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Tag: Macau

  • Alibaba Macau trademark registrations lodged

    Alibaba Macau trademark registrations lodged

    Alibaba Group Holding has applied for new trademark registrations in Macau, according to the Official Gazette.

    Alibaba has applied for the protection of 14 sets of commercial services and products under two brandnames, Alisports and 阿里體育. Overall, Alibaba Macau is seeking commercial protection for the provision of scientific services, cloud computing and IT applications, games and toys, advertising, data processing, information, telecommunications and broadcasting, online training and education, as well juridical and legal services.

    With more than 50,000 employees, Alibaba Group provides C2C, B2C and B2B sales services via web portals. Its main businesses comprise core commerce, cloud computing, digital media and entertainment.

    In early July, the group had several applications for trademark protection approved in the city for products including media, e-payment systems, nautical instruments and file-sharing software.

    On August 4, the Macau SAR government and Alibaba co-founder/CEO Jack Ma signed a framework agreement to implement services linked to the development of Macau as a “smart city”, including medical services, transport logistics and encouraging talent to return to the city.

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  • Profits soar for Macau restaurants

    Profits soar for Macau restaurants

    Macau restaurants nearly doubled their profits last year, according to a Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) survey, while Chinese outlets saw a rise of more than 200 per cent in gross surplus.

    Gross surplus grew by 96 per cent year on year for restaurants and similar establishments to MOP258 million (US$32 million), the survey shows.

    Excluded from the study were restaurants and food outlets run by hotels and gaming establishments, as well as street-hawker stalls.

    There was a 6.5 per cent increase in the total amount of receipts collected to MOP10.6 billion, with expenses climbing 5.2 per cent year on year to MOP10.4 billion.

    The sector’s expenses included a 2.1 rise in purchase of goods, representing 36.8 per cent of the total, at MOP3.8 billion. Employee salaries increased 9.8 per cent to reach MOP3.7 billion.

    On the other hand, rents eased by 0.5 per cent but were still the major cost of running restaurants at MOP1.1 billion. Electricity costs and materials were the second- and third-largest expenses for F&B establishments, both increasing. Electricity costs were up 7.1 per cent to MOP362 million while materials cost 0.6 per cent more to reach MOP236 million.

    The survey also shows the sector contributed 13 per cent more to the local economy (gross value added) with a total of MOP4 billion. This is despite there being 20 fewer dining outlets than the previous year – the first decline since 2012 – taking the total to 2189.

    However, the number of people working in the industry rose by 101 to reach 32,260 at the end of last year.
    About 2265 cooked-food stalls in municipal markets were registered last year, with 32,398 workers. Macau had 598 Chinese restaurants, bringing in 42.3 per cent of total receipts last year.

    In all, Chinese restaurants registered 9.2 per cent more in receipts last year than in the previous 12 months, reaching MOP4.5 billion, with gross surplus rocketing 218 per cent to MOP105 million.

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  • AirAsia to launch Phuket-Macao flights

    AirAsia to launch Phuket-Macao flights

    Celia Lao, CEO of AirAsia Hong Kong & Macao, said Phuket is among the top destinations for Macanese and Chinese travellers, making Thai AirAsia’s introduction of a direct flight between Phuket and Macao a wonderful opportunity for tourism.

    AirAsia currently operates six flights from Macao with routes including Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Pattaya (U-tapao), Kuala Lumpur, Manila, Jakarta and will launch Johor Bahru on Nov 28.

    Santisuk Klongchaiya, Director of Commercial for Thai AirAsia, said Phuket is a city built on Chinese traditions, beliefs and culture and its history is closely tied to that of China.

    “Chinese visitors to the city will find it familiar and convenient while still full of travel experiences whether relishing the nature or enjoying the nightlife. AirAsia is confident the new route will be well received,” he said

    “We will be launching the Macao-Phuket route on the 8th of January 2018 and believe it will attract people in Macao and its vicinity to Phuket. We will be using our strengths of low fares, on-time service and trustworthy reputation to draw in travellers and help stimulate the island’s economy,” Mr Santisuk said.

