The fourth edition of Macau’s largest retail event, the Sands Shopping Carnival, is slated to take place from July 20-23, with Sands China President Wilfred Wong Ying-wai telling reporters during a press conference about the event yesterday at The Londoner Macao he hopes that it will welcome more visitors this year than previously.
The carnival, which provides a free business platform for local small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and Sands retailers, received over 310,000 visits over the past three years. Wong noted that with Macau reopening, travellers from Hong Kong and overseas can visit the city once again, adding that he expects to achieve a 20 percent increase in the number of visitors this time.
Moreover, Wong told reporters that his company performed well in the first quarter compared to the COVID-19 pandemic period. “But if you compare [the situation] to 2019, we are gradually moving in that direction, but [we are] not there yet, especially with no junket operations, the rolling volume has come down quite significantly”, Wong said.
He also pointed out that the company is “recovering quite well” on the premium mass and mass levels.
When reporters asked if the company’s performance can again achieve pre-pandemic levels without junket operations, Wong noted that it “would be a real challenge” as it used to be around 50 percent of the total gross gaming revenue. “But the yield per customer is better now because on the rolling side, on the junket side, the concessionaire gets less”, he added.
Wong also spoke about Sands China’s strategy to attract foreign tourists, noting that the company is set to hold many promotions overseas and that its tour promoters will join the overseas promotions to introduce the company’s facilities.
“We are going to Singapore to do a promotion campaign in early June and we are organising our overseas offices, expanding them so that they can recruit our customers from Southeast Asia, Japan, [South] Korea”, Wong said, adding that the company will also use private jets to fly high rollers to Macau.
Meanwhile, Wong also commented that most of Sands’ properties hotel rooms were open during the May Day holiday period, operating at around 90 percent or around 11,000 out of its 12,000 rooms.
Free booths open for registration
Interested exhibitors for the upcoming shopping carnival can register for a free booth through https://1ticks.com/event/ssc2023-SME-application until 6 p.m. on May 17.
The event, which will open from noon to 10 p.m. daily during the period, is set to feature over 580 booths across 11 exhibition zones, as well as a raft of side activities and newly added zones.
For enquiries, one can call 2855 5000 or email info@macexpo.com.mo.
Sands China President Wilfred Wong Ying-wai delivers a speech during yesterday’s press conference at The Londoner Macao. – Photo: Rui Pastorin
