The Playboy Mansion is expanding to Macau, further highlighting the former enclave's redevelopment from sleepy gambling town to diversified gaming mecca.
The company that redefined the bunny will open its first branded overseas entertainment and gaming club in late 2009 at the HK$19 billion Macao Studio City casino hotel complex at the southern end of the Cotai Strip, and Playboy bunnies will be on the staff.
The announcement came yesterday from Playboy Enterprise chairman and chief executive Christie Hefner, daughter of company founder Hugh Hefner, who said: 'I can't think of a more exciting market to make a bet on today than Macau.'
The Playboy Mansion Macao will occupy 40,000 sq ft within the complex and feature gaming tables, bars, restaurants, merchandise outlets and a Hugh M. Hefner Villa VIP hotel suite complete with private swimming pool and grotto inspired by the iconic Playboy Mansion in Beverly Hills.
The move marks the company's most significant push into the Greater China market since it launched sales of branded merchandise on the mainland nearly two decades ago.
Playboy made its first foray into gaming-related entertainment lounges in October last year with the opening of the Playboy Mansion at the Palms hotel and casino in Las Vegas.
