• About Us
  • The Team
  • Advertise with Us

The latest news on the gaming industry in Asia

() () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () ()
  • Home
  • Macau
  • Philippines
  • Singapore
  • Japan
  • Rest of Asia
  • World
  • Features
  • Industry Talk
  • Trends & Tech
  • follow
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • RSS Feed
    • LinkedIn

Macau hotel draft law to promote product quality: MGTO

May 22, 2019 Newsdesk G2E Asia 2019, Latest News  


Macau hotel draft law to promote product quality: MGTO

A government-backed bill proposing to revise the regulatory framework for hotel accommodation in Macau aims to raise the overall quality of hospitality offerings for visitors. That is according to the head of the Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO), Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes.

The bill already received a first-reading approval by the city’s Legislative Assembly. It is now under detailed examination by one of the assembly’s working committees. After the committee has issued a report on the bill, the document will return to the full assembly for its second and final reading.

Ms Senna Fernandes said the government had no forecast for when the bill could be put for its final reading by the Legislative Assembly.

The proposal suggests raising the bar conditions-wise in terms of investors being able to classify a local hotel as either “five star” or “five star deluxe”. But it relaxes the conditions required for opening a two-star hotel in the city, and encourages the setting up of other forms of “budget accommodation”.

GGRAsia asked Ms Senna Fernandes about the proposed revised requirements to classify a local hotel as either “five star” or “five star deluxe”. She did not provide details, but noted that the aim of the bill was to “enhance product quality” in Macau’s top-tier hotels.

Ms Senna Fernandes noted that the current legal framework regulating Macau’s hotel sector had been in place since 1996. “A lot has evolved since in terms of Macau’s hotels and their facilities,” she said.

“The aim [of the bill] is to enhance the quality of high-end hotels; while at the same time, setting out more ways to attract more budget-friendly [accommodation] products from around the world to the Macau market,” Ms Senna Fernandes said. She pointed out as examples capsule-style hotels and youth hostels.

Ms Senna Fernandes’ comments were made on the sidelines of day two of the Global Gaming Expo (G2E) Asia 2019 casino industry trade show in Macau. She delivered a keynote speech at the conference segment of the event: the tourism official said the Macau government planned to continue working with the city’s casino operators to enrich Macau’s non-gaming offerings.

The three-day G2E Asia 2019 runs until Thursday at casino resort Venetian Macao.

Macau had a total of about 38,800 guest rooms as of March, of which 63 percent were located in five-star hotels, according to the latest available figures from the city’s Statistics and Census Service.

Some of Macau’s casino operators are in the process of either revamping their existing casino resort facilities, or expanding their Cotai projects with increased lodging capacity to come online starting next year.

A number of investment analysts covering the Macau gaming sector has suggested that hotel capacity constraints and pricing are a potential brake on the growth of mass-market tourism in Macau. A five-star hotel room in the Macau casino-hotel market is typically more expensive than equivalent accommodation in the world’s other major casino hub, Las Vegas, Nevada, in the United States.


  • tweet
Related articles
  • Macau casino biz leaders cautious on 2020 GGR: report
    Macau casino biz leaders cautious on...

    Dec 09, 2019  

  • Possible y-on-y dip in Macau visit tally in Nov, Dec: govt
    Possible y-on-y dip in Macau visit...

    Dec 06, 2019  

More news
  • Wakayama aims at casino RFP in spring 2020
    Wakayama aims at casino RFP in spring...

    Dec 11, 2019  

  • S. Wynn lawyers again say Nevada has no legal hold on him
    S. Wynn lawyers again say Nevada has no...

    Dec 11, 2019  


Latest News

Wakayama aims at casino RFP in spring 2020

Wakayama aims at casino RFP in spring 2020

Dec 11, 2019  

Authorities at Japan’s Wakayama prefecture (pictured) plan to launch in spring 2020 a request-for-proposal (RFP) process seeking private-sector partners for a tilt at establishing there a casino...
Read More
S. Wynn lawyers again say Nevada has no legal hold on him

S. Wynn lawyers again say Nevada has no legal hold on him

Dec 11, 2019  

Interviews

  • Incheon seeks to expand casino cluster to counter Japan
    Incheon seeks to expand casino cluster to counter Japan

    Dec 11, 2019  

    The Incheon Free Economic Zone (IFEZ) Authority in South...
  • Suncity Manila casino not a threat: Travellers EVP
    Suncity Manila casino not a threat: Travellers EVP

    Dec 09, 2019  

    Macau junket brand Suncity’s move toward being a casino...
  • Nagasaki fully backs Sasebo IR location: vice governor
    Nagasaki fully backs Sasebo IR location: vice governor

    Nov 06, 2019  

    A senior official of Japan’s Nagasaki prefecture has...
  • NagaCorp open to new development opportunities: chairman
    NagaCorp open to new development opportunities: chairman

    Jul 15, 2019  

    Hong Kong-listed casino operator and developer NagaCorp Ltd...
  • Casino logistics provider TKHS aims for global footprint
    Casino logistics provider TKHS aims for global footprint

    Jul 12, 2019  

    Asia-based casino logistics provider TKHS Group has plans...

Sign up to our FREE Newsletter

UB8V5.qr.16(Click here for more)

Pick of the Day


20,000

Total number of new jobs a resort cluster at Incheon could create, according to the Incheon Free Economic Zone Authority



Most Popular

  • 75pct of Resorts World Las Vegas rev to be non-gaming: exec75pct of Resorts World Las Vegas rev to be non-gaming: exec December 10, 2019
  • Macau’s Taipa to Cotai light rail to open on Dec 10Macau’s Taipa to Cotai light rail to open on Dec 10 December 6, 2019
  • Mark Brown quits Saipan casino op a second time: reportMark Brown quits Saipan casino op a second time: report December 11, 2019
  • David Kennedy leaving Scientific Games’ board: firmDavid Kennedy leaving Scientific Games’ board: firm December 9, 2019
  • Suncity Manila casino not a threat: Travellers EVPSuncity Manila casino not a threat: Travellers EVP December 9, 2019
Copyright 2014-2019 TEAM Publishing and Consultancy Ltd / All rights reserved
  • Code of Ethics
  • Privacy Policy
  • Useful Links
  • Contact Us