Interview by Yuki Lei
The “legendary” Grande Hotel Macau, located on Avenida de Almeida Ribeiro in the Inner Harbour area, has a soft opening today after its complete renovation, with 96 guestrooms currently being available, six representatives of Macau-based Casa Hotel Management Limited told The Macau Post Daily yesterday in the lobby before a guided tour of the hotel.
Respected Macau historian Monsignor Manuel Teixeira (1912-2003) told Harald Brüning, who was then the local correspondent of the Hong Kong Standard and United Press International (UPI) in the 1990s that there were two “legendary” hotels on Avenida de Almeida Ribeiro – Grande and Central (which, incidentally, is also nearing its renovation).
The representatives noted that the renovation project is meanwhile continuing on the property’s first and second floors and that initially only 96 guestrooms are open to its guests.
According to the representatives, the nine-storey property will finally comprise 124 guestrooms, with 16 guestrooms on each floor.
In addition to single rooms and double rooms, the revamped hotel is characterised by family rooms, according to one of the representatives, who said: “Family rooms are one of our characteristics, which can accommodate a family of three to four……of course, groups of friends are also welcome”.
The property used to include a restaurant, ballroom and bar in the past, which, however, according to the representatives, were not retained in the renovation project.
One of the representatives said: “We hope to focus on providing guestroom services as they are what we are familiar with.”
The refurbished hotel is now owned by Casa Hotel Management Limited, which acquired the nine-storey property in 2021. Casa Hotel Management Limited is a local hotel brand comprising nine hotels including the Grande Hotel Macau, and its first property opened in 2018.
According to the representatives, the two-star boutique hotel offers spectacular city views such as the waterfront and old neighbourhoods, with their room rates being much lower than those of the five-star resort hotels in Cotai. Therefore it is suitable for a specific segment of guests, such as backpackers and families who want to feel the “taste” of local neighbourhoods.
“Our guests are not only able to experience local neighbourhoods such as San Ma Lou (“New Street” – the Cantonese name of Avenida de Almeida Ribeiro, Macau’s main thoroughfare) near their guestrooms, but will also be able to see the local landmarks such as Macau Tower,” one of the representatives said, adding that at least three different spectacular views are available.
The Grande Hotel Macau, built in 1937, has been a landmark of Macau since it first opened in 1941 when the building was owned by Bank of Canton Chairman Huo Baocai and his cousin Wu Tingwei.
After its closing in the mid-1990s, the high-rise hotel was acquired by Hong Kong-based International Weng Fu Investment Company Limited in 2014 and 2015 with the renovation project starting in 2017.
The representatives stressed that the façade of the building, which has an over 80-year history, has been retained, adding that the renovation project has not only retained the original characteristics of the property but also injected different Portuguese-speaking countries’ characteristics, revitalising the historic heritage while conserving it.
One of the representatives said: “Due to the need to preserve the original appearance of the property, the project has been more difficult and challenging than demolishing and rebuilding the hotel.”
Along with its opening, the representatives said they expected the landmark hotel to revitalise San Ma Lou district, rekindling business opportunities there.
The representatives told The Macau Post Daily that reservations for guestrooms were currently available via travel agencies or online, adding that for yesterday the guestrooms were almost fully booked.
Casa Hotel Management Limited representatives pose after yesterday’s interview with The Macau Post Daily at the Grande Hotel Macau on San Ma Lou. The renovated hotel reopens today. – Photo: Yuki Lei
Photos: Yuki Lei and Casa Hotel Management Limited
