Not Yet Open Venetian Macao

The Meeting, Incentive, Convention and Exhibition (MICE) business has become a strong barometer for the success of any mega-resort operation. In markets such as Las Vegas, convention business is the predominant economic driver, bringing in millions of tourists a year that drop an average of $600 per person during their stay at the gaming tables and at restaurants and entertainment venues.

The Venetian Macao Resort Hotel, which opens this summer, has already booked more than 20 tradeshow organizers to produce 44 events during the next two years. The varied tradeshows feature a cross-section of business sectors and will generate a significant number of hotel room nights for The Venetian Macao, including tens of thousands in just the first few months after the opening of the property.

"The momentum our MICE team has been experiencing is incredible and the current demand is far beyond our expectations. Entire shows are relocating to Macao as they clearly recognize the advantages of staging a show with us," said William P. Weidner, president and chief operating officer of Las Vegas Sands Corp. "Bringing an entirely new approach to the MICE industry in Asia has definitely paid off as trade show organizers recognize our team's experience and our one-of-a kind integrated resort that will allow these shows to attract attendees."

In Las Vegas, convention business has been so strong the property will embark on a one million square foot expansion of its meetings facilities set to open in 2010. The Venetian Macao will be one of the largest hotels in Asia and will open with 3,000 all-suite rooms, 1.2 million-square feet of meeting, convention and exhibition space, world-class entertainment in a 15,000-seat arena, and an array of dining, shopping, and recreation options.
   
Recent shows booked by The Venetian Macao include; the ISSA/InterClean show, which is relocating an event previously held in Shanghai. This show is a joint venture between Amsterdam/Rai, one of Europe's leading exhibition organizers, and the Washington D.C. based International Sanitary Supply Association; The World Tobacco Show, which is relocating an event previously held in Bali, Indonesia. This show is produced by DMG World Media, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Daily Mail & General rust plc.; The International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions, a Washington D.C. based Association, also recently chose Macao for the 2008 IAAPA Asian Expo, an event being held this year in Bangkok.

Kenfair International (Holdings) Limited, one of Hong Kong's leading exhibition organizers globally recognized for producing events for the toy, gift, premium incentive and electronics industries, has signed a long-term contract with The Venetian Macao to produce two trade shows each year. The Venetian Macao will also host the Macao International Pharmaceutical Expo, a trade show produced by the China Center for Pharmaceutical International Exchange, an exhibition company registered with the Central Government, and affiliated with China's State Food and Drug Administration, working in cooperation with Bestway International Exhibition Company Macau.

Separately, The Venetian Macao has already signed contracts for 20 corporate meetings to be held within the first four months of opening. Additional meetings have also been scheduled for 2008.

"The wide variety of products and services represented here is indicative that The Venetian Macao has a unique appeal to both tradeshow organizers and meeting planners and is well on its way to becoming their destination of choice," added Weidner. "The assortment of entertainment, shopping, dining and recreation options, in concert with state-of-the art exhibition and meetings facilities, is clearly positioning The Venetian Macao as the pre-eminent meeting and convention destination in Asia."

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