    For the people of Phuket, this added route provides a new travel option to Macao, which is already a top destination for Thai travellers due to its many holy sites and European architecture. Overall, the route should prove popular among people of both nations.

    In addition to Macao-Phuket, Thai AirAsia already operates a host of direct flights between Macao and and Thailand, including Don Mueang (four flights a day), Macao and Chiang Mai (daily direct) and Macao-Pattaya U-Tapao (four flights a week).

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  • Wines and spirits contribution to LVMH luxury business

    Wines and spirits contribution to LVMH luxury business

    It has been a bubbly nine months for the LVMH luxury business – with the exception of its wines and spirits division, which was hampered by supply constraints.

    Revenue grew by 14 per cent for the period to reach €30.1 billion (US$35.4 billion).

    With organic revenue growth of 12 per cent, the third quarter continues the trend for the year, says the group. The revenue increase was despite a negative currency impact of 5 per cent and a positive structural impact of 7 per cent, reflecting the integration of Christian Dior Couture.

    All business groups recorded double-digit organic growth, with the exception of wines and spirits where growth was 8 per cent. Champagne volumes were up 4 per cent, with particularly strong demand in Europe and Japan. Hennessy cognac had a volume increase of 9 per cent despite a third-quarter decline related to limited supply.

    LVMH’s selective retailing business group had organic revenue growth of 12 per cent. Online sales grew at a steady pace, and DFS had sustained growth, particularly in Hong Kong and Macau. The T Galleria store in Cambodia has also developed well, says the group.

    Organic growth of 14 per cent was recorded by the fashion and leather goods business group. It attributes this to innovation, such as the launch of Louis Vuitton’s first smartwatch.

    “The qualitative development of the distribution network continues, as illustrated by the opening of the Maison Louis Vuitton Vendome in Paris, which brings together under one roof all the savoir-faire of the maison,” says the group.

    Highlights during the period included Fendi opening stores in the US and Rimowa being consolidated. Donna Karan was sold at the end of last year.

    There was also 14 per organic growth in perfumes and cosmetics. Perfumes benefitted from the launch of the eau de parfum Miss Dior. Guerlain rolled out Mon Guerlain fragrance internationally, and Fenty Beauty by Rihanna had an “exceptional” start.

    Watches and jewellery had 13 per cent organic revenue growth, with Bulgari achieving “a remarkable performance” with the rapid growth of its signature jewellery collections Serpenti, Diva and B.Zero1.

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  • Marks & Spencer Hong Kong may be sold off

    Marks & Spencer Hong Kong may be sold off

    The Marks & Spencer Hong Kong and Macau business is expected to be sold to the UK department store’s long-established Middle Easter franchise partner Al-Futtaim.

    M&S issued a statement overnight confirming the two parties were in talks over a deal where the existing business would be sold to Al-Futtaim which would then become a franchisee.

    “A successful conclusion to these discussions would see Al-Futtaim become the new sole franchisee for M&S in Hong Kong and Macau,” the London-headquartered company said.

    Al-Futtaim has partnered with M&S since 1998 when it opened the first MS store in Dubai. Today, Al-Futtaim operates 43 Marks & Spencer stores across seven markets in the Middle East, as well as in Singapore and Malaysia.

    Most recently Al-Futtaim has extended the reach of M&S’s popular chilled food to three markets, and will shortly be opening the first standalone M&S Food store in the Middle East.

    Marks & Spencer Hong Kong launched in 1988 and currently operates 27 stores, a mix of department stores and standalone food stores. It has three in Macau, two of them located in Sands properties.

    The fact that M&S has issued a statement confirming the talks are underway suggests a deal is effectively complete.

    M&S said the discussions follow a strategic review of the company’s international business last November, where the company proposed to have a greater focus on its established franchise and joint venture partnerships and operate with fewer wholly-owned markets.

    “M&S and Al-Futtaim have now entered into discussions on the potential purchase and franchise which includes commencing a period of due diligence, which is expected to take several months to complete. M&S employees will be kept informed of any developments throughout the process and M&S stores in Hong Kong and Macau will continue to trade as normal,” the statement said.

