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Denise Tsang

Macau's Ponte 16, a $2.4 billion resort planned by a joint venture between Sociedade de Jogos de

Macau (SJM) and Macau Success, will open a luxury Sofitel hotel at the project next year.

To be managed by France's Accor, the 420-room, five-star hotel is part of a 23,000 square metre

development  at the Inner Harbour, one of the oldest districts in the former Portuguese enclave.

Ponte 16 project director Marco Lee Siu-cheung yesterday said the hotel would provide

accommodation for guests at the planned 18,000 square metre casino,  due to open later this year.

Ambrose So Shu-fai, considered the right-hand man of SJM's controlling shareholder Stanley Ho

Hung-sun, said SJM would apply to the Macau government to operate the casino.

'We are willing to run the Ponte 16 casino,' Mr So said. 'We don't think there will be too many casinos

because the number of visitors to Macau is expected to grow in double digits this year after hitting a

record 19 million last year.'

SJM, one of three gaming licence holders in Macau, was pushing ahead with its listing plan  in Hong

Kong and was seeking a financial adviser, Mr So said.

He said Ponte 16 would be different from the growing number of gambling resorts in Taipa in that it

was committed to preserving the historic Inner Harbour's heritage.

Accor Asia-Pacific managing director Michael Issenberg said Macau would be a showpiece in

Sofitel's China strategy.

'Sofitel Macau will play an important role in highlighting Sofitel's growth in China,' he said.

The number of Sofitel hotels in the country was set to double to 26 in the next two years through

management contracts in cities such as Hangzhou, Nanjing, Suzhou, Shanghai, Guangzhou and

Chongqing, Mr Issenberg said.

When Sofitel Macau opened next year, China would have the largest number of Sofitel hotels in the

world outside its base in France, he added.

Ponte 16 is  51 per cent controlled by SJM and 36.75 per cent by Macau Success. The remaining

12.25 per cent is held by Joy Idea Investments.



Ponte 16 to open luxury Sofitel hotel