Corporate Bits | Sands China invites 100 elderly to the Venetian for CNY activities

Accompanied by 25 volunteers from the Sands China Care Ambassador programme, 100 local elderly spent Friday afternoon at The Venetian Macao enjoying some Chinese New Year festivities. It is the eighth consecutive year that Sands China Ltd. has invited elderly locals to enjoy Chinese New Year festivities at The Venetian.
On Friday, a group of elderly from the Macao General Union of Neighborhood Associations was invited to The Venetian Macao’s lagoon area to see the Seasons of Prosperity display. They viewed the detailed miniature models depicting Chinese New Year scenes in Macau and Hong Kong from the 1960s-80s, and visited the 3-D illusion paintings exhibition where they took photographs with the interactive Chinese New Year-themed paintings. Afterwards, the group had afternoon tea at The Venetian’s Bambu buffet restaurant.
“We would like to show our appreciation to Sands China for inviting us to this wonderful event during Chinese New Year,” said Cheang Man Man, Vice Secretary General of the Macao General Union of Neighborhood Associations. “This is the fourth year that we have been invited to participate in the afternoon tea experience at The Venetian Macao. Seeing these fun exhibitions and having afternoon tea really cheers up our elderly members.”

Marks & Spencer investment into greater China

Marks & Spencer yesterday provided an update on the growth plans for its China business. In line with prior announcements Marks & Spencer yesterday confirmed that the company has a firm intent to enter key cities such as Beijing and Guangzhou from 2015/16.
It will continue to invest in its existing flagship store portfolio with the complete modernization of its flagship store on West Nanjing Road in Shanghai during the autumn.
In line with its International strategy to focus on its flagship stores, Marks & Spencer will invest in modernizing its stores in Hong Kong during 2015/16.
The company will expand its Food store portfolio at travel and city locations in Hong Kong during 2015/16. Since its update last year, Marks & Spencer has opened three Food standalone stores in Hong Kong during 2014/15, which have seen sales per square foot in line with its best performing UK stores.
Marks & Spencer will also grow its presence in Macau with the opening of a new 1,000 square meter store at The Venetian Mall in November 2015.
Patrick Bousquet-Chavanne, Marks & Spencer’s Executive Director, Marketing & International, said: “Last year, we reaffirmed our commitment to our Greater Chinese business and set out clear strategic plans. Today we can share more details of our continued investment across our priority markets of China, Hong Kong and Macau. This includes the modernization of our flagship stores, entering new key cities, growing our Hong Kong Food store portfolio and expanding of our reach across China through new sites on TMall.com and JD.com.”