ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE MACAU
Macau's multi- cultural heritage is manifested in its splendid food and architecture
the pretty, colonnaded Senado Square. Beyond the Historic Centre, Macau boasts a truly 21st century skyline, dominated by shimmering skyscrapers, striking luxury hotels and the 338metre-high Macau Tower, home to adrenaline-enhancing activities including a Sky Walk and spectacular bungy jump back to ground level. Visitors preferring a more laidback
holiday can enjoy the tranquil surrounds of the island of Coloane, with its villages, walking trails and beaches. Macau is one of the top food destinations in the region – the unique Macanese cuisine a local speciality – with designer shopping malls and spas another draw. The nightlife takes some beating too, with a line-up of cool bars and nightclubs, casinos and world-class shows including the ever popular Cirque du Soleil and the amazing House of Dancing Water.
What’s new Macau’s hotel and tourism product continues to go from strength to strength. In May this year the Galaxy Macau opened for business, comprised of the 500-room Hotel Okura Macau, the 1,500-room Galaxy Hotel, and the Banyan Tree Macau, with 250 suites, ten floating villas and a 2,800m2 spa, the hotel group’s largest. The resort also features a 4,000m2 Skytop Wave Pool – the world's largest of its kind – Japanese Gardens, a shopping mall, more than 50 different restaurants and bars, and several nightclubs. The year ahead, meanwhile, will see the opening of another mega-resort, the Sands Cotai Central, with over 6,000 rooms and suites across a Sheraton, Sheraton Towers, Holiday Inn and a five- star Conrad hotel from Hilton. Macau’s growing accommodation portfolio is complemented by the wealth of new visitor attractions now adding to the mix. The Macau Tourism and Cultural Activities Centre opened in September and is a good place for newcomers to begin their visit to Macau. Across five floors it features
a Virtual Macau Experience, the Macau Creative Pavilion, tourist information centre, Portuguese-style coffee shop, and the Macau Tea Story. The Giant Panda Pavilion, home to Kai
Kai and Xin Xin, also opened this year to celebrate the 10th anniversary of Macau’s handover back to China in 2009, while a family-oriented film, Kaluoka’hina – The Enchanted Reef, is new at the Macau Science Center’s 3D planetarium, the world’s highest resolution such facility. A free smartphone app, WH Macau,
has been launched to help visitors get the most out of their visit to the Historic Centre of Macau. It includes information and images of the buildings and monuments that comprise the UNESCO-listed area, plus GPS guidance around the area. Also new are river cruise tours and a
series of pedicabs for getting around some of the best-known tourism spots, while a number of trails are being developed to showcase Macau’s countryside and coastline – they include the Grand Taipa Trail and Long Chao
Kok Coast Trail. To find out more, visit the Macau
Government Tourist Office on stand AS745 at this year’s World Travel Market in London's ExCel, November 7-10. Turn over to the next page (p 22) to stand a chance of winning a fantastic trip for two to Macau including flights and accommodation.
Tourism Talk SUE WHITEHEAD
Macau Government Tourist Office, UK Representative
“This year (2011) has been another exciting one for Macau, with the opening of the spectacular Galaxy Resort and new attractions such as the Macau Tourism & Cultural Activities Centre. UK visitor numbers to Macau are still growing, despite the challenging market, and we are investing in high profile promotional campaigns to keep the destination on the map with UK travellers. Working with the travel industry remains a key priority as we move into 2012 and we look forward to meeting all of our many trade partners at World Travel Market to thank them for their support this year. ”
Where to Book It FLIGHT CENTRE
0844 800 8660
www.flightcentre.co.uk Book seven nights Hong Kong & Macau Magic from £869 pp including flights, four nights in Hong Kong, three nights in Macau and ferry transfers between. Book by November 17, 2011.
FUNWAY HOLIDAYS 0844 557 3131
www.funway4agents.co.uk
Four nights staying at the 4* Holiday Inn Macau including flights with Qatar Airways and return transfers is from £889 pp. Travel is based on a May 1, 2012 departure.
PREMIER HOLIDAYS 08444 937 542
www.trade.premierholidays.co.uk Five nights room only in Hong Kong at the Harbour Plaza North Point Hotel, (including one free night and a free upgrade to a superior side harbour view room) and two nights in Macau at the Holiday Inn (including breakfast and a half-day Macau city tour with lunch) is from £929 pp. With ex-London Qatar Airways flights and transfers, the offer is valid January 2 - March 4 2012 and must be booked by November 30, 2011. •
General information
LOCATION: 40 miles west of Hong Kong TIME ZONE: GMT +8hrs CURRENCY: Pataca (similar in value to the Hong Kong dollar) VISA: Not required by UK citizens GETTING THERE: UK visitors usually fly to Hong Kong and take a 45-minute ferry transfer to Macau. UK CONTACT: 020 8834 8325
macau@humewhitehead.co.uk
Clockwise from top left: Macau's unique Portuguese heritage; the new Galaxy Macau Resort complex and Science Center. Left: Kai Kai and Xin Xin in the Giant Panda Pavilion
www.sellinglonghaul.com • November 2011 23
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