    Paul Friston, M&S’ international director, described Al-Futtaim as a key partner of M&S in Asia and the Middle East.

    “We are both committed to putting the customer at the heart of everything we do. With significant scale and retail expertise in the region, we are looking forward to discussing the potential extension of our partnership to Hong Kong and Macau as we continue to grow and develop our business together.”

    Stephen Rayfield, senior MD of fashion & lifestyle division with Al-Futtaim said the company was delighted to be working with M&S to explore the potential expansion of their partnership to Hong Kong and Macau.

    “M&S and Al-Futtaim share values, and an approach that focuses the customer at the heart of our businesses. Al-Futtaim looks forward to building on our solid foundations as we continue to enrich our customers’ lives and aspirations through the provision of quality products and services in Hong Kong and Macau – these are among Marks & Spencer’s most successful and important international markets,” he said.

  • AirAsia Flies Jakarta-Macau Route

    AirAsia Flies Jakarta-Macau Route

    AirAsia, a Malaysian low-cost airline with a branch in Indonesia, made its first Jakarta-Macau flight on Aug. 7.

    Transportation Minister Budi Karya Sumadi has welcomed the new route, saying it will also reinforce Indonesia’s tourism sector.

    “We will continue to support AirAsia in developing new international routes,” Budi said in a statement, adding the ministry has requested airport operators Angkasa Pura I and Angkasa Pura II to cut fees for landing.

    “It will become a stimulus for AirAsia to further develop its routes to various tourism destinations in Indonesia,” he said.

    “This flight is the fifth after our flights to Jakarta from Penang [Malaysia], Singapore, Bangkok [Thailand] and Kuala Lumpur [Malaysia],” AirAsia Indonesia chief executive Dendy Kurniawan said.

    Flights are operated three times a week on the Jakarta-Macau route. In September one more will be added.

    “A fourth of foreign tourists visiting Indonesia in 2016 were brought by Air Asia. The Jakarta-Macau route will improve the connectivity between Indonesia and southern Chinese cities, meaning more tourist arrivals,” Tourism Ministry’s deputy for foreign tourism marketing development.

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  • Timepieces & Whiskies experience for Macau

    Timepieces & Whiskies experience for Macau

    Luxury travel retailer DFS Group has unveiled a lifestyle shopping experience for men, Timepieces & Whiskies, at T Galleria by DFS, Macau, City of Dreams.

    Next to the multi-brand men’s shoe hall on the men’s fashion floor, Timepieces & Whiskies was inspired by collectors who travel the world then display their finds at home. It is a curated collection of treasures and icon pieces from across the worlds of whiskies and watches.

    Inside a lofted library-style lounge, Timepieces & Whiskies allows guests to relax and sample a cult-favourite single malt at the bar or try on a classic watch by the fireplace.

    “With Timepieces & Whiskies, we bring the classic hospitality tradition into the retail shopping experience,” says DFS Group senior VP Brooke Supernaw.

    Stocked with 30 whiskey brands of different flavour profiles including Glenmorangie, Highland Park and The Macallan, the bar offers daily guided tastings. Much of the collection focuses on exclusive or limited-edition products such as Araid Rare Cask Reserve. Throughout the year there will be tasting events and seminars from whiskey brand ambassadors.

    For watch enthusiasts, the selection is curated to appeal to collectors. Pieces include classics from such brands as IWC Schaffhausen or Zenith, as well as niche brands like Nomos Glashutte and Romain Jerome, displayed amid watch books and lifestyle accessories, and even a foosball table.

    More than 200 guests attended the grand opening of the boutique, which featured guided tastings by brand ambassadors from Ardbeg, Glenmorangie and The Macallan at pop-up tasting stations across the floor. Highlights included Glenmorangie SIgnet and The Macallan Rare Cask Black.

