Galaxy Macau

Galaxy Macau

Galaxy Macau (2011)
Address	Galaxy Macau™ Resort, Cotai Strip, Macau
Opening date	15 May 2011
Theme	World Class, Asian Heart
Number of rooms	2,200 (1,500 in Galaxy Hotel, 410 in Hotel Okura Macau and 238 in Banyan Tree Hotel)
Total gaming space	550,000 m²
Signature attractions	Artificial beach and wave pool
Casino type	Land-Based
Owner	Galaxy Entertainment Group
Architect	Simon Kwan & Associates
Website	galaxymacau.com

Galaxy Macau (Chinese: 澳門銀河綜合渡假城) is a resort located on the Cotai Strip, Macau, China. Construction on the Cotai project began in 2002, but its opening has since then been rescheduled several times. Its developer Galaxy Entertainment Group announced on 10 March 2011 that its HKD 14.9 billion (USD 1.9 billion) Galaxy Macau resort officially opened on 15 May 2011.^[1] The resort is designed by Gary Goddard.^[2] Interior architecture and lighting design of the high limit casinos provided by Steelman Partners.^[3]

First phase

When the Cotai project's first phase opens in 2011, the 550,000 square metres (5,900,000 sq ft) property will offer around 2,200 hotel rooms comprising the 1,500-room Galaxy Macau hotel tower complete with casino and entertainment areas, as well as two hotel partners, the Japanese-owned 410-room Hotel Okura and the Singapore-operated Banyan Tree Hotel that will have 254 suites.

In addition, Galaxy Macau will include retail facilities and food and beverage outlets. Its gaming facilities, divided into five areas, will have a capacity for over 600 gaming tables as well as 1,200 slot machines and other electronic gaming machines.

Galaxy Hotel Macau

Attractions

Wave pool and artificial beach

Above the gaming area there will be a 52,000 square metres (560,000 sq ft) resort, with gardens, six swimming pools, including a wave pool and an artificial 2,000 square meters^[4] beach made of 350-tonne white sand. The grand resort deck offer scheduled all day water activities for children and adult classes such as yoga, tai chi, and stretching classes.^[5]

Fortune Diamond

In Galaxy's lobby, a fountain turns into a giant roulette wheel before a giant diamond rises out of the top. "It's a metaphor for wishing casino goers eternal luck and prosperity", said designer Jeremy Railton, President of Entertainment Design Corp.^[6]^[7]

Wishing Crystals

In the other side of Galaxy, the bus lobby houses a series of giant crystals that float above a pool of water. The crystals have adopted advanced motion sensor technology that triggers special visual effects when guests walk near the crystals. When all the crystals are activated, good luck symbols flash from the crystals and reflect in the water.^[8]

Gold Leaf Cupolas

To match the positioning of the resort as the New Palace of Asia, there are 6 cupolas at the top of the two towers of Galaxy Macau. All six cupolas are covered in 24-carat gold - enough to cover 87 football pitches.^[9] Four of them measure 15 metres (49 ft) high and the other two at 24 metres (79 ft).^[10]

Galaxy Hotel Macau, Poolside

Galaxy Laserama

The gold-leaf cupolas of Galaxy Macau feature a laser show system which projects laser beams into the sky every 15 minutes. It is claimed to be the largest laser shows in the world and is visible across Macau.^[10]

UA Galaxy Cinemas

On 15 December 2011, Galaxy Macau opened UA Galaxy Cinemas & East Square. Action star Jet Li and director-producer Tsui Hark were among the VIP guests to celebrate the occasion. The opening programme included the premiere of Tsui’s latest work, The Flying Swords of Dragon Gate 3D, China’s first 3D wuxia movie, which stars Li, Zhou Xun, Chen Kun and Gwei Lun-mei.^[11]

Banyan Tree Macau

Banyan Tree Macau is the Group’s first property in the former Portuguese enclave. It will be the first in Macau to feature private indoor relaxation pools in all its 246 suites, overlooking the city.

Ten Pool Villas, ranging from 450–950 square metres (4,800–10,200 sq ft), feature both private pools and air-conditioned cabanas with sliding glass doors opening directly onto their own gardens on the 'Beach Resort Deck.'

Future development

Renovations in Phase I

The Cotai resort is not completely finished, with its private club and restaurant China Rouge, inspired by 1930’s Shanghai 'still under development'.

Galaxy Macau only takes up one third of the area granted by the government in Cotai and the company is already looking at the future.

Phase II

Galaxy Resort Phase II in Macau with completed Phase I (2 buildings on the right). Taken in April 2015

On 26 April 2012, Galaxy Macau announced that JW Marriott and Ritz-Carlton hotels will be added to the Cotai resort.^[12] Galaxy's Chief Financial Officer Robert Drake said it will start construction of the two hotels as early as the end of 2013 and begin operations gradually from 2016 through 2018.^[13]

According to a presentation released by Galaxy Entertainment, the total investment for Galaxy Phase 2 is estimated to be 16 million HKD with construction completion scheduled for mid-2015. Phase 2 would consist of 450,000 square metres (4,800,000 sq ft) of new resort space, an additional 3600 hotel rooms and increasing the casino table count by 500.^[14]

Next Three Phases

On 9 January 2014, Galaxy Entertainment Group Ltd announced that the Michelin 3 Star 8½ Otto e Mezzo Bombana restaurant will be a feature at Galaxy Macau's under construction Ritz-Carlton hotel.^[15]

The next three phases of Galaxy Macau is estimated to cost $70 to $80 billion HKD according to the 21st Century Business Herald reports. The next three phases would be focused on entertainment, culture and sport rather than gaming and gambling. ^[16]

Finances

Galaxy Macau opened with a 7 percent increase in budget to HKD 16.5 billion and will open the full complement of 2,200 rooms in the last quarter of 2011. "The small variance to budget was primarily caused by an increase in construction labour cost and more construction workers associated with our accelerated rollout program, various enhancements to the resort and small changes in scope," said the company. "In just 47 days, Galaxy Macau generated revenue of HKD 2.4 billion and EBITDA of HKD 376 million."

Galaxy Macau is helping to boost Galaxy Entertainment Group’s gross gaming revenue. The casino operator, whose market value has more than quadrupled in the past year, was second in the gross gaming revenue rankings in July, grabbing a market share of almost 19 percent, according to figures compiled by Macau Daily Times. The company ranked only behind SJM Holdings, jumping ahead of Sands China Ltd, Wynn Macau and Melco Crown.^[17]

In 2014 Galaxy Macau is preparing to focus its market segment from VIP members to mass market, after Morgan Stanley reports predicted that mass-market gamblers will top 28% in Macau, compared to VIP gamer growth of just 13%.^[18] In the past the casino faced challenges with catering VIPs with perks such as helicopters and more luxury rooms. But profits from these VIPs makes it worthwhile profits in casinos. In 2014 the new bridge from Hong Kong to Macau and eventually ShenZhen,^[19] and coming rail linking between Macau Islands will bring more mass-market gamers to the casino. This indicates that more mass-market gamers will bring profits to Galaxy Macau.^[18]