Dream Property Opens on Cotai Strip

Monday, June 1st, 2009

As Macau's fast filling skyline was lit up with high tech pyrotechnics, 40,000 guests laid down the first chips at Macau's new US$2.4 billion "must experience destination", City of Dreams.

This integrated entertainment resort is the brainchild of Melco Crown Entertainment Group, a joint venture between Australian James Packer (son of media mogul, the late Kerry Packer), and Lawrence Ho (son of Asian casino tycoon Stanley Ho).

The stunning casino was designed with a contemporary water theme in mind; water being represented in Chinese folklore as a symbol of luck and the flow of fortune.

The property includes three hotel towers which can house a total of 1400 guests, almost 40,000 m. sq. of gaming floor with 516 gaming tables and approximately 26,000 m. sq. of retail space with another 27,000 m. sq. planned by the end of construction.

The casino certainly did not scrimp on non-gaming entertainment either with the iconic dome shaped theatre, aptly named the bubble, a 2000 seat theatre designed specifically for the water-based Dragone show and approximately 25 restaurants, bars and lounges with themes ranging from Asian noodle bars through to Western steak and seafood restaurants.

Although the resort is located directly across the street from Asia's largest casino The Venetian Macau, and is the only the second casino to be constructed on the reclaimed land of Macau's Cotai Strip, Co-Director Lawrence Ho is optimistic about the future of Cotai Strip gaming.

"What is good for us... is good for our competitors and is good for Macau" he said. "City of Dreams is the ultimate destination for urban entertainment in Macau...we have put great emphasis on recruiting our Dream Team of employees..."

Macau, only a 40 min boat ride from Hong Kong and within 5 hours by plane from over 2 billion people, saw 22.9 million visitors in 2008.

As the people flock in, so do the dollars. Macau now generates more gaming revenue than Las Vegas and Atlantic City (both USA) combined, making it the largest gaming revenue generating region on the planet.

Photos courtesy of City of Dreams