Macau’s Louis XIII places largest ever Rolls-Royce order

Sep 17, 2014 Newsdesk Latest News, Macau, Top of the deck  

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Louis XIII Holdings Ltd, led by Hong Kong entrepreneur Stephen Hung (pictured, second from left), has purchased the largest Rolls-Royce Phantom fleet in the world, announced Roll-Royce Motor Cars Ltd, the ultra-luxury unit of BMW AG.

The fleet of 30 extended-wheelbase Phantoms will serve the company’s Louis XIII boutique casino hotel on the Cotai-Coloane border, Macau. The property is scheduled to open in the first half of 2016, when the vehicles will also be delivered.

The fleet was bought for an aggregate consideration of US$20 million, Louis XIII said in a filing. “The company believes that the customised Rolls Royce Phantoms are the best fit with the standard of luxury the company is targeting for its hotel in Macau,” it added.

“This transaction represents the world’s single largest order of Rolls-Royces ever,” Roll-Royce Motor Cars said in a press release. “Two of the fleet will be the most expensive Rolls-Royce Phantoms ever commissioned,” the carmaker pointed out, adding they will feature external and internal gold-plated “accents”.

The deal was formalised on September 16 at a signing ceremony (pictured) at the Rolls‑Royce headquarters in West Sussex, England.

Each of the 30 Rolls-Royces ordered by Louis XIII “has been extensively customised”, Roll-Royce Motor Cars added.

The carmaker has also helped to design the parking and driveways to house the fleet at Louis XIII and will train Louis XIII’s chauffeurs from Macau in the appropriate driving and handling of the large-sized vehicles.

Louis XIII casino hotel will offer approximately 171 duplex suites, with an average size of 2,000 square feet (186 sq metres), and 29 villas, including a “royal villa” of over 20,000 square feet, the company has previously said.

The complex will house a by-invitation-only “Atelier”, where clients “will have the opportunity to view and purchase in complete privacy couture, bespoke and limited-edition products” from some of the most prestigious luxury brands, Louis XIII said in its 2013 annual report.

The property will also include a 38-seat L’Ambroisie restaurant. L’Ambroisie in Paris has held three Michelin stars since 1988.

The most important component of the Louis XIII resort offer not yet announced is which of Macau’s gaming operators will partner with Louis XIII for the casino. The firm has yet to disclose any public information on the matter.

Industry insiders forecast Louis XIII will position itself as a casino services firm, operating under the gaming licence of one of the city’s six gaming operators – a similar business model to that used by Hong Kong-listed Macau Legend Development Ltd or Emperor Entertainment Hotel Ltd, among other companies.

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