Recently, I was privileged enough to be invited to join a media group from Malaysia to attend in the gala opening of the Sheraton Macao. It’s my first trip to Macau, so of course I was excited like hell! Even though I was all bleary-eyed trooping down the long walkway of LCCT to board our 6.30am direct flight to Macau, the idea of being included in our 15-strong only Malaysian media group was already so thrilling. We were all going to be part of the gala celebration for the opening of Sheraton Macao Hotel, Cotai Central – the largest hotel to open worldwide in 2012. At nearly 4,000 rooms, it is the largest hotel in Starwood’s global portfolio and the biggest hotel to open in Macau!
From the Macau Airport, we took the free bus shuttle that ferried us straight to Sands Cotai Central, Macau’s most exciting fully integrated resort strip. As the Sheraton Macao was not opened yet on the day of our arrival, we were deposited at the main entrance of The Conrad (right beside the Sheraton Macao) and whisked through the shopping mall right up to the Media Centre of the Sheraton Macao. There we were given our precious & powerful media tags which we were told to wear at all times as only that tag would allow us access to the hotel where members of the public were barred from. Ahhh… the power of the media tag!
Consisting of two sleek towers overlooking the dazzling Cotai Strip® development, the hotel is home to the world’s largest Sheraton Club Lounge, a main ballroom the size of more than 11 basketball courts, more than 160,000 square feet of meeting space, three signature restaurants, and three outdoor pools with poolside cafes. The opening coincides with the 75th anniversary of the Sheraton brand and widens Starwood’s lead in Asia Pacific, where it is the largest operator of four and five star hotels and on track to reach more than 320 hotels by 2014. What a feat!
Sheraton Sweet SleeperTM Bed, designed to improve the circulation for a great night’s sleep
To say that the Sheraton Macao is huge is an understatement. Located right in the center of glittering Cotai, Asia’s very own Las Vegas, Sheraton Macao Hotel, Cotai Central is the largest hotel in Macau as well as the largest Sheraton in the world. Spread over two towers, Sky (we were housed in the Sky Tower) and Earth, distinctive design and impressive functionality characterize the 3,896 stylish, warm and welcoming guestrooms and suites, many with views of buzzing Cotai. The Sky Tower has a total of 1,829 rooms, including most of the hotel’s premium rooms, the majority of Suites, all Family Suites, Sheraton Club rooms and Club Lounge. Suites are positioned on floors 29 through 39 and offer splendid views. I was very comfortable in my room on the 24th floor!
We were taken on a tour of the various types of rooms available in the hotel. I would say that anything above the Deluxe Room category should not be termed a “room” – they look like luxury condo units! From Suite category upwards, there are separate rooms for media/karaoke, luxe dining and living areas and even a kitchenette! Of course, the Ambassador Suites (1,787 sq ft) and the ultimate Presidential Suite (averagely 2,239 sq ft) are super luxurious … it’s like stepping into 2 or 3-bedroom prime condo units! There’s even a private massage room, mah-jong table and OSIM foot massager in the Presidential Suites (there are 8 of these in the Sky Tower!) and the spacious gorgeous bathrooms with huge bathtubs in the centre are the epitome of luxury, I kid you not!
The karaoke/media room
Your own private massage room in the suite!
The mahjong table
The oval-shaped main reception with its dome-like ceiling is truly impressive. I’ve never seen any hotel reception this size. Of course during the pre-opening days, the place was pretty deserted but on the day I checked out, I was awed by the tightly-packed crowd queuing up to check in! The hotel has some spanking new buggies to transport guests across its vast halls, too. Walking from our lift lobbies to the reception to the restaurants was a great workout for us!
Sheraton Macao Hotel lobby gears up with the latest technology and facilities to ensure seamless and hassle-free check-in and check-out services for groups of any size in one minute or less.
Spanking new buggy
Polynesian-themed gaming area – don’t you just love that colorful ceiling?
