With tens of thousands of guests, VIP's, and more than 1,200 members of the media flocking from throughout the region and across the world to see it and experience it, The Venetian(R) Macao-Resort- Hotel opened its doors today and with it ushered in a new chapter in the storied history of Macao.
"In this day and age its commonplace to throw around phrases like historic, groundbreaking, and revolutionary," said Sheldon G. Adelson, chairman and chief executive officer of Las Vegas Sands Corp. (NYSE:LVS) , the parent company of The Venetian Macao. "But it is no overstatement to say that the opening of The Venetian Macao represents a massive paradigm shift for Macao and the future of tourism development in Asia."

The moment it opened, the US$2.4 billion Venetian Macao became the largest single structure hotel in Asia and the second largest building in the world. Like its sister-property in Las Vegas, The Venetian Macao is a renaissance Venice-themed property featuring stunning replicas of Venice landmarks such as St. Mark's Square, the Doge's Palace, Campanile Tower, and three indoor canals with gondolas and singing gondoliers. The hotel has 3,000 all-suite guest rooms and with one million square feet of retail space, which is more than any shopping mall in Hong Kong, The Venetian Macao now becomes a major destination for the region's top shoppers. The casino floor, at 550,000 square feet, is the largest in the world and is home to 870 table games and more than 3,400 slot machines.
 
The facility also features the 15,000-seat Venetian Arena, which will make its debut by holding the hotel's star-studded Grand Opening event later this evening. In the coming weeks, The Venetian Arena will play host to a pair of NBA exhibition games and a match-up of tennis greats Roger Federer and Pete Sampras. The arena's seating capacity and state-of-the-art equipment instantly make it the top entertainment facility in the region.

The Venetian Macao also has 1.2 million-square feet of meeting, convention and exhibition space, more than twice the amount of the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. The facility features the largest pillar-less ballroom in Asia and has the catering facilities to provide a five-course banquet for 15,000 guests. Early next year, the 1,800 seat Venetian Theatre will open featuring an original production from world-renowned Cirque du Soleil.

"All of the amazing offerings inside The Venetian make it not only the first fully integrated resort in Macao, they make the building the first-of- its kind anywhere in Asia," said William P. Weidner, president and chief operating officer of Las Vegas Sands. "The Venetian Macao is truly a destination within itself and its presence will help Macao realize its future as a multi-day stay leisure and business destination for millions of people across the region."

Weidner said The Venetian Macao represents, in one location, all of the key elements -- fine dining, upscale shopping, entertainment, all-suite rooms, meetings and conventions, expansive recreation amenities -- that have helped make Las Vegas one of the world's top leisure and business destinations.

"It has taken 76 years and several different generations of transformation to build Las Vegas into a destination that now successfully attracts more than 40 million people annually," said Weidner. "The majority of that success has happened over the past two decades, a time in which destination resort offerings saw their most substantial levels of innovation. The Venetian Macao represents the very best of that innovation, only now it is being applied in Asia for the very first time to create a multi-day stay destination for Macao."

In addition to the excitement surrounding The Venetian Macao, the festivities also marks the opening of Las Vegas Sands' Cotai Strip(TM). The Cotai Strip is a collection of hotel properties to be run by some of the most prestigious names in the hotel industry, including Four Seasons, Sheraton, St. Regis, Shangri-La, Traders, Hilton, Conrad, Fairmont, and Raffles. Las Vegas Sands Corp. will construct and own each of the hotels, as well as operate the casinos and entertainment venues in each hotel. At completion, the Cotai Strip properties will combine to feature 20,000 guest rooms, more than 3 million square feet of retail space and nearly 30,000 seats of live entertainment offerings.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Except for a brief interlude, The Peninsula has used Rolls-Royce motor cars exclusively for its guests since 1970, and the current fleet – the hotel's eighth record-breaking order – forms part of a long-term partnership between the two companies.

It now has the largest ever single order of Rolls-Royce Phantoms with 14 extended wheelbase cars, all finished in signature Peninsula Green. The Peninsula and Rolls-Royce have been associated  for almost 40 years, in a partnership that began with the hotel's first order for seven Silver Shadows in 1970.