    Concurrent with the opening was the release of the second chapter of the T Galleria by DFS Let’s Travel Together campaign, featuring global adventurers. This month’s episodes feature Malaysian singer/songwriter Yuna discovering Singapore, and Argentinian fashion editor Sofia Sanchez de Betak visiting Okinawa.

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  • Alibaba to help transform Macau into a smart city

    Alibaba to help transform Macau into a smart city

    Alibaba Group has entered a partnership with the Macau SAR government to help transform Macau into a smart city.

    The collaboration will focus on using cloud technologies to bring benefits to residents and tourists visiting the city.

    Under the four-year partnership, the parties will work together to upgrade the IT infrastructure in Macau to foster developments in tourism, transportation, healthcare, governance and talent development.

    The project will involve developing a dedicated smart technology platform to help promote cloud technologies in Macau, building a smart transport network to optimize the management of road, water and air traffic and the development of smart tourism capabilities using analytics and targeted consumer marketing.

    The project will also focus on smart healthcare – enhancing Macau’s electronic medical system and assisting healthcare decision-making through the use of online medical information.

    In addition, the project will involve collaborating on smart city governance by developing a centralized cloud-based platform connecting different government departments, and talent development through the launch of the Alibaba Cloud IT Certificate program and B2B e-commerce training program.

    “After setting the goal to turn Macau into a smart city, Macau Government has studied the experience of other cities in developing their own versions of smart cities. After thorough study and research, we have decided to collaborate with Alibaba Group to foster the development of cloud computing and big data technologies,” Macau chief executive O Lam said.

    “By leveraging the power of these technologies and connecting resources of different government departments, the project is expected to enhance the model of socio-economic operation in Macau, expediting the city’s transformation into a smart city.”

  • Michelin Guide Street Food Festival for Macau

    Michelin Guide Street Food Festival for Macau

    Macau’s inaugural Michelin Guide Street Food Festival launches at the Studio City entertainment resort in October.

    Being organised by Michelin Guide Hong Kong and Robert Parker Wine Advocate, the four-day event features chefs from Michelin-starred restaurants and Bib Gourmand (a relatively new Michelin award for less formal restaurants) and Michelin-recommended eateries across Asia. Free, the festival runs from October 5 to 8 at Studio City’s Macau Gourmet Walk, which resembles the enclave’s historic streets.

    Supported by Melco Resorts and Entertainment, the festival will feature decorated stalls showcasing some of Asia’s best street-food offerings including Singapore’s hawker stalls, Shanghainese dim sum, Japanese little eats and Macau’s Chinese classics.

    Signature dishes and special festival creations will be available starting from MOP40 (US$5) and using a coupon system.

    Eateries from Japan and Singapore will offer their food in Macau for the first time, including the world’s first-ever street-food stall to have been awarded a Michelin Star, Hong Kong Soya Sauce Chicken Rice & Noodle from Singapore. Its chef Chan Hon Meng will be cooking alongside fellow Singaporean Wayne Liew from Keng Eng Kee, the street-food stall known for its fusion of Hainanese cuisine with Malaysian-style Zi Char homestyle food.

    Other chefs coming from Singapore include Manjunath Mural from the one-star Song of India, Han Liguang from Labyrinth, which has just been awarded one star in the new Michelin Guide Singapore 2017, and Malcolm Lee from one-star Candlenut, the world’s only Michelin-starred Peranakan restaurant.

    Coming from Japan is Yoshihiro Tanaka from Kougaryu Honten, who will be preparing his Bib Gourmand-awarded takoyaki in three different flavours.

    Three of Studio City’s signature restaurants, one-star Cantonese restaurant Pearl Dragon, Michelin-recommended Shanghainese restaurant Shanghai Magic and Michelin-recommended Bi Ying, which serves northern and southern Chinese flavours, will present delicacies made specially for the festival.

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  • Macau retailers still cautious, despite better sales

    Macau retailers still cautious, despite better sales

    While retail outlets and dining establishments had better year-on-year sales in May, Macau retailers are still cautious about their business prospects, says the Macau Statistics and Census Service (DSEC).