The fitness centre in the Sheraton Macao is not merely a gym. Known as the “Sheraton Fitness”, Sheraton has partnered with Core Performance® powered by Athletes’ Performance, the premier and preferred place for elite athletes to train. Situated on the 4th floor next to Jaya Pool, Sheraton Fitness incorporates an expansive aerobics room and fully equipped gym, both complimentary to hotel guests. The unique Sheraton Fitness® Programmed by Core Performance™ is a holistic program rooted in four fundamentals: mindset, nutrition, movement and recovery. Sheraton Fitness also offers exercise tools, training programs, and guidance from the fitness instructors to support the health and fitness goals of all guests.
The Sheraton Macao Hotel has the largest Sheraton Club in the world, featuring 570 guest rooms and suites and a Club Lounge that seats 274. Sheraton Club guests enjoy exclusive access to this relaxing and upscale Lounge. Club Lounge offers complimentary full buffet breakfast (Monday through Friday 7am-10:30am; Saturday and Sunday 7am-11am), all-day snacks, afternoon hors d’oeuvres and a variety of beverage options from 6pm-9pm daily, as well as complimentary office supplies and Wi-Fi.
The Sheraton Macao houses the Shine Spa for Sheraton, the largest Shine Spa in Asia Pacific. Located on the third floor of the hotel, it spans 15 treatment rooms with five couples rooms and a beauty zone and hair salon. Fusing Eastern and Western traditions and inspired by the Chinese Zodiac and the five elements of Feng Shui— metal, wood, water, fire and earth—the extensive spa menu pampers the mind, body and spirit with signature treatments.
Sala pool is the perfect day and night destination for the entire family. A lively outdoor setting, Sala pool offers private cabanas, pool toys, and a delicious menu of Latin favorites for the entire family.
The Media Welcome Reception was held at the Palms Lounge, a Pacific-themed sanctuary flooded with natural light and lush tropical plants.
Mr Hoyt H. Harper II, Global Brand Leader, Sheraton Hotels & Resorts welcoming the media at the Media Reception
Mr Josef Dolp, Managing Director, Sheraton Macao Hotel, Cotai Central
The “very happening” Malaysian media led by Ms Cindy Yoong, Director of Marketing Communications, Malaysia Marketing Team
There was a press conference for the more-than-500 media (from all over the world) on the morning of the Grand Opening. Held at one section of the Kashgar Ballroom, it was an impressive affair. The press conference gave the media a chance to ask questions of key executives in attendance, including Las Vegas Sands Corp. and Sands China Ltd. Chairman Sheldon G. Adelson and Starwood Hotels & Resorts President and Chief Executive Officer Frits van Paasschen.
The papparazzi at the Press Conference!
In his opening remarks to the gathered media before the Q&A session, Sands China Ltd. President and Chief Executive Officer Edward Tracy said, “It’s been an honour for our team to lead Sands China Ltd. as we all witness the realisation of Mr. Adelson’s vision of a fully integrated resort city on the Cotai Strip development. We’ve come a long way from that muddy swampland that Mr. Adelson first surveyed. And there were plenty along the way who said it couldn’t be done. But here we are today, marking yet another grand achievement – the opening of the second phase of Sands Cotai Central, featuring Sheraton Macao Hotel – the largest Starwood property in the world, and Macao’s largest hotel.”
VIPs from Starwood, Las Vegas Sands Corp and Sands China Ltd at the press conference
Mr. van Paasschen also addressed the media, saying, “We like to think of Sheraton as the world’s gathering place. Sheraton is the leading hotel brand in this region and an ideal fit for this spectacular new hotel in Macao. And what a great combination: Starwood’s largest brand in the world’s fastest growing hotel market.”
At the main entrance to the Sheraton Macao, rows of lion heads and trays of glorious-looking roast pigs lined the pavement, all ready for the traditional opening ceremony, the Chinese way. I counted 12 roast pigs, I think.
