Sands China launches ‘The Macao Showcase’ in Singapore

Sands China has launched ‘The Macao Showcase’ at sister property, Marina Bay Sands, in Singapore. Singapore is the launchpad for the initiative which will continue in South Korea, the US, and other destinations. The showcase is geared towards economic revival and promoting MICE and leisure travel. The Singapore event ran from June 7-9, 2023, and was the first major event organised by Sands China in an overseas market after the pandemic.

There were 208 MICE events in the first quarter of 2023 with nearly 200,000 attendees, according to the Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute (IPIM). Starting this month, a new deal has been forged within the Hengqin Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Co-operation Zone, expanding the interconnection between Macao and Hengqin. This will combine the exhibition advantages and tourism resources of the two places, and promote more activities between Macao and Hengqin for multi-venue events. Multi-venue events will also be replicated and implemented in other cities in the Greater Bay Area, such as Shenzhen, Guangzhou and Hong Kong.

IPIM will jointly establish an Exhibition Bidding Support Working Group with the industry, venue operators, and integrated resort and leisure companies this year. They will combine the characteristics and customer networks of each party, and, with the help of industry organisations, jointly attract and bid for international or regional themed exhibition activities to be held in Macao.

Among senior officials at the opening ceremony were Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes, director of the Macao Government Tourism Office; Vincent U, president of IPIM; Dr Wilfred Wong, president of Sands China; and Grant Chum, COO and executive director of Sands China.

Said Wong: “We hope this event, the first of many, helps increase Macao’s profile as an international leisure and MICE destination, thereby attracting more international visitors and extending their length of stay – in support of the Macao government’s policies and efforts to diversify visitor source markets, fuel tourism, and spur economic revitalisation.”

Grant Chum said that The Macao Showcase would introduce the Sands Lifestyle+ campaign which not only promotes what the integrated resorts have to offer, but also what Macao as a city has to offer – its world heritage sites, tourism hotspots, special events, and more. The campaign aimed to give destination insights to potential visitors, helping them discover and learn about Macao as an “exciting, culturally unique destination.”

Highlights of The Macao Showcase:

· An exhibition featuring Gastronomy, Fashion, Arts & Culture, and Wellness zones. Famous landmarks such as the Ruins of St. Paul’s, Travessa da Paixao were replicated. Symbolic visuals included the city’s signature cobblestone streets, pedicabs and park benches, street foods and iconic bites from local SMEs.

· Cocktails made with handcrafted gin from Macao’s own Owl Man Distillery were served.

· A lively bazaar featured Made-in-Macao wellness products such as kombucha, skincare and healing gemstones.

· An invitation-only gala dinner, representing Sands China’s signature culinary excellence was crafted by Sands China’s celebrity master chefs.

· A MICE & Luxury Forum was held on the second day starting with a wellness breakfast at Heliconia Ballroom. A line-up of international thought leaders and MICE specialists discussed topics in five themed sessions moderated by Northstar Travel Group’s executive VP/group publisher, David Blansfield, and Forbes Travel Guide CEO, Hermann Elger.

· The forum was live-streamed to The Londoner Macao’s Smart Stage, a hybrid MICE broadcast space, allowing Macao’s college students and MICE association members to participate.