premium hotel suites and is being marketed to planners looking to host managerial executives, with the JW Marriott as partner host to larger groups of accompanying associates.
Adjoining the hotels is a new shopping arcade called The Promenade, which is home to more than 200 retail outlets. Featuring a hawker-style street market, The Broadway delivers authentic Asian flavours, and it also plays host to a twilight market selling hand-made crafts every Friday from 5pm-10pm.
Galaxy has also extended its fine dining experience with the addition of 8 ½ Otto e Mezzo Bombana (see below) this June, whose sister restaurant in Hong Kong has three Michelin stars. Often lauded as the best Italian chef working in Asia, head chef Umberto Bombana is a global ambassador for the white truffle – and what could be more luxurious than that?
Macau dining experiences
Mathew Scott takes a table at the high end of Cotai’s culinary scene
1. 8½ Otto e Mezzo Bombana
Chef Umberto Bombana again pays homage to Italian filmmaker Federico Fellini’s masterpiece 8½ following the three Michelin-starred success of his restaurant of the same name in Hong Kong. That film is a celebration of life and here inside Galaxy Macau that’s exactly what diners will find and experience.
What’s it like? Bombana’s success has been built on the attention to detail in the cuisine and in the service – and in Macau he matches that winning formula. The décor is all discreet elegance, designed to transport diners away from the hustle and bustle outside, while the menu showcases Bombana’s signatures, such as the Greffeuille AAA lamb rack and loin. Bombana’s motto is “simple but refined” and the great charm is a relaxed atmosphere that allows diners to enjoy the flavours and the company they’re in. Capacity Up to 80 can be catered for if the entire main dining room is booked, while private dining rooms can handle tables of eight and 10.
ottoemezzobombana.com
2. Lai Heen
From its vantage point 51 floors up at The Ritz-Carlton, Lai Heen casts its gaze out over Cotai, which has fast become one of the world’s great cityscapes at night as it sparkles beneath. The finest Cantonese cuisine on offer is fit for VIP guests too, just like that view.
What’s it like? Led by chef Bill Fu, a man previously with The Ritz-Carlton Hong Kong’s Tin Lung Heen (two Michelin stars). With high ceilings and mirrored fittings, they say the interiors here are designed to help stimulate conversation. In true Cantonese tradition the menu is meant for sharing, with Chef Fu famed for twists on traditional dishes such as char-grilled barbecued Ibérico pork. Open spaces and wide windows make for the most of the stunning views.
Capacity There’s room for 62 in the main room or 68 – combined – across five private dining rooms, including the largest one in the city, featuring a table that seats 22.
ritzcarlton.com
3. Jade Dragon
With its low-key lighting, there’s a sense that you’re being let in on a secret when you enter Jade Dragon, on the second floor of the City of Dreams. But this is a secret that is widely shared – a fact ensured by its Michelin star, stellar word-of-mouth reputation and faultless service.
What’s it like? Open kitchens, expansive green
views from the main dining area, and pebble-like interiors in the private dining rooms – this is a place with options to suit the mood you want for your gathering. Chef Tam’s fame is spreading thanks in part to his delicious menu featuring roasted goose and Ibérico pork.
Capacity The entire restaurant can be booked, plus there are 11 private dining rooms to choose from, catering from four to six people, or up to 50.
cityofdreamsmacau.com
4. Zi Yat Heen
Tucked away on the ground floor of the Four Seasons Hotel, Zi Yat Heen is an oasis for local devotees of Cantonese cuisine, and for visitors who want to introduce themselves to its dishes in their finest form. Such high standards have seen Zi Yat Heen awarded two Michelin stars.
What’s it like? The full scope of Cantonese food is fully explored by executive chef Sammy Ho and his team, from inventive takes on dim sum traditions to the freshest of local seafood, and on to such timeless favourites as Peking duck. High ceilings and great use
of natural lighting ensure a relaxed ambiance, perfect for tapping into the sommelier’s knowledge of the glassed wine cellar’s wide selection. A restaurant that lives right up to its reputation with a menu that constantly surprises.
Capacity Such is the popularity of the main room, only the private dining rooms can be booked out completely, but the main one of the three available can seat up to
20 people comfortably.
fourseasons.com
5. Bene
For a more laid-back atmosphere, there is Bene’s trattoria-style eatery in Sheraton Macao. This is proving popular with delegates in the Cotai Strip for its Italian staples, extensive wine list and something that’s quite unique in Macau – an al fresco venue.
