Rooms will open in phases
“Futuristic.” “Avant garde.” “Eye-popping.” Those are just some of the adjectives used to describe the new $1.1 billion Morpheus hotel, which opened at Melco Resorts’ City of Dreams Macau on June 15.
Designed by the late Pritzker Prize-winning architect Dame Zaha Hadid, Morpheus is notable for its extraordinary exoskeleton, in which ribbons of steel entwine around the two towers, supporting the structure from the exterior and minimizing the need for vertical columns inside.
Lawrence Ho, chairman and CEO of Melco Resorts and Entertainment, told CNBC at the opening that Morpheus is “an architectural icon” and “a love letter” to both China and Macau, and sets a new standard for luxury in the world’s No. 1 gaming destination.
Replete with high-end amenities such as a luxury spa, rooftop sky pool, a gallery of contemporary art and 24-hour VIP butler service, the hotel will target premium-mass customers who spend freely at Macau’s casinos without the need for junket investors. The hotel has 772 elegant rooms, suites and villas.
The dining floor includes two restaurants by Michelin three-starred chef Alain Ducasse; a patisserie from Pierre Hermé, called “the Picasso of pastry,” and a Chinese fine dining restaurant Yi, located on the Sky Bridge at the center of the hotel. A 12,000-square-foot retail district at the lobby level features designer brands and pop-up shops that connect to the COD retail galleries.
The hotel will open its rooms in phases, with 200 to 300 to start, reported the Macau News Agency. “After we make sure we complete all the troubleshooting, we will gradually introduce 100 rooms per two weeks,” said Ho. “By July, we will have all rooms put into operation.”
Viviana Muscettola of Zaha Hadid Architects described the hotel’s design as a “jump into the unknown.” It was one of the final projects by Hadid, who also designed the Beijing Opera House, the MAXXI Museum in Rome, and the Aquatics Center for the 2012 London Olympics. She died in 2016, before the Melco tower was completed.
Due to a 3 percent cap on new gaming tables in the jurisdiction, Melco reallocated 40 tables to Morpheus for the hotel’s debut. Even without new gaming capacity, Morpheus could still contribute up to 40 percent in revenue growth for City of Dreams, said analyst Grant Govertsen, managing director of Union Gaming Asia Securities Ltd.
“The reality is, there’s not enough rooms in the market today to satisfy the pent-up demand on the other side of the border,” Govertsen said. He added that the project “hit all right spots” to lure customers from Mainland China.
Ho feels certain the resort will receive additional tables in 2019. “We have a great relationship with the Macau government. Needless to say, we’ve been in very close dialogue with them, we understand this year’s allocation was preallocated, so I’m confident,” he said.
The resort is boosting its profile via an advertising campaign, “The Art of Winning,” that features mythical and historical heroes including Napoleon, Calliope and Nike, the Greek goddess of victory. Christopher Miller, creative director at Chandelier Creative said, “The client’s goal was simple: to wow the guests, reel in the customers, and celebrate what makes City of Dreams special: unforgettable experiences, premier design and luxury, and amenities and entertainment that go above and beyond your wildest dreams.”
