The event of the year in Macau is nearly upon us, as Galaxy Entertainment Group announced yesterday the opening date for its new Galaxy Macau integrated resort on Cotai: May 15.

Yes, you heard right, that is two weeks after the May 1 Golden Week period begins. Correct, Galaxy Macau will miss one of the three busiest times of the year for the mass market in Macau. But when you have spent nearly a decade planning this event, what is another few weeks, anyway?

At least, that is how we are sure the Lui family is viewing the opening of their resort, and they are probably right to do so. Lui Che-woo didn’t become a billionaire doing business in Hong Kong and China by thinking short-term. As the slogan “World Class, Asian Heart” makes clear, this is a Chinese company (although don’t tell the Japanese guests at Okura that). This property was a long time in the making. Even though we found the press release yesterday a bit too convoluted in trying to explain why this is the first true integrated “resort” in Macau, we cannot quibble with the claim that this is the first integrated resort in Macau that has been designed with an Asian audience primarily in mind. We think, as we have said before, that this will be half the battle won when the doors open on May 15, and if the company needs a bit longer to let the paint dry before that happens, then it’s a good decision.

See you there on opening day.

Used with permission & copyright IntelMacau