Las Vegas Sands hosts grand opening of reimagined The Londoner resort in Macau

After a two-year redesign project, Las Vegas Sands strengthened its presence in Macau with the opening of its reimagined The Londoner resort on Thursday. The completion of the $4 billion project, which included a celebration ceremony, marked the culmination of late Chairman Sheldon Adelson’s vision of the Cotai Strip as one of the world’s top leisure destinations. 

With refurbishments and additions costing approximately $2 billion, The Londoner Macao is seamlessly connected to The Parisian Macao, The Venetian Macao, and The Plaza Macao. The result is "a resort city where the grandeur of Europe playfully meets the pulsating life of Cotai – a combination that delights visitors to Macau."

The celebration event, themed "The Journey Begins," also commemorated the start of a new 10-year gaming concession for Sands subsidiary Sands China. The company said it has "reaffirmed its commitment to Macau, its people, and its economy, pledging to invest $3.7 billion in the city over the next decade."

Robert G. Goldstein, Sands Chairman and CEO, said: "Sands China has delivered on Sheldon Adelson’s vision through the ongoing development of Cotai. Where 250 acres of empty reclaimed land once sat, we have built one of the world’s leading tourist destinations with an incredible future ahead of it."

The Londoner celebration included an appearance by British soccer icon David Beckham, a Sands ambassador, and performances by Chinese piano virtuoso Lang Lang, Hong Kong singer-songwriter G.E.M., Chinese musical theater artist, vocalist, and actor Ayanga, and a performance by British jazz vocalist Jamie Cullum. 

Sands, the market leader in Macau, has resorts celebrating Venice, Paris, and London, with the Londoner housing 6,000 rooms and suites and 1.2 million square feet of retail, entertainment, dining and meetings, and convention space. 

The British-themed reimagining of the property also celebrates London with replicas of the Palace of Westminster and Houses of Parliament, Big Ben, changing of the guard re-creations inspired by ceremonies at Buckingham Palace, a porte cochere inspired by the architecture at Victoria Station, a 10-story Crystal Palace atrium and a full-scale reproduction of the famed Shaftesbury Memorial Fountain with its Anteros statue in London’s Piccadilly Circus.

"We are excited to fully support the Macao government in its vision to develop a highly diversified tourism industry through enhanced MICE offerings, new sporting and cultural event programming, enhancements to Macao’s reputation as a global City of Gastronomy, and an embrace of the city’s unique cultural heritage," the CEO concluded.

Robert G. Goldstein, Sands Chairman and CEO

Last month, the company shared its financial report for the first quarter of 2023. The business's quarterly revenue surpassed Wall Street estimates as March visitation levels accelerated gaming volumes, retail sales, and hotel occupancy.

Net revenue for the period was $2.12 billion, compared to $943 million in the prior year. Operating income was $378 million, compared to an operating loss of $302 million in the same period last year. The figure surpassed analysts' average estimate of $1.8 billion.