Macau: Ideal destination for your next event

Another heavyweight’s entry into the casino and leisure turf of Macau is certain to further raise the profile of the Special Administrative Region as a premier choice for event planners in the neighbouring region and elsewhere.

In recent years, encouraged by supportive Government initiatives, event planners have been voting with their feet recognising Macau as a top choice venue for meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions (MICE). 

Galaxy Macau, the integrated resort opened by Galaxy Entertainment Group in May, has its own meetings and events spaces, some of which are spread over in the hotels in the complex – Banyan Tree Macau and Hotel Okura. The Strategic MICE Market Stimulation Programme was launched in 2009 to elevate the sector.

The programme provides support to bid for events, free travel kits, promotional videos, assistance in overseas marketing, financial support for accommodation costs, support for food and beverage costs, and support for keynote speakers. 

Eligible events organisers can avail themselves of financial subsidies for business events confirmed before the end of the year.

For meetings and conventions, specific, tailor-made support include rebates for accommodation, speaker sponsorship, transport allowance of 3,000 Macau pataca for keynote speakers and heads of delegation, and allowances of 400 Macau pataca per delegate for food and beverage.

Qualified potential meetings may also be eligible for site inspections and assistance in preparing bids, including support amounting to 40,000 Macau Pataca round-trip air fare and ferry per person.

Eligible exhibition organisers could get between 100,000 Macau pataca and 300,00 Macau pataca for expenditure on audio-visual equipment, to set up booths, and for banners on streets.

The same level of financial support is available for opening ceremony expenses such as the use of an emcee, stage set ups, backdrops, ribbon cutting, or similar public relations functions.

For incentives such as awards presentations and team building activities, involving a minimum 50 overseas participants who will stay two consecutive nights stay in Macau hotel, $300 Macau pataca is granted for each overseas participant.

All this is in addition to valuable publicity given through Macau Government Tourist Office channels, a vast network across the world. Such comprehensive support is made available under a scheme that has already given an assuring hand to numerous meetings, conventions, exhibitions and incentive programmes.

For eligible incentives, assistance is also provided to promote the activities as well as free admission to Wine Museum, and Grand Prix Museum. Help is available for preparing bids and presentations.

From May 18, 2009 to May 6, 2011, the programme has supported 246 events, including 95 meetings and conventions, 47 exhibitions and 104 incentive travel events involving a cumulative 1.1 million participants. The financial support under the programme amounted to $49.6 million Macau pataca.