Friday, July 19, 2024 The 2024 Sands Shopping Carnival launched on Thursday at The Venetian® Macao with an opening ceremony attended by officials from government, finance, business, and community services sectors. Guests of honour officiated the opening of the 2024 Sands Shopping Carnival at The Venetian Macao’s Cotai Expo and received a guided tour of the event. Dr.
Wilfred Wong, Executive Vice Chairman of Sands China Ltd., visited the BOC Smart Kids Presents: Little Master Chef Workshop, part of the carnival’s activities, on Thursday at Cotai Expo. The Sands Shopping Carnival, the largest sale event in Macao, is open from noon to 10 p.
m. daily, July 18-21, at Cotai Expo Halls A and B, with a special preview session on the first day. Dr.
Wilfred Wong highlighted the carnival’s 5th anniversary and its ongoing support for SMEs in partnership with the Macao SAR Government and other entities. The event has created nearly 2,800 exhibition booths over the years and coincides with Sands Macao’s 20th anniversary, emphasizing their deep community ties and unwavering support for local SMEs. Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes, director of the Macao Government Tourism Office, emphasized the importance of shopping in tourism, noting that 48% of visitor expenditure in the first quarter of the year was on shopping.
She stressed the need for the retail industry to adapt to market demands with new products and personalized services. U Kin Cho, vice president of the Macao Chamber of Commerce, praised Sands China’s commitment to supporting SME growth through the Sands Shopping Carnival, which has attracted over 100,000 participants annually and become a key event in Macao’s retail industry. The carnival offers a platform for local SMEs and Sands retailers to create business opportunities while serving as a weekend destination for residents and tourists.
It features over 580 booths, including 325 dedicated to local SMEs, across nine exhibition zones, and offers special daily MOP 1 items. The event has seen increasing participation from community organizations in various sectors, reflecting its transformation into a grand shopping extravaganza. Sands Cares Ambassadors provide on-site support to community organizations participating in the carnival.
The carnival offers free parking and complimentary shuttle buses from various city locations, along with an international-cuisine food court and family-friendly entertainment. The 2024 Sands Shopping Carnival is organized by Sands China Ltd., co-organized by the Macao Chamber of Commerce, and supported by the Economic and Technological Development Bureau, the Macao Government Tourism Office, and the Commerce and Investment Promotion Institute.
Sponsors include BOC Macau, ICBC (Macau), Bank of Communications Co., Ltd. Macau Branch, and BNU.
The opening ceremony was officiated by Dr. Wong, Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes, Tai Kin Ip, U U Sang, Sun Yaohua, U Kin Cho, Grant Chum, Dave Sun, Stephen Ieong, Huang Xianjun, Xia Ying, and Carlos Cid Alvares..
