Paris in Macau

It was as though a switch had been flipped.

The towering structure, previously silent and commanding, came to life — blinking LED lights (all 6,600 of them) trailed up and down its metal lattice body and fire bolts shot from its tip in a staccato rhythm as its backdrop was blanketed with an electrifying display of fireworks and pyrotechnics.

Say hello to the Eiffel Tower. Correction: Not THE Eiffel in Paris, but a half-sized re-creation of the 1889 324m-tall French cultural icon, one of the most recognisable structures in the world. This particular Eiffel tower is the key highlight of new integrated resort The Parisian Macao, which officially opened with great fanfare on Sept 13 to add another 3,000 rooms into the already-bustling Sands Resorts Cotai Strip Macao.

It marks the latest and final addition to the integrated resort city developed by Sands China, which also owns The Venetian Macao, Sands Macao, The Plaza Macao and Sands Cotai Central.

LEISURE FIRST

The new resort also cements a formula that has worked well for the developer — that of rolling out large-scale multi-faceted establishments that lean heavily on aesthetics and themes, family entertainment, convention facilities, and shopping. Gaming takes a back seat. Sheldon G Adelson, chairman and chief executive officer of Las Vegas Sands Corp, parent company of Sands China, pointed out: “The mass market will always be here, that is why we built these giant integrated resorts, to accommodate the mass market.”

And the mass market is all the more important these days, what with many Chinese high-rollers shying away from casinos following Beijing’s crackdown on corruption.

Changing patterns among Chinese travellers also play a part. “China has changed from a package-tour-type of tourism to a more leisure-seeking one, and this is because we have an emerging middle-class, and (this segment) really looks for luxury, but (it has to be) affordable. So The Parisian is designed just for that. We have products that would fit the market for the Mice (Meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions) people, the middle-market segment and for the families,” said Sands China’s President Dr Wilfred Wong in a press conference.

Indeed, families will have a field day at The Parisian Macao’s Qube Kingdom, an intriguing indoor and outdoor play area where kids can climb up and down structures with slides, and jump into ball pits. The resort also touts Aqua World, where tots can whizz into a pool via large water slides or fire water guns while perched on a Jules Verne Airship, complete with a swinging bridge and climbing nets. Nearby is a whimsical carousel reminiscent of the one in Montmartre.

Ruth Boston, vice-president of destination marketing and sales from Sands China, agreed with Dr Wong, adding that its core business has always been the mass market from day one. “We’ve always focused on the non-gaming aspects,” she added, pointing out that the family and Mice markets are a huge priority.

“The Mice business is very important to us, so to be able to offer all of these attractions to Mice customers who stay here (is great) ... One of the key attractions to them is not the fact that we can hold all of these people … (or) that we can put them all in the arena for the plenary, but the fact that in their spare time, they can all wander off under one roof — some are shopping, some are dining, there are activities for everybody.”

The strategy for the company, she said, is to have different properties appealing to different segments so they complement each other. For instance The Parisian is pegged as a destination of “affordable luxury”, while The Venetian is one of “pure luxury”. “While the destination experience in both is as magnificent as each other, they have a different style of accommodation.”

Sands China said currently, more than 30 per cent of its hotel guests are families with children, and business travellers attending corporate meetings, conventions and exhibitions. Last year, The Venetian Macao, Sands Cotai Central, The Plaza Macao and Sands Macao attracted a combined total of 68.1 million visitors, or approximately 186,500 visitors per day.

Impressive numbers, though it has seen a slight dip. In 2014, the four properties had attracted 69.7 million, visitors or about 191,000 visitors per day.

Still, the doldrums facing the gaming sector there is seeing a slight turn of events. In September, reports say Macau posted a 1.1 per cent rise in gambling revenue in August, the first positive monthly year-over-year growth in more than two years.

Adelson said he is optimistic of the future. “Is (the growth) sustainable for the long-term to come, I can’t answer that question, but based on the pre-bookings and the convention bookings we have, I think we have essentially hit the bottom.”

Adding that the rise back up will be “gradual”, he said: “Macau still has very good days to come.”

