Sands China eyes growing Korean market with opening of Londoner Grand in Macao
Sands China, a Macao-based developer, owner and operator of integrated resorts and casinos, is preparing for the June 8 opening of its newly refurbished Londoner Grand, a key component of the company's ongoing $1.2 billion transformation of the integrated resort The Londoner Macao. The revamped property aims to appeal to the growing number of premium Korean travelers visiting Macao.
In an exclusive interview with The Korea Herald ahead of a showcase event in Seoul on Thursday, Wilfred Wong, executive vice chairperson of Sands China, discussed the company's focus on the Korean market, which has seen rapid growth in recent years. Wong emphasized that Sands China is committed to offering a more tailored experience for Korean guests, who increasingly seek integrated and luxury travel offerings.
'We look at Korea as a very strong market. And if you look at the visitor number in the first quarter, Korean visitors' growth rate is over 30 percent (on-year),' Wong said. 'That's why we have always put a lot of emphasis on the Korean market.'
The Londoner Grand is a focal point for Sands China's efforts to cater to Korean visitors, he added. In addition to Korean-speaking concierge staff, the property also features specialized dining options designed to appeal to Korean tastes. The newly introduced North Palace restaurant, an upgraded version of the popular North in The Venetian Macao, serves Northern Chinese cuisine, a favorite of Korean guests.
'Koreans have a very strong taste. That's why North is one of their favorites. With North Palace, we've made it bigger, more beautiful, with a variety of dishes like Peking duck and roast lamb,' Wong said.
As the company sees growing demand from high-value travelers, the property's newly designed rooms and suites reflect Sands China's strategy to provide premium accommodations. With 2,405 rooms across 18 different types, the Londoner Grand aims to deliver a curated and exclusive experience for guests seeking personalized luxury.
'We have ultraluxury room types for the really big spenders, along with family rooms and suites. It's a more refined offering compared to what we had before,' Wong explained.
Wong also noted what makes Macao an appealing destination for Korean tourists. The city's compact size allows visitors to explore historical sites and modern attractions within a short distance, making it convenient for travelers who want to maximize their time.
'Macao offers different experiences within a small area. In Seoul, I travel for an hour or more to get to places, but in Macao, anything beyond a 20-minute car ride is far,' Wong said.
The Londoner Grand provide a one-stop experience with shopping, dining and entertainment all within one property, he noted, adding that convenience is increasingly attractive to younger Korean travelers, who want everything in one place.
Also to align the growing global demand for responsible tourism, Wong said, the company has made significant strides in incorporating eco-friendly practices, such as energy-saving initiatives and waste reduction programs. Sands China has been included in the Dow Jones Sustainability Indices and earned a top 1 percent ranking in the 2024 S&P Global Sustainability Yearbook.
Looking ahead, Wong is optimistic about the future of the Londoner Grand as a world-class destination for premium travelers, particularly as Sands China continues to cater to evolving guest preferences.
'Our vision is simple: to offer world-class experiences that travelers will remember and return for,' Wong said.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Korea Herald
7 hours ago
- Korea Herald
Sparks fly after Jim Rogers refutes ‘endorsement' of Lee Jae-myung
Investor tells The Korea Herald he does not support or endorse anyone, but liberals cling on to claim Rival parties on Monday bickered over the authenticity of the Democratic Party of Korea's claims that veteran US investor Jim Rogers supported its presidential candidate Lee Jae-myung. The controversy snowballed Monday after Rogers denied his endorsement of Lee in several interviews with local media from late Sunday. In an email inquiry from The Korea Herald, Rogers replied, "I do not support or endorse or anything any candidate there," when asked whether he supports or has endorsed Lee. Despite Rogers' direct denial, Kim Jin-hyang, the former head of the Kaesong Industrial Complex, who read the letter of 'endorsement' during a Democratic Party press conference Thursday insisted the endorsement was real. 'I officially confirm that Chairman (of Rogers Holdings and Beeland Interests, Inc.) Jim Rogers' support of candidate Lee Jae-myung is true,' Kim said in a statement jointly released with Song Kyung-ho, a professor at Pyongyang University of Science and Technology. Song, who is based in London, said that he communicated with Rogers on the messenger app WeChat from May 26-29, during which he agreed to release the letter of to the press. Kim explained that the gap in stance between Rogers and themselves was merely a 'misunderstanding." In the same statement, Song said that Rogers did express his 'support' for Lee. Song claimed that Rogers requested him to draft a support letter for Lee, but expressed regret that the media "misinterpreted" it as an endorsement. The two released screen captures of a WeChat conversation, showing Rogers responding, 'Thanks! This is fine.' However, the draft that Rogers approved was more measured in tone than the version released by the Democratic Party. In the draft, Rogers is quoted as saying, 'That is why I recognize the pragmatic approach of Lee Jae-myung, a leader who is focused not on ideology or political distractions.' By contrast, the final English version shared by the Democratic Party quoted Rogers as saying, 'That is why I strongly support Lee Jae-myung.' It goes on to describe Lee as 'a leader with the courage and vision to end the era of confrontation and open a new chapter of peace, growth, and global leadership for Korea,' and also contains a direct appeal: 'The choice is Lee Jae-myung.' Democratic Party chief spokesperson Cho Seung-rae told reporters 'there was apparently a process of refining the statements' made by Rogers, saying claims of 'fraud' were 'excessive.' In a Friday Facebook post, Lee Jae-myung had welcomed the "endorsement" of Rogers, highlighting the investor's longstanding interest in the inter-Korean economic ties. The People Power Party on Monday afternoon filed a complaint with prosecutors against candidate Lee, Rep. Lee Jae-gang and several others involved in the matter, for spreading false information and defamation. The party denounced the Democratic Party's claims as 'an international fraud' and called for Lee to drop out of the presidential race. People Power Party Interim Chair Kim Yong-tae said during the party's election committee meeting Monday morning that the Democratic Party's claims are 'incorrect stories spread by a person who met (Rogers) briefly a few years ago.'
