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World-renowned soccer that is retired David Beckham (center) watches Manny Pacquiao battle Brandon Rios during the Venetian Macao in November. (Image: Reuters/Tyrone Siu)
It should be good to be so famous, so adored, that you could pretty much sell anything to anyone for any cost. And maybe not that he needs the money with an estimated net worth of $300 million, but such is the situation for iconic retired soccer star and universally recognized hottie David Beckham a person that is so saturated in the celebrity galaxy that he and wife/former Spice Girl Victoria had been on the short list to go to Prince William’s wedding, after all.
Branding Sands
Now Beckham seems to have carved a niche for himself as a sort of mercenary promoter for hire, and the latest taker is Las Vegas Sands Corporation, which is making usage of Beckham’s charm, good looks and international adoration to promote their casinos in both Singapore and Macau.
While there’s no word on what sort of fee Beckham commands for this kind of thing which could include anything from being seated front and center at a Manny Pacquiao Brandon Rios battle at the Macau that is venetian to a Marina Bay Sands charity event in Singapore we can imagine he does not work properly for cheap these days.
Beckham may not really have to do much but show up and get TV coverage, but for Sands, it’s nevertheless a good deal. The largest casino operator in Macau is still stymied by mainland Chinese advertising prohibitions, which forbid any casino promotion or gambling whatsoever. So Beckham’s videogenic good looks combined with the huge popularity of soccer in China are ways to get their four Macau properties more exposure.
‘He was tangled up in our very successful Sands for Singapore community festival. His participation inspired the young people he met with also the neighborhood charities that benefited from his generosity,’ said George Tanasijevich, Marina Bay Sands’ president and chief executive officer.
‘[Beckham will help us] as we aggressively explore opportunities to further expand our presence in Asia,’ included Sands president and CEO Michael Leven in a given statement.
Upscale and Debonair Is A Good Fit
Beckham is just a fit that is natural Sands; together with rugged, yet refined good appearance and aura, and title recognition that appears to cross all many years and nationalities, he’s an instant media-grabber at any event. With Marina Bay touting itself as having the entire world’s casino that is largest inside a posh integrated resort which includes high-end shopping and restaurants, and the Venetian Macao being promoted as Asia’s largest gaming and entertainment center, a globally recognized name and face like Beckham’s would appear to become a perfect match due to their have to be seen and covered regularly and in all media.
Over the top of all that, Beckham himself a father of four with wife Victoria seemingly have a natural rapport with kids, which will work for general public relations and community feel-good stories.
In November, the superstar met with 100 kiddies during the Macao that is venetian he posed for photos using them; the kids represented a variety of charitable groups, from the Macau Special Olympics to the Association of Rehabilitation of Drug Abusers of Macau. After the pictures, Beckham gave an hour-long interview to an eager press contingent.
Sands Corporation says they also intend to make use of Beckham to market their dining and luxury shopping outlets at their various casinos. Beyond that, the ongoing business isn’t saying much about how their partnership with Beckham will unfold down the line, and neither is Beckham himself.
Want to Spend New Year’s Eve in Nevada? Bring Plenty of Cash
Vegas is often a spectacle on New Year’s Eve, having a massive pyrotechnics that are strip-wide.
Next to possibly New York’s Times Square, nowhere within the global world states ‘New Year’s Eve’ like Las vegas, nevada. In city that’s built on booze, sex and gambling, whom doesn’t wish to bring in 2014 where the party never prevents?
Obviously, that’s just what the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) is counting on, because in nevada, New Year’s Eve is big, big business. This year, LVCVA is expecting some 335,000 wild and crazy revelers to appear, and with them comes an anticipated nongaming revenue of about $213 million, which makes it very close to this past year’s numbers.
Guests Will Pay A Lot Of Money
That is still pretty great news, though, according to LVCVA senior vice president of advertising Cathy Tull. She says that the true numbers remain up from two years ago, when about 314,000 tourists brought in some $192.6 million in nongaming spending. Naturally, a fair level of that is liquor, marked up sometimes as much as 2,000 percent per bottle in the fancier nightclubs in city and that is on a normal evening, therefore possibly even more for New Year’s Eve.
