This page contains a Flash digital edition of a book.
49


sic label that regularly partners with Sands China to throw such events. It was the third pool party that Nick, from Hong Kong, was going to in Macau. “There are no pool parties in Hong Kong,” he told Macau


N


Business, while trying to read the directions. Miss Park is a South Korean living in Shenzhen, who also


came to Macau especially for the Hed Kandi party. “Two friends of mine decided to throw their birthday bash at the pool party,” she explained, heading straight to the venue. Pool parties are increasingly hot in Macau and they are at-


tracting a new crowd, with many of the partygoers coming from elsewhere. They are expatriates living in Hong Kong or tourists, like Tom, who is from England. “I’m in Hong Kong for holidays and a friend of mine told me this party will be amazing,” he said, clutching a map of the Venetian. Going in the opposite direction were three young women


from Hong Kong, walking out of the venue with a disappointed look on their faces. “We are trying to get in, but we don’t have tickets,” one says. Tickets were sold out long ago, they were told. “Yes, we know


but, still, we were trying to convince the front-door security to let us get in for free,” another said.


Drinking and dancing Young, trendy and sexy people  ocked to the Venetian’s pool as the music started playing. Girls wore makeup just as if they had been attending an ordinary party, but instead of evening dresses and high heels they were clad in beachwear. From 4 pm until late, they drank by the pool – sometimes in the pool – saw some world-class DJs spinning music, dance and partied. More and more hotel-casinos in Macau are following the Las


Vegas example and taking advantage of their pools to host this kind of event. Pool parties are pro table, operators say, and are a good way to attract different, younger patrons. Gamblers are not the main target. Pool parties and other out-


door events are meant to offer a different range of thrills, totally apart from the casino  oor. MGM Macau was the  rst establishment to throw a series of


Las Vegas-style pool parties in Macau, in the summer of 2008, shortly after it opened its doors. “We initially thought of the idea of a pool party as there


was nothing like it in Macau at the time,” says a spokesperson for MGM Macau. “We have a unique venue, as our pool overlooks Taipa and has a beautiful view of the sea. The idea of the pool party was also an opportunity for us to expose our hotel to local and visiting guests.” Each party had a different theme, in order to “open to a va-


riety of guests”. There was a Czech Republic-theme party with Czech food and a DJ from Prague, a Halloween party, a grand prix-theme party and so on. “Apart from the pro tability, we are interested in offering the people of Macau something in addition to a gambling experience,” the spokesperson says.


The Venetian Macao


Beautiful bodies Other players soon followed MGM’s lead. The Venetian Macao held its  rst pool event in April 2009, a post-concert party with American singer John Legend. “We wanted to introduce non- hotel guests to our elegant pool area,” says Alice Ma, one of the


JULY 2011


ick and his friends got lost inside Venetian Macao while trying to  nd their way to the pool. They were there to attend a Hed Kandi-theme party, Hed Kandi being a mu-


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68  |  Page 69  |  Page 70  |  Page 71  |  Page 72  |  Page 73  |  Page 74  |  Page 75  |  Page 76  |  Page 77  |  Page 78  |  Page 79  |  Page 80  |  Page 81  |  Page 82  |  Page 83  |  Page 84  |  Page 85  |  Page 86  |  Page 87  |  Page 88  |  Page 89  |  Page 90  |  Page 91  |  Page 92  |  Page 93  |  Page 94  |  Page 95  |  Page 96  |  Page 97  |  Page 98  |  Page 99  |  Page 100  |  Page 101  |  Page 102  |  Page 103  |  Page 104  |  Page 105  |  Page 106  |  Page 107  |  Page 108  |  Page 109  |  Page 110  |  Page 111  |  Page 112  |  Page 113  |  Page 114  |  Page 115  |  Page 116  |  Page 117  |  Page 118  |  Page 119  |  Page 120  |  Page 121  |  Page 122  |  Page 123  |  Page 124  |  Page 125  |  Page 126  |  Page 127  |  Page 128  |  Page 129  |  Page 130  |  Page 131  |  Page 132