Recommend January 2014 - (Page 104)

the accommodation option Choosing accommodations in Macau is a crapshoot because the city has a choice of hotels as diverse as a 13-course Chinese dinner. Massive hotels loom over Cotai Central, a section of the city consisting of a gargantuan reclaimed land project. Vegas names like The Venetian, Wynn's, Sands and others are already familiar landmarks in the former Portuguese colony. Opening in 2016, perhaps in anticipation of the swarm of visitors who will by then be able to drive to Macau from Hong Kong, are MGM, The Parisian, JW Marriott, Galaxy and a Ritz-Carlton. If there's a resort that exempliﬁes the city, though, it's Sheraton Macao, a twin tower complex (the towers are fetchingly named "Earth" and "Sky") of luxury shops, spas, restaurants and-of course-a scintillating casino. This massive complex, part of Starwood Hotels & Resorts, has set new standards when it comes to Macau-style pampering and luxury. Josef Dolp, the hotel's managing director, describes the complex as being in "the most desirable location of a vibrant city. What makes a most memorable vacation here is our proximity to world-class shopping, dining and entertainment, plus our full array of amenities." MACAU GOVERNMENT TOURIST OFFICE This photo: Festivities in front of the ruins of the Mater Dei Church. Top: An Ambassador suite at the Sheraton Macao. 104 january 2014 100-105 ASIA PACIFIC.indd 104 According to Ruth Boston, the hotel's general manager of sales and marketing, the growth is almost surreal. "This is a city with a tad over a half-million residents who welcome more than 28 million visitors every year-and it shows no sign of slowing. You must remember," she stresses, "that a mere ﬁve years ago this was barren, reclaimed land. Yet, the resort received its one millionth guest only 11 months after opening in September 2012." She says that even with the Sheraton Macao's success, "expansion is already underway, as we plan to add an additional 105 suites to the existing 273 by 2014." According to Boston, Sheraton Macao's "unwavering policy" is to "personalize a stay. We go out of our way to make guests feel like they're staying in a small hotel, so we try to make a stay here an intimate experience. We're adding because of the large demand." The demand is clear. The Sheraton Macao boasts 100 percent occupancy on weekends, and the activity within it is as hectic as any weekend night on the Las Vegas Strip. Guests traveling with children will ﬁnd the resort to be a fun-ﬁlled destination accented by the presence of DreamWorks characters entertaining the younger set in specially designed shows throughout the property. To promote its ties with DreamWorks, Sheraton Macao offers a package (from about $370 per night) in a DreamWorks-themed family suite with amenities tailored exclusively for children. The suites are decorated with famous DreamWorks characters from "Madagascar," "Shrek" and "Kung Fu Panda," and children receive a welcome kit full of collectibles. The package features unlimited access to movies and supervised outdoor activities. Weekend breakfast ("Shrekfast with the DreamWorks Gang") is a lively affair with the "Shrek" characters entertaining guests throughout the morning in a massive ballroom. For adults with different tastes, the Sheraton Macao has a lineup of restaurants that will delight even the most discerning epicurean. recommend.com 12/18/13 1:23 PM http://www.recommend.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Recommend January 2014

Editor's Notes
Hotel Desk: Aloft Hotels
Tour Talk: Swain Destinations
Uniworld's Queen Isabel
Disney Magic
Delta Air Lines Travel Guide 2014
Macau
Egypt Update
Scandinavia Exposed
B Hotels & Resorts
What's New in Las Vegas

Recommend January 2014