Celebrity guests attend lighting ceremony at The Grand Canal Shoppes
(Macao, November 25, 2011) – Decorative lights sprang to life today all around The Grand Canal Shoppes, as celebrity guests helped usher in the official start of the Christmas shopping season at The Venetian® Macao-Resort-Hotel.
Hong Kong actors Carina Lau and Louis Koo joined executives from Sands China Ltd. in a confetti-showered countdown ceremony marking the beginning of the holiday season. Macao’s tallest Christmas tree was lit, along with the illumination of the walkways of the one hundred thousand-square-metre indoor mall. The nearly 9-meter tree located at St. Mark's Square is adorned with some 40,000 lights and baubles and is topped with an illuminated tree topper.
St. Mark’s Square also saw the TIS school choir and the Streetmosphere™ performers sing carols to help get people in the Christmas spirit, and a gondola-riding Santa and Santarina arrived bearing gifts to help spread the holiday cheer.
Sands China Ltd. President and CEO Edward Tracy introduced the Grand Canal Shoppes Christmas Charity Collection, whose proceeds from donation boxes throughout the mall will benefit Make-A-Wish® Hong Kong. Sands China has announced it will match all contributions, dollar for dollar, and says it is proud to support the foundation that grants wishes to children with life threatening medical conditions and helps to provide a better future for them.
The Grand Canal Shoppes at The Venetian Macao features serenading gondoliers, entertaining performers and colourful Venetian streetscapes, with more than 330 specialty shops featuring world-renowned brands and over 30 fine dining restaurants. An exclusive Christmas gift promotion has launched to reward loyal shoppers who have chosen The Grand Canal Shoppes as their preferred shopping destination in Macao. Shoppers are able to participate in numerous festive activities from November 25, 2011 until January 2, 2012, with daily Christmas parades making their way throughout the mall, and ample photo opportunities with Santa.
For more information on The Grand Canal Shoppes Christmas activities, visit www.facebook.com/shoppesinmacau. Fans of the page will be eligible to receive exclusive benefits and offers.
Photo caption: Sands China executives join Hong Kong celebrities Carina Lau and Louis Koo in a lighting ceremony to mark the start of the Christmas season at The Grand Canal Shoppes at The Venetian Macao. From November 25, 2011 until January 2, 2012, the indoor mall will feature numerous festive activities, including parades, photos with Santa, and an exclusive Christmas gift promotion to reward loyal shoppers. From left to right: Mr. David Thurling, Executive Director of Mall Management, The Venetian Macao-Resort-Hotel; Mr. David Sylvester, Senior Vice President, Retail Asia, Las Vegas Sands Corp, Mr. Gunther Hatt, Executive Vice President, Operations, Venetian Macau Limited.; Mr. Edward Tracy, President and CEO, Sands China Ltd.; Ms. Carina Lau; Mr. David Sisk, Executive Vice President and Chief Casino Officer, Sands China Ltd.; Mr. Kevin Clayton, Executive Vice President, Marketing Operations, Venetian Macau Limited.; and Mr. Louis Koo.
About The Venetian® Macao-Resort-Hotel
The Venetian® Macao-Resort-Hotel is Macao's first integrated resort featuring stunning replicas of the famous canals and architectural icons of Venice, Italy. The Venetian Macao features 3,000 suites, 1.2 million square feet of convention and meeting facilities as well as a 15,000-seat CotaiArena™ designed for world-class sports events and electrifying entertainment. Also at The Venetian Macao is an impressive, 1,800-seat ZAiA™ Theater for the spectacular Cirque du Soleil® production; more than 30 renowned restaurants; the MALO CLINIC Health & Wellness, the incredibly fun QUBE indoor playground and more than 330 retailers at The Grand Canal Shoppes. Outdoor recreation areas include swimming pools and cabanas, a mini golf course and gondola rides at the outdoor lagoon.
Email: pr@venetian.com.mo