Korea Herald
12 hours ago
- Korea Herald
XSQUARE Technologies and Alkhorayef Commercial Company Sign MoU to Advance Saudi Arabia's Logistics Landscape
SINGAPORE, June 2, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Singapore-based XSQUARE Technologies and Alkhorayef Commercial Company (ACC), a leading integrated commercial and industrial solutions provider in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish a strategic framework for collaboration aimed at accelerating the adoption of intelligent warehouse automation and transforming intralogistics operations across Saudi Arabia. The signing took place at the Saudi Warehousing & Logistics Expo 2025. The MoU seeks to integrate ACC's growing logistics capabilities and XSQUARE's next-generation intelligent warehouse automation solutions – comprising a suite of Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMRs) and a warehouse orchestration software – to deliver a high-performance, safe, and scalable intralogistics solutions for the Saudi market. Under the agreement, both companies will collaborate on joint market outreach and the deployment of customisable end-to-end automation solutions across key logistics and industrial hubs. The partnership will also include the development of pilot projects and demonstrations to showcase the operational efficiencies and economic benefits of AMR-enabled logistics. Fahad AlJaddan, CEO of Alkhorayef Commercial Company, commented: " This partnership marks a significant step forward in our journey to shape the future of logistics in Saudi Arabia. By working with XSQUARE Technologies, we are bringing cutting-edge automation into our ecosystem and empowering our customers with solutions that are efficient, intelligent, and built for scale. We look forward to advancing Saudi Arabia's logistics landscape in support of Vision 2030's agenda." As part of its commitments, ACC will leverage its strong local presence and logistics expertise to support the deployment of XSQUARE's automation technologies. This includes promoting AMRs as solutions to key customers and providing commercial insights to guide market adaptation. XSQUARE Technologies, in turn, will provide technical enablement and integration support, including training, product documentation, and solution roadmaps. The company will also provide access to dedicated experts to support localisation efforts and execute pilot projects. Jens Bohnwagner, CEO of XSQUARE Technologies, commented: "Partnering with ACC will allow us to bring our proven automation technologies into a rapidly evolving market with immense potential. As a respected leader in the region's logistics sector with deep market knowledge and operational excellence, ACC is an ideal partner in our journey. We see this collaboration as a powerful platform to demonstrate both the impact and adaptability of our warehouse automation solutions to the specific demands of Saudi Arabia and the region." The MoU is a clear demonstration of both companies' shared commitment to a long-term partnership dedicated to driving the transformation of Saudi Arabia's logistics sector through innovation and adaptability. About XSQUARE Technologies XSQUARE Technologies is at the forefront of the logistics revolution, offering cutting-edge warehouse automation solutions across Asia Pacific and beyond. Backed by Goldbell Group's 40 years of expertise, we offer a suite of Autonomous Forklifts and Intelligent Warehouse Orchestrator software that set new standards in interoperability and efficiency, simplifying warehouse operations without the need for extensive reconfiguration and thus saving time and costs. Spanning a diverse range of industries from pharmaceuticals to manufacturing, we have a rapidly growing clientele that benefits from our innovation-driven, real-world-tested solutions. Visit to learn more. Alkhorayef Commercial (ACC), established in 1957, is a provider of integrated industrial solutions across key sectors, including agriculture, logistics, marine, and entertainment in Saudi Arabia. Through partnerships with global brands, ACC supplies high-quality products and comprehensive aftersales services to enhance efficiency, reliability, and sustainability.
Korea Herald
13 hours ago
- Korea Herald
Kospi reclaims 2,700 intraday amid preelection momentum
South Korean stocks held firm Monday as anticipation of Tuesday's presidential election helped extend recent gains, with the benchmark Kospi reclaiming the 2,700 level during intraday trading on the final session before a new administration takes office. The Kospi opened strong at 2,709.92, nearly 10 points above Friday's close, and climbed to an early high of 2,719.87 within the first 20 minutes. The index remained above 2,700 through the morning before paring gains to end slightly higher at 2,698.97. While slightly weaker than last week's momentum, Monday's performance marked a continuation of the recent rally. The Kospi had broken above 2,700 last Wednesday for the first time in nine months, after months of trading between 2,400 and the mid-2,600s and stalling near 2,600 in May. Institutional investors weighed on the market, emerging as net sellers of roughly 241.5 billion won ($175.8 million). Foreign investors flipped the Kospi into positive territory late in the session, ramping up purchases to end as the day's biggest buyers with a net 125.1 billion won. Retail investors also helped support the index, adding 99 billion won in net purchases. The secondary Kosdaq showed a contrasting trend, climbing around 0.8 percent to close at 740.29. Unlike the Kospi, retail investors turned net sellers, offloading roughly 120 billion won, while foreign and institutional investors stepped in as net buyers, purchasing 111.7 billion won and 14.3 billion won, respectively. 'With the Kospi awaiting the outcome of Tuesday's presidential election, the market is heading into the holiday without a clear directional catalyst,' said Lee Jae-won, analyst at Shinhan Securities. Sector performance was mixed, with no clear trend across industries. Chipmakers such as Samsung Electronics and SK hynix posted modest gains, while Hyundai Heavy Industries and Hanwha Aerospace also stood out among heavyweight advancers. In contrast, financial stocks, which had rallied last week, surrendered part of their recent gains. Meanwhile, the Korean won weakened about 0.7 percent to trade near 1,374 won per US dollar as of 4 p.m. Monday.
