Just noted some prestigious news showered down upon Macau’s beloved resort, Wynn Macau. For those of you planning to visit Macau, this hotel is a top choice. I’ve spent a fair few nights (nay, early mornings) at après parties in the magnificent suites overlooking either Wynn’s fountain or the harbour. Nothing like a 4 a.m. bottle of bubbly in exquisite luxury.
I digress. Condé Nast Publications, the publishing house responsible for pretty much every magazine you’d want to read, just released their Concierge.com/TravelerHot List for 2007. Wynn Macau won big. The entire resort places on the Hot Hotel List. Il Teatro, the famed Italian restaurant overlooking the fountain show, places for restaurants. And The Spa places for, well, best spas (my colleague is updating our spa directory and our tech team is designing search functions, so you’ll soon find all the spa info you require, including The Spa at Wynn Macau, on our website.).
Crown Macau opened by James Packer and Lawrence Ho of the Melco - PBL Group
In my last post, I griped about not being able to attend the Crown Macau grand opening. Well my fortunes changed by the end of the week. My press pass was finally approved and thus I relay to you the events of Saturday night. I was in Hong Kong in the arvo, so it was a mad dash to get back Macau side. I raced from the ferry terminal across the bridge to Taipa only to be met by throngs of punters eager to rush through the doors to lay down the almighty (HK) dollar. For the life of me, I couldn’t find where I was to obtain the press pass. A maze of gridiron fencing corralled the thrill seekers on the sidewalks. I caught some of James Packer’s (Australia’s richest person) and Lawrence Ho’s (son of Dr. Stanley Ho) opening presentation replete with the requisite Chinese lion dance. Realizing I was going to miss the whole shebang, I further pursued finding the press pass. I was finally brought before a British gentleman by the name of Simeon. I’m going to sing a little praise here. It was a frantic scene in front of the Crown Macau during the opening. I can understand that my request for my press pass was not too high on anyone’s list of things to do. However, this overly competent senior VP from Ketchum PR took it all in stride. Despite everything else he was dealing with, he hand delivered my pass at the Regency Hotel and escorted me to the media area. (Top work. If you need high-level PR work, contact Simeon at Ketchum PR. Cheers.)
While in the Regency Hotel waiting for my press pass, I saw Dr. Stanley Ho for the first time. He strolled right past me with an entourage of about a dozen bodyguards. Dr. Ho’s corsage was about the size of my family garden, but with more expensive flowers. I also think that Bill Murray walked through the lobby too, though I’ll need someone to confirm that.
Now the event… Bit of a debacle. So the opening ceremony was held in a giant tent about 500 meters from the Crown Macau. It was erected on swampy reclaimed land. Apparently it was near-impossible to find one’s table at the outset of the evening and there was no air conditioning as I can attest. Given the warm, humid temperature the inner confines of the dastardly tent can be likened to a reptilian solarium. By the time I entered the tent with my press pass, near-on a quarter of the guests had left due to the oppressive conditions. I knew some proper invitees and joined them at one of the many free seats for the show. The show was vaudevillian mastery: Acrobatics and bewildering stunts choreographed to an impressive score. Some highlights of the Dragone performance include the breakdancing body contortionist’s solo act in the cage, Ghostbusters-esque Stay Puft Marshmallow Men, and the leaping, flipping, rolling crew of gymnasts. I was also thoroughly wowed by the artificial waterfall that controlled the location, quantity, and timing of the “released” water to display images and words. The waterfall literally rained women, umbrellas, the words Crown Macau, and the logo.
The private after party was the capstone to an impressive event. It seemed the after party was the only aspect that went off without a hitch. The outdoor terrace on the 25th floor overlooks the stunning Macau skyline. A dessert bar featured more chocolate than any one person should be allowed access. I spent the evening drinking Hennessy cognac and smoking Cuban Cohiba cigars, imaging that I was an actual invitee and not a lowly gatecrasher with a media pass.
New Century Hotel and Regency Hotel Have a New Neighbour
My colleague was invited last night to “test the games”. She ended up raking in the faux-chips, as you can see.
As well, I was on the 29th floor of the building next door last night and there were a bunch of people splashing about in the Crown Macau’s indoor pool, apparently checking chlorine levels and the lifeguards’ mouth-to-mouth techniques.
The Crown Macau kick-off party is meant to be on Saturday and the list of celebrities to attend is long. All of my efforts to get an invitation, including a lowly press pass, have come to naught. My megalomania is seriously being challenged and I rue the fact that I am not immensely more wealthy, famous, and powerful.
