This $2 Billion Hotel Complex in Macau Is for Those Who Love All Things British

London’s Big Ben and the Palace of Westminster face Venice’s tower of St. Mark’s and Rialto Bridge across the street on one side. On the other, Paris’ Eiffel Tower stands tall and proud. Where in the world are you? 

If you guessed Macao, you’d be right. The Londoner Macao is a hotel property located on the territory’s Cotai Strip, across from the equally gleaming and glamorous Parisian and Venetian Hotels. Built at a cost of around $2 billion, The Londoner—which is divided between two all-suites hotels The Londoner Hotel and The Londoner Court—has actually been opened for about two years now. On Thursday (May 25), though, it was finally “officially” opened with VIPs from its parent company Las Vegas Sands Corp (LVS) in attendance, as well as global brand ambassador David Beckham.

The event was also an opportunity for the company behind this mega-development, Sands China Ltd., to renew its commitment to Macao, with the start of a new 10-year gaming concession and a commitment to invest as much as $3.7 billion in the city over the next decade.

Photo by The Londoner Macao.

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The presence of Beckham isn’t just for show; the former football star and current international celebrity helped design and lends his name to premier suites of the property. In previous interviews, he said design is one of his many interests and that he was heavily involved with the concept of the suites.

There’s certainly no mistaking his hand, and really his presence, if you happen to stay in one of the 14 David Beckham suites. From his monogram on pillows and sundry boxes scattered around the room, to actual photographs of himself and his family (there’s a huge one captured by his son Brooklyn of his wife, former Spice Girl Victoria Beckham, photographing herself in the living area), the star looms large in the suite that exudes heavy masculine energy. 

Of course, if you’d prefer not to have Becks gazing at your every move inside your room, you’d do well to book any of the regular suites in either of the two hotels. While The Londoner Court is the more luxurious of the two—with stays starting at around 25,000 Hong Kong dollars (nearly P180,000) per night—the Londoner Hotel is not far behind, and is a cut above many other hotel rooms in this city.

Photo by PJ Cana.

A Victoria suite measures 75 square meters, two double beds, a separate living room, a marble bathroom with a bathtub and three-way shower heads (rainshower, body jets, handheld shower), walk-in closet, and even a pillow menu.

A stay at the Londoner gets you access to the upscale The Residence, where there is complimentary breakfast, all-day refreshments, afternoon tea, and evening cocktails. There’s also all the other restaurants and attractions within The Londoner compound, including a London-style black taxi, where you can get your photo taken with a holographic image of Beckham himself joining you, as well a full-scale red double-decker bus right outside. There’s also the grand Crystal Palace lobby, where there’s a full-scale replica of the Shaftesbury Memorial Fountain, which is the setting of a recreation of the popular changing of the guard ceremony in Buckingham Palace.

Photo by PJ Cana.

There’s a shopping mall and dozens of restaurants within The Londoner complex, but the hotel itself offers its signature outlets when the craving hits: Churchill’s Table for British-inspired cuisine; North Palace for flavors of Northern China and Mongolia; and one-Michelin-starred the Huaiyang Garden that serves elevated Huaiyang cuisine.

With the 6,000-seat Londoner Arena, the entire Londoner Hotel property seems to offer something unique for visitors to Macao. Besides the Londoner Hotel and The Londoner Court, the complex also houses Conrad Macao, the St. Regis Macao, and Sheraton Grand Macao, which, in total, offer 6,000 rooms and suites.

Photo by PJ Cana.

Photo by PJ Cana.

But if you’re an anglophile or someone who loves all things British—piped-in music of British artists played inside elevators, British afternoon tea, iconic British images and landmarks such as Abbey Road, Nelson’s Column from Trafalgar Square, and King Henry VIII and Queen Elizabeth I—The Londoner Hotel won’t disappoint.

Esquire Philippines was a guest of The Londoner Hotel Macao during its launch.