The bar for luxury standards in Macau is about to be raised as a greater range of ultra-luxury hotels become available from May 27 with the opening of two top hotel brands at the Galaxy integrated resort: JW Marriott Hotel Macau and The Ritz-Carlton, Macau.
For the American company Marriott International that owns JW Marriott and The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company it was important to not only bring the two top hospitality brands to Macau but also to make sure these were the brands’ best hotels worldwide.
“The Macau hotel industry has gone through a dramatic development over the years and we saw a gap in the current market offerings: guests are looking for authentic experiences,” says Rauf Malik, Vice President of Operations of JW Marriott Macau and The Ritz-Carlton, Macau.
The two new hotel brands will be located in Phase 2 of Galaxy Macau and guests will not only have access to the hotel’s facilities and offerings, but also the immersive resort experience.
“We are here because of Galaxy, which already has some other luxury brands such as Banyan Tree and Hotel Okura, and now these two new brands will bring even more buzz to the integrated resort”, says Malik.
“I think for us, entering into a new market like Macau, it is thrilling to have partners like Galaxy who have provided us with the understanding of the market, a range of integrated activities and a dynamic environment. I think this is really an excellent partnership.”
Despite being part of the same company and in the same integrated resort, the new hotels are “two completely different stand-alone brands with very distinct offerings that set them apart,” says Malik.
JW Marriott Hotel Macau offers “an approachable luxury experience,” while The Ritz-Carlton, Macau focuses on the legendary service it has become renowned around the world he explains.
The Ritz-Carlton, Macau is also the brand’s “first all-suite hotel”, offering over 250 suites.
“Entering the hotel is a journey – from checking-in, to the rooms, food and beverage and to the spa – it’s all about the elevated experience,” says Malik.
“Guests will be impressed by the infrastructure, the design, and The Ritz-Carlton experience. The Ritz-Carlton, Macau wants to create one of the very best Ritz-Carlton in the world,” says Malik.
The first JW Marriott in Asia was opened in Hong Kong, in 1989, and now the JW Marriott Hotel Macau will serve as the new Asian flagship hotel of the brand “bringing 1,015 luxurious rooms and suites into the market” overlooking Galaxy’s Macau’s Grand Resort Deck and Cotai.
“Our new Asia flagship hotel in Macau will serve as the new benchmark for the JW Marriott brand as well as for the luxury scene in Macau, offering authentic service, crafted experiences and intuitive responses to guests’ needs,” he says.
All-star dining experiences
The new hotel brands will also “create a buzz in the food and beverage sector” by offering “original dining experiences“, says Malik.
“We are looking at three Michelin starred restaurants, and are targeting two to three. I cannot say how many stars we are going to get, but we are creating the environment because we have wonderful chefs; Bill Fu, Head Chef at Lai Heen, is going to create a fantastic Cantonese culinary experience, and also Chef Raphael Kinimo in The Ritz-Carlton Café, a French-Brasserie, is going to be amazing.”
Mr Malik also acknowledges that the hotels dining offerings are tailored to mainly target Chinese guests.
“If you look at it, 90 percent of our guests are Chinese, regardless of whether they are from Taiwan, Hong Kong or from China. So we are looking at providing all-day dining and comfort-food so they feel we are catering to their needs. That is really important.”
Targeting the luxury MICE market
The partnership with Galaxy Macau has also been important in terms of staff recruitment and training. Malik says that a “lot of resources have been put into training,” the goal being “to elevate the standard of luxury and service in Macau.”
In this context, staff with knowledge of different languages and cultures is very important. The company tries “to hire locals as much as possible,” says Malik. And they have been “very successful, because of Galaxy’s name and because we are bringing new brands to the city, which are known for being top-employers and a top-training organizations. We have had our trainers coming to train our associates and to ensure they are ready to serve.”
The new hotel brands are also looking at the luxury MICE market.
“Having the infrastructure provided by Galaxy, I think we are going to be quite successful in the MICE area, because we are working at not only promoting the JW Marriott Hotel Macau and The Ritz-Carlton, Macau, we are selling the Galaxy integrated resort, so we are attracting incentive groups, meeting groups, and product launch events”.
Ultimately, Mr. Malik sees “huge potential for the territory in the future” as the dynamic landscape of Macau evolves.
JW Marriott Hotel Macau
• 1,015 luxurious rooms and suites
• Man Ho – Award-winning restaurant from JW Marriott Hotel Hong Kong, offering traditional Cantonese culinary techniques and flavors.
• Urban Kitchen – All-day dining outlet with international and regional cuisine.
• The Lounge – Sophisticated lobby lounge
• JW Pool Bar
• World’s largest JW Kid’s Club introduces the concept of “Edutainment” new in Macau, covering a total of 800 sqm with arts and crafts courses, cooking classes, science experiments, dance and yoga workshops.
• Six-meter high and pillar-less Grand Ballroom and function rooms offering over 2,700sqm of flexible meeting space
The Ritz -Carlton Macau
• Over 250 suites, including the 468 sqm Ritz-Carlton Sky Villa on the top floors.
• Lai Heen – luxury Cantonese fine dining, with Chef Bill Fu
• The Ritz-Carlton Café – French Brasserie, helmed by Lyon-born head chef Raphaël Kinimo, specializing in French cuisine.
• The Ritz-Carlton Bar & Lounge with jewelry afternoon tea, Gin and Tonic trolley, innovative Asian-tapas and live entertainment
• ESPA with ten treatment rooms and three couples’ suites
• 900sqm of flexible event space including pillar-less Grand Ballroom and two meeting rooms
