Jan
31
Melco PBL Tabcorp Macau Hotel & Casino is just too long of a name.
This article from The Australian is a few days old, but there are two things that need to be mentioned.
1) Tabcorp could be teaming up with Virgin to buid a casino resort in Macau according to the South China Post
- The Australian reports that, “It is understood that talks between Tabcorp and Virgin have been under way for several months”, and
- “if the Macau deal goes ahead, there is potential for the two companies to extend their partnership to other parts of Asia and Australia, as well as Las Vegas”, plus
- Tabcorp’s Matthew Slater “is said to have travelled to the UK, Macau and Las Vegas recently” (**more below the ads**)
2) Tabcorp may not be around long though
- Citicorp reported that speculation “abounds that Tabcorp is next to go” to fuel the rumors over the past month that Tabcorp was a takeover target, according to the paper
- Tabcorp’s possible suitor could be James Packer’s PBL
So, putting 2 and 2 together answers my previous question of who could be the manager of Virgin’s Macau Casino - Melco PBL. Now if I could just figure out why The Donald is no where to be seen yet.
Jan
28
Macau video from CNBC
Filed Under Macau, Cotai, Las Vegas Sands, Venetian Macao, Wall Street, Wynn | Leave a Comment
CNBC has a good three minute video discussing Wynn, LVS and its Cotai Strip®, and Macau, and of course a good quote from LVS. (**more below the ads**)
“Mr Wynn’s property could fit into a corner of what we’re building (on the Cotai Strip®)”
Jan
27
Or how about “Macau’s British Invasion”
For those not from the US, those are famous US quotes from one of our many wars and from the Beatles invasion of the US music scene. Looks like they both apply to Macau now, as British billionaire Sir Richard Branson has decided he wants to hang at his own casino when he is not space travelling.
The Financial Times reported that Richard Branson’s Virgin Group plans a USD$3 billion hotel casino on 20 hectares of land in Macau that will feature 3 separate hotels. However, he does not have the land yet and he is not a Macau concession holder. Just a few minor issues issues though when you are a billionaire.
Discussing the project with the Financial Times, his majesty shared the following views:
“Existing resorts do not have enough greenery, swimming pools and all-round facilities for families.” (*more below the ads*)
“It is a massive captive market with 200m people in the vicinity able to visit Macao. But a lot of people with families do not go.”
“We have done a lot of market research but ultimately it is about gut-feeling and mine is that a Virgin casino in Macao will be a success.”
In addition, Branson said that he thinks a successful Macau casino will bolster his plans for a Vegas casino.
- Will the casino be on the Macau Peninsula or in Cotai?
- Who will Virgin get to manage its Macau casino?
- Why Macau instead of Vegas? (this is my biggest question)
- Where is The Donald? Is he next?
- And most importantly, will Sir Richard Branson provide the high quailty quotes that we have become accustomed to from our bickering Macau billionaires?
Jan
23
Cotai getting Hard Rock Macau
Filed Under Cotai, Melco PBL, ENTERTAINMENT, Hard Rock Macau, City of Dreams | Leave a Comment
Hard Rock Macau! You got to like the sound of that.
Hard Rock announced that they have signed a definitive agreement with Melco PBL for the development of the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Macau at Melco PBL’s City of Dreams Casino and Entertainment Resort Complex on Macau’s Cotai district.
The Hard Rock Macau will be joining three other hotels at the underwater themed City of Dreams casino resort complex. The other three planned hotels are the Grand Hyatt, Hyatt Regency, and Crown Towers. Macau City of Dream’s phase I development will include the Hard Rock Macau and is scheduled to open in 2008.
The Hard Rock Casino Macau will feature: (more below the ads)
“…a state-of-the-art Hard Rock Casino with a mix of table games and slot devices; an approximately 380-room Hard Rock Hotel with guest rooms and suites designed by leading-edge Hard Rock designers, plus two custom “Rock Star” mega-suites; a Hard Rock Cafe offering Hard Rock’s updated menu, as well as a designated area for live music and a Rock Shop featuring Hard Rock’s traditional and new rock-star designed and inspired merchandise; a VIP roof-top nightclub with direct elevator service and the best nighttime views of Macau; a stylish casual dining restaurant offering round-the-clock service with Hard Rock accents; a stimulating health and fitness center complete with Hard Rock’s relaxing spa treatment rooms; a variety of uniquely designed meeting spaces; and an expansive pool and entertainment deck featuring Hard Rock’s custom cabanas and underwater music experiences.”
