bodyType

customContents

entityId

entityUuid

articlePageQuery

filter

article

articleBaseAdvertisingInfoArticle

articleListArticle

articleSeoArticle

hooksArticleAcknowledgementGateOverlayArticle

hooksTrackPageViewArticle

hooksContentInterestArticle

articleLinkingDataContent

hooksAmpRedirectArticle

articleSchemaContent

liveArticle

advertZone

sentiment

contentLock

topics

types

sections

paywallTypes

createdDate

publishedDate

sponsorType

urlAlias

moreOnThisArticles

commentCount

authorLocations

authors

corrections

displaySlideShow

multimediaEmbed

printHeadline

seriesContainer

articleSpeeches

socialHeadline

headline

images

flag

firstTopic

glossary

flattenTypeIds

image

relatedLinks

relatedNewsletters

__typename

sponsor

pdfFiles

seriesReverseOrder

series

disableOffPlatformContent

published

updatedDate

summary

subHeadline

body

keywords

readingTime

customTimezone

liveContents

Stanley Ho Hung-sun has acquired the Pousada de Sao Tiago, sources in the hotel industry said, in a move that would cement the casino tycoon's dominance of Macau's luxury hotel business.

The Portuguese fortress turned boutique hotel was sold to Florinda Hotels on November 3 for 95 million patacas, the sources said.

Herbert Sossna, general manager of the Pousada, did not deny the hotel had been sold but declined to disclose details  of the transaction.

Florinda Hotels International  is a chain comprising Hotel Lisboa and Hotel Sintra under the parent company Sociedade de Turismo e Diversoes de Macau (STDM).  Both hotels are managed by the Shun Tak Group, the Hong Kong-listed arm of  Mr Ho's business empire.

'This is a fabulous move for the tourism industry,' Mr Sossna said. 'The hotel is a beautiful addition to their chain, and they can make it really better.'

Some industry professionals say the price tag was exorbitant for a 24-room hotel.  But at the same time, they said it showed  the commercial value of a historically significant site in Macau.

Apart from Florinda Hotels,  Mr Ho owns 100 per cent of the Hyatt Regency, 90 per cent of the Westin Resort and 50 per cent of the Mandarin Oriental.

Before the Bela Vista became the Portuguese consul-general's residence, Mr Ho also held a share in that boutique hotel.

His other hospitality investments include  a stake in the three-star New Century Hotel in Taipa and the Macau Golf and Country Club in Coloane.

Ambitious expansion plans for the Pousada de Sao Tiago  are  expected to be put into action next year as scheduled, Mr Sossna said.

The 40-million-pataca, 18-month project will double the size of the hotel, extending a new building, including a bell tower and a spa, up the slope of the hill on which the fortress sits.

The Pousada was originally 90 per cent owned by Hong Kong businessman David Cheng Ka-ho and 10 per cent owned by a Macau architect. Business had declined in recent years, with the latest blow dealt by a severe labour shortage in Macau's hotel and food and beverage industries.

Construction of the Forteleza da Barra (Barra Fort) started in 1616 as a  bulwark against hostile European nations and  pirates.

During the second world war, the captain of Barra Fort  bartered with the Japanese for rice  by giving up all his artillery.

The fort was left derelict after the war.  In 1978  it was decided that the property should become a hotel and it was restored to its 17th-century Mediterranean style and opened as a five-star boutique hotel in 1981.



Macau boutique hotel is newest jewel in Stanley Ho's crown