NEWS FROM THE EXOTIC AND FASCINATING WORLD OF MACAU

Experience Macau in New York New York members of the media and trade industry had two opportunities to Experience Macau in June. The Macau Government Tourist Office-USA invited journalists from the New York area to attend a luncheon presentation at the prestigious Asia Society. Fifty journalists, including writers and editors for Travel & Leisure, NY Daily News, Meetings & Conventions Magazine and Sing Tao Daily enjoyed a sample Macanese cuisine menu (Caldo Verde for starters and African Chicken as the main course). Al Merschen, General Manager, USA for the Macau Government Tourist Office presented an update on Macau’s latest news and discussed how this dynamic destination is balancing world heritage with the new and upcoming world class entertainment. That evening, MGTO-USA hosted a dinner at the United Nations for the New York Chapter of the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA). Ninety-four guests attended the event, including members of the board and the official representative of PATA in the US. Guests were treated to cocktails on the patio, overlooking New York’s East River and lower Manhattan, followed by dinner. Mr. Merschen spoke about MGTO’s long-standing partnership with PATA and the recent award bestowed to Macau for 50 years as a member of PATA. Countdown To The Olympics Less than 30 days left and counting! The 2008 Summer Olympics will be celebrated from August 8, 2008 to August 24, 2008 with the opening ceremonies beginning at 08:08:08 pm CST at the Beijing National Stadium. After being awarded the Olympic Games in 2001, Beijing’s official emblem of the games is titled “Chinese Seal-Dancing Beijing.” Beijing has a wealth of cultural history, and its’ well preserved historical relics will pay tribute to Chinese pride throughout the games. Macau is hosting some of the international teams in preliminary games, including the National Basketball Team. Kobe Bryant, Lebron James, Carmelo Anthony and the rest of the team will be practicing at the Venetian Macao Arena, where they will also play a few exhibition games before the Olympics. After the Olympic Games, Macau will be the perfect destination for those seeking culture and excitement. For more information, please visit: www.macautourism.gov.mo Cirque de Soleil Comes To Macau Cirque du Soleil, the Canadian-based global entertainment company, unveiled its latest show in Macau. ZAIA is the name of the very first permanent Cirque du Soleil production set to open in Asia. ZAIA will be presented at the Venetian Macao-Resort-Hotel in Macau and will hold its Gala Celebration on August 28, 2008 to coincide with the 1st Anniversary of its host resort-hotel. Preview performances beginning July 26, 2008. The title, ZAIA, comes from a Greek name meaning “life” and is also reminiscent of “Gaia,” the living, self-aware, spirit of earth. ZAIA is about the dream of a young girl who journeys into space on a strange, yet familiar voyage of self-discovery. As she travels, she encounters the beauty of humanity and eventually brings it back with her to share with the inhabitants of earth. ZAIA will be presented in a custom-built 1,800 seat theater at the Venetian Macau-Hotel-Resort. The combined cost of show creation and the custom-built theatre for ZAIA is in excess of $USD150 million. During the preview period (July 26, 2008 to August 27, 2008) there won’t be a set schedule of performances. Please consult the most current show schedule at www.cirquedusoleil.com. The Gala premiere is scheduled for August 28, 2008. Regular performances will begin August 29, 2008. Regular performances for ZAIA will run Tuesday through Sunday. On Tuesdays and Wednesdays the show time will be at 8p.m. On Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays the show times will be at 7p.m. and 10p.m. On Sundays, shows will be at 4p.m. and 7p.m. There will be no shows on Mondays. Ticket prices: Adult ticket prices: MOP$1288 (app. $167USD), MOP$788 (app. $104USD), MOP$588 (app. $77USD), MOP$388 (app. $51USD) Children ticket prices: MOP$688 (app. $90USD), MOP$488 (app. $64USD), MOP$288 (app. $38USD) For more information, please visit: www.cirquedusoleil.com Golf in Macau Macau golf courses are upping their ante, to match the game’s increasing popularity in Asia. There are two main golf courses in Macau, Orient Golf and the Macau Golf & Country Club. The Orient Golf (Macau) Club, designed, developed and owned by Orient Golf International, is a golf resort with an 18-hole championship course and is 7,068 yards in length. The Club has a 280-yard driving range, clubhouse and guesthouse. The Macau Golf & Country Club is also an 18-hole course which is open to the guests of the adjoining Westin Resort Macau. Featuring a unique sea-facing driving range, the course offers panoramic views of the mountains and Hac-Sa Beach. Festivals Galore: Join us in Celebration Macau has more festivals then you have vacation time to enjoy them. Here are a few special ones around which to plan a trip. Wynn Macau - 20th Macau International