With Galaxy Macau now open, the most asked question is what’s next for the undeveloped land around the resort At 4:51 pm on May 15, Galaxy Macau officially opened its doors. In the first 90 minutes, more than 20,000 guests were welcomed. But with the resort occupying just one-third of the entire plot area, the big question is “what comes next?”. Galaxy Entertainment Group is keeping its cards close to its chest. Asked several times by reporters during Galaxy Macau’s opening celebrations, vice-chairman Francis Lui said the company was continuously planning and researching in order to respond to the market’s demands. He would not disclose details on plans for the undeveloped land. “The client profile in this region of the world has changed a lot over the past few years,” Mr Lui said. “If we had used all the land at once, the property would become obsolete very fast.” According to him, a development by stages gives Galaxy Entertainment Group the flexibility “to regularly introduce novelties according to the evolution of customers”. The land grant contract signed between the government and Galaxy Entertainment Group gives the company until October 2017 to finish developing the land. The document adds that, besides a hotel and casino complex, including gambling areas, entertainment, retail and restaurants, the gaming operator also has to build a 53,000-square metre convention centre. Galaxy Entertainment Group has not requested any changes in the land grant contract, a spokesperson for the Lands, Public Works and Transport Bureau told Macau Business. Although Galaxy Entertainment Group owns the biggest contiguous land bank licensed for gaming in Cotai and in the territory, Melco Crown Entertainment’s City of Dreams venue also still includes some undeveloped land. As for Las Vegas Sands, when it finishes constructions on parcels five and six, it still has parcel three, beside the Four Seasons, to develop. Neither of these companies have revealed any plans.
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