The relationship commenced with the simple question "Have you enquired?"  When told that a fleet of Rolls-Royces would probably be too expensive for the hotel, Lord Lawrence Kadoorie (father of Sir Michael) enquired if anyone had actually contacted Rolls-Royce to ascertain the cost. That purchase made history for being the largest ever single order for Rolls-Royce motor cars, and set a trend that continues to this day with the arrival of the hotel's eighth and latest fleet of 14 Extended Wheelbase Phantoms.

The fleet was shown for the first time at the hotel on December 14, 2006, and was unveiled by The Hon. Sir Michael Kadoorie, Chairman of The Hongkong and Shanghai Hotels, Limited and Mr. Ian Robertson, Chairman and Chief Executive of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, when keys to all 14 cars were presented to Sir Michael by Mr. Robertson.

Rolls-Royce engineers and designers worked closely with Sir Michael and Martin Oxley, The Peninsula's Fleet Vehicle Manager, to develop a number of dedicated features to meet the hotel's specific needs.  These included the provision of a cool box for chilled hand towels, customised tread plates and a new, larger luggage compartment. In all, it has taken more than 350 hours to build each individual Phantom. Due to the size and complexity of the cars, Martin Oxley and the hotel's team of chauffeurs travelled to the UK for a week of training at the Sir Henry Royce Training School, Rolls-Royce's dedicated technical institute. 

The grandest member of the fleet is a magnificent and immaculately restored 1934 Rolls-Royce Phantom II.  The Phantom II is just six years younger than the hotel itself, having made its debut at the London Motor Show in October 1934.

The luxury hotel Le Taha'a Private Island & Spa has just announced the opening of the two new Royal Beach Villas which each encompass 270 square meters (approximately 2,906 square feet), including the bungalow terrace and private pool.

The interior décor echoes the same materials and design as the current beach villas, including three flat-screen televisions.

Special amenities include:

- one complimentary bottle of French champagne and appetizers upon arrival,
- daily fresh flowers within the villa,
- one complimentary 30-minute spa treatment for 2 persons at the Manea Spa
- a complimentary elegant gift upon departure.

To further cater to guest needs, the concierge is dedicated to these two villas 24 hours a day, and for guests who stay eight nights, the resort will arrange a private Polynesian show on the beach.

At the resort's signature Manea Spa, a new 40-square meter (approximately 430 square feet) Fare Taurumi bungalow is constructed, including a terrace with two hydro-massage tubs and a treatment room with two massage tables. With spacious bathing wells and a multitude of jet placements, the hydro-massage tubs will introduce balneotherapy into the Manea Spa offerings. The tubs relieve tension by combining deep-tissue massage with the therapeutic power of water.

In addition to the spa renovations, Le Taha'a has  opened a fully-equipped, air-conditioned fitness room. It features state-of-the-art exercise equipment and weights amidst stunning views of the lush surroundings.

Also available, the new resort lounge, measuring 56 square meters (approximately 603 square feet), will include, three computers with printer and Internet access, an extensive library and a 46-inch flat-screen television. Finally, the resort unveiled the new scuba diving center, offering an improved facility for diving enthusiasts to explore the underwater paradise surrounding this private island.

You can read more about this fantastic luxury resort by clicking this link 

Let’s face it, day to day life can be rather dull. With the same routine day after day, week after week, it can all get a little monotonous to say the least. Well that’s where the Fantasyland hotel comes into it. When escaping to another country just isn’t enough, how does escaping to another life sound? The Fantasyland Hotel in Alberta, Canada, features themed rooms where guests can live like someone else.

Take the Hollywood room for example. After taking a trip down your own personal Walk of Fame, enter your Hollywood suite. Inside you’ll find a black marble Jacuzzi, a huge dressing room and a king size bed. Luxurious enough for an A-list star it’s impossible not to feel like a celebrity.

Then there is the Luxury Truck room. Imagine you’re on a road trip across Canada, sleeping under the stars in your truck at night. The room contains a truck converted into a king-size bed and a Jacuzzi.

