Francis Lui looks to Hengqin to ease hotel room shortage

Galaxy Entertainment Group chairman Francis Lui warned that Macau’s hotel room shortage threatens to curb the city’s economic growth.

Speaking to Hong Kong reporters earlier this week, Lui said, “As Macau shifts to a more mass-market and event-oriented model, the issue of hotel rooms must be addressed.”

To meet growing demand and sustain its tourism momentum, Lui estimated that Macau needs at least 15,000 additional rooms to keep pace with the city’s rising visitor numbers. Particular emphasis was made by Lui on mid-priced accommodations with daily rates under HKD1,000, according to a South China Morning Post (SCMP) report.

Macau currently has about 45,000 hotel rooms but welcomed 35 million visitors last year, a disparity that pales in comparison to Las Vegas, which has roughly 160,000 rooms for 40 million annual visitors.

To bridge this gap, the GEG chairman recommended developing Hengqin Island – which is three times larger than Macau and located nearby – as a key solution. He added that mid-priced hotels on Hengqin would allow visitors to stay there while attending Macau’s conventions, concerts and gaming venues.

The chairman emphasized easing border crossing procedures between Macau and Hengqin, including multiple-entry crossings and facial recognition technology, to reduce wait times and make this a viable option for tourists.

These measures would help Hengqin capitalize on Macau’s 35 million annual visitors and boost its own economy, Lui added.

Macau’s hotel occupancy rates remain high, reaching 90% in the first quarter of 2025. During the recent five-day Golden Week holiday, occupancy rose even higher, averaging 95%.

According to the Macau Government Tourism Office, the city welcomed about 170,000 visitors daily throughout the holiday period.