What’s it like? Homely, bright and open in one half, darker and more intimate in the other – the idea being you can have the best of both worlds. Regulars praise the consistency of the food, as well as the whole home-away-from-home nature that pervades every aspect from the staff to the hand-made pasta at which the kitchen excels.
Capacity There's ample space for close to 300 people in the dining room, while the latest addition is a garden-fringed al fresco area that can cater for up to 100 with a tapas-style menu and little extras such as a sound system and big screen.
benemacau.com
Paying tribute to the resort’s Hollywood inspiration, a short film directed by Martin Scorsese was unveiled at the Studio City launch, starring Robert De Niro, Leonardo DiCaprio and Brad Pitt. Alongside these big-ticket names, the 15-minute corporate-sponsored film features plenty of promotional shots of Studio City. It was produced by RatPac Entertainment’s Brett Ratner with Melco International CEO Lawrence Ho and chairman of Crown Limited James Packer as
executive producers.
Alongside the cinematic and cartoon-themed attractions, the US$3.2 billion Studio City has a 1,600-guest room hotel housed in two towers, the Celebrity Tower and the all-suite Star Tower.
Red-carpet entrance
At the impending Wynn Palace, it’s all about a grand arrival. Guests will be transported over a lake via cable cars to check-in to the hotel. Casino magnate Steve Wynn invested US$4.1 billion in the development of his second property in Macau. The 1,700-room Wynn Palace, due to open in early 2016, will be his first foray into Cotai.
There will be a casino within Wynn Palace, but US$3 billion of the total investment has been pledged to non-gaming developments such as the eight-acre “performance lake”. With 300 water nozzles and 800,000 gallons of water, guests will be treated to spectacular shows of water, light, colour and fire set to music. Art installations such as a large jellyfish aquarium and Dragon of Fortune statue also feature alongside retail space and luxury restaurants as alternative entertainment options. The efforts come after the group saw a 49 per cent drop in net profit from US$275.9 million in Q4 of 2013, to US$139.7m in Q4 2014. Other big operators saw similar declines.
international experience
With a taste of Italy already established at the Venetian, it seems almost natural to add a flavour of France. At a cost of US$2.7 billion, Sands China is developing its fourth property, The Parisian, with a half-size replica of the Eiffel Tower as its main attraction. The 3,000-room hotel will also feature a rooftop garden inspired by Versailles and a 300,000 square foot retail mall resembling Paris’s Champs-Elysees, expected to open in the second half of 2016.
Sands China is also expanding its entertainment repertoire across existing properties, having put on Broadway shows including Cats and Beauty and the Beast in 2015 at the Venetian Macao.
With its signature 24/7 butler service, the 400-room St Regis Macau will also add another first to the city when it opens this month. Additionally, the property will offer restaurant, The Manor, with five unique dining experiences, while the Iridium Spa on the 38th floor offers views over the Cotai Strip.
Expanding the Galaxy
Three new properties at integrated resort Galaxy Macau – a JW Marriott, Ritz-Carlton and The Broadway Hotel – present yet more accommodation options in the city. Galaxy has also extended its Grand Resort Deck, which now spans 75,000 sqm and features the world’s longest skytop aquatic adventure river ride, Skytop Adventure Rapids, at 575 metres long.
“At the JW Marriott we have over 1,000 rooms
and increasing rooms in the Galaxy complex is a positive because we can offer additional brands. I don’t see any issue with the increase in capacity, it’s going to hand us our business,” says vice president of operations for the JW Marriott and Ritz-Carlton Macau, Rauf Malik.
The first all-suite hotel from the Ritz-Carlton has 254 premium hotel suites and is being marketed to planners looking to host managerial executives, with the JW Marriott as partner host to larger groups of accompanying associates.
Adjoining the hotels is a new shopping arcade called The Promenade, which is home to more than 200 retail outlets. Featuring a hawker-style street market, The Broadway delivers authentic Asian flavours, and it also plays host to a twilight market selling hand-made crafts every Friday from 5pm-10pm.
Galaxy has also extended its fine dining experience with the addition of 8 ½ Otto e Mezzo Bombana (see below) this June, whose sister restaurant in Hong Kong has three Michelin stars. Often lauded as the best Italian chef working in Asia, head chef Umberto Bombana is a global ambassador for the white truffle – and what could be more luxurious than that?
