Background 

This 3,000-suite integrated resort opened in 2007, and is the first property built by Sands China on the Cotai Strip. In 2018, all of the suites at the hotel were fully refurbished to celebrate the tenth anniversary of the resort.

What’s it like? 

On entering, I was enchanted by the magnificence of the surrounding, which is evocative of Venice. This 39-storey hotel takes pride in recreating canals, gondolas and renaissance architecture from the Italian town.

Where is it? 

The hotel is an easy ten-minute drive from the Macau Outer Harbour Ferry Terminal and helicopter terminal.

Rooms 

I stayed in a Premio Royale suite, beautifully furnished in rich dark wood and plush fabrics inspired by Venetian gondolas. What struck me most were the sparkling gold accents running across the deluxe marble bathroom that features a bathtub, a separate shower area, and a dressing table equipped with vanity essentials. I enjoyed using the bath amenities by Aromatherapy that took my stay experience a notch higher.

This 70 sqm suite is quite spacious and a step divides the living area and an independent workspace from a king-size bed. The suite has an additional 55-inch flat screen television in the living area. My room overlooked the stunning Cotai Strip. Other amenities of the suite include a USB port by the bed, and fully stocked mini-bar.

Food and Drink 

The Venetian Macao offers a multitude of unique food and beverage outlets. I had lunch at the one Michelin-starred Indian restaurant, the Golden Peacock. On my vegetarian menu, there was a vegetarian appetiser platter with samosa, paneer tikka and various types of chutneys; shimla gucchi shorba, a French morel mushroom with yellow lentil and cilantro; and badal-e-jaam, which is basically purple eggplant with roasted almond flakes and saffron. The highlight of my lunch was the dessert — lychee kulfi. This lychee frozen dessert served with rose drops and rose jelly was an absolute summer treat.

Portofino, a traditional Italian trattoria; North offering authentic cuisines from the Dongbei and Sichuan regions of China; Canton specialising in southern Chinese delicacies and Bambu serving local Macanese favourites are some other  dining options.

Meetings 

The hotel is an ideal destination for large scale events. The meeting spaces are designed keeping in mind the requirements of MICE planners. It has Asia’s largest ballroom which is spread across a whopping 6,500 sqm; Cotai Expo which covers more than 75,000 sqm of state-of-the-art exhibition space; 108 meeting rooms; and Cotai Arena that has a capacity of 15,000 people.

Leisure 

I learnt the basics of golf at their miniature course — a must-visit for sports enthusiasts. Shoppes at The Venetian Macao is a haven for shopaholics like me. The property also boasts a fitness centre and swimming pools. Families can experience a gondola ride as well as some upscale gaming facilities.

Verdict: A perfect MICE destination for business travellers coming not just from the neighbouring regions but from across the world.

Price: Upwards of HK$ 1,848/ ₹ 16,761

Contact:  The Venetian Macao, s/n Estrada da Baia de Nossa Senhora da Esperanca, Macao

venetianmacao.com