Las Vegas Sands Send in Team to Stop Macau Losses

Date May 6, 2008

In response to a drop in income from its properties in the first quarter, Las Vegas Sands Corporation is sending in its top US managers to cut costs and win back lost VIP business.

In the first quarter of the year, Sand’s lost US$2 million, down from a profit of almost US$40 million last quarter and almost US$91 million during the first quarter of 2007. Income from the Venetian and Sands dropped from USD133 million in the last quarter of 2007 to USD.4 million in the first three months of this year.

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Venetian Macao to Celebrate Mother’s Day in Style

Date May 2, 2008

The Venetian Macao will be offering several specials over the Mother’s Day period ranging from hotel packages to discounts at select retail stores. To begin with, their tri-generation abalone gala pays tribute to mothers everywhere with an ostentatiously-priced package that may only suit the budget of the very few, and only for May 11. Please tell me more! »

Stanley Ho Drops Oceanus Project, But Extends Jai Alai Casino

Date April 28, 2008

Last week’s announced slowing of casino development and fixing of commission rates for junket operators was welcomed by the director of Sociedade de Jogos de (SJM), Dr Stanley Ho Hung-sun yesterday as necessary to stop the “cut throat” competition between operators.

“I think it is excellent news for in general. It is high time to take care of the gaming sections problems,” he said. “It is no good with all the six operators always fighting together using cut throat measures of getting customers into their casino, this is not correct because there is enough room for all six of us.”

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Bangkok Airways to Begin Macau Flights on 4 July 2008

Date April 28, 2008

Airways will begin flights to in July, becoming the third carrier to offer scheduled non-stop service on the fast-growing route between and the former Portuguese colony. The Thai carrier is set to commence daily flights using a new twin engine Airbus A319, which is capable of carrying 120 passengers, on July 4.

The launch would give Airways a share of the lucrative and booming air traffic demand of the city. Two operators have been serving the city: the no-frills carrier Thai AirAsia and the full-service airline Air .

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Colliers International Bullish About Macau Property Market

Date March 28, 2008

Colliers International Macau has just released this interesting and bullish report about the Macau Property Market.

The latest report shows the openings of the Venetian Macau, MGM Grand Macau, Grand Lisboa and Crown Macau last year strengthened the island’s position as a world-class tourist destination.

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Celine hits the Cotai Strip

Date March 23, 2008

It doesnt get any bigger than .  She’s been entertaining Vegas at Caesars for years, and now she has finally hit ’s Strip at the one and only Venetian .  The afterparty was almost as good as the actual event, as you can see from this Destination video.

Looking Ahead, the Cotai Strip in 2014

Date March 18, 2008

From the terrace of my apartment on the 25th floor of One Grantai the whole of the Cotai Strip glitters below, from the subtle ochre shades of the Venetian Macao reflected in a huge lake, to the beckoning laser lights of Macau Studio City scorching across the night sky 1.3-km further down the Strip.

cotia-strip-in-2014.jpg

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The Lowdown on Macau Casinos

Date March 18, 2008

It has been a year of activity and inactivity, events and non-events, giddy successes and flops, and most of all, lessons on what to do or not to in .’s SJM unveiled its answer to the new operators, the Grand Lisboa, in February 2007. Then came Crown Macau in April 2007, the gargantuan Venetian Macao in September 2007, followed by MGM Grand Macau in December 2007, followed lastly by ’s Ponte 16 Casino on 1 February 2008.

Some readers have raised eyebrows on the lack of commentary on my part on the new SJM properties, saying that I focused purely on the new entrants to the market.

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