The Asian IR Summit opened yesterday at the Galaxy International Convention Centre (GICC) in Cotai, where topics on the integrated resort (IR) and hospitality industry were discussed and presented by speakers.
The ongoing summit is on until tomorrow. It is part of the one-stop business platform connecting key industry players, Asian IR Expo, which is co-located with the concurrent G2E Asia, an international gaming trade show and conference for the Asian gaming industry.
Both the expo and trade show will kick off today at The Venetian Macao in Cotai, simultaneously running through Friday and featuring 150 exhibiting companies. They are jointly expected to attract over 10,000 visitors from 80 countries and regions, according to information provided at yesterday’s event.
All events are organised by RX (Reed Exhibitions).
Elaborating on the ongoing summit, Reed Exhibitions Greater China COO Josephine Lee (李雅儀) spoke with reporters on the sidelines of yesterday’s event, noting that it highlights “a lot of new insights and trends that include how we can help all the IR to build a very exciting destination for travellers”.
Lee said that the event will explore topics to “shape the attractiveness” of integrated resorts including sport, entertainment and art, along with new technology and contents, as well as discuss what is happening in the industry globally.
Lee also noted that this year’s expo is three times bigger than last year’s, while the summit this time runs for one day longer at three days. Industry trends will continue to be highlighted throughout its run, while business matching and networking activities are also to be held during the period.
Meanwhile, yesterday’s summit kicked off with a keynote address by Macau Government Tourism Office (MGTO) Director Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes, in which she pointed out that hotel occupancy was at an average of 90 percent in the first quarter of the year and was “basically back” to pre-pandemic 2019 levels. The veteran tourism chief also remarked that during the mainland’s five-day May Day holiday period (May 1 to May 5), one of those days saw close to 100 percent average guestroom occupancy.
Senna Fernandes also noted that the industry is showing MGTO that there is a need for budget accommodation, adding that MGTO is looking for potential investors. She added that the relevant regulations have been relaxed for new categories of accommodation such as capsule hotels and youth hostels. “The thing right now is to try to get investors interested to invest in those kinds of properties”.
Senna Fernandes also noted that Macau had 47,000 available hotel rooms in the first quarter, slightly fewer than before as one of the integrated resorts converted some of their rooms into bigger rooms. The seasoned tourism chief noted that MGTO is hoping to see more guestrooms very soon with new hotels currently being constructed.
Macau Government Tourism Office (MGTO) Director Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes delivers her keynote address at yesterday’s Asian IR Summit held at the Galaxy International Convention Centre (GICC) in Cotai.
Reed Exhibitions Greater China COO Josephine Lee (李雅儀) poses after speaking with the media at GICC yesterday afternoon. – Photos: Rui Pastorin