And then there is the Sports room - heaven for any sports fanatic. With a widescreen TV showing Sports highlights, comfy seating, a Jacuzzi and a king-size bed this football-style room is ideal for those who live, sleep and breathe the game.

The hotel features a water park and shopping mall and has 118 rooms in eleven different styles. There are also two restaurants and a lounge bar.

The Fantasyland hotel is ideal for adults and children alike. With a choice of themes you can pick whatever life you want to live and lose yourself in the fantasy.
When you really want to escape the humdrum of everyday life, visit another world and not just another country.

Thanda Private Game Reserve has been deemed the most luxurious destination in Africa, winning ‘Africa’s Leading Luxury Lodge’ in the 2007 World Travel Awards ceremony at a gala evening in Abu Dhabi. The award comes only three years after the five-star lodge opened its doors to the public and bears testament to the strong emphasis the lodge places on customer service and unparalleled luxury. The World Travel Awards were established in 1993 to recognise and reward outstanding achievements within the global travel industry and is endorsed by  celebrities and press around the world. The only private game reserve in the world to hold exclusive membership with The Leading Hotels of the World, Thanda’s superlative facilities include a decadent main lodge, authentic safari-style tented camp and award-winning wellness centre.

Other nominees in Africa’s Leading Luxury Lodge included Chobe Game Lodge in Botswana, Mnemba Island Lodge in Tanzania, Sabi Sabi and Ulusaba Private Game Reserve.

A Word from the CEO

I would like to congratulate the whole team at Thanda for achieving another outstanding award, the prestigious World Travel Award for ‘Africa’s Leading Luxury Lodge’.

It gives me great pleasure and tremendous pride to accept this award alongside Thanda's Marketing Director, Anita Vernes, and the Lodge Manager, Bianca Shaw.

When Thanda won the 2006 World Travel Award for South Africa's Leading Safari at an event that took place in Turks & Caicos, the goal was set to walk away with the African title for 2007.

An accomplishment such as winning Africa's Leading Luxury Lodge would not be possible if it were not for the many talented, committed, passionate and outstanding staff who make Thanda what it is. From the chefs who present the meals, the hosts and waitrons who are forever smiling, the porters, trackers, guides, housekeepers, maintenance staff, security, wildlife, the reservationists, the marketers and of course the managers who take responsibility for ensuring that service excellence is exemplified on a consistent basis.

Team work makes the dream work and the Thanda team is no exception. When the owners of Thanda, Christin and Dan Olofsson first set the benchmark that they wanted Thanda transcend private safari lodges in South Africa, I don’t think any of us knew what the journey would yield. I am a firm believer that five-star standards can be taught at the many excellent hotel schools in the country. Seven-star service excellence however, striving to be the "Best of the Best", requires attitude, a state of mind that transcends what is normally taught and expected. Being able to deliver on this promise of world class service in the middle of the African bush requires that the needs and wants of the guest always have to take priority over everything else.

Whether it is just a helpful smile, or pre-empting what the personal preferences of guests are, making sure that everything from arrival to departure is checked and reviewed, with the right attitude- that’s what makes the difference. It is deliberate, it doesn’t just happen.

I would like to thank the owners Christin and Dan Olofsson for their unwavering support and commitment to making it possible to provide world class accommodation and making sure that every required detail was thought of and properly funded. To our marketing team who display unbelievable belief in promoting and selling the product amidst tremendous and very worthy competition, to the very talented hospitality staff led by the gifted Bianca Shaw, who amaze guests with their "Thandarize" philosophy and attention to detail, to Richard Phiri the master chef, Thabani Gumede who is forever dependable, Truman Ndlovu who inspires guests with his story telling and so the list goes on and on. Well done, I am extremely proud of you all.

Lastly and most importantly, I would like to thank the trade who voted for Thanda. Without your support, not only would we not have won this award, but Thanda would not be the success that it is today, barely three years after opening its doors to the world . To the organisers of the World Travel Awards, well done on another very auspicious awards ceremony at the Emirates Palace in Abu Dhabi.

Pierre Delvaux
Thanda Group
Vice Chairman and CEO