Rooms in hotels are making bank, that’s for sure; with a 98 percent occupancy price over the board and almost all properties will demand a stay that is minimum of nights to get in. Room rates are maxed down to boot, and before you even arrive in this gambling mecca if you don’t have your reservation yet, chances are, you are out of luck.
Would like a look at what you are likely in for? Well, a king that is deluxe at Mandalay Bay definitely a higher-end Strip home will run you close to $527, before taxation and extras. You can watch the massive city-wide fireworks display while sipping insanely upcharged champagne from the comfort of your own window if you want to go a bit more ‘budget’, you’d be shelling out $409 at minimum for a coveted Strip view room at Planet Hollywood where. a scenario that is similar at Treasure Island mid-Strip will run you a mere $386 per evening.
Entertainment Galore
Of course, few individuals expect to be spending New Year’s Eve couched up within their spaces, plus the city makes big bucks on fancy prix-fix dinners, lavishly decked out nightclubs, and headliner activity to boot. Based in your age groups and exactly what your notion of ‘fun’ is, there’s one thing for everyone.
‘[Our Trump rooftop pool deck] has been very popular,’ said Trump International marketing supervisor Jason Demuth. ‘ Our emphasis is service, so we don’t charge for music or activity on our property. And now we have champagne toast that is complimentary. I think that’s kind of unique.’
Needless to say, by ‘complimentary’, you are able to usually assume the charge is created in elsewhere in Las Vegas; plus, that is just for your first glass, and that has one glass of anything in Las Vegas? Because of this privilege, you will end up having to pay $334 an at trump night.
Because of this demand and overflow, numerous high-end casinos off the Strip that typically cater to more of a locals crowd will also be charging you dollar that is top their rooms. For example, Station Casinos now better understood by the free indian dreaming pokies general public as the very first online poker providers in Nevada via their UltimatePoker.com site is charging $300 per night for a Green Valley Ranch stay or $480 for the elegant Red Rock casino, both far off the Strip. Because of the valley geography of Las vegas, nevada, visitors will likely be in a position to see the majority of the primary fireworks, albeit from the distance, of course.
If you wish to stay downtown, amidst the neon spectacular that is the Fremont Street Enjoy, anticipate to dole out $329 at the chi-chi Golden Nugget or $200 at the Golden that is not-so-much Gate. Also the budget properties in town will milk you dry: a South nevada Strip Super 8 Motel desires $322 total for a minimum that is two-night while the same deal at a Best Western on Paradise ( the street on that the Convention Center sits) will run you $387 for the two nights. And almost all among these properties were already offered out by mid-December.
As for entertainment, there’s whatever you want, from high-brow to low-brow, and everything in between. Downtown’s elegant brand new arts center, the Smith Center, features squeaky-voiced singer Kristin Chenoweth for a New Year’s Eve songfest starting at 9 p.m., with seats operating about $60 each. The flashy Fremont Street Experience more of an alcohol than champagne crowd overall will host a Downtown Countdown with a selection of headliners, including boy that is bad Neil and Papa Roach; tickets are $40.
Several normally scheduled casino headliners will make more on simply New Year’s Eve. The just-opened Britney Spears show ‘Piece of Me’ would be going at Planet Hollywood, as will Maroon 5 at Mandalay Bay and Bruno Mars at the Cosmopolitan.
Of course, it’s not brand New Year’s Eve in Las Vegas without the massive pyrotechnics display, placed on with enormous preparation each year by the Grucci that is iconic family members. This year, you can expect an eight-minute, multi-property run from seven Strip rooftops, from downtown’s Stratosphere up to the Strip’s Caesars Palace, and everything in between.
Keeping Them on Site
The hardest part for each property is capturing those valuable tourists dollars; to that end, one-upmanship is the name associated with game. Sufficient reason for brand New 12 months’s Eve hitting on a this year, most have tried to lure guests in the weekend before for maximum dollar output tuesday.
