Inside Asian Gaming

MARCH 2018 INSIDE ASIAN GAMING 19 “This is a property we’ve designed with the intention of being able to transform constantly and continuously to be always relevant to the rapidly changing expectations of the Chinese consumer.” COVER STORY being said, it is likely the property gets a better share of walk-ins than Wynn Palace as it is better located, but the high-end business will not be as impressive.” From the company’s viewpoint, MGM Cotai has been all about providing a point of difference from its rivals. “We spent a lot of money on this property and our expectation is that we will meet our shareholders’ expectations in terms of our return on that investment,” says Bowie. “The critical point in terms of ROI is making sure your customers keep coming back and that they want to use your products. That’s why we’ve tried to create a niche for ourselves at the upper end of the market. We believe there is greater potential for sustainability and core customers in terms of driving incremental revenue and supporting the significant investment we’ve made. “I’m not going to give any forecasts at this time but we’re very comfortable that this is a good investment, that it will return to our shareholders and will return to Macau itself.” Bowie describes MGM Cotai as “a unique venue that will be popular for many different events,” most notably via its high-tech MGM Theater. With capacity for 2,000 people, MGM Theater is a multi-purpose zone whose key feature is the world’s largest permanent indoor LED screen, displaying 28 million pixels over 900 square meters – equivalent to the size of three tennis courts. Home to three resident shows that showcase the space’s audio-visual and architectural dexterity, MGM Theater also offers 10 different configurations which allow it to be used for everything from live performances, stage shows and presentations to conferences and other formal events. JimMurren, MGM China’s Chairperson and Executive Director as well as Chairman and CEO of MGM Resorts, says the company will One of MGM Cotai’s Skylofts