New Year's Eve Extravaganza at the Cotai Strip Development

MACAO, China, Jan. 2, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- The Cotai Strip^® development was the scene of a New Year's Eve extravaganza Monday night. The celebrity-filled spectacular featured a special concert from the hit TV show The Voice of China and Hong Kong's Paul Wong & The Postman at the CotaiArena™, and a countdown to a magnificent fireworks display that rung in the New Year.

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"The fireworks display and countdown concert cap a very significant year for Sands China with the launch of Sands^® Cotai Central, our 6,000-room integrated resort," said Edward Tracy, President and Chief Executive Officer of Sands China Ltd. "We are proud to have achieved outstanding performances in 2012, both for our new hotel properties opened this year -- Conrad, Sheraton and Holiday Inn -- as well as for our well-known brands -- The Venetian^® Macao, Sands^® Macao and The Plaza™ Macao featuring Four Seasons Hotel, reflecting that our products and services are welcomed by the market. With all hotels at capacity and sold out mega events such as concerts featuring The Voice of China and this past Saturday's Hacken Lee concert, it has been a crowning end to a royal year of world-class events for Sands China. Our commitment to Macao continues, and we thank our visitors and guests for their support this year as we look forward to welcoming them back to our properties in 2013." 

An incredible pyrotechnic show lit up the night sky on Monday and brought 2012 to a close in dazzling style. A sequence of stunning fireworks illuminated Cotai as they launched from Sands China's Cotai Strip properties: The Venetian Macao, The Plaza Macao and Sands Cotai Central.

A massive crowd of people gathered excitedly at the Cotai Strip development to see the fireworks and to start 2013 with a bang. Winter in Venice's glittering five-minute display of a 43,000-square-foot (4,000-square-metre) special edition 3D video mapping countdown lit up the facade of The Venetian Macao at 11:55 pm, accompanied by an electrifying soundtrack of music. The dazzling pyrotechnic show that followed contained almost 5,500 individual fireworks reflecting the character and uniqueness of the Cotai Strip properties.

Yang Kun, one of the mentors of The Voice of China, led over 20 talented artists to perform at the countdown concert, which was broadcast live starting from 11:30 pm on large outdoor LED screens within the Winter in Venice lagoon area outside The Venetian Macao and at Sheraton Macao Hotel, Cotai Central's Jaya pool deck. Likewise, the midnight pyrotechnic show was broadcast live to concertgoers inside the CotaiArena. Two famous celebrity guests -- CCTV host Cui Yong Yuan and Shanghai stand-up comedian and founder of "Shanghai Style Small Talk" Zhou Li Po -- took part in the show and led teams in competing with one another. Artists from The Voice of China included Zou Hongyu, Huang Yi, Mochou "Momo" Wu,  Li Weizhen, Li Daimo, Ding Ding, Jin Zhiwen, Ping An, Jin Chi, Sun Jiahuan & Tang Nang, Zhao Lu, Wu Jiali, Hou Zuxin, Zhou Lihu, Ding Shaohua, Da Shan, Huang Yong, Chu Qiao, Wang Yunyi, Huang He, Wang Ke, Cao Yin and others.

The hugely popular concert, which sold out in less than two days, was broadcast from 9 pm on Star China's three TV channels, Zhejiang Television and six Internet portals -- Sohu, QQ, Le TV, IQIYI, Youku and Ku6 -- reaching millions of households in China. 

The memorable concert featured many of Paul Wong's biggest hits, including "Can't Bring Me Down," "Red Black Red Red Black," "Young and Innocent," "When Heaven Burns" and "Great Wall." Concertgoers were also able to take advantage of a special package including an autograph session with Paul Wong, who appeared at Shoppes Cotai Central to sign 100 of his Paul Wong Limited Edition Box Sets. Wong also participated in a hand print ceremony for the Cotai Strip development's upcoming 'Avenue of the Stars.'

Sheraton Macao Hotel, Cotai Central's New Year's Eve Countdown Party at Jaya pool entertained hundreds of guests starting from 9 pm, with live performances, international DJs, a string quartet, percussion group and a Lady Gaga tribute band as the headline act. The CotaiArena concert and the pyrotechnic show were both broadcast live to the party. 

The countdown concert and pyrotechnic show are the climax of Stars of the Cotai Strip, which began on December 3 and has seen more than 30 celebrities at the Cotai Strip properties. The celebrities, including Sammo Hung, Carol "Dodo" Cheng, Chang Chen, Wu Chun, Ekin Cheng, Chilam Cheung, Karena Lam, Grasshopper and Sandrine Pinna, have appeared at numerous star-studded events and activities. Stars of the Cotai Strip included a glittering red carpet and gala dinner, star make-overs, shopping experiences and over MOP 1.2 million in prizes.

Stars of the Cotai Strip demonstrates the commitment of Sands China Ltd. in pursing its goal to develop Macao into one of the region's leading centres for entertainment.  Sands China properties are already known as hotspots for seeing the biggest superstars of every kind -- from film and television to sports and music, and this December raised the bar with multiple celebrity appearances and events.

To find out more about the New Year's Eve extravaganza and details on the celebrities involved and the exciting events of Stars of the Cotai Strip, logon to the Sands Cotai Central Facebook and Weibo pages -- www.facebook.com/SandsCotaiCentral and weibo.com/sandscotaicentral. 

About The Venetian^® Macao-Resort-Hotel

Opened in 2007, The Venetian^® Macao-Resort-Hotel is Macao's first integrated resort featuring stunning replicas of the famous canals and architectural icons of Venice, Italy. The Venetian Macao features 3,000 suites, 1.2 million square feet (111,000 square metres) of convention and meeting facilities as well as a 15,000-seat CotaiArena™ designed for world-class sports events and electrifying entertainment. The Venetian Macao is also home to the unique, 1,800-seat luxury Venetian Theatre, hosting the best in international and Chinese entertainment; more than 30 renowned restaurants; MALO CLINIC Health & Wellness; the incredibly fun QUBE indoor playground and more than 300 retailers at Shoppes Grand Canal. Outdoor recreation areas include swimming pools and cabanas and a mini-golf course.

About Sands^® Cotai Central

Opened in April 2012, Sands^® Cotai Central is the centre point of the Cotai Strip^® development -- the pathway to adventure, fun and fortune. Featuring three celebrated hotel brands -- Conrad, Sheraton and Holiday Inn -- Sands Cotai Central offers visitors to Cotai an expanded offering of affordable luxury available nowhere else in Macao, with approximately 6,000 hotel rooms and suites, and 1.2 million square feet (111,000 square metres) of retail, entertainment and dining facilities, and meetings and convention space. With over 90 retail outlets, Shoppes Cotai Central joins Shoppes Grand Canal and Shoppes at Four Seasons to offer a total of over 600 luxury duty-free stores to choose from -- the most in any one single location in all of Macao. And with two spas, three health clubs and 300,000 square feet (28,000 square metres) of gaming space in two, uniquely-themed gaming centres, Sands Cotai Central provides a new level of luxury and accessibility to the Cotai Strip development*.

For more information, please visit www.sandscotaicentral.com.

* All numbers based on completion of subsequent phases of development in early 2013.

SOURCE Sands China Limited