Macau’s Leader Wants Superstar Residencies to Attract Tourists
Sam Hou Fai, the current Chief Executive-elect of Macau and a former 1st President of the Court of Final Appeal, has called for the special administrative region of Macau to start hosting Vegas-style superstar residency shows.
He believes that enticing international music stars for long-term performances could help Macau diversify, meet its economic goals, and provide another incentive for players, such as those who would normally play on online baccarat sites, to visit.
Adele Reportedly Turns Down $200M Offer
Sam’s remarks came after a report in the UK’s The Daily Mail claimed Adele had turned down a $200 million offer to extend her tour with a residency at an unnamed Macau casino. The proposed world tour would have included stops across Europe, Asia, and South America. Still, the Macau residency alone would have earned the British singer a “nine-figure” payout, potentially her “biggest payday” ever. However, according to the report, it wasn’t enough to sway Adele, who wants to spend more time with her family.
While there has been no official confirmation of the report from Adele, the story was big news in Las Vegas of the East. This served as inspiration for Sam Hou Fai to host a superstar residence in Macau.
At a recent town hall meeting, he spoke about the story, saying:
“I read that a famous UK singer, who once performed in a residency show in Las Vegas for a period of time, was offered around US$200 million by a large leisure gaming firm in Macau to perform for maybe half a year or more.”
Adele’s two-year residency at Caesars Palace’s Colosseum in Las Vegas is set to conclude in November after a 100-show run. Recently, she has spoken about how she wants a break from performing, leading Hou Fai to ask:
“While she [Adele] turned down the offer to take care of her family and children, could we not continue to promote something like this to make it a long-term operation?”
In recent years, Macau casinos have experimented with residency-style shows, often featuring popular Hong Kong and K-Pop stars. However, global icons like Adele, who enjoys popularity in Asia despite never having toured there, have yet to headline in the region.
Attracting Visitors from Beyond Mainland China
There is currently a great deal of pressure from Beijing for Macau to diversify beyond casino gaming. As such, Macau’s leaders are looking at ways to attract more tourists from outside mainland China. Sam, who will be Macau’s first leader born in mainland China, supports Beijing’s directive and has underscored the importance of “reform and innovation” to address Macau’s economic challenges. He argues that the heavy focus on casino gaming has limited young people’s career options and burdened local resources.
As part of their efforts to meet these concerns, Macau’s six casino operators have pledged to invest $12.5 billion in nongaming attractions as part of their recent license renewals. Sam believes a good use of this money would be hosting international talent and develop the region into a prime destination for top-tier global entertainment.
Current Entertainment in Macau
It was recently announced that “The House of Dancing Waters”, a popular show featuring acrobatics and dance, will soon resume at the City of Dreams resort after a four-year break.
However, there are very few shows currently scheduled in Macau and almost none that would appeal to foreign visitors. Instead, the Macau Ministry of Tourism directs visitors to attractions such as the Eiffel Tower and Light Show and the SkyCab, which offer stunning views but are unlikely to attract anyone from Europe or America.
While Adele may have turned down the opportunity of a Macau residency, if venues are willing to pay nine-figure fees, then there are sure to be many international superstars happy to take up the offer.
