Size matters. Build and they will come. These are the messages being given at the biggest hotel opening I have ever attended.
There are well over 1,000 members of the international press here in Macau, China this week to witness the official opening of the world’s largest inhabitable building.
To try to give you an idea of the sheer size of this property, the Venetian Macao-Resort-Hotel is so big that the total site could hold almost 100 jumbo jets. Its floor space is 10.4 million sq ft and equivalent to two Tiananmen Squares.
Three million sheets of gold leaf have been used in the interior decor, and there are three canals running through the hotel, plied by 51 gondolas. I feel like I’ve woken up in Disney World.
Nothing can prepare you for the size of this hotel. Getting to your room is a challenge, and requires a minimum of 15 minutes from wherever you are.
The Venetian Macao houses the largest casino in the world – stand in the middle and there are slot machines as far as the eye can see in all directions. It’s something else.
This integrated property will certainly attract visitors from Asia. But how many customers could you send to Macau from the UK?
More than you might think, actually. Macau has traditionally attracted plenty of UK and European visitors over the years, drawn to its casinos and local food, an unusual mix of Portuguese and Chinese.
Gaming has always been a major attraction and if you have clients who want a mix of gambling, entertainment (did I mention the hotel stadium seats 15,000 and will host international shows and sporting events?) and culture, then look no further than Macau; in the words of its owners, Asia’s Las Vegas.