Galaxy Macau Phase II opens up new worlds of luxury, entertainment, dining and accommodation
Mega-resort in Cotai adds three full-service hotels and expands the Grand Resort Deck
Ever since the Venetian Macao resort started the casino boom in the city over 10 years ago, the landscape of Cotai has been continuously changing. For this year and beyond, a new wave of mega resort-casinos are in the works, and the first to debut in May was Galaxy Entertainment Group's Galaxy Macau Phase II.
Expanding the complex to 1.1 million square metres, this is the first major resort opening in Macau since 2012 and cost HK$43 billion out of a HK$100 billion planned investment for Galaxy Entertainment Group. This means Galaxy Macau has doubled in size in only four years and now offers close to 4,000 rooms, adding three new world-class hotels to the existing Banyan Tree Macau, Hotel Okura Macau and Galaxy Hotel.
Aiming to offer world-class attractions and entertainment, a hit with families and the young at heart is the expanded 75,000-square-metre Grand Resort Deck, which features the world's longest skytop aquatic adventure river ride, the world's largest skytop wave pool, three water slides and Kidz Island, Macau's largest water play area for children. There is also a 350-tonne white-sand beach and other water attractions such as beach lagoons, white water rapids, geysers and waterfalls, all set in an Asian-themed tropical garden.
The Promenade shopping centre has also been extended to connect Galaxy Phase I and Phase II. Over 200 luxury and lifestyle retail brands are there, including 30 first-to-Macau brands such as Alexander McQueen, Georg Jensen, Delvaux, Harry Winston, Maje, Moncler, Mulberry, Proenza Schouler, Roger Viver and Sandro and more. New restaurants such as 8 1/2 Otto e Mezzo Bombana and Fook Lam Moon have also opened there.
Only a 90-second walk away via air conditioned footbridge, a brand-new 320-room Broadway Macau (renovated from the former Grand Waldo complex) awaits. The new 3,000-seat Broadway Theatre showcases the latest live performances from artists ranging from Alan Tam to Michael Learns To Rock, and the property features a vibrant street and entertainment district, called The Broadway, which showcases the creativity and artistry of Macau with live entertainers and street-style vendors serving local cuisine and souvenirs. You can find 40 food and beverage outlets here - the majority being Macanese-owned and –operated - plus 20 retail stores, including many that specialise in Macanese treats such as peanut candy, almond biscuits and ginger milk curd.
Overlooking the Grand Resort Deck with commanding views of Cotai and beyond, Asia's largest JW Marriott hotel welcomes guests on arrival with a majestic sweeping staircase of antique cream stone, an iconic cylindrical glass elevator and two magnificent art installations soaring almost 20 metres above the lobby. Rising to the 31st floor, this flagship location has 1,015 rooms, including 671 Deluxe Rooms, nine Retreat Pool Suites, 60 Executive Suites, one Chairman Suite and one Presidential Suite, all styled with elegant sophistication in hues of calm blues and greens mixed with polished rose-gold detailing, richly textured carpets and accent furniture.
The hotel offers classic Cantonese cuisine in a contemporary setting at Man Ho Chinese Restaurant, with signature dishes such as Kurobuta pork loin glazed with honey sauce, roasted chicken marinated with preserved red taro sauce, and pomelo skin braised with preserved shrimp roe. Guests can also enjoy all-day international and regional cuisine semi-buffet dining with six different food zones at Urban Kitchen; casual al fresco dining at the relaxing JW Pool Bar; and the Champagne Afternoon tea set or light nibbles at The Lounge.
This Marriott location also offers the world's largest JW Kids' Club, featuring a slew of interactive activities for children aged three to 17 which are designed to educate and entertain. There is a soft play area, arts and crafts, a reading tree, bouncy gorge, slides, tunnels, climbing spider web, and a video game room. Little ones can also get a new hairdo from experienced stylists, or enjoy a dedicated children’s pool.
To celebrate 100 days since the hotel opening, JW Marriott Hotel Macau has launched a Poolside Barbecue Fiesta, which is available every Friday and Saturday until November 28 at the third-floor Pool Bar.
Presented by a hotel brand known around the world for impeccable levels of service, The Ritz-Carlton, Macau is situated on the top floors of the same complex as the JW Marriott. The Ritz-Carlton Club is located on the 53rd floor, offering personalised services such as exclusive in-room check-in, five food and beverage presentations a day, complimentary pressing services upon arrival and use of the library and boardroom.
Designed in a timeless European style that reflects Macau’s Portuguese heritage, the hotel’s suites follow a tone-on-tone colour scheme which is accented with polished metal trimmings, subtle exotic textures, richly varnished wood and satin drapes. The property offers a total of 250 suites, which includes 138 Premier Suites, 27 luxurious Carlton Suites and the Carlton Two-Bedroom Suite, comprising a living room, powder room, bedrooms, a dressing closet and bathroom.
Authentic luxury Cantonese dining is offered at Lai Heen, helmed by chef Bill Fu, who helped Hong Kong’s Tin Lung Heen earn two Michelin stars. Signature dishes include chargrilled barbecue Iberico pork, steamed crab claw with egg white in lobster bisque, braised pork belly with preserved vegetable, and imperial fried rice with braised thorn sea cucumber, abalone, conpoy, matsutake mushroom and sakura shrimp.
Guests can also sample a sophisticated high tea or speciality gin cocktails with spectacular views over the Cotai skyline at The Ritz-Carlton Bar and Lounge, taste classic French brasserie fare at The Ritz-Carlton café, or try The Ritz-Carlton Pool Bar, with a focus on organic and traceable seafood. The hotel also offers an eclectic array of wines and spirits, including a rich French Bordeaux selection dedicated to special vintages, a best-in-class Portuguese wine cellar and an extensive selection of premium aged puer tea from the hotel’s own tea master.
The hotel features an exclusive ESPA sanctuary, featuring 10 stylish treatment rooms and three couples' suites. Men and women have identically designed yet separate pools, steam rooms, saunas, ice fountains, experience showers, relaxation/reflexology lounges and changing areas. Signature treatments include Pearl River Chi, Jade Reviver, Reflex Meridien Massage and the Macau Body Smoother Ritual.