    For its monthly business climate survey, the DSEC interviewed 167 dining enterprises that account for 53 per cent of the industry’s receipts, and 135 retailers that account for 70 per cent of trade.

    Despite their caution, 26 per cent of retailers expect a year-on-year increase in sales, up three points from May, while 38 per cent are less optimistic. During May, 36 per cent of the retail respondents indicated a year-on-year sales decline, a drop of two points.

    Experiencing better-than-expected results were adults’ clothing retailers and supermarkets, which exceeded forecasts by 40 and 33 points respectively.

    For June, 80 per cent of the respondents in the leather-goods area expect improved sales with all respondents having year-on-year increases in May.

    Watches, clocks and jewellery retailers had a 24-point rise in expectations for June, hitting 50 per cent, while department stores predict a 22-point increase to 56 per cent.

    Restaurants had a six-point drop from the previous month in the percentage of respondents reporting year-on-year growth, while those who had a year-on-year decline rose 10 points to 33 per cent.

    DSEC says the results were better than expected, as the April survey indicated only 18 per cent of respondents expected better sales figures.

    Expectations for last month are mainly pessimistic with 41 per cent of respondents expecting receipts to dip while while only 22 per cent expect a rise. Predicting increases are 27 per cent of Chinese restaurants, 25 per cent of Western restaurants and 18.8 per cent of Japanese and Korean restaurants.

    On the other hand, 60 per cent of Western restaurants foresee a drop.

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  • The Alibaba Group is ready to do business in Macau

    The Alibaba Group is ready to do business in Macau

    Alibaba Group Holding Limited has had its application for trademark protection accepted in Macau, enabling the Chinese e-commerce giant to enter the MSAR with a series of products.

    Brands Ant Star, Ant Star Bank, Alimebot, 阿里蜜，星匯，星安，智惠，星匯銀行，智惠銀行, are now able to create and commercialise in Macau products ranging from newspapers and magazines to credit and debit cards, scientific and nautical instruments, file sharing software and GPS equipment. But also advertising, execution and supervision of loyalty programmes and incentives, business consulting to traffic optimisation of websites, large warehouse retail services or even insurance, financial and monetary businesses.

    In total, many hundreds of products and services that the company – based in Hangzhou and founded in 1999 by Jack Ma and Peng Lei – is now allowed to conduct here.

    With over 50,000 employees, Alibaba provides consumer-to-consumer, business-to-consumer and business-to-business sales services via web portals.

    Recently, the Chinese giant invested US$1 billion (MOP8 billion) in Southeast Asian online retailer Lazada Group increasing its stake to more than 80 per cent and making is presence even stronger in the region.

    According to Forbes magazine, over the past year Ma has spent more than 800 hours flying to dozens of countries, meeting business leaders and heads of state to introduce his grand vision: small businesses from all corners of the world trading freely and securely on the Alibaba platform.

    Highly reported Jack Ma’s ambition is to see his company reach the US$1 trillion mark in gross merchandise value by 2020.

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  • Luk Fook sales recover from three-year slide

    Luk Fook sales recover from three-year slide

    After 12 consecutive quarters of decline, jeweller Luk Fook has recorded a 2 per cent turnaround for its fourth quarter, ended March 31.

    The retailer says that with a relatively low base and encouraging improvement in the Hong Kong/Macau market, same-store sales growth moved back into the black for its self-run outlets.

    In addition, Luk Fook sales of gold and gem-set jewellery products rose 16 per cent and 6 per cent respectively in Mainland China leading to double-digit growth for the first time this year, reaching 11 per cent.
    On the other hand, the same-store sales of gem-set jewellery products in Hong Kong and Macau also turned around from a decline of more than three years to achieve 12 per cent growth.

    During the quarter the group opened four self-run shops on the mainland and closed one licensed shop. At the end of March the group had 199 self-run shops in total – 133 in China, 47 in Hong Kong, 10 in Macau and nine in other countries. Together with 1296 licensed shops in China and one in Korea, there were a total of 1496 shops worldwide.