The local community was also involved in the day’s festivities, with a special kowhaiwhai pattern mural painting and puzzle-piecing event on Level 3 of Shoppes Cotai Central. A traditional art form of the indigenous Maori of New Zealand, the beautiful kowhaiwhai pattern – called “kori” and meaning “to flourish” – was painted and assembled as a mural in collaboration with members of the Fuhong Society of Macau, a non-profit organization providing occupational skills training and employment services to the mentally challenged. Symbolising togetherness, the event was also attended by Dr. Miriam Adelson, who helped place the final piece of the pattern, along with Qian Jin, President of Greater China, Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide, Inc.
Red carpet arrivals at the evening’s ceremonial opening of Sheraton Macao included Chief Executive of Macao Special Administrative Region Chui Sai On, government officials, company executives from Sands and Sheraton, international film star Zhang Ziyi, and the stars of the hit reality TV show The Voice of China.
At the evening’s main ceremonial event, Maori Haka and Tahitian dancers performed at Sheraton Macao’s lantern-lit Jaya pool deck, followed by the seating of the attending dignitaries. A large goddess-accompanied heliosphere then delivered a ceremonial flame to a waiting dancer on the stage.
After passing the flame to the dignitaries gathered on stage, a line was ignited, carrying the flame up to light fiery logos of Sands Cotai Central and Sheraton, on the facade of Sheraton Macao’s Sky tower – setting off a huge, choreographed pyrotechnic display that included fireworks (Cotai’s biggest fireworks show ever!) illuminating all the Sands China properties of the Cotai Strip development: Sands Cotai Central, The Venetian® Macao and The Plaza™ Macao. Seven structures in total were lit by the display, first in sequence, and then altogether in unison for the spectacular grand finale.
Thereafter, we were all invited to the Poolside After Party where champagne flowed all night through. We stayed till the bubblies stopped and the music ended – the cool breezy night was just perfect to party!
Have you ever wondered about the mind-boggling logistics and super-extensive work involved in getting ready a gigantic world-class hotel to open? Well, here’re some interesting facts…
The Making of the World’s Largest Sheraton
The construction of Sheraton Macao Hotel, Cotai Central helped boost the Macau economy and provided locals with a wide range of career opportunities. The hotel team hosted a number of job fairs that yielded more than 10,000 job applications, and traveled nearly 10,000 miles to interview 5,000 candidates. As part of the on-the-job training for its 1,500 associates, the hotel conducted a massive, two-week simulation where 10,000 guests arrived to check in and out of 5,000 rooms. The hotel’s uniquely international hotel staff includes speakers of 19 languages including Mandarin, Cantonese, English, German, French, Italian, Vietnamese, Thai, Taiwanese, Japanese, Korean, Spanish, Portuguese, Dutch, Swedish, Russian, Indonesian and various Chinese dialects.
An enormous amount of planning and preparation was required to create the world’s largest Sheraton. To light its 3,896 guest rooms, the Sheraton Macao Hotel, Cotai Central has purchased and installed 90,796 light bulbs – more than 4.5 times the total number of light bulbs to light the Eiffel Tower. Staff will fold and place 35,217 plush towels in the guest bathrooms, fluff 15,652 pillows, and fold 9,372 bed sheets with perfect hospital corners. The hotel will equip its nearly 4,000 guest rooms with 6,256 Sweet Sleeper beds.
The hotel’s second tower (Sheraton Earth Tower) opens early next year, and will offer an additional 2,067 rooms, as well as two more outdoor pools, one offering spectacular views of the Cotai Strip. I wonder if we will get invited for this too? 😉
And, that’s a wrap on the gala opening of the Sheraton Macao – a most memorable series of events in my first-ever trip to Macau. I shall be posting about the dining experiences in the Sheraton Macao separately soon.
A big THANK YOU to Sheraton Macao for this invitation and to the tireless Ms Cindy Yoong for taking such good care of us during this unforgettable trip!
Sheraton Macao Hotel
Cotai Central
Cotai Strip
Taipa
Macau SAR
P.R. China
Tel: ++853 2880 2000
Fax: ++853 2880 2111
website: sheraton.com/macao