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 (Macao, October 30, 2012) – Sands^® Cotai Macao has been named Asia's Leading Tourism Development Project in the World Travel Awards 2012. The prestigious award was presented by Graham Cooke, President and Founder, World Travel Awards, at a ceremony in Singapore on October 18, attended by an invited audience of several hundred of the industry's leading luminaries and the international media.

“Sands China is delighted that our company’s integrated resort city has been singled out for this honour,” said Sands China Ltd. President and Chief Executive Officer Edward Tracy. “It’s exciting to witness the successful realisation of Mr. Adelson’s vision for the Cotai Strip^® development, and this award is the latest indicator of that success. We thank the travel and tourism professionals worldwide who cast their vote for us this year, and we will continue to introduce a diversity of tourism offerings in Macao.”

From its very humble beginnings as a muddy area of reclaimed land, Sands China’s Cotai Strip development has grown to comprise five international hotels across the company’s three integrated resort properties of The Venetian^® Macao-Resort-Hotel, The Plaza™ Macao and Sands^® Cotai Central – and represents a vision realised for Mr. Adelson. Its success has been a key contribution toward Macao’s SAR Government’s own strategy of diversifying the tourism economy and establishing the city as a world centre of tourism and leisure.

Established in 1993 to acknowledge, reward and celebrate excellence across all sectors of the tourism industry, the “Oscars of the travel industry” are regarded as the ultimate awards programme in global travel, with World Travel Awards winners setting the benchmarks to which all others aspire.

Among the expansive business and leisure offerings of Sands Cotai Macao, the Sands Cotai Central integrated resort stands out as its most recent addition, having launched its first phase of operations in April, at a grand opening ceremony featuring the unveiling of the world’s largest Conrad and Holiday Inn hotels. Its second phase of development was completed this past September, with the opening of the first of two Sheraton towers, which together form Sheraton Macao Hotel, Cotai Central – Macao’s largest hotel, and the largest property in Starwood’s global portfolio.

In addition to a range of affordable and high-end luxury accommodation, Sands Cotai Macao’s integrated resorts provide visitors with access to a vast spectrum of offerings – luxury and mid-scale duty-free retail, world-class dining, the best in entertainment, and industry-leading meeting and conventions.

Photo caption: Graham Cooke, President and Founder, World Travel Awards (second from left) presents Sands Cotai Macao’s award for Asia's Leading Tourism Development Project to George Tanasijevich, Managing Director of Global Development for Las Vegas Sands Corp. (second from right), who accepted the award on behalf of Sands Cotai Macao at an October 18ceremony in Singapore for the World Travel Awards 2012, known as the “Oscars of the travel industry.” Comprising five international hotels across three properties, Sands China’s integrated resort city on the Cotai Strip development aims to be Asia’s leading business and leisure destination. 

Photo caption: Sands Cotai Macao has been named Asia's Leading Tourism Development Project in the World Travel Awards 2012, known as the “Oscars of the travel industry.” Comprising five international hotels across three properties, Sands China’s integrated resort city on the Cotai Strip development aims to be Asia’s leading business and leisure destination.

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About Sands^® Cotai Macao

Sands^® Cotai Macao is Asia’s ultimate business and leisure destination. With five international hotels, over 9,000 rooms and 1.3 million square feet (120,000 square metres) of meeting and exhibition space^*, Sands Cotai Macao offers the complete package catered to each visitor. Pulsating with life and providing live entertainment, over 600 luxury duty-free shops and more than 57 international restaurants, bars and lounges^*, Sands Cotai Macao is surrounded by the unique cultural heritage that is Macao – 450 years of united European and Asian history. A fleet of over 150 ferries, coaches and cars provides rapid connections to the airport, ferry terminals and border crossings. It’s all within reach at Sands Cotai Macao.

For more information, please visit www.cotaistrip.com.mo.

* All numbers based on completion of subsequent phases of development in early 2013.

About World Travel Awards

WTA's global media partner network includes International Herald Tribune, CNBC Arabiya, Travel & Leisure China, Khaleej Times, Trade Arabia, TTN, Trav Talk India, Publituris, ABTA Magazine, ASTA Network, Breaking Travel News, eTurboNews, Travel Daily News International, Focus on Travel News, Passport Magazine and National Geographic Traveller.

This global media partner network has a monthly readership of 1.7 million and a TV audience reach of 90 million.

For more info about WTA's Asia, Australasia & Indian Ocean Ceremony 2012 & bookings visit: www.worldtravelawards.com/asia2012  and to download images go to: www.worldtravelawards.com/downloads/zip/asia2012.zip. To download WTA logos visit: www.worldtravelawards.com/logo

For further WTA press info contact Anton Santos:

Tel: +44 (0)20 7925 0000;

Email: anton@worldtravelawards.com

Web: www.worldtravelawards.com