The financially-embattled Macau's The 13 Hotel has the license to operate until the end of 2025, according to a news report.
Macau's The 13 Hotel now has the license to operate until the end of 2025, according to a news report. The embattled hotel was hit with financial strains in the past, which included an apparently thwarted plan to establish a casino.
The Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO) confirmed this in an exclusive report by Inside Asian Gaming which was published on January 8.
While the license allows the hotel to stay open, there are some limitations. The hotel's two restaurants are currently closed for repairs and maintenance.
Originally, reports suggested the license was valid until the end of 2024, with a renewal period between October and December. However, the MGTO later confirmed the license extends through 2025.
This comes after the hotel's parent company went bankrupt and a failed attempt to sell the property.
Online booking attempts consistently show "no vacancy," even for future dates. This was also an issue last year when the hotel reportedly only accepted bookings by phone or in person. Recent phone calls to the hotel have not been answered. The MGTO has stated that there are no current rules about how hotels take reservations.
Businessman Stephen Hung envisioned it as a luxury destination for high-rollers, but construction and funding delays, along with the failure to secure a gaming license, caused major setbacks. It finally opened in 2018, years behind schedule, without a casino and with unfinished rooms, costing US$1.6 billion. Its location and design have also drawn criticism.
The hotel had trouble attracting guests. One reason was its failure to partner with a Macau gaming operator for a casino, according to Asia Gaming Brief. Documents filed with the Hong Kong Stock Exchange showed the hotel had discussed a casino partnership with Melco, led by Lawrence Ho. However, when The 13’s parent company started to fail, Melco denied any plans to help the hotel open a casino.
The hotel’s former parent company, South Shore Holdings, became insolvent in 2021. This led to the bankruptcy of The 13 Hotel Management Company and an attempted sale in March 2024. Although 24 companies showed interest, the sale's outcome is still unknown.
Read related article: What Will Happen to Satellite Casinos of Macau?
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