Venetian Macao Seeks Japanese

Frank McFadden, chief operating officer of the Venetian Macao, a unit of American casino company Las Vegas Sands Corp., revealed to Kyodo News the new resort’s aim to attract more Japanese who are doing business in China.

Referred to as “Asia’s Las Vegas,” Macao is set to become not only the area’s most prominent casino resort, but also a magnet for conferences and exhibitions from Chinese companies. Macau, located about one hour by ferry from Hong Kong, is a special administrative region of China.

The massive Venetian Macao resort, scheduled to open next year, will be at the heart of the territory’s casino-convention ambitions. The government is improving the transportation network with a new international airport, a new ferry terminal, railways, expressways and a long bridge that will connect Macau to the mainland and Hong Kong.

The Venetian development project will be on an artificial island that replicates the canals of Venice in Italy. It will feature 100,000 square meters of meeting and exhibition space, a 15,000-seat event center and an 1,800-seat theatre in addition to the resort facilities, which include a spa, a hotel, a casino, a shopping mall and restaurants.

Las Vegas Sands opened the Sands Macao in 2004 as the first foreign-owned casino in the former Portuguese colony. The Venetian is geared more toward convention business, and the complex has already booked a number of trade shows, including the Asian Automotive After-Market Products Expo and the Asia Jewelry and Watch Show in 2008.

McFadden said the Venetian’s emphasis on conventions and exhibitions will change the way Macau is perceived in Asia. At present it is only thought of as a place for gaming, and Japanese only account for 1 percent of total visitors to Macau. The main reason, according to McFadden, is that there are no direct flights between Japan and Macau.

Macau airport is now discussing the possibility of direct flights with Japanese airlines.

– Philip Brasor