The Macau Post Daily asked Area Vice President – Macau Operations for Artyzen Hospitality Group Rutger Verschuren yesterday about his expectations regarding the hotel room occupancy rate during this month’s holiday period, he predicted that “we will see an uptick in occupancy later this month, I’m quite confident”.
Verschuren, who is also the vice-chairman of the Macau Hotel Association, made the remarks after a Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony at Artyzen Grand Lapa Macau yesterday evening, which was accompanied by a performance from the Choir of The International School of Macao (TIS).
Verschuren added he had heard that mainland tourists may not be ready to travel overseas and instead would travel domestically, which could include some who will apply for a travel permit to come to Macau or choose to travel within the mainland. “Combined with the holidays and the change in policies, something is moving and it is moving in the right direction,” the veteran hotelier said.
He also commented that Macau’s current five-day quarantine is a “step towards more corporate and family travel”, which could be further increased if the quarantine would be reduced to three days for visitors coming from Hong Kong and overseas.
But this may not increase the number of tourists coming to Macau, he said, adding that “[only a] very small percentage of tourists will come if they have to do any kind of quarantine here, even one day is still upsetting given that the average length [of stay] in Macau is not long”.
He added that overseas travellers such as those from Malaysia, South Korea, Japan and Thailand typically stay for two or three nights in Macau, with a quarantine period that lasts for three days, for example, doubling their holiday stay. “So, it will not make sense”, but was quick to add that it may all depend on how Macau perceives COVID-19, such as whether or not it is still regarded as a threat.
He stressed he hoped that the government would strongly push the elderly to get vaccinated against COVID-19, considering that there is a relatively low vaccination rate among the elderly population in Macau which, he said, worries him, adding that if Macau wants to be “strong and ready to be open for business”, ensuring that everyone completes their vaccination is important so that Macau would be better prepared to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic.
Meanwhile, Artyzen Grand Lapa will be holding a grand gala dinner at its newly renovated Chinnery ballroom on New Year’s Eve, which will be followed by a DJ countdown party at its lobby, according to a statement by the hotel yesterday.
Rutger Verschuren poses in front of Artyzen Grand Lapa Macau’s Christmas tree after yesterday’s Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony at one of Macau’s longest-established luxury hotels. – Photo: Rui Pastorin
