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It takes a lot to humble the vanities of ancient Venice and today’s Dubai. But with a flash of Vegas and the machine of modern China, the Venetian Macao is about to do exactly that. The world’s largest casino opens August 28, and according to its president, is set to truncate three-quarters-of-a-century of Las Vegas growth “in one fell swoop” — and under one roof. Said roof is the world’s second-largest building — twice the size of its sister property in Macau (the Sands Macao), and three times the size of Vegas’ largest casino (the MGM Grand). When the former opened in 2004, with no hotel rooms, it broke all records — recouping its $260 million outlay in 12 months, and causing an escalator to buckle on its first-day stampede.
The $2.4-billion Venetian will have 3,000 hotel suites plus plenty of space to burn more cash beyond the gaming floors. The Grand Canal Shoppes, spread across one-million square feet — and amid three canals — is the resort’s trump card. Guests might also succumb to the 50,000-square-foot spa that promises to fuse “the tranquility of a Tuscan valley” with “the exotic ambience of Asia.” But the cross-cultural pollination is just getting started: the Venetian marks the inception of the Cotai Strip, which will replicate Las Vegas’ (whose revenues Macau already tops), and will include a Four Seasons, Shangri-La and St. Regis. As well as the world’s first underwater casino called the City of Dreams.
