Angela Leong: fire’s impact on Grand Lisboa Palace opening date unclear

Sociedade de Jogos de Macau’s (SJM) Grand Lisboa Palace, the group’s debut property on the Cotai Strip, will have its opening delayed after a fire broke out late last Saturday night, according to Angela Leong On Kei, the executive director of the local gaming operator, during an event held yesterday at JA Avenue, in the group’s Jai Alai complex.
The gaming operator had been planning to unveil the new Cotai property by the second half of 2018.
“I believe everything relating to the typhoon or the fire will have a certain level of impact [on the opening], but for now we still haven’t evaluated the level of damage so there is nothing I can concretely say on the matter,” Leong told the press.
With the case currently being investigated by the Judiciary Police (PJ), Leong said there is as yet no update about the fire, but she acknowledged that the fire had reached the fifth floor of the property.
Leong stated that the length of delay in completing the property will depend on the evaluation made by the constructors, but stated that that the property might be partially opened in time to meet the previously announced date.
“We might open partially, like here [Jai Alai], but it is not our wish for it to be like this, we hope to open it in its entirety,” said Leong.
The PJ have revealed that they suspect the cause of the fire could have been arson, having found three burning points. A security guard and a firefighter were injured, and in total, 88 workers were taken off the site and one trapped worker was saved by firefighters. The fire was detected at about 6’o clock in the morning and put out before noon.
Despite being the second fire to occur on the property within a year, the SJM executive director did not speculate on potential causes, stating they still have not received the investigation results of the first fire, which took place in March.
Leong said a meeting among directors would be held in the near future to discuss the matter after related reports are received.
“I think Mr. So [Chief Executive Officer of local gaming operator SJM Holdings Ltd., Ambrose So Shu Fai] will soon have news for you all,” said Leong.

Jai Alai Hotel opening still pending
When asked by the press about the hotel license of Jai Alai, the executive director lamented that she “also wants to ask why the Jai Alai Hotel hasn’t opened yet”.
“[The situation is] very helpless! If I knew that there was news coming, I would happily tell you all. Because of this, the business isn’t good,” remarked Leong.
The casino area in the Jai Alai building commenced operations in December of last year, while the retail area in the building opened its doors last April. The 132-room Jai Alai Hotel is still awaiting permission from the government.


More brands to enter JA Avenue
Yesterday, JA Avenue welcomed CANVAS, an Organic Aromatherapy brand based in Australia. The SJM executive director Angela Leong On Kei officiated yesterday’s soft opening ceremony. Speaking to the press after the ceremony, she expressed the wish that more brands be introduced to JA Avenue.
The retail segment of the group’s most recently-opened property was also holding a charity event in collaboraiton with CANVAS, from which the profits will be delivered to the Macau Special Olympics and the Macau Association of the Hearing Impaired.