The Macau Metro Monitor, March 19, 2012

SANDS CHINA LTD. SETS OPENING DATE FOR SANDS COTAI CENTRAL Lasvegassands.com

Sands Cotai Central will officially open on Wednesday April 11th with 600 Condrad suites and 1200 Holiday Inn rooms. To date, LVS has invested $8BN in Macau.

GALAXY MACAU PHASE II TO INCLUDE MICE macabusiness.com 

According to Francis Lui Yiu Tung, the vice-chairman of Galaxy Entertainment Group, Phase II of Galaxy Macau will double the properties' size. Additions will include more non-gaming amenities including an increased focused on MICE business as he believes that Macau will become an important convention and meeting destination over the next 5 years.   

This Friday, GM is opening The Pavilion, a new high limit slot machine area for the premium mass gaming market. On March 30, the property will officially open its China Rouge members–only private club.

Mr Lui also confirmed that Galaxy has been in talks with Zhuhai authorities to invest in a resort on Hengqin Island.

MACAU HOTEL PRICES SOAR OVER HK TO HK1,607 Macau Daily Times

According to hotels.com, in 2011, Macau hotel prices increased 9% to HK1,607, making it the most expensive of Chinese cites; including being HK337 ahead of Hong Kong's ADRs.

LARGEST TRAFFICKING BUST RESCUES 41 WOMEN Macau Daily Times

On March 11, a joint sting by police in Macau and Liaoning and Guangdong provinces ended in the arrest of 30 suspects involved in abducting women and forcing them into prostitution; the largest human trafficking bust since June 2008. More than 20 of the women being forced into prostitution were released from captivity in Macau.