Best for…large extravaganzas
Size really does matter at The Venetian. With a footprint that makes it the world’s fifth-biggest building, its sheer scale means that large groups can be well catered to. “We are hosting Herbalife at the moment, which is a 9,000-person event,” says Grant Johnson, The Venetian’s executive director, MICE and events. “We are a well-oiled machine for big groups and we are raising the bar for what they can expect.”
 
Some creative options include bringing in the Venetian’s gondolas to various venues for photos or props and using the lagoon for an 800-person private cocktail event. Its Grado 18-hole golf course can be booked for incentives, while its outdoor swimming pool can be converted into a dance floor by mounting a clear plastic stage over the water.
 
“We host 60 to 70 MICE groups per month, and 70 per cent of those are booked within 30 days,” says Gene Capuano, The Venetian’s executive director of conference management. “As long as a meeting room is open and we get 24 hours’ notice, we will try to accommodate planners.”

Best for…theatrical kitchens
With its two ballrooms and eight meeting rooms on a dedicated conference floor, Grand Hyatt Macau offers generous facilities for mid to large-sized meetings. One of the highlights is Salao do Teatro, a space that can accommodate 300 seated banquet style and features natural lighting – rare for a room of its size in Macau. The best part about the space is its show kitchen, allowing diners to see chefs creating gourmet meals.

“Within a year since the hotel’s opening, we have hosted more than 200 events,” says Grand Hyatt Macau’s general manager Paul Kwok. “A leading IT company hosted a four-day conference at our hotel, occupying 750 rooms for a total inventory of 791. Twelve individual booths were set-up with various MNCs during the conference in front of the two ballrooms and a special marquee was set up [adjacent to the pool] for guests to enjoy breakfast and lunch.”
 
Best for…culinary journeys
As the only five-star hotel with a view of Zhuhai, Sofitel Macau at Ponte 16 is also within walking distance of Macau’s Unesco World Heritage Sites. Meetings can be held in the morning, with teambuilding activities around various historic sites giving delegates an extra dimension to their experience. In addition, Sofitel’s Inspired Meetings concept makes things easier for event planners. “Our meetings push the boundaries with our signature French touch,” says Byron Wright, Sofitel Macau at Ponte 16’s director of food and beverage. Part of the package is a conference survival kit that includes a can of Red Bull and a stress ball for every delegate.
 
Culinary breaks can be arranged in the hotel’s gym or the Michael Jackson exhibition hall, with thoughtfully themed hors d’oeuvres. In addition, dinner journeys can be arranged in the hotel’s 19 private mansions for a personalised experience. “Our mansions are hotels within a hotel,” says Wright. “They have their own entrance and provide meetings for 20 people in a home environment.”
 
Best for…poolside parties
The Four Seasons Hotel brand is internationally famous for its high service standard, and Macau is no different. “People are our strength,” says Julius Santos, Four Seasons Macao’s director of marketing. “If you have the budget, we can do anything. We have displayed a Mercedes-Benz in the middle of our swimming pool. We have hosted a version of the Amazing Race as a teambuilding activity. How consistent the service is delivered will determine how successful the event is.”
 
One of the most popular venues for meetings and events is the flexible outdoor pool area, with its adjacent poolside restaurant Splash, 14 cabanas that can be used for private dining and five swimming pools. Santos says: “We have hosted a lot of car companies: BMW, Jaguar and Hyundai. It is very pretty to hold a car launch outdoors by the pool. It is also great for a welcome reception or morning tai chi classes.”
 
Carolina Lemos, director of catering and conference services, says: “We are known for our fine dining, but it is delivered buffet style. If you only have one meal in Macau, you can try it all here.”
 
Best for…top-level executives
With the brand’s enviable reputation for highly personalised service, Mandarin Oriental Macau has a dedicated floor for conferencing that includes direct access to the lobby. For more intimate executive functions, the hotel’s recently unveiled presidential suite is a good choice. Both the main ballroom and presidential suite offer panoramic sea views facing Taipa. “We have hosted several top-level meetings for VIP clients in our presidential suite,” says Samson Woo, Mandarin Oriental Macau’s director of sales and marketing. “It can host 20 people and is perfect for cocktails.”
 
Divided into three distinct areas for meeting, bar and soft seating, it offers a 270-degree view overlooking Nam Van Lake. The hotel can also provide butler services or a dedicated escort to show executive wives around the city while their husbands are in meetings. “We had a group of 20 ladies from the Asia Pacific region who were privately guided around the city’s select attractions, which can be quite fun,” says Woo.