Beijing Imperial Palace hotel in Taipa was closed in July 2016 due to uncorrected health and safety violations after several attempts by the Macau Tourism Office to encourage repairs. Last week the hotel lost its operating license. Now the hotel’s former operator is being sued by Guardforce, a private security company, who claim they are owed almost 3.4 million patacas (~ US$425,633), according to local news outlets.

The hotel’s Greek Mythology Casino closed unexpectedly on December 31, 2015, for ‘renovations’. In July, the casino stated that the hotel’s closure does not affect them and they are legally allowed to reopen with or without the hotel in operation.

By August, Hong Kong-listed Amax International Holdings, the casino owners announced they were considering a lawsuit against the operator, Greek Mythology (Macau) Entertainment Group Corporation Limited, as they had not received 2015 and 2016 management accounts from the operator.

In September, the work needed to reopen the hotel had not been started. In early December, reports indicated that the hotel had until January 11, 2017, to remedy the fire and safety violations but had not applied for permits. The hotel’s license was revoked after the 6-month extension granted in July expired.

According to Macau TDM in September, a cadre of travel agencies claimed the hotel operator had sold them more rooms than were available.

Ownership and responsibility for the former New Century Hotel is complicated and the subject of lawsuits in several jurisdictions including Macau.