Sands Resorts Macao recently held its ‘The Fabric of Macao’ roadshow extravaganza in Tokyo. Japan’s top travel industry representatives, meeting organisers and media partners attended the formal dinner and performance. This was the fourth stop after successful events in Beijing, Shanghai and Seoul.

The event spotlighted Sands Resorts Macao’s offerings and once-in-a-lifetime experiences through a fusion of luxury, art and entertainment. This was certainly a great way to entice Japanese travel partners and travelers back to Macao after the pandemic.

Macao in Tokyo

Kris Kaminsky, Senior Vice President of Hotel Operations, Sands China Ltd. and a former Tokyo resident himself said, “We are thrilled to bring ‘The Fabric of Macao’ Asia-wide roadshow series to Tokyo.”

He added: “Here in one of Macao’s most important visitor source markets, we warmly welcome our guests to feel the vibrant pulse of Sands Lifestyle.”

They also brought talented Macao artists to reinforce the uniqueness of Macao, including a DJ, a candy maker, a fashion designer and a painter..

The Sands Resort Lifestyle

Over cocktails and dinner at the Mandarin Oriental Tokyo, the company presented the Sands Resort Lifestyle and its deep connection with Macao. The entire team was present to offer a big hello to the Japanese travel industry and to welcome everyone back to Macao.

Quite appropriately too, since Macao is now connected to Hong Kong Airport by a bridge. This means travelers headed for this former Portugese territory for some fun, shopping, gambling or fine dining can simply land in Hong Kong and take a car to Macao. What. a huge difference this will make from now.

Each Sands Lifestyle pillar represented as an opulent fabric with defined prints.

The Fabric of Macao includes the exquisite Portuguese ‘azulejos’ tiles. They also had an auspicious Chinese good luck knot to connect people, places and experiences. The event organizers also added auspicious Chinese elements like shimmering gold for the glamorous Fashion scene and a lotus flower pattern in earth tones for Health and Wellness.

Cocktails with Macao DJ Luis and artist Ada Zhang

Guests entered the Mandarin Oriental Tokyo ballroom via a tunnel of Macao silks and cottons. This arrival experience was inspired by Macao’s winding streets and alleyways. In an instant we were transported across the seas.

While we walked through, we listened to a curated mix from Macao DJ Luis and a Japanese instrumentalist. This was a very cool jam session, by the way. Who would’ve thought that modern and classical could mix so nicely?

Numerous photo opportunities added a touch of art and whimsy. In other words, never a dull moment and stimulation for the senses everywhere. Very much like Macao and the Sands Resort complex itself.

Meanwhile, over cocktails, Macanese artist Ada Zhang created a charming painting in real-time combining the landmarks of Macao and Tokyo. By the time dinner was over, the painting was done and on display in the foyer.

Guests also tried traditional Dragon’s Beard Candy at the Yau Kei Candy Live Demonstration Station. Those who missed out on this Macao favorite had a second chance to do so on their way to dinner, as a man in traditional dress offered everyone samples on basket trays at the entrance. These had the texture of cotton candy, by the way, but with an Oriental flavor.

VIP Dinner with teamLab Effects

Dinner was accompanied by an electrifying dance performance. ‘Welcome to Macao’ transported guests to the landmarks of Macao including the Ruins of St. Paul’s and Senado Square. ‘Bloom’,

Then, models strutted out in clothes designed by Macao fashion designer Nuno Lopes. To accompany this fashion show, teamLab showed a montage inspired by its latest artwork ‘Floating Flower Garden: Flowers and I are of the Same Root, the Garden and I are One.’

The Londoner in Macao

The finale was called ‘Londoner Takeover’, inspired by the newest hotel of Sands Resort Macao. Over dinner, I spoke with the Sands Resort team about The Londoner. It seems that Sands Resort Global Ambassador David Beckham has an amazing suite here named after him. Apparently he actively took part in the design of the suite, putting football accents and even personal photos. These details make guests feel like they’re staying in David Beckham’s own home.

