Luxury gaming, dining and lavishly designed accommodation are hallmarks of Galaxy casinos, which are a major contributor to the economic success of Macau.

The spectacular GalaxyWorld Resort is due to open on the Cotai Strip in 2008, in a move that will make Macau the Las Vegas of Asia and Galaxy Casinos the center of a new world of top-end gaming and resort entertainment

Galaxy Entertainment Group (GEG) is creating a truly unique experience on Cotai, Macau. From next year, the citizens of Macau and international visitors will be witnessing the birth of the Galaxy mega resort – a mystical oasis with a thrilling adventure in discovery.

“Galaxy mega resort is an unparalleled all-in-one entertainment, leisure and gaming resort which will not only redefine the gaming experience in Macau, but will also set a new standard for Asian hospitality,” explains Francis Lui, Deputy Chairman of GEG. “It will help Macau become the entertainment capital of Asia.”

Under GEG’s master plan, a colossal and landscaped Galaxy Square will form an awesome centerpiece in Area II, together with four hotels, including two with apartment products. A world-class arena and a breathtaking observation viewpoint will be erected in Area III. An additional six hotels, two of which will have apartment towers, in Area IV will make the Galaxy mega resort a must-see, must-stay destination for the increasing number of domestic and international travelers visiting Macau.

Lui has said Area I, scheduled for launch in 2009, will deliver Cotai a unique casino in terms of architecture and thrilling design features, a retail boulevard, a diverse range of world-class restaurants, 2,200 hotel rooms and suites, a podium and gardens featuring a wave pool, white sand beach, private villas and cabanas. The plan has been tested with target prospective visitors throughout the region. Mr Lui adds: “GEG has been careful not to expand without knowing its prospective customer and what it takes to deliver a real winner.”

The mega resort will boast one of the largest casinos in the world with 1,500 slot machines and more than 600 gaming tables. Magnificent in style and grandeur, it has competition from many casinos with similar scale, but few of them are able to match the energy of the Galaxy mega resort.

‘There is now a high expectation for Asian-standard service quality and hospitality’

Moreover, GEG’s recently announced partnership with Japanese luxury hotel group Okura has piqued the hospitality world’s interest as to what may come next. GEG executives and their new Japanese hotel partners are confident that their plan to deliver a five-star hotel establishment on Cotai will be an attractive proposition for customers seeking a world-class hotel brand with Asian-quality service and hospitality. Lui believes that the premium hotel market in Macau is booming, and plenty of room exists for further growth. Galaxy-Okura will provide an important opportunity to enrich the Galaxy mega resort offering. The up-market Okura Hotels and Resorts has expressed its commitment to deliver “world-class service with Asian charisma” under a hotel management agreement signed with GEG in mid-December last year. Okura will manage one of the deluxe hotels, a key component of the casino and hotel group's 15 million square-foot (106 acre) mega resort development. Together with Okura, Galaxy will be creating a resort experience unsurpassed in Asia.

GEG has been selective with whom it collaborates, and this is likely to be one of several partnerships struck over the coming months. GEG has remained consistent in seeking brands that are complimentary to its cause and that set the benchmark for services and product quality.

The mega resort will certainly attract the complete destination traveler, seeking fun, entertainment and rejuvenation. GEG prides itself in having an in-depth appreciation of Asian consumers, and this will be reflected in architecture, product and services. Lui is very excited about the prospect of creating a mystical oasis where customers can take a journey through a world of adventure, discovery, rejuvenation and surprise. “Through world-renowned Asian tourism, leisure and hospitality brands, there is now a high expectation for Asian-standard service quality and hospitality,” he says. “We will build on this standard and deliver a mega resort that is authentically Asian in its appreciation of culture, and world-class in product quality.”

The moment people arrive in the porte cochere, they will immediately appreciate that this is not just a casino or a hotel, but a destination with endless opportunities to be thrilled and invigorated. Other than a great gaming experience and an endless selection of food and beverages, there are also a wave pool and swimming pools, a jogging path through a tropical landscape and indoor and outdoor spa areas – all designed to offer the most advanced luxury in Asia. The Galaxy mega resort will represent a renewed level of optimum and unrivalled hospitality, entertainment and indulgence in Macau. Mr Lui adds: “Our consumer research clearly illustrates the need for many consumers to escape from the rigors of urban living and experience something quite different. Is there a better way to relax than spending a few hours with friends and family diving into waves, sunning oneself on the beach, having a tropical cocktail immersed in a poolside bar or being pampered in a world-class outdoor spa? All this and more will be delivered at the mega resort. We are confident consumers will seek to return many times to experience a new standard in comfort, hospitality and fun.”

Lui also believes that GEG’s strategic partners, such as Permira, will also play a vital role in assisting GEG to excel on the retail side of the business.” We are presently discussing how we can work hand-in-hand to explore new business opportunities not only in Macau, but also in [mainland] China. Permira, for example, has recognized premium gaming retail brands and casinos in the UK. Its high-quality multimedia offerings will add value to our operations, especially on Cotai.” Lui also noted Permira’s association with ‘high-end’ labels. “Permira also has major stakes in brands like Valentino, Hugo Boss and other retail businesses. It is worth putting in the effort to develop a structure under which we can partner with these highly recognized brands and create something very interesting here in Macau and in China.”

Galaxy will invest more than HK$10 billion ($1.28 billion) in Macau by the time the mega resort on Cotai opens. GEG has the biggest land bank in Cotai and therefore has much latitude and flexibility in developing its phases in any order. Lui states that GEG is finalizing its next phase of development and is on schedule for its Area I launch. “It is now full steam ahead,” he says, “and everyone working on the project is extremely excited by the prospect of launching the mega resort in what will be the largest gaming, tourism and leisure market in the world. Come to the resort, have fun, sample the best in Asian hospitality and ‘Live The Thrill.’”

GEG also owns and operates the five-star StarWorld Hotel and Casino, its flagship gaming and entertainment venue in the former Portuguese enclave, which is situated in the Macau hub. After a successful first year in operation, StarWorld is the first hotel and casino in Macau to have been awarded the Five-Star Diamond Award by the American Academy of Hospitality Sciences. GEG also operates four City Club Casinos in the Special Administrative Region.