MACAO, July 4, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Sands® Resorts Macao recently hosted a four-day familiarisation experience entitled The Ultimate Download - Asia's Leading Meetings & Events Destination for 150 international convention and exhibition professionals including 20 media from around the world to highlight the latest range of impressive offerings at the integrated resorts' seven world-class hotels, as well as Macao's wider cultural and heritage attractions.
Meeting professionals and media from Australia, USA, New Zealand, Europe, Japan, Korea, Singapore, India, Israel, the United Arab Emirates, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Mainland China were invited to attend the ambitious initiative, held between June 26-29, where they could experience Sands Resorts Macao's extensive range of meeting packages, facilities and services first-hand.
The event, which was two years in the planning, incorporated numerous activities across the four days, including sales presentations from The Venetian® Macao; The Parisian Macao; Four Seasons Hotel Macao, Cotai Strip; The St. Regis Macao, Cotai Central; Conrad® Macao, Cotai Central; Holiday Inn® Macao, Cotai Central; and Sheraton Grand Macao Hotel, Cotai Central. Topics included updates on all of the entertainment, dining, transportation, retail, audio-visual available to meeting organisers.
Ruth Boston, Senior Vice President, Marketing and Brand Management, Sands China Ltd. said, "The Ultimate Download - Asia's Leading Meetings & Events Destination has offered a great opportunity to showcase not only our world-class hotels, but also everything we can deliver in the meetings, conference and incentives arena. Nowhere else will you find seven international hotels with 13,000 guest rooms and suites, 850 stores, 150 restaurants, three theatres, an arena and 150,000 square metres of meeting space all under one roof."
"One of the other key messages we wanted to get across to the participants was the wonderful culture and heritage of Macao, including its UNESCO world heritage sites. The event also allowed us to strengthen our ongoing relationships and future cooperation with this influential group of convention and exhibition professionals from around the globe."
The Ultimate Download - Asia's Leading Meetings & Events Destination kicked off with Bon Vivant - a French themed welcome cocktail party at The Parisian Macao poolside area. It also included Ultimate Connect, a mini-conference with Q and A session covering a range of meetings and events industry hot topics, Ulti-Mart which showcased Sands Resorts Macao's world-class properties and other offerings as well as Macao itself as a destination and Ultimate Chef, which saw delegates form teams to take part in a thrilling cooking competition.
The final event was Ultimate Show Time - a gala dinner which demonstrated Sands Resorts Macao's amazing range of products and services, including gourmet dining, world-class entertainment acts and state of the art audio-visual (for detailed event information see appendix - The Ultimate Download - Highlights).
The Ultimate Download - Asia's Leading Meetings & Events Destination also focused on green meetings programme, Sands ECO360˚, offering delegates environmentally responsible choices, a fast-growing trend in the meetings industry.
The many dining sensations available at Sands Resorts Macao were also showcased across the event, from a Macanese and Portuguese fiesta luncheon at Sheraton Grand Macao Hotel, Cotai Central, to The St. Regis Macao, Cotai Central's signature Midnight Supper, a Gala Dinner at The Venetian Macao, and a Michelin Experience lunch at Four Seasons Hotel Macao, Cotai Strip.
Another of the integrated resort's key pillars is entertainment, as well as meeting professionals and the media enjoyed the Michael Jackson tribute show THRILLER LIVE currently being performed at The Parisian Theatre, and a unique cocktail party set in Ice World, Asia's largest indoor frozen wonderland, now taking place at The Venetian Macao, which features a host of colourful new DreamWorks Animation characters.
The event also catered to the fitness fans with morning yoga, tai chi, boot camp and pool activities, as well as other bespoke activities such as:
The Ultimate Download - Asia's Leading Meetings & Events Destination experience enabled meeting professionals and media guests to enjoy a world of exciting integrated resorts, with an unrivalled mix of accommodation choices for every budget, along with over 150 award-winning local and international restaurants, 850 duty free stores and world-class entertainment during their stay.
For more information please go to: meetings.sandsresortsmacao.com.
The four-day event concluded in glamorous style with a Gala Dinner entitled Ultimate Show Time which allowed attendees to enjoy world-class entertainment, performances and cuisine.
