MGM Resorts International Opens Another Hotel in China
MGM Resorts International is living up to its name, as the Las Vegas-based casino operator continues to expand its international portfolio.
MGM Shenzhen, a beachside hotel in the Yantian District overlooking Mirs Bay, recently opened on the northern side of the Hong Kong Peninsula.
The lavish property has 321 guestrooms and suites each with sea views. The resort features several restaurants and bars, meeting and event spaces, a theater currently housing a Cirque du Soleil-like production called the M Show, a kids club, indoor and outdoor heated swimming pools, and a full-service spa and fitness center.
MGM Shenzhen is a project from Diaoyutai MGM Hospitality, which is jointly owned by China’s Diaoyutai State Guesthouse and MGM Resorts International.
Marketing gambling activities on the mainland is prohibited, meaning MGM Shenzhen cannot advertise the two casinos at MGM’s resorts in Macau. Though the Yantian District where MGM Shenzhen is located is roughly only 50 air miles from Macau, traveling between the two areas is no easy process. Unless one obtains a pass to use the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge, the drive takes three hours, as the commute travels around the Pearl River.
Mainland Expansion
MGM Resorts, through its subsidiary MGM China Holdings, is one of the six licensed casino operators in Macau, a Special Administrative Region of China. Macau is the only place under China’s control where casino gambling is allowed.
MGM has strong brand awareness not only in Macau but on the mainland. After opening MGM Shenzhen, the casino company, through Diaoyutai MGM Hospitality, has six MGM-branded hotels on the mainland.
The others are MGM Grand Saya, Mhub by MGM Nanjing Jiangning, MGM Qingdao, MGM Shanghai West Bund, and Bellagio Shanghai. The latter property takes the name of MGM’s iconic Las Vegas Strip property known for its dancing water fountains.
The conglomerate isn’t finished. The company in March announced Mirage by MGM Shanghai, a 205-room boutique that will be set inside one of the two commercial and leisure towers being built by real estate developer Tishman Speyer. Mirage Shanghai is expected to open in 2027.
MGM Resorts International retains The Mirage brand despite selling the operating rights to the namesake property on the Las Vegas Strip in December 2022 for nearly $1.1 billion. The buyer, the Seminole Tribe, is closing The Mirage this month to transform the resort into a rock ‘n’ roll-themed Hard Rock destination.
Diaoyutai MGM Hospitality is also prepping MGM-branded hotel openings in Wuhan, Hainan, and Sanya’s Yalong Bay.
Diaoyutai MGM Hospitality was established in 2007 with a focus on developing and managing high-end luxury hotel resorts, residences, retail facilities, and entertainment complexes across China’s mainland.
Macau Makeovers
MGM China Holdings isn’t involved in Diaoyutai MGM Hospitality. The company fully owns two properties in Macau — MGM Macau and MGM Cotai.
MGM China announced last month that the focus of its $1.9 billion nongaming investment commitment it made in late 2022 in exchange for a 10-year gaming license extension would be on wellness offerings and expanding its hotels. MGM China’s two properties currently have approximately 2,000 rooms, the least amount of the six casino licensees in the city.
The recent opening of MGM Shenzhen has increased MGM Resorts' international presence, offering news of the casino operator's expansion on the mainland. Despite the travel restrictions, the Yantian District's MGM Shenzhen is still a popular destination, with nearby Macau's casinos attracting many visitors, albeit requiring a pass to use the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge or a lengthy drive.
With MGM Shenzhen and other MGM-branded hotels like MGM Grand Saya, MGM Qingdao, and Bellagio Shanghai, MGM Resorts has established a strong presence not just in Macau but also on the mainland, bringing casino gambling and luxury experiences to the Chinese mainland.
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