Roughly a year after the successful opening of The Venetian Macao, the first truly integrated resort in the area, Las Vegas Sands Corp celebrated the opening of its second Cotai Strip property, the Four Seasons Hotel Macao. The celebration also marks the world premiere of the show ZAIA by Circque du Soleil and the official opening of the Shoppes at Four Seasons a luxury shopping experience. The push to turn Macao into an international destination for leisure and business is slowly coming to fruition.

The chief executive officer and chairman of the las Vegas Sands Corp believes the success is due to their vision on how to make a successful complex. This is based around offering more unique and compelling attractions than rivals. By continuing to add more interesting components such as world class entertainment and luxury retail they have been able to lure in more and more visitors from across the region and beyond and hope to continue the pattern.

The new Four Seasons Hotel Macao, which is owned by Las Vegas Sands but operated by Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts has almost four hundred guestrooms and suites, all beautifully appointed.It also has a variety of food and beverage options, a pool and gardens and a delightful mix of banquet, conference and business services and facilities.

The joint launch of the Four Seasons Hotel Macao and the Shoppes at Four Seasons, featuring names like Gucci, Hermes, Fendi, and Louis Vuitton among others, are meant to show that Macao is ready to compete in the luxury destination business. In its first year of operation the venetian Macao has seen almost twenty-five million visitors, which is a strong indication that the idea is working.

The Cotai Strip’s reputation as one of the most luxurious locations in Asia will be further embellished by the openig of the St. Regis and Shangri-la hotel brands next year. The opening of ZAIA, which will be Cirque du Soleil’s first permanent production in Asia will also serve to enhance the image of the Cotai Strip. Other international acts ranging from Beyonce, Celene Dion and popular Asian acts and sporting events, including the 2008 USA Olympic Gold Medal basketball team have also helped draw in more than one hundred twenty thousand spectators.

Cirque du Soleil’s ZAIA will be presented in a custom built theater inside the Venetian Macao. The theater holds almost two thousand spectators and its world premier includes a VIP performance. The Shoppes at Four Seasons is the first luxury shopping mall in Macao. Over two hundred thousand square feet it is connected to the Grand Canal Shoppes at The Venetian Macao and the Four Seasons Macao. Featuring almost two hundred luxury brands, more than sixty that were not previously offered in Macao, it features many luxuries beyond just the good offered. The mall offers a concierge, private shoppers, and delivery to the hotel for your purchases and complimentary limo service for shoppers.