Fireworks Display Contest (Sept. 13, 14, 20, 27 & Oct. 1): The annual "Macau International Fireworks Display Contest" not only lights up the nights of Macau, but also the hearts of spectators. Local residents long for the marvelous fireworks displays that add a joyous atmosphere to holidays and festivals. The Contest has also become an annual characteristic of Macau. Many visitors specially choose this time of the year to come to Macau to enjoy an exotic and romantic holiday. Lusofonia Festival 2008 (Oct. 7-9): The annual Lusofonia Festival will once again be held in the environs of the Taipa Houses Museum in the zone of Carmo, grand cultural reminders of the architecture ‘imported’ by the original Portuguese settlers. guided The outdoor festival lasts three days from noon to midnight, with food fests, games, handicrafts, traditional Portuguese dances and music concerts. Macau Golf Open (Oct. 23-26): With presence of high profile players and support of the Macau Golf and Country Club, the Macau Open give the region's golfers a chance to test their rapidly development skills against the best in the world. Each edition we will spotlight unique, interesting and worthwhile spots in Macau. This edition we are proud to present: • Historical Paintings of Macau in the 19th Century : Historical Paintings of the landscape of Macau will be on display at the Museu De Arte De Macau until December 31 2008. On display in the ground floor and 1st floor gallery, these landscapes will entice viewers by the sheer development and growth of Macau through to today. For more information, click here: www.artmuseum.gov.mo • Feast of Maidens – August 8: Sometimes referred to as the Lovers' Festival, it falls on the seventh day of the seventh moon on the lunar calendar. Also known as the Chinese Valentine’s Day, this festival celebrates the only day in the year when the legendary Heavenly Weaver can meet her lover, the Cowherd, over a bridge of birds spanning the Milky Way. • Feast of Hungry Ghosts – August 14 : In order to appease the ancestors' souls and all the forgotten spirits, people make small paper models of objects, and burn them with incense on the pavements or at the entrance door of their houses. They worship the gods to protect those beloved ones, also preparing dishes of meat and fruits. Macau—a Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China—is the perfect remedy for the American traveler who is looking for a cutting edge destination brimming with an intoxicating mix of European heritage and Chinese culture, fine cuisine and impressive tourism infrastructure. Over 200,000 Americans are flocking there annually. Recently, Macau has been spotlighted due to her booming entertainment and casino industry. But, for the non-gambling travelers, casinos are just a small part of what this unique destination has to offer. Macau is the ideal compliment to any Asian itinerary—it can be easily reached by jetfoil for a day trip from Hong Kong and lends itself perfectly to a two or three-day extension from Mainland China or wherever you may find yourself in Asia. With a population estimated at 543,000 and a total area of 11.04 square miles (and growing due to land reclamation), two or three days in Macau allow the traveler to get an intimate feel for the city and her people. ________________________________________ Thank you for reading this edition! Look for your next edition of Now in Macau in September. Have a great day! Hope to see you in Macau soon! If at any time you would like to be taken off the distribution list, just hit “reply” and let us know. If you have any suggestion for how we can make it more useful for you, please let us know that, as well! João H. Rodrigues Media & Marketing Manager Macau Government Tourist Office c/o Myriad Marketing 501 Fifth Avenue, Suite 1101 New York, NY 10017 Tel: (646) 227-0690 Fax: (646) 366-8170 joao@myriadmarketing.com Shirley Tu Marketing Manager Macau Government Tourist Office c/o Myriad Marketing 1334 Parkview Avenue, Suite 300 Manhattan Beach, CA 90266 Tel: (310) 545-3464 Toll Free: 866 OK-MACAU Fax: (310) 545-4221 shirley@myriadmarketing.com The information in this newsletter is confidential and intended only for the use of the addressed recipient. In certain cases it is also legally privileged. If you are not the intended recipient, any dissemination, distribution or copying of this newsletter is strictly prohibited. If you have received this in error, please advise immediately by return e-mail. SEPT. 13, 14, 20, 27, Oct. 1 Wynn Macau - 20th Macau International Fireworks Display Contest SEPT. 14 Mid-Autumn Festival SEPT. 27 World Tourism Day OCT. 1 National Day of the People's Republic of China OCT. 3 - NOV. 2 22nd Macau International Music Festival OCT. 7 Festival of Ancestors (Chung Yeung Festival) OCT. 17 - 19 Lusofonia Festival 2008 OCT. 23 - 26 13th Macau International Trade and Investment Fair OCT. 23 - 26 Macau Golf Open For a complete list of events taking place in Macau, please click the link below: Macau's Calendar of Events
[Back to Press Releases Main]