Sudipta Dev – Mumbai
Sheraton Grand Macao Hotel and St Regis Macao have a strong focus on the Indian market, targeting both business and leisure travellers. “We have seen some great growth from the Indian MICE market. The MICE market from India makes up about 8 per cent of our MICE business, majority of which goes to Sheraton,” said Daniella Tonetto, GM of sales & marketing, St Regis Macao and Sheraton Grand Macao Hotel, Cotai Central. Pointing out that last year Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO) reported about 170,000 inbound Indian travellers into Macao, which is about 1 per cent increase from the year before, Tonetto added, “If we do our own internal forecasts for both hotels we can see a spike in Indian travellers.”
Within the Sands Cotai Central in Macao the properties include – Sheraton, Holiday Inn, Conrad and St Regis; The Venetian across the road and the recently opened The Parisian. “St Regis opened last December and completed Sands Cotai Central, it is the fourth tower within the complex and offers a more discreet, personalised luxury experience, within the Sands Cotai Central,” mentioned Tonetto, reminding that they will continue to remain committed to the Indian market. Both properties are connected on the ground level (podium) and also on the meeting floor (Level 5). “You can be staying at St Regis and if you want a bigger ballroom space, you have an easy connection to Sheraton meeting space, and vice versa,” she informed.
Apart from MICE, Macao witnesses from India family travellers and multi-generational travellers. Tonetto believes that now that all the integrated resorts are complete, the properties will see an increased length of stay, because there are a lot of activities in Macao.
The new facilities with family experiences were promoted at a recent roadshow in Mumbai. Sheraton Grand has a new theatre which will house The Monkey King. “The 1600 seat theatre will have daily performances. It will be a permanent show,” said Tonetto. There is also a new gaming centre in Sands Cotai Central targeted at the teenage market, called Planet J. The Kungfu Panda Academy package is an attractive option for guests with children till February 2017.