Local hotels saw their rooms nearly fully occupied during the recent three-day Labour Day holiday, the deputy chairman of Ponte 16 operator Success Universe Group Ltd., Hoffman Ma Ho Man, told Hong Kong Chinese language newspaper Sing Tao Daily. The Ponte 16 investor attributed the good performance to a change in strategy by the city’s hoteliers in attracting guests for the holiday. According to Mr. Ma, hoteliers previously offered promotional packages to attract guests based on advance bookings so that occupancy rates could be ensured to hit between 60 and 70 per cent before the operators gradually increased room rates closer to the holiday. The businessman believes that the upcoming openings of new casino projects in Cotai will increase tourists’ interest in visiting the city. Nevertheless, he does not think these openings will have the same effect in attracting tourists as they did last year. Ma added that the continuous slowdown of the Chinese economy is affecting Macau’s appeal for PRC citizens.
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