Macau’s failed ultra-luxury hotel The 13 has reopened its doors, despite its parent company having been declared bankrupt and a failed attempt at auctioning off the property last March.
According to an exclusive by TDM Radio Macau, the hotel still has a valid hotel operating license until December 31st, with the renewal of that license expected between October 1st and the end of the year.
The broadcaster cites information from the Macao Government Tourism Office (DST), noting that the hotel’s reopening is limited and coincides with renovation works.
The building has been shuttered for years after failing to attract clientele – in part due to its inability to get one of Macau’s six gaming operators to help it operate a satellite casino.
In previous Hong Kong Stock Exchange filings it was indicated that the hotel’s operator was in talks with Melco, an international gaming operator led by Lawrence Ho, to allow it to operate a casino.
When questioned on the issue during the initial stages of the collapse of The 13’s parent company, the executive denied that Melco would be helping the hotel to get a casino.
Initially under Paul Y. Engineering, Louis XIII and later South Shore Holdings, the property underwent name and management changes as it struggled to open and bring in clientele.
Located on the end of the Cotai Strip, and envisioned by extravagant Hong Kong businessman Stephen Hung, the property always failed in one major aspect: location.
Expert Ben Lee previously told AGB that the property’s iconic, if questionable, aesthetic also didn’t keep up with the times.
“The design, while it may have been appropriate at a certain point in time, when they finally did get it built, was out of touch”.
With its cherry-red exterior and large faux diamond at the top, the property certainly stands out, but isn’t visible from the majority of the Cotai Strip, as clients were expected to be shuttled in via a fleet of 30 custom made Rolls-Royce Phantoms (for some $20 million), of which most have since been auctioned off.
Its operators were also unable to accurately target the ultra-rich faction – aiming for VIP and premium mass play, being kneecapped by not having a casino – especially due to China’s crackdown on corruption and Macau implementing a table cap.
The 199 room property had initially hoped for up to 66 gaming tables, Lee previously told AGB.
Under the liquidation process, real estate group Jones Lang La Salle attempted an auction of the property for HK$2.4 billion, unsuccessfully.
Now it remains to be seen what will happen with its renovation works, what management intends, and in what condition the property currently is, having been dormant for so long.