For those who have never been to the Hard Rock Hotel Casino in Vegas, let me just say that words will not do it justice. I recommend checking out the Hard Rock Vegas website. Sure its a casino, but the real action is at the club, bars, live music venue, and the hottest pool in Vegas. The Hard Rock is as cool as it gets in Vegas.
Jan
20
Lui Che Woo…the anti-Sheldon
Filed Under Macau, Cotai, Wall Street, Galaxy | Leave a Comment
Billionaire is developing Cotai at his own pace, and for better or worse, his own money.
Forbes wrote a great piece on Lui Che Woo and should be a must-read for anyone looking to learn more about the individual or his company Galaxy Entertainment.
Discussing his plans for Cotai, it is obvious that Lui Che Woo and Adelson see Macau and Cotai much differently. Lui Che Woo says the main reason for the parting of Galaxy and LVS was because Woo wanted to invest in Macau and Cotai more slowly than Adelson.
Pace of investment is not the only difference between Galaxy and LVS though, as Galaxy shares somes insights on its own views of Macau and Cotai:
“I believe Macau does not have to be a replica of Las Vegas,” - Lui Che Woo
“Even though we have one of the largest land banks in Macau, we are not using it all up from day one. We want to see how consumer tastes develop. This kind of risk-averse strategy is the fundamental difference between us and others.” - Lui Che Woo’s son, Francis - when discussing the 3.1 million square feet of unused land in Cotai that it is not yet being developed as part of Galaxy’s Cotai Mega Resort project ***MORE BELOW THE ADS***
Also discussed in the article is the speculation that Galaxy could be overextending its limited financial resources, since the company needed to unexpectedly issue convertible bonds to help fund the Cotai Mega Resort. Additionally, Forbes reports that some Macau officials have said that Galaxy is not living up to its end of the bargain and doing enough to develop in Macau, as the company and the other concessionaires promised to build integrated resorts that went beyond the usual hotel and casino resorts. So, not mentioned in the article but if you put two and two together, you might ask yourself whether or not Galaxy had no choice but to invest more slowly than LVS due to its financial situation.
What is Galaxy’s next step? Will the company merge or be acquired by another casino company out of necessity? Lui says:
“We’ve been contacted by a lot of people that want to invest in Macau. We would only consider partnering with an experienced partner that can provide good concepts or methods. We don’t need this now.”
Jan
18
Please leave a Review of Galaxy’s Starworld casino if you’ve ever stayed there or walked through…
Jan
18
Sands Macao Hotel Reviews
Filed Under HOTEL REVIEWS, Sands Macao Reviews | 1 Comment
It may not be the biggest hotel in Macao, but it was the first to bring a taste of Vegas to Asia. Tell others what you thought about the casino or hotel in the Review section below…
Jan
18
MGM Grand Paradise Macau Hotel Reviews
Filed Under HOTEL REVIEWS, MGM Grand Paradise Reviews | 1 Comment
Opening in December 2007, the MGM Grand should be something spectacular. Make sure you leave a Review of your visit and tell others who havent had a chance to visit yet what you thought…
Jan
18
Lisboa Hotel Reviews
Filed Under HOTEL REVIEWS | Leave a Comment
If you’ve ever stayed or visited the grandaddy of Macau hotels and casinos, please tell others what you thought by leaving a Review in the section below…
Jan
18
Grand Lisboa Hotel Reviews
Filed Under HOTEL REVIEWS, Grand Lisboa Reviews | 1 Comment
Please leave your Review of the Grand Lisboa on the Macao Peninsula in the Comments section below…
Jan
18
Wynn Macau Hotel Reviews
Filed Under HOTEL REVIEWS, Wynn Macao Reviews | Leave a Comment
If you’ve been lucky enough to stay (or even visit) the Wynn Resort in Macau, please leave a quick Review in the comments section below…
Jan
18
Grand Waldo Hotel Reviews
Filed Under HOTEL REVIEWS | 1 Comment
If you’ve visited the Grand Waldo Hotel in the Cotai, please leave a quick Review of your visit in the Comments section below…