The 13 Hotel in Macau has quietly reopened its doors in a limited capacity after its parent company, South Shore Holdings Limited, struggled to find a buyer for the beleaguered $1.6 billion property. TDM Radio Macau reported the reopening of a portion of the hotel’s 199 rooms, though the exact number of available rooms remains unclear.
The local public broadcaster also mentioned that South Shore Holdings is embarking on an extensive renovation of the property, including room makeovers, as part of its efforts to revive the once-grand vision of the hotel. The Macau Government Tourism Office (MGTO), responsible for regulating casino hotel operations and monitoring room inventory in the enclave, confirmed that The 13 Hotel had reopened for the first time since it shuttered during the COVID-19 pandemic in February 2020.
The 13 Hotel’s Rocky Journey
The 13 Hotel was conceived by Hong Kong billionaire Stephen Hung as an ultra-luxury casino resort targeting VIP clientele. Hung’s grand vision for a VIP-only boutique casino resort emerged in 2013, during the peak of Macau’s casino industry, when the six gaming licensees collectively won $45 billion from players.
However, the tide quickly turned. Beijing’s directives for Macau to tighten its oversight on cash flows from the mainland led to a consecutive three-year decline in annual gross gaming revenue. Despite the expansion of luxury offerings on the Cotai Strip, Hung and South Shore Holdings forged ahead with their ambitious project. The 22-story resort, characterized by its striking red façade and a faux giant diamond, aimed to lure high rollers.
Located over a mile south of the southern end of the Cotai Strip in Coloane, an area with few amenities for high rollers, The 13 faced skepticism about its appeal. In a bid to attract guests, Hung purchased 30 custom Rolls-Royce Phantom cars for $20 million, the largest single order in the automobile company’s history, to chauffeur guests around Macau.
Despite these efforts, high rollers did not flock to The 13. Opening in September 2018 as a non-gaming hotel—after failing to secure a partnership with one of Macau’s six casino operators—the resort struggled with poor occupancy, averaging just 8% during its first year.
Current Developments
TDM Radio Macau reported that the limited rooms available at The 13 are fully booked through late September, with reservations only possible by contacting the hotel directly.
In March, South Shore Holdings announced plans to sell The 13. Commercial real estate firm Jones Lang LaSalle was enlisted to auction the property, assessed at HK$2.4 billion (US$310 million). However, the auction did not attract a buyer.
South Shore Holdings has been insolvent for several years. Stephen Hung has attempted to salvage the company by selling off other assets, including a nearly 52% stake in Paul Y. Engineering. Despite these efforts, the Hong Kong Stock Exchange delisted South Shore shares in February 2023 after the stock plummeted to penny-stock status.
Future Prospects
It remains unclear how South Shore is funding the ongoing renovations at The 13. The hotel currently holds an active occupancy license from the MGTO that extends through the end of the year.
The reopening of The 13, albeit limited, marks a new chapter for the troubled resort. As renovations continue, it remains to be seen whether the property can reclaim any of its former glory or if it will continue to struggle in Macau’s highly competitive luxury market.
The fate of The 13 will depend not only on the success of its current renovation efforts but also on the broader recovery of Macau’s tourism and gaming sectors post-pandemic. For now, the reopening is a small step forward in a long journey for this once-grandiose vision.
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