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  • Chow Tai Fook sales recovering in Hong Kong, Macau

    Chow Tai Fook sales recovering in Hong Kong, Macau

    Same store Chow Tai Fook sales in Hong Kong and Macau “continued to show a sequential improvement” during the first quarter of the year.

    The trend reverses 12 consecutive quarters of decline by the Hong Kong-listed jeweller, the first increase since last last three months of 2014.

    Chow Tai Fook says Mainland China same-store sales rose 12 per cent year-on-year and in the two SARs by 4 per cent. However, sales volume declined by 2 per cent in the mainland and 1 per cent in Macau and Hong Kong.

    Performance of gold products in both Mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau benefitted from an increase in Average Selling Price, rising 19 per cent. But sales of gem-set jewellery fell 17 per cent year-on-year during the quarter in the two SARs.

    “The percentage of RSV (retail sales value) settled by China UnionPay or RMB to the total RSV of Hong Kong and Macau market, a proxy for sales contribution from Mainland tourists, declined to 45 per cent in the quarter as compared to 49 per cent of the same period last year,” Chow Tai Fook said in its stock exchange filing, adding that “such contribution was similar to that in the first half of FY2017”.

    The company had 2381 points of sale as of end-March, with 102 located in Macau and Hong Kong.

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  • CTM, csl launch VoLTE roaming between Hong Kong and Macau

    CTM, csl launch VoLTE roaming between Hong Kong and Macau

    Hong Kong’s csl, Macau’s CTM and PCCW Global have jointly launched the first service offering end to end VoLTE and video over LTE calling services between Hong Kong and Macau.

    The new service will be available to mobile customers of the csl, 1O1O and CTM brands at no extra charge. It makes use of csl sister company PCCW Global’s high-speed IP connection between the two markets.

    CTM and csl jointly launched he Call Macau Home Pass voice, data, SMS and video call roaming service last year. The service has a monthly fee of HK$138 ($17.75) or a daily fee of HK$38.

    “CTM was the first telco in Macau launching the VoLTE and ViLTE services last year. This year, we are delighted to have achieved new breakthroughs in the service level through the collaboration with and PCCW Global on a broader horizon,” CTM CEO Vandy Poon said.

    “Upcoming, we will continue to develop our local and roaming services to facilitate Macau’s trade and economic exchange with foreign countries and to promote the diversified development of the Macau economy as well as the enhancement of our customer experience.”

    Former monopoly CTM still dominates the Macau mobile market. Earlier this month, the Macau Business Daily published a collective statement from the operator’s rivals calling on the MSAR government to even the playing field by reducing the cost of leased line access and creating conditions that would encourage investments in competing network infrastructure.

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  • AirAsia announces Maldives and Macau promo flights

    AirAsia announces Maldives and Macau promo flights

    Low-cost carrier AirAsia will offer promotional, all-in-one way flights, to Maldives and Macau for one month, from as low as RM169 and RM129 respectively.

    In a statement today, AirAsia Bhd said the Airbus A330 would fly directly to both destinations from tomorrow until May 18, 2017.

    Bookings can be made from today until April 23, 2017.

    Head of Commercial Spencer Lee said the promotion to increase the capacity by deploying its Airbus A330 for one month was to improve the travel options for guests heading to these two destinations.

    “This Airbus A330 will provide an increase of 197 seats per flight. We urge guests to use this opportunity and grab the hot deals.

    “We are also pleased to increase our connectivity with additional flight frequencies to various destinations such as Kaohsiung, Siem Reap, Da Nang, Hanoi, Pontianak and Semarang,” he added.

    AirAsia would gradually increase its flight frequency from Kuala Lumpur to Kaohsiung (seven times weekly), Siem Reap (14 times weekly), Da Nang (10 times weekly), Hanoi (11 times weekly), Pontianak (seven times weekly) and Semarang (seven times weekly).

    AirAsia’s new routes from Kuala Lumpur-Bhubaneswar, Johor Baru-Tawau, Johor Baru-Langkawi and Kuching to Pontianak are also open for sale now.