MGM Cotai Construction Begins
Started by StudiodeKadent on Saturday, 2nd March 2013 10:35 pm
News Item: http://www.macaubusiness.com/news/mgm-china-starts-construction-in-cotai/21735/
Press release: http://c585941.r41.cf2.rackcdn.com/Press_Release_Celebrating_a_New_Beginning_MGM_COTAI.pdf
So, first thoughts is that MGM Cotai isn't being a themed property at all. Rather it looks like its going to be like MGM Macau - the visual style will be a blend of the "greatest hits" of the Vegas properties combined with a Macanese twist.
This is fine by me - I actually prefer the look of MGM Macau to the look of Wynn Macau (the Wynn, however, has better service and free booze on the casino floor, combined with being a better hotel). But how will MGM Cotai differentiate itself from MGM Macau? This is an interesting question.
To be fair, the angular and patterned facade of the building does differentiate itself out from the smooth wavey curves of MGM Macau.
In terms of market positioning, the growth of the mass market (which the company acknowledges) does seem to indicate that MGM Cotai might make itself more mass-market-oriented, and MGM Macau might refocus more on the higher end of the market as a consequence. Or perhaps the property will be just like MGM Macau and take a position that embraces several market tiers... MGM Macau's casino and restaurants cater to a variety of market tiers, whilst the hotel is solidly mid-to-high-end. MGM Cotai might just continue that pattern, but the hotel may include more mass-market facilities?
There are 1600 hotel rooms in MGM Cotai. Perhaps 1000 of these rooms will be mid-range, and the remaining 600 focus on the mid-upper and upper tiers of the market? This would give MGM China 1000 mass-market rooms and 1180 mid-upper and high-end rooms.
Some may think this could create inconsistent branding, but as I said before the MGM Macau does this already in its casino and restaurants, so there seems to be little drawback in being a broad-market property.
Anyway, it looks like MGM and Wynn will open their Cotai projects at similar times.
Dave702 responded on Sunday, 3rd March 2013
I like the exterior look--like a bunch of little gift boxes stacked on top of each other. It's different and unexpected, and far better (for me, anyway) than another glass curtain wall or tri-form building.
StudiodeKadent replied on Monday, 4th March 2013
I agree the exterior is interesting. Its well-differentiated from MGM Macau's appearance whilst still providing continuity, and the different patternings on the different colors makes for something to ponder certainly.
I like how you describe it as "a bunch of little gift boxes stacked on top of each other." That's a pretty good metaphor.
anawas responded on Tuesday, 5th March 2013
It looks like poorly stacked shipping containers to me. Sorry if that reads like I'm a hater. But at least it's distinct.