For high resolution photos, please access one of the following: https://we.tl/92dHCUMXjH
About Sands Resorts Macao - Sands China's Integrated Resort City
Sands China Ltd. is the leading developer, owner and operator of integrated resorts in Macao. The fittingly named Sands Resorts Macao, situated on reclaimed land between the islands of Coloane and Taipa, is the one destination that provides a stunning array of experiences at the heart of Cotai. Sands Resorts Macao has transformed a day-trip market into an integrated resort city and international hub for business and leisure travellers.
Pulsating with life, both night and day, Sands Resorts Macao features an expansive offering of affordable luxury available nowhere else in Macao. With the opening of The Parisian Macao, it now boasts approximately 13,000 hotel rooms and suites, international superstar live entertainment, duty free shopping with more than 850 retailers offering a huge array of name brands, meeting and exhibition space for Asia's leading conferences and exhibitions, transportation offerings and well over 150 dining options, including Michelin-starred restaurants, bars and lounges. Sands Resorts Macao is a must-go destination providing every guest with an unforgettable experience and unparalleled excitement.
Comprised of The Venetian® Macao; The Plaza™ Macao, featuring the Four Seasons Hotel Macao; and Sands® Cotai Central, including the world's largest Conrad, Sheraton, and St. Regis hotels as well as the Holiday Inn, Sands Resorts Macao is where Asia's ultimate destination is within reach. And now the crowning achievement of Sheldon G. Adelson's vision of the Cotai Strip -The Parisian Macao. For more information, please visit ParisianMacao.com.
For more information about Sands Resorts Macao, please visit http://en.sandsresortsmacao.com.
Media contacts:
Public Relations, Venetian Macau Limited
Lily Cheng
Tel: +853-8118-2013
Email: lily.sw.cheng@sands.com.mo
Posy Kuok
Tel: +853-8118-2010
Email: posy.kuok@sands.com.mo
The Ultimate Download - Highlights
Bon Vivant welcome cocktail party
The Ultimate Download - Asia's Leading Meetings & Events Destination kicked off on the first day with Bon Vivant - an official French themed welcome cocktail party at The Parisian Macao poolside area set against the backdrop of the hotel's imposing Eiffel Tower.
Ulti-Mart showcase
To showcase Macao as a destination, and allow attendees to gain first-hand knowledge about Sands Resorts Macao's distinctive world-class properties and other services and facilities, Ulti-Mart took place at Conrad Macao, Cotai Central's Dunhuang Ballroom, in the form of a mini mart with 15 booths.
Participants included The Venetian Macao, The Parisian Macao, Four Seasons Hotel Macao, Cotai Strip; Conrad Macao, Cotai Central; Holiday Inn Macao, Cotai Central; Sheraton Grand Macao Hotel, Cotai Central; and The St. Regis Macao, Cotai Central. They were joined by representatives from Sands Entertainment, Sands Audiovisual, Sands Dining, Cotai Travel, Green Meetings, Sands Shoppes, Macao Government Tourism Office and Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute.
Ultimate Connect conference
The Ultimate Download - Asia's Leading Meetings & Events Destination also enabled attendees to receive briefings from international industry experts, as well as destination and product updates from Macao Government Tourism Office and Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute. Ultimate Connect conference, a mini-conference and Q and A session covering a range of meetings and events industry hot topics and presentations from leaders in the tourism and hospitality fields, facilitated by Gene Capuano, Senior Vice President of Convention and Venetian Operations, Sands China Ltd.
Speakers included Stephanie Tanpure, Vice President of Sales, Sands Resorts Macao, who introduced offerings at Sands Resorts Macao and wider Macao; Daniella Tonetto, General Manager of Sheraton Grand Macao Hotel and The St. Regis Macao who introduced those great properties and Dr. Robert Kirby, motivational speaker and author of "Dancing Dragon or Headless Chicken: Unleashing the Leader in You".
Also speaking was Natalie Ackerman, Senior Vice President, Greater China, Jack Morton Worldwide Hong Kong, the brand experience agency who helped put The Ultimate Download event together as well as many other successful events for Sands Resort Macao in recent years. She discussed how to execute extraordinary events through creativity, design and unique content.
