• 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 hotels to resume normal ops in early Sept: association

Aug 29, 2017 Newsdesk Latest News, Macau, Top of the deck  


Macau hotels to resume normal ops in early Sept: association

The hotels in Macau are expected to resume normal operations in early September, as they recover from the impact of Typhoon Hato, says Chan Chi Kit, the president of the Macau Hoteliers and Innkeepers Association.

The tropical cyclone struck Macau on Wednesday morning, with wind speeds of more than 200 kilometres per hour (124 mph), according to the city’s weather bureau. It brought damage to some Macau casino resorts and some of the city’s hotels.

“The hotels here sustained some quite serious damage. Some windows were broken. So, with fewer travellers coming, it helps to relieve the pressure on the hotels”, Mr Chan told GGRAsia.

According to analysts, several local casino resorts, including Sands Macao of gaming operator Sands China Ltd, and the Grand Lisboa and Hotel Lisboa of SJM Holdings Ltd, suspended their hotel and gaming operations for a period of time in the aftermath of the typhoon, due to power and water shortages.

The Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO) on Friday urged tourists to reconsider any upcoming trips to Macau. The tourism bureau also requested travel agencies to temporarily suspend their tour group arrangements to Macau until August 30.

In terms of impact on hotel occupancy, Mr Chan said while he did not have a concrete figure, he estimated that the suspension of the tour groups to Macau could affect up to 6,000 hotel rooms per day until August 30.

“If we consider that, on average, there were almost 300 tour groups coming to Macau each day [during the peak season], and with about 30 to 40 people in each group, there would be up to 12,000 tourists [affected by the suspension]. If we assume two people in each hotel room, that means the occupancy of 6,000 rooms could be affected,” Mr Chan said.

Visitors on package tours to Macau totalled 728,000 in August last year, an average of approximately 23,500 tourists per day, according to data from the city’s Statistics and Census Service. In the first half of 2017, visitors on package tours increased by 10.3 percent year-on-year to nearly 3.8 million, show official data.

Nonetheless, Mr Chan said the typhoon and the suspension of tour groups should only have a short-term impact on the local tourism industry.

“I expect that the hotels in Macau will resume normal operations in early September,” he said.

“The city’s attractions are still here, so visitors will come [again to Macau]. Besides, it’s already the end of the summer holiday, so many people are done travelling and are preparing for the new school year,” he added.

Andy Wu Keng Kuong, president of the Macau Travel Industry Council, also agreed that the typhoon and the suspension of tour groups would not have a long-term impact on Macau’s hospitality industry.

He pointed out that the typhoon did not only cause damages to the city’s hotels and casino resorts, as well as disrupting their operations, it also hindered the hotels’ suppliers.

“The supply of fresh towels and linen was seriously disrupted in the aftermath of the typhoon. This affected the operations of the hotels,” Mr Wu told us.

GGRAsia visited several casino properties in the central district of the Macau peninsula on Monday. While all of them appeared to be operating normally, the foot traffic seemed to be lower than what is usual for a holiday period.

Several brokerages suggest that – following Typhoon Hato – year-on-year growth in August gross gaming revenue (GGR) is likely to be affected by between several hundred basis points and up to 600 basis points, although they stressed the number could go higher depending on the length of disruption.


  • tweet
Related articles
  • Macau gaming demand recovering comfortably: analysts
    Macau gaming demand recovering...

    Apr 20, 2021  

  • Macau VIP GGR up 20pct sequentially in 1Q: govt
    Macau VIP GGR up 20pct...

    Apr 16, 2021  

More news
  • Macau govt, analysts tip May Day bounty at casino resorts
    Macau govt, analysts tip May Day bounty...

    Apr 20, 2021  

  • Paradise Ent says deployment of own slots hit by pandemic
    Paradise Ent says deployment of own...

    Apr 20, 2021  


Latest News

Macau govt, analysts tip May Day bounty at casino resorts

Macau govt, analysts tip May Day bounty at casino resorts

Apr 20, 2021  

The average nightly occupancy rate for Macau hotels – including properties in casino resorts – could reach “70 percent to 80 percent” during the upcoming Labour Day break in May,...
Read More
Paradise Ent says deployment of own slots hit by pandemic

Paradise Ent says deployment of own slots hit by pandemic

Apr 20, 2021  

Belle Corp 2020 gaming revenue from CoD Manila dips 79pct

Belle Corp 2020 gaming revenue from CoD Manila dips 79pct

Apr 20, 2021  

Japan casino draft rules strict, but evolving: experts

Japan casino draft rules strict, but evolving: experts

Apr 20, 2021  

Sign up to our FREE Newsletter

UB8V5.qr.16(Click here for more)

Pick of the Day


US$4.3 billion

Budget for Genting Bhd's Resorts World Las Vegas, to open June 24



Most Popular

  • Macau 2021 GGR could be half of pre- Covid-19 levels: FitchMacau 2021 GGR could be half of pre- Covid-19 levels: Fitch April 15, 2021
  • NUSTAR complex in Cebu slated to open 2022: UHRINUSTAR complex in Cebu slated to open 2022: UHRI April 16, 2021
  • Macau VIP GGR up 20pct sequentially in 1Q: govtMacau VIP GGR up 20pct sequentially in 1Q: govt April 16, 2021
  • Macau may tie GBA backing to gaming tender: law expertsMacau may tie GBA backing to gaming tender: law experts April 16, 2021
  • Talks on NagaWorld lay-offs amid pandemic: sourceTalks on NagaWorld lay-offs amid pandemic: source April 19, 2021
Copyright 2014-2021 TEAM Publishing and Consultancy Ltd / All rights reserved
  • Code of Ethics
  • Privacy Policy
  • Useful Links
  • Contact Us