BONJOUR PARIS

Why the theme of Paris, though? Boston replied that building a mini-Paris was “a decision that was made because of the success of The Venetian”, adding that The Venetian is still the number one most-visited destination in Macao. “People embrace the whole thematic experience ... and Paris seemed an obvious choice,” she said with a laugh.

This new Eiffel Tower, arguably, is not particularly unique — there are more than 30 replicas or similar towers in the world, such as a 1:25 scale one at Japanese theme park Tobu World Square and another half-scale replica atop hotel and casino Paris Las Vegas.

But it is special, as it is “the tallest and most realistic” half-scale duplicate, said Sands China. The tower “has been superbly reproduced with every possible detail intact”, it claimed.

“Paris is an aspirational destination for most travellers in the world, particularly in China, and we believe that having the Eiffel Tower here is so important — if you’re trying to build Paris, you can’t build Paris without the Eiffel Tower,” noted Boston. It’s also “free-standing”, unlike the one in Las Vegas which is attached to a building, she added.

Standing at the foot of this imposing building as the cacophony of celebrations rang above, and having been to the real deal, this writer is inclined to agree. The site does make one’s jaw drop — half-sized version or not.

For one, more than 850,000 decorative rivets are used on the tower (to resemble the functional rivets on the Paris one). It also includes ornate detailing such as cornice scrolls, balustrades and mesh screens around the observation decks. More than 4,500 design drawings were made for the tower, to ensure a creation that was as authentic as possible.

A special light and music show will entertain visitors daily as well, running every 20 minutes from 7.20pm to midnight.

Still, one grouse is the paint job this Eiffel Tower was given. Made using steel instead of the original’s wrought iron, the metal body is painted over with a muddy, almost khaki-brown colour, which upon a closer look makes it seem rather dull. And do not expect an undulating view of beautiful European architecture from level 37; the view you get comprises two extremes: Either of the other sprawling resorts and modern infrastructure, or of barren and sandy fields in the middle of construction. Well, you can also get a view of mainland China.

Besides the Eiffel Tower, the integrated resort strives to emulate the City of Light in other ways. Enter through its majestic gilded doors (which are inspired by opera house Palais Garnier) and you would be greeted with a jaw-dropping gilded emerald fountain, inspired by the Fontaine de Mers. Situated in the centre of the Rotunda, it is quite a monumental sight. Above it, a stunning dome, which was fashioned after the L’Hotel National des Invalides, that will make visitors feel really tiny.

To the left and right are the areas for reception and hotel services, respectively. Except, they look more like a fancy gallery in a French museum than a place for one to check in. The rooms are resplendent in red and blue respectively, and are decorated with French-inspired art, delicate gold gilding, crystal chandeliers, reproductions of 17th and 18th century antique rugs and chinoiserie porcelains.

The Shoppes at Parisian are divided into different precincts named after some of Paris’ streets and arcades, so one moment you could be having a stroll along its Avenue des Champs-Elysees, and the next, you would be waltzing along Avenue Montaigne or Rue Du Faubourg Saint-Honore. With some 170 boutiques and kiosks, the hefty price tags will be the only thing stopping you from splurging.

The recreated Place Vendome at the centre of Shoppes at Parisian, a 57m-long relief containing more than 1,300 figures, is beautiful with its ever-changing ceiling, although the column is rather underwhelming.

However, some minor details mar the experience. The Arc de Triomphe de L’Etoile located at its forecourt has a digital screen attached to it, which ruins the authentic experience, and the Avenue des Champs-Elysees is so short, you would reach the end before you even finish counting to 10.

We had to ask: Isn’t the decor, albeit majestic, a little too...over the top? “That’s not our feedback,” said Boston, firmly. “The younger Chinese are still wowed by beautiful decor,” she said.

Well, if you cannot make it to the real thing, this is probably your next best (and nearest) shot at indulging in the Parisian life.

The Eiffel Tower at The Parisian Macao is open from 10am to 10pm. Tickets from level 5 at the Eiffel Tower Souvenir Shop. Call +853 8111 2768 or +853 8111 2763. For more information and prices, visit www.parisianmacao.com