Macau dining experiences
Mathew Scott takes a table at the high end of Cotai’s culinary scene
1. 8½ Otto e Mezzo Bombana
Chef Umberto Bombana again pays homage to Italian filmmaker Federico Fellini’s masterpiece 8½ following the three Michelin-starred success of his restaurant of the same name in Hong Kong. That film is a celebration of life and here inside Galaxy Macau that’s exactly what diners will find and experience.
What’s it like? Bombana’s success has been built on the attention to detail in the cuisine and in the service – and in Macau he matches that winning formula. The décor is all discreet elegance, designed to transport diners away from the hustle and bustle outside, while the menu showcases Bombana’s signatures, such as the Greffeuille AAA lamb rack and loin. Bombana’s motto is “simple but refined” and the great charm is a relaxed atmosphere that allows diners to enjoy the flavours and the company they’re in. Capacity Up to 80 can be catered for if the entire main dining room is booked, while private dining rooms can handle tables of eight and 10.
ottoemezzobombana.com
2. Lai Heen
From its vantage point 51 floors up at The Ritz-Carlton, Lai Heen casts its gaze out over Cotai, which has fast become one of the world’s great cityscapes at night as it sparkles beneath. The finest Cantonese cuisine on offer is fit for VIP guests too, just like that view.
What’s it like? Led by chef Bill Fu, a man previously with The Ritz-Carlton Hong Kong’s Tin Lung Heen (two Michelin stars). With high ceilings and mirrored fittings, they say the interiors here are designed to help stimulate conversation. In true Cantonese tradition the menu is meant for sharing, with Chef Fu famed for twists on traditional dishes such as char-grilled barbecued Ibérico pork. Open spaces and wide windows make for the most of the stunning views.
Capacity There’s room for 62 in the main room or 68 – combined – across five private dining rooms, including the largest one in the city, featuring a table that seats 22.
ritzcarlton.com
3. Jade Dragon
With its low-key lighting, there’s a sense that you’re being let in on a secret when you enter Jade Dragon, on the second floor of the City of Dreams. But this is a secret that is widely shared – a fact ensured by its Michelin star, stellar word-of-mouth reputation and faultless service.
What’s it like? Open kitchens, expansive green
views from the main dining area, and pebble-like interiors in the private dining rooms – this is a place with options to suit the mood you want for your gathering. Chef Tam’s fame is spreading thanks in part to his delicious menu featuring roasted goose and Ibérico pork.
Capacity The entire restaurant can be booked, plus there are 11 private dining rooms to choose from, catering from four to six people, or up to 50.
cityofdreamsmacau.com
4. Zi Yat Heen
Tucked away on the ground floor of the Four Seasons Hotel, Zi Yat Heen is an oasis for local devotees of Cantonese cuisine, and for visitors who want to introduce themselves to its dishes in their finest form. Such high standards have seen Zi Yat Heen awarded two Michelin stars.
What’s it like? The full scope of Cantonese food is fully explored by executive chef Sammy Ho and his team, from inventive takes on dim sum traditions to the freshest of local seafood, and on to such timeless favourites as Peking duck. High ceilings and great use
of natural lighting ensure a relaxed ambiance, perfect for tapping into the sommelier’s knowledge of the glassed wine cellar’s wide selection. A restaurant that lives right up to its reputation with a menu that constantly surprises.
Capacity Such is the popularity of the main room, only the private dining rooms can be booked out completely, but the main one of the three available can seat up to
20 people comfortably.
fourseasons.com
5. Bene
For a more laid-back atmosphere, there is Bene’s trattoria-style eatery in Sheraton Macao. This is proving popular with delegates in the Cotai Strip for its Italian staples, extensive wine list and something that’s quite unique in Macau – an al fresco venue.
What’s it like? Homely, bright and open in one half, darker and more intimate in the other – the idea being you can have the best of both worlds. Regulars praise the consistency of the food, as well as the whole home-away-from-home nature that pervades every aspect from the staff to the hand-made pasta at which the kitchen excels.
Capacity There's ample space for close to 300 people in the dining room, while the latest addition is a garden-fringed al fresco area that can cater for up to 100 with a tapas-style menu and little extras such as a sound system and big screen.
benemacau.com 