Finally Kimmy Ho, Assistant General Manager of China Travel Service Gongbei Port Guangdong Co., outlined some of the current trends on event destinations in the Pearl River Delta region.
For the final part of the Ultimate Connect conference, some of the most influential and successful professionals in the events, meetings and travel industry took part in a lively panel to discuss key issues taking place in the industry. They included Albert Guo Junhua, President for CHINA CYTS M.I.C.E. Service Co., Ltd. & Bravolinks Integrated Marketing Co., Ltd. - China; Ping He, Global General Manager - APAC, Maritz Global Events (USA), and Meetings & Conventions Magazine's "one of the Top 25 Women in the Meetings Industry"; Sushil Shamlal Wadhwa, Founder & CMD, Platinum World Group (India), with interests in MICE, Weddings, Luxury Travel, Talent Management and TV and Film Production; and Edward Perotti, Senior Director Global Meetings - Events & Travel, VMware Inc. (USA), a key player in the cloud and virtualisation software and services arena.
Some of the discussion points included:
The panel then took questions from the audience.
Ultimate Chef competition
An exciting and entertaining event inspired by one of the most famous TV cooking shows, Ultimate Chef competition saw 20 participants from 10 countries form seven teams for a French / Macanese "mystery box" cooking challenge.
The judging panel consisted of Sands Resorts Macao senior management and executive chefs.
Coming in first place was a team comprised of Japanese and Korean delegates, who wowed judges with their restaurant-worthy dish. First runner-up was a combined Singaporean and Israeli team, who made the bold decision to use a large chopping block to present their dish to great effect, and in third place an Indian side that particularly impressed with their use of herbs and spices.
Such was the success of the Ultimate Chef competition that management are planning to roll it out as a standalone event that can be incorporated into a wide range of team building activities and events.
Ultimate Show Time gala dinner
The grand finale, and highpoint of The Ultimate Download - Asia's Leading Meetings & Events Destination was Ultimate Show Time - a gala dinner encompassing everything that Sands Resorts Macao can offer meeting organisers. The glamorous extravaganza incorporated delicious cuisine and world-class entertainment acts, kicking off with a six-man Chinese drum performance, which started the evening off literally with a bang.
This was followed by a speech from Ruth Boston, who stressed that Macao's vibrant history provides a point of difference and a spectacular backdrop for delegates who visit the city.
"Stay at Sands Resorts Macao and you have the perfect combination of the magnificent old and the sparkling new, literally side by side," she added, going on to thank all the guests who joined the familiarisation tour, and especially those travelled from Israel and the United Arab Emirates.
She also thanked Macao Government Tourism Office and Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute for their dedication and cooperation in developing Macao into a leading meeting and tourism destination.
Sam Lei, Senior Manager of Promotional Activities Department, Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute then took to the stage to reinforce the message that Macao offers a unique mix of unbeatable location, improving infrastructure, world-class venues and supportive government policies, making it the ideal location for many different kinds of MICE events.
"The number of MICE events held in Macao increased almost five times from 260 in 2002 to 1,276 in 2016," he said, adding that "these venues, which cover over 190,000 square metres of meeting space and 37,000 hotel rooms, can accommodate events of all sizes and shapes."
Ms Boston and Mr Lei were joined by Mark McWhinnie, Senior Vice President of Resort Operations and Development, Sands China Ltd.; Gene Capuano, Senior Vice President of Convention and Venetian Operations; Stephanie Tanpure, Vice President of Sales, Sands Resorts Macao; Evelyn Kang, Assistant Vice President of Sales, Sands Resorts Macao; Donna Campbell, Executive Director of Public Relations, Sands China Ltd.; Janet McNab, Managing Director, Daniella Tonetto - General Manager and Timothy Tan - Director of Sales, Sheraton Grand Macao Hotel, Cotai Central & The St. Regis Macao, Cotai Central; Kris Kaminsky - General Manager and Lilian Lee, Director of Marketing, Four Seasons Hotel Macao, Cotai Strip, for a toast.
The scintillating entertainment continued with Soul Mystique from Australia, one of the world's best quick-change acts, followed by acts which demonstrated the range of Sands Resorts Macao in-house talent - superb opera from the Singing Chefs / Waiters, and Moulin Rouge style dance routines, to bring a wonderful evening to an end.
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