While the properties in Macau offer plenty to delegates, the city has much to recommend itself in terms of post-conference activities, or an incentive programme that factors in Macau’s heritage.
The city’s growing community of event management and teambuilding providers are helping groups to unlock Macau's cultural side by letting historic landmarks and the old town form the backdrop for post-conference activities.
The Pokemon effect
Stuart Harris, co-founder and managing director of Team Building Asia (TBA), believes it’s the mix of old and new that makes Macau an attractive incentive destination.
“Our clients like to explore the old Macau, and there are so many heritage sights to see as delegates tackle our challenges during the event.”
Many of TBA’s clients across Asia Pacific, including those holding conferences and incentives in Macau, are increasingly interested in CSR-related events.
“Hole in One” offers such a solution with a game that sees delegates building a mini golf course from canned and non-perishable packaged food items before donating the items to local food banks.
Another activity that is proving popular is Go Team, a tablet-based treasure hunt.
“It’s controlled by GPS and 3G technology, and we will add an augmented reality option soon, just like Pokemon Go,” says Harris.
Groups in Macau can also expect to see “Beat The Box” being rolled out by the end of the year, says Harris. Teams are required to plot their escape from a hotel room and have a limited time to crack a special code by solving mysteries to stop the countdown.
Heritage hunters
Long before visiting groups became enthralled by the entertainment of Cotai, the Unesco World Heritage-listed buildings of the old city centre on Macau peninsula were the draw, along with seafood, Macanese cuisine and a unique Sino-Portuguese charm. To the delight of many in Macau, the magic of the city’s heritage can be rekindled as an integral part of incentive and conference itineraries.
City landmarks such as the 90-year-old fortress can be factored into teambuilding and on Cotai, home to mega resorts, the old village of Taipa hasn’t been forgotten.
In the old town on Macau peninsula, groups can admire well-preserved colonial architecture left by the Portuguese, such as St Augustine’s Square and the Dom Pedro V theatre, or get acquainted with the city’s Chinese heritage, like its oldest temple, A-Ma, and Mandarin’s House, a 19th century Chinese residence.
Ruth Boston, Sands China’s VP of destination marketing and sales, believes Macau’s rich Sino-Portuguese history and Unesco World Heritage Sites provide the perfect backdrop for any event, and its location is another key selling point.
“Macau is in the unique position of being the meeting point of eastern and western cultures in Asia. Located at the tip of southern China and only 45 minutes from Hong Kong by high-speed ferry, Macau is an ideal location for international delegates with free visa entry for nationals from more than 70 countries and a local population that speaks English, Mandarin, Cantonese and Portuguese,” says Boston.