‘They all you will need to gear to something you cannot get somewhere else. Each of the properties is attempting to cater activities because of their guests that may keep them on property,’ stated LVCVA’s Tull.
If spending plan is no consideration, for example, you can wine and dine during the Le that is high-end Cirque Bellagio (of ‘Ocean’s Eleven’ fame) just for $495 per individual; for that, you are going to be dining like Henry VIII himself on a dinner of lobster salad having a truffle vinaigrette, crazy Atlantic turbot, Kobe beef ox end timbale and a fantasy dessert. Perhaps you would imagine that high-ticket price would consist of liquor, but you would be mistaken; if you want wine pairings with your meal, tack on another $150 per individual. And keep in mind, with taxes and an anticipated minimum 20 per cent gratuity for everyone you encounter, your bill could effortlessly find yourself pushing the thousand-dollar mark by the time you’re done.
And in case most likely your partying, you want some room service breakfast delivered the morning after, you’ll have that also for another fee that is staggering. But when you feel like toast after an of hard partying, what’s another $100 room service charge, after all night?
Melco Crown Sets Apart $340 Million Loan for Philippines Casino
Melco Crown Entertainment is ready to forge ahead with their Phillipines casino, City of Dreams, in Manila
Macau-based Melco Crown (Philippines) Resorts Corp. is readying a loan of $340 million to help secure the continuing future of its resorts and gambling enterprises group of companies, MCE Leisure Corp., in order to expedite the completion of this City of Dreams Manila incorporated resort and casino project.
The massive loan has been gathered from shareholder MCE (Philippines) Investments Ltd., and will act as a reserve for MCE Leisure in instance the company’s issued senior notes are declined.
‘The shareholder loan is intended to be considered a back-up facility arrangement also it is presently expected that it will just be utilized by the borrower in the unlikely event that the senior notes offering composed of P15 billion aggregate principal amount of five percent senior notes due 2019, that was priced on December 19, will not be finished,’ explained Melco Philippines in its disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange week that is last.
Loans in Place
Melco Crown told the Philippine inventory Exchange that the organization allows the leisure group to borrow the sum from MCE Leisure (Philippines) Corp. which may be guaranteed in full by Melco Philippines, MCE Holdings (Philippines) Corp. and MCE Holdings No. 2 (Philippines) Corp., most of that are subsidiaries of the operator that is macau-based.
City of desires Manila the estimated $1.3 billion incorporated casino, hotel, entertainment and retail resort is currently under construction by MCE Leisure Corp. in partnership with Belle Corp. and it is expected to open its doors midway through 2014.
Belle Corp. is owned by Chinese Filipino billionaire tycoon Henry Sy, who owns business interests in retail, property, hospitality and banking, among areas, and has been nicknamed the Philippines Retail King.
Following on the heels of Enrique Razon’s Solaire Resort and Casino which launched its doors final March City of Dreams Manila would be the 2nd of four integrated resorts and casinos to open in Entertainment City, and will feature 365 gaming tables, 1,680 slot machines, and a further 1,680 alternative gaming that is electronic for its guests.
In addition to the casino side of the resort, City of desires Manila is also set to feature luxury hotel accommodation and high-end shops, also being a family entertainment center, gourmet restaurants and an exuberant nightlife.
Contingency Monies as Backup
The project’s developers are likely to breathe a little easier knowing that the funds are available for capital and debt settlements, details of which are set to be issued at the end of January with only around six months until the expected completion date.
And since Melco Crown will likely be looking to cover all possible hindrances to the project, ensuring money that is enough available in the event that financial obligation papers fail to yield the anticipated returns through a contingency plan appears like a wise move if they want the doors to open in schedule as expected..
‘It are going to be money well spent and the end product is going to be many times that,’ stated Lawrence Ho, chief officer that is executive of Crown Entertainment, to reporters.
Once the country’s gambling market appears to ever be growing much more popular, the $340 million loan which would be supported with equity according to Melco Crown will undoubtedly come in handy to ensure that City of Dreams Manila lives as much as the expectations of the market.