Total gaming space 550,000 m² | ||
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Address Galaxy Macau™ Resort, Cotai Strip, Macau, China Opening date 15 May 2011; 5 years ago (15 May 2011) Theme World Class, Asian Heart No. of rooms 2,200 (1,500 in Galaxy Hotel, 410 in Hotel Okura Macau and 238 in Banyan Tree Hotel) Signature attractions Artificial beach and wave pool | ||
Galaxy Macau (Chinese: 澳門銀河綜合渡假城) is a resort located on the Cotai Strip, Macau, China. Construction on the Cotai project began in 2002. Its opening was rescheduled several times. Its developer, Galaxy Entertainment Group, announced on 10 March 2011 that the HKD 14.9 billion (USD 1.9 billion) resort would officially open on 15 May 2011. The resort is designed by Gary Goddard.
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First phase
When the Cotai project's first phase opened in 2011, the 550,000 square metres (5,900,000 sq ft) property offered around 2,200 hotel rooms comprising the 1,500-room Galaxy Macau hotel tower complete with casino and entertainment areas, as well as two hotel partners, the Japanese-owned 410-room Hotel Okura and the Singapore-operated Banyan Tree Hotel that will have 254 suites.
In addition, Galaxy Macau will include retail facilities and food and beverage outlets. Its gaming facilities, divided into five areas, will have a capacity for over 600 gaming tables as well as 1,200 slot machines and other electronic gaming machines.
Wave pool and artificial beach
Above the gaming area there is a 52,000 square metres (560,000 sq ft) resort, with gardens, six swimming pools (including a wave pool) and an artificial 2,000 square meters beach with white sand. The grand resort deck offers scheduled all-day water activities.
Fortune Diamond
In Galaxy's lobby, a fountain turns into a roulette wheel before a giant diamond rises out of the top. "It's a metaphor for wishing casino goers eternal luck and prosperity", said designer Jeremy Railton, President of Entertainment Design Corp.
Wishing Crystals
The lobby also houses a series of "crystals" that float above a pool of water. The decorations have motion sensor technology that triggers special visual effects when guests come close. When all the "crystals" are activated, good luck symbols flash from the "crystals" and reflect in the water.
Gold Leaf Cupolas
There are 6 gold-covered cupolas at the top of the two towers of Galaxy Macau. Four of them measure 15 metres (49 ft) high and the other two at 24 metres (79 ft).
Galaxy Laserama
The gold-leaf cupolas of Galaxy Macau feature a laser show system which projects laser beams into the sky every 15 minutes. It is claimed to be the largest laser shows in the world and is visible across Macau.
Banyan Tree Macau
Banyan Tree Macau is the Group’s first property in the former Portuguese enclave. It will be the first in Macau to feature private indoor relaxation pools in all its 246 suites, overlooking the city.
Ten Pool Villas, ranging from 450–950 square metres (4,800–10,200 sq ft), feature both private pools and air-conditioned cabanas with sliding glass doors opening directly onto their own gardens on the 'Beach Resort Deck.'
Renovations in Phase I
The Cotai resort is not completely finished, with its private club and restaurant China Rouge, inspired by 1930’s Shanghai 'still under development'.
Galaxy Macau only takes up one third of the area granted by the government in Cotai.
Phase II
On 26 April 2012, Galaxy Macau announced that JW Marriott and Ritz-Carlton hotels will be added to the Cotai resort. Galaxy's Chief Financial Officer Robert Drake said it will start construction of the two hotels as early as the end of 2013 and begin operations gradually from 2016 through 2018.
According to a presentation released by Galaxy Entertainment, the total investment for Galaxy Phase 2 is estimated to be 16 billion HKD with construction completion scheduled for mid-2015. Phase 2 would consist of 450,000 square metres (4,800,000 sq ft) of new resort space, an additional 3600 hotel rooms and increasing the casino table count by 500.
Next Three Phases
On 9 January 2014, Galaxy Entertainment Group Ltd announced that the Michelin 3 Star 8½ Otto e Mezzo Bombana restaurant will be a feature at Galaxy Macau's under construction Ritz-Carlton hotel.
The next three phases of Galaxy Macau is estimated to cost $70 to $80 billion HKD according to the 21st Century Business Herald reports. These phases would be focused on entertainment, culture and sport rather than gaming and gambling. The next hotel may will be The Intercontinental Macau ( 澳門洲際酒店 ) and The Hilton Hotel Macau (澳門希爾頓酒店).
Finances
Galaxy Macau opened with a 7 percent increase in budget to HKD 16.5 billion in the last quarter of 2011. "The small variance to budget was primarily caused by an increase in construction labour cost and more construction workers associated with our accelerated rollout program, various enhancements to the resort and small changes in scope," said the company. "In just 47 days, Galaxy Macau generated revenue of HKD 2.4 billion and EBITDA of HKD 376 million."
Galaxy Macau is helping to boost Galaxy Entertainment Group’s gross gaming revenue. The casino operator, whose market value has more than quadrupled in the past year, was second in the gross gaming revenue rankings in July, grabbing a market share of almost 19 percent, according to figures compiled by Macau Daily Times. The company ranked only behind SJM Holdings, jumping ahead of Sands China Ltd, Wynn Macau and Melco Crown.