We’re Giving Stuff Away in a Shameless Act of Self-Promotion
So last month the entire management team of my company marched into my office…er…cubicle and announced that the company was going to start a blog and I was going to write it.Apparently I’m “just the type to relate to energetic, web-savvy, independent-travelers”.
Me: “Sir, what type of blog do you want?”
Senior Executive #1: “Listen son, I don’t even know what a blog is.But you’re just the type to relate to energetic, web-savvy, independent-travelers.We want you to get out there and connect with your people.”
Me: Blank look masking disbelief and thinking “My people?! Who is this guy?”
Senior Executive #2: “Reports show that blogs are a real force right now.We’ve got to jump on that train.We don’t care what you say, as long as people like it and come storming back for more.”
Me: “Excuse me, sir, just let me make sure I understand you.I can write anything?”
Senior Executive #2: “Take the reins jockey!You’re our blog-meister!Get the specs from Marketing.We launch in a week.”
Me: “Yes, sir.” Me thinking… “Jockey! Blog-meister!”Hahaha.
Anyway, the best job perk is I can now cruise the web and view blogs without having to hover the cursor above the minimize screen button should anyone barge into my wee cubicle.
So as blog-meister, I’ve been charged with creating a popular blog about Macau.I guess that’ll more or less come down to whether there’s any interest in the drivel that spews forth from the keyboard.Luckily there is a lot going on in Macau and defo worth checking out if you’re in the region, so I should have a pretty robust pool of topics about which I can ply my new trade (see previous posts).To lend a helping hand, they’ve given me a few resources as well; namely a load of free hotel stays that I can give away.
I’m being judged on how web traffic increases over the next months, so I’m going to start a few weekly contests to award the hotel stays.The 2 contests are…
1)Top-Dog Blog Contest
The blog that sends my blog the most click-throughs every two week period gets a free 2-night hotel stay in Macau.All my blog partners are also put into a random lucky draw contest and every other week (alternating with the click-through prize) a winner is awarded a free hotel stay in Macau.So, you have a chance to win every week.
2)King of Fortune Lucky Draw
I want to give your readers and other random visitors the chance to win something too; so a free, two-night hotel stay in Macau will be given away every two weeks for Average Joe too.
Last night I paid a visit to Grand Lisboa’s newest show: Rockza. After listening to a week of water cooler banter – “coiffure” this, “feathered-fan” that - it was time I saw Rockza for myself. I dragged our Product Development manager along, as well as two resident bachelors, and paraded the few blocks from the office for the 19:30 showing (there are 6 shows a day). We were graciously hosted by the executive producer and given VIP seats in front of the stage, thereafter falling hopelessly in love every five minutes for the next hour. See for yourself…
(Ms. Hayama Saki, if you read this, it would be my great pleasure to invite you out for dinner.)
Frankly, I was uncertain as to what sort of show to expect. Having been reared on the rather unrefined and tawdry peakaboo performances of the Wild Duck Inn and Marble Arch, whose origins are firmly ensconced in the Wild West saloons of a colonial continent, I was unprepared for the highly artistic erotique display that ensued.
If you’re looking for porn, poles, and ping pong balls then you’ll have to head to Pattaya. If you’re not, rest assured your view won’t be blocked by some ogling punter bellowing, “Oi, get yer kit off, love!” Rockza is a playful show that delightfully celebrates the female form in all of its glory – uncensored and in plain view. The dancers are highly-skilled and stunningly beautiful. The stage and theater are intimate and specially-designed for this show. Finally, in addition to being wildly sensual, as a Westerner, the accompanying music and videos are a crazy cultural excursion into exotic Asian erotica. It’s not like home and so it shouldn’t be. Unless you’re an ultra-conservative or under the tender age of 18, Rockza is a must-see event if you’re coming to Macau. It’s a great beginning to the permanent shows that are in the works for hotels and casinos across Macau. Full stop.
Macau.com is Macau's foremost destination marketing and travel company. The company provides one-stop, online booking for hotel accommodation, airline tickets, ferries, shows, and packaged tours.
Without question, Mahjong is one of the most popular games in Asia.
Now, the World Series of Mahjong is turning the game into a star-studded tournament, with contestants from around the world recently competing in Macau for one million US dollars in prize money.
This year, 302 contestants from 15 countries battled it out for the title of "World Mahjong Champion", with the 1st place winner taking home a cool 500,000 US dollars.
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