Macau is an attraction for those who enjoy the casino tables, while also heavily investing in its MICE offering. Holly Patrick finds out more.
Most recently, Macau (Macao), an autonomous region off the south coast of mainland China, was bumped up 23 places in the 2019 ICCA City and Country Rankings, to 48 worldwide. Within the Asia Pacific region, Macau is honing in on a top ten place. Currently, at number 12, the wheels are in motion for this city to continue climbing the ranks, beginning with the expansive investment in venues across the destination, namely the Galaxy International Convention Center (GICC) set to open in the first half of 2021.
The integrated event facility will add to Macau’s existing 190,000 sqm of meeting space and 37,000 hotel rooms with a 16,000-person arena, 10,000 sqm convention and exhibition centre, 32 meeting rooms, 600-seat auditorium and the adjoining Hyatt Andaz Macao hotel.
For the time being, however, Fisherman’s Wharf Convention and Exhibition Centre remains the largest convention space on the Macau peninsula with 10,628 sqm of event space including the impressive Roman Amphitheatre for 2,000 guests.
And what would a casino-city be without its very own Venetian Hotel? The Venetian Macao, part of the Sands Resorts Macao, features 108 meeting and event rooms, with special mention to the 15,000-person Cotai Arena, the 1,800-person Venetian Theatre, and the 6,500 sqm Ballroom - all just a five-minute drive from Macao International Airport.
Culture to intrigue delegates beyond the venue confines
For the quirkier client, the Macau Science Centre offers a waterside, futuristic venue with a 450-person convention hall, four meeting rooms for between 70 to 150 guests and the lobby exhibition gallery at 121sqm. The venue also offers a free-of-charge centre tour for delegates who have a galactic thirst for all things science.
Macau has established itself as a hub for big-name hotel groups with Ritz Carlton, Four Seasons and MGM all having properties in the city and all providing ample meeting spaces.
Besides its burgeoning portfolio of world-class venues, Macau also offers planners a cultural and historic element, sure to intrigue delegates beyond the venue confines. Home to 25 UNESCO Heritage Sites, Macau’s semblance of ‘east meets west’ can be experienced through the city’s landmarks and cuisine from the historic Taipa Village with its cobbled streets and juxtaposing landmarks, to the pulsing Cotai Strip, often referred to as the Las Vegas of Asia.
Scavenger hunt team building activityThe House of Dancing Water is a must-see if you’re in the game of “biggest and best” tick-lists. For nearly a decade, The House of Dancing Water has been the world largest water show, combining stunts, acrobatics, dancing and theatre on a stage. For a destination that is only 96 sq miles, it boasts a lot of ‘world’s biggest’ including the Macao Tower Bungee jump at 233 metres, ideal for thrill-seeking delegates. The Macau Tower is also available for events with a 180-degree Lounge space and the Outdoor Plaza for 1,000 guests. For those with an eye for contemporary art, the teamLab SuperNature digital art exhibition at Cotai Expo, The Venetian Macao is not to be missed.
For the gourmands among the pack, Macau now boats 20 Michelin-star restaurants, as well as plenty of pocket-money-priced culinary delights including the infamous Portuguese egg tart, with the most highly rated being found at Grand Hyatt hotel.
Getting there
Direct flights between the UK and Macau don’t exist yet, but a connection in nearby Hong Kong or Taipei will see a journey time of around 18 hours. To avoid multiple flights, fly directly to Hong Kong and take a 50-minute car journey across the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge. Ask the expert
Olinto OliveiraOlinto Oliveira, director, Macau & Hong Kong Ovation Global DMC
Macau is a destination unlike any other in the world. A melting pot where east and west collide and intertwine creating a fascinating culture. The city is marked by a beautiful balance of seemingly contrasting characteristics blending harmoniously – From century-old landmarks and Unesco Heritage sites in “old Macau” which now share a home with the ultra-modern world-class integrated resorts on Cotai Strip, the signature “Macanese” cuisine which is a fusion of Portuguese and Chinese culinary practices and a rich variety of international festivals such as the Macau Grand Prix to Dragon Boat Racing the small peninsula is packed with culture, arts and entertainment.
Having been intentionally developed as a MICE destination, the integrated resorts feature large room blocks paired with extensive meeting space. Both the Venetian and Studio City also boast arenas with Galaxy planning on having their own arena to be unveiled next year as part of their convention centre development. What this means is that logically, even large groups can conveniently be an elevator commute from hotel room to event venue.
Thanks to the small geography of the city, going offsite for a gala, such as to the beautiful colonial venue Albergue is also just a 30 min drive. Fun is never too far away, with many groups opting to do scavenger hunts across the city for team building or for those more adventurous souls, experiencing the world’s highest bungee jump off the Macau Tower.
A desire to travel led Holly Patrick to the business meetings and events world and she’s never looked back. Holly takes a particular interest in event sustainability and creating a diverse and inclusive industry. When she’s not working, she can be found rolling skating along Brighton seafront listening to an eclectic playlist, featuring the likes of Patti Smith, Sean Paul, and Arooj Aftab.
