What are some of the highlights of your events career?
Till this day, I get an adrenaline rush, right from the bidding process until the execution. I have a set of customers and suppliers who over the years have become my friends and, I dare say, family. I cherish the relationships and I think this is the biggest highlight of my career.

My company has also received several awards and recognitions, and these accomplishments would not have been possible without great customers, suppliers and a fantastic team.

What are the lows of being in the business?
Losing important bids can be heartbreaking and disappointing. There is so much energy, hard work and detailing that has been invested into the process. Dealing with unreasonable guests is also unpleasant. We always give our best, but it is not possible to satisfy everyone.

What is one of your most memorable events?
It is when I started my company in 2010. A client who knew me from my previous company trusted in me so much, that he called and asked only two questions: do you have an office, and do you have a license? I replied ‘yes’ and ‘yes’. He then told me he would email me details for an incentive trip for 500 pax.

We were in our first week of business and we had such a big group to handle! The incentive was a huge success, and from there, business started rolling in.

What challenges are you currently facing?
Competition and market dynamics. Although I welcome friendly competition, unfortunately, we also have competitors who are unethical, cut corners and generally spoil the market.

The business environment is also getting tougher. Market dynamics have changed rapidly since the pandemic – corporate policies on travelling, clients’ requirements, the use of technology for conferencing, and security issues are just a few out of a long list.

While I ran a successful company pre-lockdown, I now have to rebuild and restart. The main difference is that our foundation is stronger than when we started 12 years ago.

How do you keep your staff motivated?
We have a very positive and flexible working environment. I am very fortunate to have a great team. I incentivise staff. We have gone on company trips to Penang, Thailand and the Maldives. Moving forward, I want to continue to strengthen the team and build an even better working environment.

Macau is staying active in the business events scene, and continues to induct new event spaces, develop fresh attractions, as well as expand her stable of hotel rooms through property expansions.

One major project in the works is the Galaxy International Convention Center. The venue features a 10,000m2 pillar-less exhibition hall, a 4,000m2 conference hall, and a 16,000-seat Galaxy Arena for concerts and sporting events.

Directly connected to the convention centre will be the Andaz Macau, set to open soon with over 700 rooms and suites. Also in the pipeline is the 483-suite Raffles at Galaxy Macau.

All three builds are part of the Galaxy Macau expansion plans. Although construction has been completed, their openings will largely depend on how the pandemic situation plays out.
Nearby in Cotai, Studio City’s phase two expansion is also happening.

Once complete, approximately 900 hotel rooms will be added – one of which is a W hotel – alongside a state-of-the-art business events venue, and attractions such as the Super Fun Zone – a four-storey family-friendly entertainment facility – and an indoor water park.

More hotel rooms will join Macau’s portfolio via the Treasure Island Resort World Hotel. Facing Nam Van Lake, the property will boast 600 hotel rooms and a five-storey shopping and entertainment complex.

According to a Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO) spokesperson: “These new developments will provide Macau with the necessary infrastructure to work towards the goal of deepening “tourism +” cross-sector integration, including “tourism + MICE”, “tourism + sports”.

“This will take the city’s tourism industry to the next level, fostering related sectors and diversifying the destination’s offerings, to attract different profiles of visitors for longer stays and more spending.”

Earlier in April, MGTO also unveiled a promotional campaign – titled Experience Macao, Unlimited – which will sport different themes each month. The most recent theme in June was gourmet food, reflecting the Creative City of Gastronomy recognition by UNESCO.

A spokesperson from the Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute (IPIM) shared that the organisation will help planners to “enrich local itineraries” that revolves around the various themes.

For now, as Macau patiently waits for borders to open, the various hotels continue to reinvent and revamp their offerings to stay competitive.

For instance, Grand Hyatt Macau has been revamping its F&B menus that utilise seasonal or organic ingredients due to the increased emphasis on wellness.

A hotel spokesperson added that the Grand Hyatt Macau also provides “hybrid meeting solutions” with the latest event technology for meetings as small as 10, up to large conventions of over 1,000 people.

The Londoner Macao, which opened in 2021, is also waiting to unveil its 6,000-seater multipurpose arena for big conferences and concerts, as well as a 1,700-seat Londoner Theatre.

For now, to capture the hybrid events market, Sands China has unveiled the Smart Stage at The Londoner Macao, an Extended Reality (XR) studio.

Smart Stage offers professional broadcast quality live-streaming capability and hologram functionality. Unlike the classic ‘green screen’ environment, XR allows presenters to interact with real-time visual markers to deliver a more authentic experience.

Within the 1,400m2 venue, the backdrop, floor, and stage lighting can all be customised, designed and operated to suit an organiser’s requirements, shared general manager sales and marketing at t the Sheraton Grand Macao, Cotai Central and The St. Regis Maca, Daniella Tonetto.

On the activities front, “many of the integrated resorts have begun diversifying and revamping their products to further differentiate themselves,” general manager for Hong Kong & Macau at global agency MCI, Olinto Oliveira told TTGmice.

For example, Lisboeta Macau lures younger travellers with its H853 Fun Factory, a one-stop retail-tainment space that includes exhilarating attractions such as the 388m-long ZIPCITY Macau, first-ever indoor skydiving centre GoAirborne, and various art exhibitions.

In mid-2021, Studio City opened a waterpark which Oliveira opined will make a “big splash” with groups in the summer months. The resort is also home to Legend Heroes Park – the city’s first tech-based VR theme park.

Oliveira confidently stated: “Overall when the time comes for major events and conferences to return to the city, visitors will certainly be pleasantly surprised to find that the city has been hard at work ensuring that the destination continues to be a premier location for unforgettable experiences.”