Unfortunately, the David Beckham suite is available only on a request basis so don’t look for it on Booking.com or Expedia. I’m guessing it’s a special treat for high rollers and celebrities staging concerts in Macao. David Beckham himself reportedly comes to visit Macao several times a year and he stays in this suite, of course.

While we were discussing the David Beckham suite. British icons like the Scots Guards, Beefeaters and Bobbies performed to the sounds of The Beatles’ ‘Come Together’, This provided a nice ending to an evening of Macao in Tokyo. Now to book that ticket and get on a plane, with some money for the great shopping and the Michelin star dining.

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Moscow Private Tours, a leading tour company for foreigners in Russia, is now offering a live tour of Moscow and St. Petersburg for those who are missing traveling this year. These tours are also perfect ways for families and friends to get together while doing something fun. Everyone needs some activity to take them out of everyday worries right now, and this tour experience is one of the best ways we can think of.

ABOUT MOSCOW PRIVATE TOURS

Moscow Private Tours creates over 2000 tailor-made tours for foreigners each year. Vyacheslav Kholopov, CEO of Moscow Private Tours, said: “As early as February, it was already clear to us that many tourism activities will migrate online. However, we did not fancy following the usual route of launching online tours in the form of lectures, showing photos of locations or Google street views.”

THE BEST TOUR OF MOSCOW

So they created a truly unique and interactive product that allows participants to feel like they are really on tour. Live Tours Moscow  offers real-time streaming of tours around Moscow with a professional guide. The tours are done in small groups so that everyone can experience the effect of being on a tour. Private Live Tours are also available.

Live Tours Moscow is made real via a Full HD live video that also allows participants to directly communicate with the guide and with each other. This is a very different from other Live mediums. It allow participation by comments or likes.

BOOK YOUR SPECIAL INTERACTIVE TOUR OF MOSCOW WITH THE TRAVELIFE MAGAZINE DISCOUNT HERE

VISITING RUSSIA DURING COVID-19

The private groups can be as big or as small as the organizers wish. In fact, Moscow Private Tours has even organized a date in Moscow for a couple stranded in different cities. However, in order for each participant to have enough opportunities to interact with the guide, Vyacheslav Kholopov recommends around eight participants for each tour.

He explained : ‘This is a non-standard technology. We created our own media-server since the existing services of the streaming industry are not ideal. Zoom, Skype, and Google Meets have limited video quality. Meanwhile Youtube, Facebook, Instagram have considerable latency issues.”

WHAT TO SEE IN MOSCOW

The Moscow Live Tour in English can be booked directly on the website of Moscow Private Tours. The tour includes the most important attractions of Moscow: Red Square, St. Basil’s Cathedral, the Moscow Kremlin, and the Bolshoi Theatre. It even includes a peek at a Moscow subway station famous for its artworks. Yes, the high level of mobile networks coverage in Moscow has made live streaming possible from deep underground.

BOOK YOUR INTERACTIVE TOUR OF THE BEST OF MOSCOW WITH THE TRAVELIFE MAGAZINE DISCOUNT HERE

TRAVELING DURING THE PANDEMIC

The Moscow Live Tour is especially popular with foreigners who want to visit Moscow but who are now unable to do so because of COVID-19 restrictictions. Foreigners who have visited Moscow before and who want to refresh their memories of Russia are also enthusiastically booking these live tours of Moscow. The new St. Petersburg Live Tour is also generating much interest. Book your Live Tour of St. Petersburg, the city built by Peter the Great, here.

Moscow Private Tours will be launching live tours in other languages shortly. Vyacheslav Kholopov explains: “We believe this new format of excursions will stay in high demand even after the pandemic. These live tours will become an excellent tool for promoting Moscow as a travel destination.”

Read more about traveling to Moscow and other major Russian cities in Travelife Magazine.

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